With a gothic atmosphere, this not-too-spooky fairy story is perfect for curling up on cold nights.

Synopsis: “Victorian governess Winifred Hall knows a con when she sees one. When her bratty young charge transforms into a perfectly behaved child, she soon realizes he’s has been abducted by the Fair Folk. Unfortunately, the lord of Witchwood Manor is the only man in England who doesn’t believe in faeries—which means Winnie must rescue the young lord-to-be all by herself.”

If you don’t think warrior orcs can be cozy, look no further than this coffee shop fantasy to prove yourself wrong.

Synopsis: “The battle-weary orc aims to start fresh, opening the first ever coffee shop in the city of Thune. But old and new rivals stand in the way of success — not to mention the fact that no one has the faintest idea what coffee actually is. If Viv wants to put the blade behind her and make her plans a reality, she won’t be able to go it alone.”

With a melancholic edge perfect for the season, this portrait of a mysterious girl will do wonders for your reading list.

Synopsis: “At the center of all the entwined lives in Newford stands a young artist named Jilly Coppercorn, with her tangled hair, her paint-splattered jeans, a smile perpetually on her lips–Jilly, whose paintings capture the hidden beings that dwell in the city’s shadows. Behind the painter’s fey charm lies a dark secret and a past she’s labored to forget. And that past is coming to claim her now.

Master of the cozy fantasy genre Delemhach’s books are infused with a delightful blend of world-building and warmth.

Synopsis: “Katarina Ashowan was not made for courtly life. She was raised among majestic castles, proper manners, and royal expectations, but she’s more comfortable riding horses or learning to fight than making polite conversation and wearing fancy dresses. Her upcoming assignment to serve her best friend, and soon-to-be crowned queen, is anything but ideal.

A lovely tale in a dark, dark wood, this fantasy bildungsroman will wrap you up.

Synopsis: “Winnie Wednesday wants nothing more than to join the Luminaries, the ancient order that protects her town from the monsters and nightmares that rise in the forest of Hemlock Falls every night. Ever since her father was exposed as a witch, Winnie’s family has been shunned. But on her 16th birthday, she can take the deadly Luminary hunter trials and prove herself true and loyal. Or die trying.

Magical librarians in a cozy cottage? With a hearty dose of plant love? Sign me up!

Synopsis: “Kiela has always had trouble dealing with people. Thankfully, as a librarian at the Great Library of Alyssium, she and her assistant, Caz—a sentient spider plant—have spent the last decade sequestered among the empire’s most precious spellbooks. When a revolution begins and the library goes up in flames, she and Caz flee to a remote island Kiela never thought she’d see again: her childhood home.”

Anne of Green Gables gets a witchy twist in this inventive, magical retelling.

Synopsis: “Grace has never been good at anything except magic—not that anyone believes her. While other children are adopted from the orphanage, nobody wants Grace. So she decides to make a home for herself by running away and offering herself as an apprentice to the witch in the nearby woods. After all, who better to teach Grace to use her magic? Surely the witch can’t be that bad.”

Take a parochial small town life, add a healthy mix of witchcraft, and you have this lovely romantasy.

Synopsis: “Hecate Goodwin, Kate to her friends, has curated the perfect life as a hedge witch, living in a secluded cottage with only a black cat for company. She spends her days foraging herbs from the Ipswich forest, gardening, and creating tinctures to sell at the apothecary she owns. Her solitude is thrown into disarray when her older sister, asks her to host their coven’s annual Halloween gathering.”

A new voice in cozy fantasy has emerged, and you won’t want to miss this enchanting debut.

Synopsis: “Tao is an immigrant fortune teller, traveling between villages with just her trusty mule for company. She only tells “small” fortunes: whether it will hail next week; which boy the barmaid will kiss; when the cow will calve. She knows from bitter experience that big fortunes come with big consequences. Even if it’s a lonely life, it’s better than the one she left behind. But a small fortune unexpectedly becomes something more”

This classic fantasy has been a gentle favorite for decades; read it and see why.

Synopsis: “As the newly appointed Chalice, Mirasol is the most important member of the Master’s Circle. It is her duty to bind the Circle, the land and its people together with their new Master. But the new Master of Willowlands is a Priest of Fire, only drawn back into the human world by the sudden death of his brother.”

Full of magic and delicious layers of world-building, this fan favorite is perfect for long fall nights.

Synopsis: “The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called Le Cirque des Rêves, and it is only open at night. But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway—a duel between two young magicians.”

Can you call it an urban fantasy if it takes place in a village? If so, this book is perfect.

Synopsis: “Sasha Pierce hasn’t dreamt since she was a child, until she accepts a substitute teaching position in a charmingly witchy village. Her first dream in 25 years ought to be enchanting, but her wonder quickly turns to shock when she realizes that it’s not a dream at all. Catapulted into the fairy tale kingdom of Between through an ancient portal, Sasha’s astonishment is swiftly upgraded to panic when she accidentally performs a supposedly impossible feat.

This gentle tale of grief and found family is as profound as it is cozy.

Synopsis: “Powerless witch Saika is ready to enact her sister’s final to plant her remains at the famed Ash Gardens. When Saika arrives at the always-stormy sanctuary, she is welcomed by its owner, an enormous, knit-cardiganed mythical beast named Frank, who offers her a role as one of the estate’s caretakers. Overcome with grief, Saika accepts, desperate to put off her final farewell to her sister.

Young adult author Jones’s books remain delightful well into adulthood.

Synopsis: “There are good witches and bad witches, but the law says that all witches must be burned at the stake. So when an anonymous note warns, “Someone in this class is a witch,” the students in 6B are nervous — especially the boy who’s just discovered that he can cast spells and the girl who was named after the most famous witch of all.”

Read a chapter a night in October for the full spooky effect of this quirky, spooky book.

Synopsis: “In the murky London gloom, a knife-wielding gentleman named Jack prowls the midnight streets with his faithful watchdog Snuff – gathering together the grisly ingredients they will need for an upcoming ancient and unearthly rite. For soon after the death of the moon, black magic will summon the Elder Gods back into the world. And all manner of Players, both human and undead, are preparing to participate.”

Addison Allen imbues her book with gentle magic and the spirit of warmth.

Synopsis: “It’s October in Bascom, North Carolina, and autumn will not go quietly. As temperatures drop and leaves begin to turn, the Waverley women are made restless by the whims of their mischievous apple tree… and all the magic that swirls around it. But this year, first frost has much more in store.”

This collection of short stories won a national book award and is the ultimate in fall reading.

Synopsis: “Ray Bradbury’s second short story collection has chilling encounters with funhouse mirrors, parasitic accident-watchers, and strange poker chips intact. Both sides of Bradbury’s vaunted childhood nostalgia are also on display, in the celebratory “Uncle Einar,” and haunting “The Lake,” the latter a fine elegy to childhood loss. 

This prequel to Practical Magic has all the lore and charm of the original with a historical twist.

Synopsis: “Where does the story of the Owens bloodline begin? With Maria Owens, in the 1600s, when she’s abandoned in a snowy field in rural England as a baby. Under the care of Hannah Owens, Maria learns about the “Nameless Arts.” Hannah recognizes that Maria has a gift and she teaches the girl all she knows. It is here that she learns her first important lesson: Always love someone who will love you back.”

Revolving around a grumpy haunted house, this charming historical fiction book has a serious dose of architecture.

Synopsis: “Rhode Island, 1846. Estranged from his family, writer Merritt Fernsby is surprised when he inherits a remote estate in the Narragansett Bay. Though the property has been uninhabited for more than a century, Merritt is ready to call it home—until he realizes he has no choice. Whimbrel House is not about to let Merritt leave. Ever.”

This tale perfectly exemplifies dark academia, and all the chills that come with it.

Synopsis: “Late one night, exploring her father’s library, a young woman finds an ancient book and a cache of yellowing letters. The letters are all addressed to “My dear and unfortunate successor,” and they plunge her into a world she never dreamed of, a labyrinth where the secrets of her father’s past and her mother’s mysterious fate connect to an inconceivable evil hidden in the depths of history.”

Nostalgic, unserious, and delightfully 90s, this book is for unashamed milennials.”

Synopsis: “When three young cousins experience an explosion of nature-infused magic at their Grandma Lydia’s orchard, their parents whisk them off to opposite corners of New England. But distance cannot contain their witchy destiny forever and in 1995 – one fateful October night – tenacious dreamer, Raven, now 18 years old, has a near death experience that ignites mystical forces from within.”

A gunmetal ghost story with a vintage edge, this book will bring out your inner teen.

Synopsis: “Rose Marshall died in 1952 in Buckley Township, Michigan, run off the road by a man named Bobby Cross—a man who had sold his soul to live forever, and intended to use her death to pay the price of his immortality. Trouble was, he didn’t ask Rose what she thought of the idea. It’s been more than sixty years since that night, and she’s still sixteen, and she’s still running.”

For Evelyn Hugo fans who want a darker twist, here’s your book.

Synopsis: “Enigmatic Winter has spent six decades creating various outlandish life histories for herself — all of them inventions that have brought her fame and fortune but have kept her violent and tragic past a secret. Now old and ailing, she at last wants to tell the truth about her extraordinary life. She summons biographer Margaret Lea, a young woman for whom the secret of her own birth remains an ever-present pain.”

Those looking for a slice-of-life book with a magical edge should look no farther than this!

Synopsis: “Balancing work at her beloved Lunar Books with protecting it from her toxic boss, who’s running it into the ground, and all the while concealing her witchcraft from the non-witches around her – Belle is burnt out. But when her 30th birthday brings a summons from her coven, and a trial that tests her worthiness as a witch, Belle risks losing her magic forever. 

While this read is far from the most complex on this list. it’s definitely one of the sweetest.

Synopsis: “On the outskirts of Rainbow Town, there is an old, abandoned house. They say that if you send a letter detailing your misfortunes there, you could receive a ticket. If you bring this ticket to the house on the first day of the rainy season, you’ll be granted entrance into the mysterious Rainfall Market—where you can choose to completely change your life. No one is more surprised than Serin when she receives a ticket.”

You gotta love a multicultural British romance with baking and magic!

Synopsis: “As a skilled kitchen witch, Dina Whitlock knows her way around a pastry recipe. In fact, she runs her very own London café serving magic-infused pastries for her loyal customers. But only a select few friends know about her magical abilities or the hex that has plagued her love life. It’s hard to fall in love when your partner is guaranteed to have a string of bad luck the second they start to have feelings for you.”

Confession: I love a romance that starts with a jilted bride. Add in the FBI and you have a spicy premise from the get.

Synopsis: “When Olivia gets left at the altar, she decides to do what all modern women do—hit up Google. When a couple of searches land her in a support group for jilted brides, she immediately takes the reins and decides they all deserve revenge on their exes. Andre Valenti is tired of watching spoiled rich Olivia’s every move, but his career depends on putting her ex behind bars”

There’s more spice than just cinnamon in this fan-favorite (if you know what I mean).

Synopsis: “When Jeanie’s aunt gifts her the beloved Pumpkin Spice Café in the small town of Dream Harbor, Jeanie jumps at the chance for a fresh start away from her very dull desk job. Logan is a local farmer who avoids Dream Harbor’s gossip at all costs. But Jeanie’s arrival disrupts Logan’s routine and he wants nothing to do with the irritatingly upbeat new girl, except that he finds himself inexplicably drawn to her.

If you’re also a sucker for a type a female protagonist, look no further!

Synopsis: “Meticulous and driven Gwen Gilmore knows what she wants… especially in a man. She is newly single and doesn’t have time for lackluster chemistry or mixed signals. But the dating scene proves to be slow and unserious, and she realizes she may need some help. A matchmaker, to be more specific. Nothing will distract her from finding a man who checks all the boxes, except maybe her brother’s grumpy best friend who’s just moved into her home.”

This cozy queer romance between an immortal and an orphan in a fictional medieval town has a shocking amount of heart.

Synopsis: “Arlo Rook has decided it’s time to move out of Garren Castle, home for orphans of all races, magical or not, at 100 years old. It’s not the first time he’s left home, but a setback landed the Hedge Witch in the hospital a year ago, and subsequently back to square one. Now he’s ready to strike out on his own, despite his friend’s worries he’s not ready.”

This classic autumnal second-chance romance is a perennial favorite of mine!

Synopsis: “After calling off her fall wedding, horror novelist Amy Fox is left with a broken heart, a mega case of writer’s block, and a serious aversion to all things pumpkin spice. When she receives news that her grandfather has broken his wrist driving through a Dunkin Donuts—literally straight through the front windows—five hundred miles away, in her hometown of Autumnboro, New Hampshire, Amy has no choice but to return to check on him.”

Adorable fall small-town romances are for lesbians, too!!

Synopsis: “Jenny Lynton never planned to be an influencer. It just sort of…happened. When an unfortunate post results in Jenny being “almost canceled,” she extends her stay in her hometown to wait out the storm. Jenny’s agent suggests a fling with a flannel-wearing lumberjack might be just the thing to distract her. But after a string of disastrous dates, Jenny has sworn off flings. And lumberjacks are in short supply in Sapphire Springs. Lumberjanes, on the other hand…”

Come for the grumpy-sunshine romance, stay for the magical found family.

Synopsis: “As one of the few witches in Britain, Mika Moon knows she has to hide her magic and stay away from other witches so their powers don’t mingle and draw attention. And as an orphan who lost her parents at a young age and was raised by strangers, she’s used to being alone and she follows the rules…with one exception: an online account, where she posts videos pretending to be a witch. She thinks no one will take it seriously. But someone does.

A modern-day fairytale featuring a witch and the Jersey Shore. What more could you want?

Synopsis: “All Ursula Caraway wished for was to live happily ever after. The self-proclaimed Jersey Shore Witch Princess was set to begin her perfect life—until a twist of fate changed everything. Now, she’s telling fortunes to the lovelorn, selling crystals at the local psychic shop, and reclaiming her missing magic. Ursula desperately wishes to shake up her life—so much so, that she’ll do just about anything. Including befriending a very cute, very enchanted prince.”

Please ignore the terrible cover and get ready for a fun, sexy, paranormal romp.

Synopsis: “After seeing her maybe-mobster boss murder a guy, Delaney James assumes a new identity and pretends to be a mail order bride. She finds her groom-to-be living in a town that celebrates Halloween every day. Weird. But not as weird as what she doesn’t know. Her groom-to-be is a 400-year-old vampire.”

Please ignore the synopsis in first person – this delightful second-chance romance is perfect cotton candy for your brain.

Synopsis: “Every person has that one thing they’re known for, and it doesn’t matter what you do, that one thing—whether good or bad—follows you around like a bloodhound for the rest of your life. Forever more I will be known as the Reece the Rogue Pirate girl, instead of Josie Peterson. Why couldn’t I be known for all the cute children’s stories I’ve written about my family’s pumpkin patch?”

Cottage? Check. Magic? Check. Queer? Check check check.

Synopsis: “Twenty-one-year-old Marigold Claude has always preferred the company of the spirits of the meadow to any of the suitors who’ve tried to woo her. So when her grandmother whisks her away to the family cottage with an offer to train her as the next Honey Witch, she accepts immediately. But her newfound magic and independence come with a caveat: no one can fall in love with the Honey Witch.”

We are in an era of hockey romance so of course we have fall hockey romance.

Synopsis: “Before Logan Barnes was hockey’s hottest bad boy, he was my brother’s best friend … and my first crush. Now Logan is back home, but not willingly. Recovering from an injury, he’s stuck playing for our minor league team. As the team’s social media manager, it’s my job to wrangle all the guys into filming TikToks. But Logan doesn’t want to be wrangled. Turns out … neither does my heart.

I don’t even know how a charming queer horror romance about a monster is even possible, but here we are.

Synopsis: “Shesheshen has made a mistake fatal to all monsters: she’s fallen in love. Shesheshen is a shapeshifter, who happily resides as an amorphous lump at the bottom of a ruined manor. When her rest is interrupted by hunters intent on murdering her, she constructs a body from the remains of past meals: a metal chain for a backbone, borrowed bones for limbs, and a bear trap as an extra mouth.”

Wind in the Willows meets Jessica Fletcher in this gentle, lovable series.

Synopsis: “It’s autumn in Shady Hollow, and residents are looking forward to harvest. But then a rabbit discovers a grisly crop: moose bones. Soon, the owner of Joe’s Mug is dragged out of the coffeeshop and questioned by the police about the night his wife walked out of his life. It seems like an open-and-shut case, but reporter Vera Vixen doesn’t believe gentle Joe is a killer. She’ll do anything to prove his innocence. . .even if it means digging into secrets her neighbors would rather leave buried.

Few things are as cozy fall as a haunted library in Connecticut!

Synopsis: “Carrie Singleton is just about done with Clover Ridge until she’s offered a job as the head of programs and events at the spooky local library, complete with its own ghost. Her first major event is a program presented by a retired homicide detective, Al Buckley, who claims he knows who murdered Laura Foster, a much-loved part-time library aide. As he conducts his lecture, he suddenly keels over and dies.”

Bless whoever compiled Miss Christie’s autumnal short stories in one place. Enjoy a story a day for easy reading.

Synopsis: “Secluded cottages, eerie manors and ghostly hauntings and cursed tombs abound in this collection of 12 supernatural mysteries and murderous plots featuring Hercule Poirot, Miss Marple and Agatha Christie’s other favourite detectives.”

You don’t need to read book 1 to enjoy this gentle, provincial mystery, but I recommend gobbling up this whole series.

Synopsis: “The Harvest Festival is the most-anticipated event in the quaint village of Pigsend, and Bev and the Weary Dragon Inn are ready to welcome visitors from near and far. But when strange occurrences begin happening, including the destruction of Bev’s beloved herb garden, Bev’s got to put her sleuthing hat back on to uncover the truth.”

A Wiccan lawyer is a fun twist on classic trope! Enjoy the whole series for witchy intrigue.

Synopsis: “Keli is hoping that Mabon, the Wiccan Autumn Equinox, will bring balance back into her life. But it’s death that comes calling when she’s asked to consult on an estate case. Elaine Turnbull left everything, including her valuable art and antiques collection, to her granddaughter, Lana. But Lana has been missing for years. Also missing may be Elaine’s most recent will. Then there’s the not-so-small detail that Elaine’s death may not have been so natural after all . . .

For those who love an elderly sleuth, try this fun, spooky series!

Synopsis: “A grandmotherly necromancer seeking resolution for her past with the help of her loyal entourage: an undead cat and a spectral knight. A girl on the run from the Eternal Empire for the mysterious power she possesses. When a chance encounter pulls them together, Gam Gam will do what it takes to protect Mina from the rogue sergeant hounding her–including raising the dead. As long as they’re dressed for the occasion.”

A bumbling kitchen witch makes a lovable protagonist in this fun series.

Synopsis: “Sella is tired of being a failure. She has a lovely, cozy shop, a snarky feline familiar, and a friend to call her own. But Sella’s magical abilities left a stain on her hometown, and even years away didn’t repair her reputation. The life of a kitchen witch is rough when everyone thinks Sella’s magical blends of coffee and tea will leave them with boils instead of the intended “motivation” or “self-compassion.”

An animated skeleton solves murders as a silly, chattering sleuth.

Synopsis: “Moving back into her parents’ house with her teenage daughter had not been Georgia Thackery’s “Plan A.” But when she got a job at the local college, it seemed the sensible thing to do. So she settled in and began reconnecting with old friends. Including Sid. Sid is the Thackery family’s skeleton. He’s lived in the house as long as Georgia can remember, although no one, including Sid, knows exactly where he came from and how he came to be a skeleton.”

For PNW fall lovers, this book is for you!

Synopsis: “Josie Way loved working among the Library of Congress’s leather-scented stacks–until she uncovered corruption and made herself a target. As Wilfred, Oregon’s new librarian, Josie can stay undercover until the case goes to court. But life in this little town isn’t as subdued as she expected. Still digesting the news that her safe haven is about to become scrap lumber, Josie discovers a body in the woods.”

Though less known than Christie, Ms. Sayers’ wry mysteries are perfect autumnal entertainment.

Synopsis: “The dons of Harriet Vane’s alma mater, the all-female Shrewsbury College, Oxford, have invited her back to attend the annual Gaudy celebrations. However, the mood turns sour when someone begins a series of malicious acts including poison-pen messages, obscene graffiti and wanton vandalism. Harriet asks her old friend Wimsey to investigate.”

I won’t lie, it feels like this series was created with a 20-sided die, but somehow it works!

Synopsis: “At a crossroads between a cringe-worthy past and an uncertain future, Lucy Swift travels to Oxford to visit her grandmother. With Gran’s undying love to count on and Cardinal Woolsey’s, Gran’s knitting shop, to keep her busy, Lucy can catch her breath and figure out what she’s going to do. Except it turns out that Gran is the undying. Or at least, the undead.