My Top 10 Fall Book Recommendations
Today’s post is a bit of a fun one! I’m sharing my top 10 fall book recommendations that are perfect not only for this season, but all year long. While this isn’t a list of my absolute favorite books, these are absolutely my top picks when others ask for recommendations. I find they will generally appeal to almost anyone! I’ve included both fiction and non-fiction in the list. Don’t rule the non-fiction out – half of them are narratives, which make for really engaging reads!
Fiction
Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling
You know the story. Boy discovers he’s a wizard – and not only that, but his destiny is deeply entwined with the fate of the wizarding world. I can’t have a book list without it, and of course it’s perfect for fall. Read the first one or indulge in the whole series! (I did this last year on audio and it was phenomenal and cozy. 
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Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel
A pandemic kills off the majority of the world’s population, leaving those remaining left to survive on their own. The story follows a caravan of unlikely characters whose pasts all strangely intertwine. It’s more of a literary fiction than a science fiction novel. Already read this one? Try “The Glass Hotel” by the same author!
Aladdin: A New Translation by Yasmine Seale
Such a quick, fun read! If you’ve never read the original Aladdin story, I highly recommend it! The original was actually first recorded on paper in French, based on an oral story told by a Syrian in the 1700s. The story really isn’t much like Disney’s Aladdin at all; for one, it’s actually set in China. And no, there aren’t 3 wishes or a pet tiger. Or a flying carpet. But there is a lot of magic! I found the story to read very much like an old folk tale. At only 115 pages with modern, understandable language, you’ll finish it in no time!
A Cur for Death by Daniel Poppie
A quick, fast-paced detective novel with noir and dark fantasy elements. This quick read (only 172 pages) will keep you turning pages and leave you wanting to read more! (Good news – there are 5 additional books in this series and more to come!)
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
A classic for fall! A hobbit goes on an unlikely adventure with a band of dwarves to win back treasure guarded by a dragon. A prequel to the Lord of the Rings trilogy.
I Was Anastasia
This book tells the story of Princess Anastasia and presents two timelines: one moving forwards, which follows Anastasia and her life the few years before 1918; the other moving backwards, following Anna Anderson and her fight to be legally recognized as Anastasia Romanov. These two timelines converge on the execution of the Romanov family in 1918. The book reads as a suspense or mystery novel as you try to unravel what is happening and determine what is the truth. This one had me questioning what’s really true and looking up what actually happened in real life! I definitely recommend reading a print version over audio because it helps to keep the timeline straight.
Non-Fiction
The Feather Thief: Beauty, Obsession, and the Natural History Heist of the Century by Kirk Wallace Johnson
I always recommend this book! A page-turner! An American college student studying flute at London’s Royal Academy of Music with a fly-tying hobby planned and executed a heist to steal rare and valuable feathers from the British Museum of Natural History. He never went to jail, and was only required to pay a fine that was just a fraction of the actual value of the stolen goods. What possesses a flute player with a fly-tying hobby to steal feathers? How did he get off so easy? What happened to all the missing feathers that were never returned? What makes feathers so valuable, anyway? What even is fly-tying and who even cares? Find out in this riveting true white collar crime book! I still can’t believe how niche this crime was but the book was so fascinating!
The Lifegiving Home: Creating a Place of Belonging and Becoming by Sally Clarkson and Sarah Clarkson
The perfect read to set or review your intentions for your home (especially related to hospitality and community and family and traditions) as the fall season is here and the holidays approach. Cozy and intentional!
My Friend Anna: The True Story of a Fake Heiress by Rachel DeLoache Williams
I couldn’t put this book down! A girl, Rachel, early in her career befriends another girl, Anna, who lives an extravagant lifestyle and claims to be a German heiress. When things don’t add up (literally), Rachel starts questioning everything she knows about Anna. This is the book that inspired the Netflix series, Inventing Anna.
Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis
A compilation of radio talk transcripts that explores the ideas of “mere” Christianity – or, what elements are essential to Christianity. This book is very readable yet covers some very deep theological topics and truths.
Looking for more fall ideas?
Enjoyed these fall book recommendations? Download my FREE printable Fall Bucket List below! At least a couple of these titles will get you started on one of the items on the list: Read a book series.
