"While October is the spookiest season of them all—and the perfect time to indulge in everything that goes bump in the night—sometimes a thriller book or horror movie simply isn’t what I’m looking for. Something about the beginning of fall makes me want to dive into cozier, more comforting content—endless Gilmore Girls rewatches, a really good fall playlist, and, of course, cozy books. There’s just something about settling in on a crisp October Sunday post-farmers market with a comforting read that is peak fall in my mind.
This Baggy Dad style from Levi’s is a tried-and-true favorite our team swears by, made famous by an effortlessly cool fit and PJ-like comfort.
These cozy books will give you all of the fall vibes you know and love—and even a hint of spookiness, minus the nightmares. Heat a cup of your favorite tea, find the comfiest spot in your home, and get lost in one of these cozy low-stakes stories that will give you your fall fix and leave you able to sleep at night.
The highly anticipated sequel to TJ Klune’s beloved novel, The House in the Cerulean Sea, is finally here. Arthur Parnassus has worked hard to build a stable, safe, and loving home for the six magical orphans in his care. But when Arthur’s called to make a public statement about his dark past, he finds himself at the helm of a fight for the future that his family and all magical people deserve.
And when a new magical child hopes to join them on their island home—Arthur soon realizes they’re at a breaking point: Their family will either grow stronger than ever or fall apart.
Belladonna Blackthorn hasn’t lost her magical spark, but she hasn’t seen it in a while, either. 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. Perfecting the potential of her magic is the last thing on her mind.
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. With the month of October to fix things and signs that dark forces may be working against her, Belle will need all the help she can get.
When a secret message turns up hidden in a book in the Cinnamon Bun Bookstore, Hazel can’t understand it. But as more secret codes appear between the pages, she decides to follow the trail of clues, enlisting the help of gorgeous and outgoing fisherman, Noah. Luckily for Noah, who is always up for adventure, it’s the cute bookseller he’s been crushing on for months who needs his help.
Hazel didn’t go looking for romance, but as the treasure hunt leads her and Noah around Dream Harbor, their undeniable chemistry might be just as hot as the fresh-out-of-the-oven cinnamon buns the bookstore sells.
Steve Wheeler is enjoying retired life. He does the odd bit of investigation work, but he prefers his familiar habits and routines: the pub quiz, his favorite bench, his cat waiting for him when he comes home. His days of adventure are over; adrenaline is daughter-in-law Amy’s business now.
Amy Wheeler thinks adrenaline is good for the soul. As a private security officer, she doesn’t stay still long enough for habits or routines. Then, a dead body, a bag of money, and a killer with their sights on Amy have her sending an SOS to the only person she trusts. A breakneck race around the world begins, but can Amy and Steve stay one step ahead of a lethal enemy?
Holly Celeste and her sisters make the best apple cider in Maine—courtesy of a magical secret ingredient—but even that hasn’t been enough to keep their orchard afloat. To save the family business, Holly accepts a proposal to let a ghost-hunting series film an episode on her farm. Connor Grimm may be the sexy and down-to-earth TV host the nation loves, but to Holly, he represents her greatest fear: exposure.
Intent on keeping Connor in the dark, Holly joins him as he interviews eyewitnesses, hunts for old records, and unearths a story even she didn’t know existed. Despite her resolution to dislike him, she begins to fall for the only man who’s ever made her feel like strange could be normal.
Stand-up comedian Farley Jones is on her way to stardom. The only thing she loves more than the rush of telling jokes in front of a revved-up audience is her manager, single dad Meyer Harrigan, who doesn’t have a clue. When the biggest opportunity of Farley’s career comes along and forces the pair to fake date in order to stir up publicity, it doesn’t take long for their act to bring all those other funny feelings out into the open. Like most matters of the heart, it quickly begins to feel like anything but a joke.
Lexi Danby is looking for some no-strings, fall fun. Once a college track star, she was forced to drop out when her father passed away. When her comically bad waitressing lands her directly in the path of a handsome, charming, mega-wealthy stranger named Will, Lexi may just have found the distraction she’s been looking for. Their first date looks promising until a misunderstanding at a party thrusts Lexi and Will into a fake engagement they can’t talk themselves out of. Amid apple picking in comfy flannels, outdoor breweries in the crisp air, and fun Halloween preparations, Lexi starts to realize the scariest part of the season might just be taking a chance on love.
As a librarian at the Great Library of Alyssium, Kiela and her assistant, Caz—a magically sentient spider plant—have spent the last decade sequestered among the empire’s most precious spellbooks. That is, until a revolution begins and the library goes up in flames, forcing Kiela and Caz to flee to Kiela’s childhood home.
In need of income, Kiela identifies something that even the bakery in town doesn’t have: jam. With the help of an old recipe book her parents left her and a bit of illegal magic, her cottage garden is soon covered in ripe berries. But magic can do more than make life a little sweeter, so Kiela risks the consequences of using unsanctioned spells and opens the island’s first-ever and much-needed secret spellshop.
Beatrice Steele has never fit the definition of what her small English township considers a “true lady.” Her needlework is terrible, she has no affinity for music, and her art is so bad it frightens people. To make matters worse, she has an embarrassing obsession with true crime. But when eligible bachelor Edmund Croaksworth comes to town, Beatrice promises her family she’ll be on her best behavior so that her sister may win Croaksworth’s heart. However, Croaksworth drops dead at the autumnal ball, and all bets are off. As the party descends into chaos, Beatrice partners with an alluring detective to find the killer before someone else gets hurt. This mystery is perfect for fans of Bridgerton and Pride & Prejudice.
When Ari and Josh first meet, the wrong kind of sparks fly. They hate each other instantly. Ari is the free-spirited kind of girl who takes gigs and never sleeps over after a hookup, and Josh dreams of cooking meals for The One in his spotless kitchen while he takes the culinary world by storm. They really only have one thing in common: They’re sleeping with the same woman.
Years later, Ari and Josh are both reeling from ego-bruising breakups, and a chance encounter leads to a surprising connection: friendship. As friends-without-benefits, they find comfort in late-night Netflix binges, swiping through each other’s online dating profiles, and bickering across boroughs. It’s better than romance. Until one night, the unspoken boundaries of their platonic relationship begin to blur.
Florence Day is the ghostwriter for one of the most prolific romance authors in the industry. She just has one problem: After a terrible breakup, she no longer believes in love. Her handsome new editor refuses to give her an extension on her deadline, and Florence fears she may have to kiss her career goodbye. Things take another turn when she receives a devastating call beckoning her back to the small town she left behind and has no desire to return to. When she eventually does return to the funeral parlor her family runs, she’s greeted by a literal ghost. And not just any ghost—it’s the ghost of her infuriatingly-handsome editor, who’s just as confused about why he’s there as she is.
Mika Moon is one of the few remaining witches in Britain. In order to keep her identity a secret, she keeps her head down and stays away from other witches so as not to draw attention. She does a pretty good job of this, save for the silly little online account she uses to post videos of herself pretending to be a witch. It’s a harmless joke, right? Wrong. Mika receives a mysterious message asking her to come to the Nowhere House to take over the teaching of three young witches. Despite this being a bad idea and going against the rules she (mostly) followed, Mika decides to go. Once there, Mika begins to view her new charges and the other residents of Nowhere House as a family of sorts. If only she didn’t have to deal with the librarian, Jamie, who can’t find it in himself to trust a newcomer.
Nightingale Books, nestled on the main street in an idyllic little village, is a dream come true for book lovers, but Emilia Nightingale is struggling to keep the shop open. She’s thinking of selling, but that would mean breaking the hearts of her most loyal customers.
There’s Sarah, who has used the bookshop as an escape in the past few years, but it now seems there’s a very specific reason for all those frequent visits. Next is roguish Jackson, who, after making a complete mess of his marriage, now looks to Emilia for advice on books for the son he misses so much. And the forever shy Thomasina, who has a crush on a man she met in the cookbook section but can hardly dream of working up the courage to admit her true feelings. How to Find Love in a Bookshop is the delightful story of Emilia, the unforgettable cast of customers whose lives she has touched, and the books they all cherish.
Garri Chaverst, Senior Managing Editor
As Senior Managing Editor of The Everygirl, Garri oversees the pitching, planning, and creation of all content. You might also find her name pop up as a contributor throughout the site, though she mostly works behind the scenes. Though comfortable writing a story on any topic at the drop of a hat, Garri shines in the pop culture sphere. If you’re looking for in-depth coverage of entertainment properties or book recommendations, she’s your girl.