Last year, I embraced the spooky and thrilling aspects of fall. This year, I want to capture the other face of the season with a curated selection of novels that evoke the cozy charm of autumn. Think baking pumpkin pie, apple-cinnamon candles, Arctic Monkeys, and “Gilmore Girls.” That’s right—this list will guide you into a dreamy, cozy fall escape. While these books may not be set in the fall, their storytelling is so rich and enchanting that you’ll feel transported to a world that embodies the essence of the season.
#1
Mary Jane
by Jessica Anya Blau
In Baltimore, circa 1970, Mary Jane Dillard grew up in a strict household where her individualism and self-expression were buried deep beneath the person her mother wished her to be. From a very young age, she was taught the ‘essentials’ her mother believes a girl—a soon-to-be woman—must go into life knowing: cooking, cleaning, dressing modestly, etc. What awaits her this summer is a complete and utter makeover, somewhat physically and largely mentally.
Mr.Cone is a renowned celebrity psychiatrist and with the assignment he took on this summer, he needs all hands on deck dedicated to his patient. His wife, too. Leading the family to an essential household addition – a babysitter for Bea, their youngest. Who better than Mary Jane, a responsible and more-than-capable teenage girl? As summer days fly past, the striking differences between Mary Jane’s family and the Cones only grow more prominent. The question lingers: Will Mary Jane’s upbringing withstand the influence of the Cones, or will it yield to the eccentric charm of this unconventional family?
(Coming-of-age, Historical Fiction, Humorous Fiction)
Trigger Warnings: Mention of Drugs and Sex.
This book deserves to be turned into a movie. It gave me the deepest form of nostalgia reading this novel because it felt like watching a 2000’s comedy alike The Princess Diaries. Smoother than butter is the only way to describe this book’s gripping flow of action. A classic coming-of-age story done perfectly.
This novel can only be described as a dose of serotonin. For example, one of the best passages portraying the novel’s feeling of a buoyant life is spoken by Bea’s father, the psychiatrist: “Great food, great music, and great fun. Don’t ever let anyone tell you that fun isn’t important because, damn, Mary Jane, if there’s one thing I’ve learned in my strange life, it’s that fun counts.” Re-reading this once again brings me back to the feeling evoked of “I could do anything because life should be enjoyed”. And if that isn’t the feeling you want from an autumn read, then I don’t know what is.
Similarly, this book gave me all the warm and heartfelt sentiments an autumn book should. From the constant familial messages sprinkled throughout, such as the one I mentioned above, to the cozy portrayals of their daily habits as a family, the sense of belonging and connection to the characters grew ever so strongly as I continued reading. I felt like a member of their family, almost as if I was Bea’s sibling, sitting right there next to her, eating dinner with the Cones.
Lastly, how could I forget to mention music’s importance in this book? If you are a 60’s to 70’s music geek, this book should be considered your bible. All through, songs were name-dropped (such as Maxwell’s Silver Hammer by The Beatles), allowing the reader to listen along—a genius-level method of teleporting the reader into the book done by Blau. If I am being honest, whenever Mary Jane describes how music liberated her, I feel it myself. Even if sometimes they were letting loose, singing, shouting, and dancing around their kitchen counter while I was in bed at 2:00 AM reading the novel under my covers.
#2
Carrie Sotto Is Back
by Taylor Jenkins Reid
If you don’t know of Soto, then get to know. Known as the formidable “Battle Axe,” she makes an entrance onto the court that shakes the very ground. A powerhouse, Carrie Soto is no ordinary tennis player. She is the best tennis player in the world, with more than 16 Grand Slams.
Those glory days seem like a distant memory now. But, when British newcomer Nicki Chan inches closer to Soto’s record-holding Grand Slam wins, Soto itches for another win. Driven by her pride and honor, Soto returns from retirement and duel once again. Every passing day brings Chan closer to conquering Soto’s record, and it’s in Soto’s tennis-blistered hands whether she will stand a chance against the new generation of tennis players or endure losing her legacy.
(Coming-of-age, Historical Fiction)
Trigger Warnings: Mentions of Alcohol, Ageism.
I would like to premise this with the fact that I believe that Taylor Jenkins Reid is the Goddess of fiction. Forever and always, I promise to read everything she puts out. Whether it be a memoir, a new fiction novel, or even a grocery list. Any one of her books is worth picking up, and I encourage every single one of you to give her books a try.
Now, some grew up playing basketball, others football—American or European, your choice—and others track and field. But I was a tennis kid. So imagine my delight when one of my favorite authors (Jenkins, my lord and savior especially) announced she would write a book about tennis, and not just any type of book, but one full of perseverance, competition, and revenge. Obsessed is an understatement for my initial reaction.
From the very first pages, talking about Carrie Soto’s upbringing with her father and the rigorous lifestyle she underwent, all the way to the actual introduction of her in the setting of the high-ranking tournament, the novel is captivating. It felt like a documentary. It felt believable and for a tennis fanatic like myself, it felt like finally getting an insight into the hardships of professional tennis or sports in general. For example, this is a minuscule excerpt from Soto’s mindset: “If you’re not willing to push yourself to the absolute limit, you’re wasting everyone’s time—including your own.”
Jenking’s style of engulfing the audience with the spirit of her characters through their inner monologue is brilliant. Soto’s brutal honesty and pure essence are intoxicating, as you can see in this fragment of her inner monologue: “My ambition has long felt oppressive. It is not a joy—it is a master that I must answer to, a smoke that descends into my life, making it hard to breathe. It is only my discipline, my willingness to push myself harder, that has been my way through.” Beyond just telling us how Soto feels through words like “motivated” or “excited”, we are transported into Soto’s body for a second or two.
Now, worry no more if you feel overwhelmed by the tennis setting and lack knowledge on the topic. In the beginning chapters, Jenkins smoothly introduces newcomers to tennis by sublimely introducing score tracking, court rules, and specific diction.
#3
Better Than The Movies
by Lynn Painter
Liz Buxbaum is the picture-perfect hopeless romantic. Kisses in the pouring rain. Midnight calls ‘till the breaking of dawn. Meet-cutes at corner-shop cafes. Oh, what a dreamy life for Liz May. Only these beautiful events happen in the movies she watches, hoping one day it will turn from HD television into reality.
Michael is back in town. Ever since they were children Liz has been longing for more than a glance from him, however, he moved away before she could confess her undying love. Now that he is back, it seems he only sees her as a pal. A friend. Merely more than confidant. Wes, her annoying, beyond obnoxious neighbor, strikes a deal with Liz to help her capture the heart of her prince charming, Michael, in exchange for a favor of his choosing. The more Liz and Wes scheme towards one happy ending for Liz, Michael, the more another happily ever after becomes clear for Liz, unexpectedly Wes.
(Young Adult, Romance,)
Trigger Warnings: Alcohol, Smoking, Emesis.
Cute. Adorable. Heartwarming. This is the type of book you pick up and get caught reading on the floor with your feet kicking in the air. The cold truth is: If you are not a fan of romance movies and cliches, you won’t enjoy this. However, if you loved movies like 10 Things I Hate About You or When Harry Met Sally you will savor this book with every word read and every page turned. By the end, you will be the one holding a boombox to Lynn Painter’s window, begging for a sequel (which was released on September 24).
My favorite aesthetic detail about the novel has to be the ‘intermission’ quotes that Painter includes at the beginning of each chapter. Specifically, you start every chapter reading a famous movie quote from a classic rom-com movie which then matches up with the action that awaits you in Liz’s and Wes’s story. It is a trepidation that is unlike any other because, having watched so many rom-coms all my life, it felt like reliving each one when a quote would appear. It truly feels like this book is a sequel to every perfect rom-com ever made, however, on paper, of course, and in a more contemporary light. To give you a little glimpse of joy, as soon as you open this book, you are greeted with the prologue accompanied by this quote: ‘I am just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her’ (Notting Hill, 1999).
Now, focusing on Wes’s and Liz’s story, they are the epitome of an artsy and quiet girl who meets an outspoken and social guy. Wes is funny to the point where I warn you: you will have to cover your face with your book to pretend you were not just giggling because of words printed on paper. And Liz is the type of character you want to make cookies. They are picture-perfect comfort characters. And it’s undeniable that their personalities, although theoretically should clash, make the perfect smoothie of wittiness and banter you would expect from a romance novel.
What truly sets Better Than the Movies apart is how well Lynn Painter captures the feeling of nostalgia for rom-com lovers while creating something fresh and modern. You truly get everything in just one novel: tension, drama, childhood nemesis, butterflies, and lots and lots of jealousy. Painter’s writing style is light and breezy, perfectly matching the tone of the novel. If you’re tired of rewatching the same rom-com for the hundredth time this fall, pick up Better Than The Movies. It’s a book that flows just as effortlessly and quickly as your favorite movie.
#3
The Bodyguard
by Katherine Center
Hannah Brooks is a fierce bodyguard. She may look like the average librarian in your small town, but she is capable of gruesome martial arts. She has defended significant figures ranging from oil company CEOs to famous cowboys. Every time, she follows a strict set of rules: no bonding with the employer, no personal information sharing with the employer, and most importantly, no fraternizing with the employer. Only her rules seem to bend when it comes to hotshot movie star Jack Stapleton.
Jack’s mother has recently fallen ill and he must return to the small Texas ranch his family runs. He is soon to star in a brand new movie, leading his agent to the extent of hiring a personal security guard to ensure the stalker threat has been resurfacing and stays drowned beneath the surface. Enter Hannah Brooks. The two must pretend they are happily dating in hopes of not causing further stress upon Jack’s family. Lines begin blurring. Hearts begin mending into one another. And Hannah Brooks may soon find herself letting her guard down for Jack.
(Contemporary Romance, Romance, Humour)
Trigger Warnings: Physical Injury, Domestic Violence.
Everyone has a celebrity crush (I know it, and you know it), so for this novel, you’re encouraged to picture Jack, our movie star protagonist, as whichever Hemsworth brother you fancy.
This book is like drinking ice water after chewing mint gum—refreshingly different. There’s nothing more invigorating than a fierce female bodyguard in a world typically filled with white knights, grand gestures, and blushing princesses. Hannah Brooks will not swoon at the sight of roses and most definitely will not handwrite letters about her forever love for Jack. Instead, as expected, she will have a strength battle with Jack and high-kick anyone looking at him the wrong way. Above all, though, she will never ever in a million years date one of her clients…
On the other hand, Jack is an absolute golden retriever. The way he feels larger-than-life and maintains playful banter with Hannah makes him swoon-worthy. Likewise, I found a very strong sense of resilience in Jack, which, at times, was quite inspiring. With his ability to balance his sense of wit and joke alongside his societal and familial pressure, Jack will truly remind you about how important it is to keep your head up.
The book is easy to follow and very easy to enjoy. There is not one slow moment where you will gravitate towards your phone because this book has it all. Katherine Center balances between the action and romance genres so carefully that this novel truly is a perfect mix of romance that blends action, humor, and heartfelt moments. The “fake dating” trope is executed brilliantly, leading to genuine connection and heart-fluttering chemistry moments. My only complaint would be that towards the end the plot does take some unexpected twists and turns that had my heart palpitating for a few good minutes, but by the end, I realized it was just part of the fun of this romance-action, or ‘romtion’, genre. “Sometimes the best protection is letting someone in,” Hannah, our lead female, reflects, encapsulating the book’s core themes of vulnerability and trust.
I encourage you to have these books on hand, ready for those moments when the rain starts pouring, “Escapism” by Raye begins playing, and you find yourself cradling a pumpkin spice latte. Who knows—your other hand might just be longing for that perfect piece of literature to accompany you through this beautiful fall season.