23 Books Set in Fall That’ll Make You Want to Jump in a Pile of Leaves

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I don’t know if I’ve ever mentioned this on the blog before (I really want to write a whole post just about this), but I am such a mood reader. 

Whenever I put together a reading list, sometimes I actually stick to it, but more often than not, one book inspires me to go off on a tangent and I totally forget about the list I made.

That’s because I really read based on my mood – little things spark my reading choices. Maybe it’s a random topic, an Instagram post I stumble on, but especially the weather. 

Whenever the weather shifts, I suddenly feel the urge to read books that are set in that particular season. This usually carries me for about two weeks before I drop the trend and move on to the next thing.

So, for this fall, I decided to put together a list of my favorite books that are set in autumn – some I’ve already read and enjoyed, and some I’m really looking forward to. 

I’ll be updating this post as the season goes on, as new books get released, or when I remember old favorites (or come across great recommendations from other authors and bloggers).

If you’re like me and you love reading books that match the season – or if you’re looking to fill your fall reading list – you might find some inspiration here. 

And if you’re doing a reading challenge and need a book for an autumn vibes prompt, feel free to pick any of my recommendations. 

Wrong Place Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister

This book made me feel so deeply for a mother who just wants to save her son. It’s such a beautiful but painful story of love and second chances set during chilly autumn nights. 

Jen sees her teenage son stab a stranger one Halloween night and her life falls apart in an instant. 

But the next morning, everything is different. She wakes up and it’s the day before the murder. 

And then the day before that. Each time she wakes, she’s further back in time, slipping deeper into the past, trying to find the moment where everything started to go wrong. 

I kept wondering how far a mother would go to change fate and if I’d have the courage she did.

The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling

Vivi is a witch who once cursed her terrible ex after a bad breakup (with a scented candle no less) thinking it wouldn’t actually do anything serious. 

But when her ex-boyfriend Rhys comes back to their charming little town, all sorts of magical disasters start happening – haunted wind-up toys, talking cats, even vengeful ghosts. 

It’s messy, spooky, and full of tension between Vivi and Rhys, but also so sweet and playful. 

Honestly, this gave me cozy Halloween movie vibes mixed with the glow of twinkle lights at a fall festival. 

I love when a book feels like both a little mischief and a little love all rolled into one.

Picture Perfect Autumn by Shelley Noble

Dani is on the rise as a Manhattan photographer, but something feels missing and I loved how real that felt.

Like when you’ve reached something you wanted, but your heart is still searching. 

Then she stumbles on some old, mysterious photos that pull her into a quiet seaside town in Rhode Island.

And that’s where autumn truly blooms in this story – with an old, crumbling beach house and an even older man named Lawrence, who’s been bitter and closed off for years. 

Their odd little friendship gave me such a warm feeling.

They are two lost people teaching each other how to see life differently. And then his grandson Peter arrives, suspicious and prickly, but not quite who Dani expected. 

It’s gentle and thoughtful and full of that crisp, quiet autumn feeling. Like old sweaters and slow sunsets by the sea, I loved how patient this story was how it shows the need to let things grow soft and slow.

The Pumpkin Spice Café by Laurie Gilmore

I smiled so much reading this, because it’s the perfect warm hug of a book for fall, full of cozy cafés, small-town charm, and pumpkin spice everything. 

Jeanie moves to Dream Harbor to take over her aunt’s beloved café, hoping for a fresh start far away from her boring old life. 

But Logan, the local grumpy farmer, isn’t exactly thrilled by the bubbly new girl in town. 

I adore this grumpy-sunshine kind of romance – Logan is brooding and quiet while Jeanie is all warmth and sparkles. Their chemistry is impossible to ignore. 

There are found family vibes, lots of gossip, and that sweet autumn feeling of starting over. 

Honestly, if I could visit Dream Harbor for real, I’d be first in line for one of Jeanie’s pumpkin lattes.

Autumn by Ali Smith

This is a quiet story about Daniel, who’s very old, and Elisabeth, who’s young, as they share memories and thoughts in a world that feels both confusing and beautiful. 

It’s set in the time after the UK’s big Brexit vote, when everything felt uncertain and changing, like the weather in autumn. 

The writing is soft and full of questions about time, friendship, art, and what matters most in life. 

This isn’t the kind of book you rush through – it feels like walking slowly through a forest, letting the crisp air fill your lungs, wondering where the path will lead.

How Sweet It Is by Dylan Newton

I love when opposites attract, and this one has such a delightful angle. 

Kate is a cheerful event planner who usually does dreamy weddings, but now she’s stuck organizing a book launch for Drake, a famous horror writer who’s tired of being scary. 

Of course, their first meeting is a disaster (she accidentally hurts him), but the spark between them is instant and impossible to ignore. 

I smiled the whole time because they’re both such lovable messes. 

It’s light, romantic, and full of awkward, sweet moments and I think this book would be so fun to read when you need cheering up on a gloomy fall day.

Nine Liars by Maureen Johnson

Stevie is feeling lost at school when she gets whisked off to London and right into a murder mystery from 1995.

I loved the creepy old house setting – the fog, the secrets, the sense that everyone’s hiding something. 

Nine friends went into the woods that night, but only seven came out alive. And the killer might still be among them. 

So spooky, and nd Stevie’s sharp mind made it even more fun. 

This one is a perfect book for when the wind’s howling outside and you want to solve a puzzle by the fire.

In Her Pumpkin Patch by Alina Jacob

Penny loves autumn – she lives for Halloween, pumpkin treats, and spooky fun. But Garrett? He’s grumpy, cold, and totally hates the season. 

Their banter was hilarious, and I loved how Penny kept trying to make him like fall just a little bit more.

There’s even a hearse, a black cat named Salem, creepy twins, and a haunted Victorian house. 

It’s a little ridiculous but in the best way. This book made me want to grab a cozy blanket, sip hot cider, and forget the real world for a while.

Just Don’t Fall by Emma St. Clair

This one warmed my heart so much – it’s the perfect second-chance, small-town fall romance. 

Parker has to work with Logan, the guy who broke her teenage heart and vanished from her life years ago. 

Now he’s back, grumpy and gorgeous, playing for the local hockey team after an injury. 

Their fake-dating situation made me smile (those TikTok scenes were so fun!) but also made my heart ache a little, because old feelings never really stay buried, do they?

I loved the sweetness, the slow burn, and the feeling of maybe getting your first love back again.

Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman

Sisters Sally and Gillian grew up different and everyone in town knew it. 

Their family’s magic made them outcasts, whispered about behind closed doors. And all they wanted was to escape that small-town life.

But when tragedy strikes, the sisters are drawn back home to each other, to old secrets, and to the strange quiet power of magic itself. 

There’s something so autumn-like in this story – the sense of endings and beginnings, of fading light and hidden warmth.

It made me think of moonlit nights and old spells whispered in the dark. A little sad, a little sweet, full of family, forgiveness, and love that never really dies. 

Don’t forget to let me know which autumn-set books you’re planning to give a chance.

I promise, all the ones I’ve shared in this post are absolutely amazing and I just know you’re going to enjoy reading them too.