There’s nothing quite like those first telltale signs of fall. The weather starts getting colder, the sun starts setting earlier, and the leaves start changing color. There’s something magical about the start of the cozy season, and all that it brings: sweaters, jazz music, apple cider donuts, and pumpkin spice lattes, just to name a few.
While fall comes with plenty of excitement, the crisp air and shorter days also bring along a sense of nostalgia and melancholy. This is a very reflective time of year, with the holidays fast approaching. For many, this is the perfect time to rewatch a comfort show or movie. Others love to curl up with a good book and a warm blanket. You may even love to do both — I certainly do!
To help you get into the fall spirit, I’ve curated some book recommendations based on the vibes of some of the most popular shows and movies of the season. These books are a mix of cozy books, dark academia, Gothic literature, and all kinds of genres for whatever fall mood you’re in.
Gilmore Girls
Gilmore Girls is the quintessential fall comfort show. The heartfelt, cozy 2000s series follows the mother-daughter duo of Lorelai and Rory Gilmore. It’s set in the fictional small town of Stars Hollow, Connecticut. Although the series doesn’t only take place in fall, its cozy vibes have solidified it as a fall tradition.
If you want similar cozy small-town vibes with a big dash of romance, the BookTok phenomenon The Pumpkin Spice Café by Laurie Gilmore will not disappoint. It’s the first book in the bestselling Dream Harbor series, full of small-town cozy romance. You’ll love the grumpy x sunshine dynamic of the main characters, Jeanie and Logan, and the perfect autumnal setting. If you like The Pumpkin Spice Café, I’d also recommend checking out the other books in the Dream Harbor series for similar vibes and comfort!
Another book that features a touching family dynamic is Tom Lake by Ann Patchett. It follows Lara and her three adult daughters when they move back home during spring of 2020. At her daughters’ request, Lara starts to retell stories from her youth, and the family reexamines their own lives and relationships. Although not set in fall, Tom Lake feels nearly as cozy and whimsical as Gilmore Girls, and the mother-daughter relationships are sure to warm your heart.
Dead Poets Society
Set in 1959 at the elite boarding school Welton Academy, this moving coming-of-age film speaks to the power of poetry, art, and ideas. Much like the essence of dark academia, Mr. Keating encourages viewers to be brave enough to think and live freely. If you love the academic setting and focus of Dead Poets Society, you’ll likely enjoy any dark academia book, starting with this one.
Known as the defining dark academia novel, The Secret History by Donna Tartt has all of the same academic vibes that Dead Poets Society has. However, the novel takes a dark turn pretty quickly. If you love the academic vibes of an elite college and also love a darker mystery for the spooky season, The Secret History has you covered.
For a more fantastical setting and a critique of the issues with academia and elite institutions, I recommend Babel by R.F. Kuang. Set in Oxford with magic fueled by the power of translation, this novel has both the academic vibes and historical and cultural critique.
Twilight
During those gloomy fall days, the Twilight saga is simply unmatched. These movies bring just the right amount of paranormal tropes, teen drama, and romance. Plus, the angsty visual aesthetic is iconic.
If you’re simply crazy about vampires, I recommend challenging yourself to read Bram Stoker’s Dracula. It’s an iconic classic of Gothic literature for a reason, and it’s a great read for fall. While darker than Twilight, it has all of the same exciting vampire elements and a strong female lead. The epistolary style is innovative for its time, and it makes for a very interesting classic.
Knives Out
Knives Out has quickly become a modern classic, reinventing the whodunit murder mystery genre. Famed private detective Benoit Blanc is hired to investigate the death of a bestselling author. Featuring an eleven-actor ensemble cast of compelling characters, the movie blends comedy and suspense. The director, Rian Johnson, was inspired by Agatha Christie stories and their movie adaptations. He wanted to modernize the genre, and it’s safe to say that he did. It’s witty, thrilling, and relevant.
I would be remiss if I didn’t recommend anything by Agatha Christie. She is well known as the queen of the murder mystery. And Then There Were None is widely considered her best novel, and it’s a standalone with a compelling premise. There’s no detective character, but the mystery remains at the forefront of readers’ minds. While not necessarily as modern as Knives Out, it’s just as innovative, subversive, and witty.
If you love the compelling characters of Knives Out, the Gothic horror novel The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson will surely deliver. It’s supernatural horror rather than mystery, but still has elements of investigation. Fall is the perfect time to dig into this classic tale defining the haunted house story for years to come.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
A teenage girl fighting vampires in California, complete with sharp writing, witty banter, and captivating characters. The beloved genre-bending show Buffy the Vampire Slayer remains hilarious, fresh, and full of heart.
Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey may not have anything to do with vampires, but it’s just as full of heart and wit. If you love Buffy, chances are you’ll love Catherine Morland too. She’s seventeen and wrapped up in the allure of Gothic fiction. She is introduced to a young gentleman, Henry Tilney, who invites her to visit his family’s home, Northanger Abbey. When Catherine arrives, her imagination leads her to believe that things may be spookier than they seem. Austen satirizes Gothic novels and the result is the perfect fall classic — delightful, heartwarming, and fun.
Over the Garden Wall
This beloved animated dark fantasy limited series follows two brothers, Wirt and Greg, as they journey through a strange forest to find their way home. The series is whimsical and heartwarming, but also deeply profound and atmospheric. Every character is memorable, and the storytelling is unmatched. This is truly a show that can be enjoyed at any age.
If you love the cozy fantasy vibes of Over the Garden Wall, you’re sure to love Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree. It’s a low stakes cozy fantasy story following orc swordswoman and mercenary Viv pursuing her dream of opening a coffee shop. The slice-of-life tale certainly lives up to its BookTok hype with its wholesome, lighthearted vibes. There’s also a hint of romance.
Another cozy book you’ll love is Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett. The book follows Emily Wilde, an intelligent but introverted scholar of faeries. Her research takes her to a village where she must also face her academic rival, Wendell Bambleby. The story is atmospheric, cozy, and wholesome with a bit of light academia too.
Practical Magic
This romantic fantasy film follows Sally and Gillian Owens, sisters descended from a long line of witches. The sisters are taken in by their aunts, hone their practical magic. As they grow into adults, they must learn to navigate their abilities. The film quickly became a “cult classic” that has all those spooky but also cute vibes for fall.
If you’re looking for a book with similar vibes, look no further than The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna. This book is cozy and magical, following the young isolated witch Mika Moon as she travels to the mysterious Nowhere House. This book has found family, a dash of wholesome romance, and all the best vibes.
A slightly darker book series that’s still heartwarming and magical is the Nevermoor series by Jessica Townsend. These middle grade books can truly be enjoyed by older readers too, following cursed child Morrigan Crow who is brought to the mysterious Wundrous Society. These books truly have all the vibes!
Sit back, relax, and get cozy!
Whether you’ve been hoping to tackle your fall watchlist, your TBR, or both, fall is a great time to dive into a new book. Grab a warm cup of coffee or cider, find somewhere cozy to sit, and pick up that book you’ve been meaning to read all year or a beloved classic. I hope these recommendations inspire you to make time for more reading — or rewatch your favorite autumnal movies and shows!
