Top 5 Tuesday || Cozy Fall Reads

Last week, I got a little excited, and maybe a bit over the top about fantasy books. What can I say? It’s my favorite genre!

This week, though, we’re going to dial it back, and stick to the great prompt from Shanah @ Bionic Bookworm: comfy, cozy fall reads!

The House in Poplar Wood by KE Ormsbee

This MG murder mystery was so wonderful with its emphasis on family, truth, and that sweet fall air. It actually begins right around Halloween, and goes through the month of November, for that peak late fall content. Plus, it’s got such a great cover! It really has that moody October day vibe to it.

The Diviners Series by Libba Bray

I’m talking about this series A TON this week, but honestly, I feel like it’s warranted. If you’re looking to get cozy with some ghosts and to hide under a blanket, these are the books for it! Spooky murder mystery abounds, and sinister things are afoot! I really should reread this close to Halloween every year, I think.

Strange Grace by Tessa Gratton

Strange Grace is newly released as of last week, and I was just delighted with its eerie nature when I read it as an ARC! It’s filled with an unsettling forest, dark omens, and terrible power that makes it a fantastic read for those gloomy fall days where everything is just a little darker than usual.

The Lie Tree by Frances Hardinge

This is one of the few reads I’ve struggled to wrap my words around, but that’s because Hardinge did such an incredible job of unsettling expectations and turning something that could have been entirely realistic into something with a touch of darker magic. The consequences of using the Lie Tree grow heavier and heavier, and the work that must be done to reverse the mistakes the main character makes takes great effort. It’s not a fun and cozy read, and it is set during the summer, but the darker nature of the book makes it fitting for fall.

Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson

With school in full swing, and a murder mystery afoot, I think Truly Devious makes a fantastic fall read! The format of the book, told both in prose and investigation transcripts, plus some flashbacks, was a joy for me to read, and the twisty, riddle-filled premise had me completely hooked. I’m so excited for The Vanishing Stair to be released, but in the meantime, this makes for a phenomenal fall read. There’s just the right amount of school and murder for it!

What are you favorite fall reads? Any in particular that I missed, ones that totally should have made the list?