Cosy autumn books to curl up with

Such is the excitement around YouTube star Lucy Jane Wood's cosy fantasy, that when she announced it, it flew to number one on the Amazon book chart on pre-orders alone. And this Autumn, it's finally here. Balancing work at her beloved Lunar Books and concealing her witchcraft from the non-witches around her has left Belle burnt out. But when her thirtieth birthday brings a summons from her coven, 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.

With one book set in each season, Business Casual is the autumn installment of TikTok favorite B.K. Borison's Lovelight series. Top executive Charlie Milford is tempted when Nova Porter proposes a no-strings-attached night to settle their mutual attraction. But their explosive night leaves Nova wanting more, especially with Charlie temporarily overseeing Lovelight Farms in their small town of Inglewild. With a meddling community, close quarters, and a mischievous duckling, their plans take unexpected turns. Business Casual can be read as part of the series, or enjoyed as a standalone novel.

Nothing says autumn like cottagecore and The Spellshop encapsulates just that. As the librarian at the Great Library of Alyssium, Kiela has spent years away from people, safeguarding magical spellbooks with her sentient spider plant, Caz. But when revolution strikes and the library burns, Kiela and Caz flee to Kiela's childhood island, only to find it in chaos. Determined to restore the island's fading magic, Kiela opens a spellshop despite the lethal risks of sharing magic with commoners. But as she begins to integrate with the townspeople and rebuild her life, she must also confront her own emotional barriers.

Pumpkinheads is a full-color graphic novel about two teens on their final shift at the best pumpkin patch in Omaha. Deja and Josiah have spent every autumn working together – now, they face their last Halloween at the patch and their final goodbye. Josiah is set on a melancholy farewell, but Deja has other plans. Determined to make their last night unforgettable, she proposes an adventure filled with sights, snacks, and a chance for Josiah to finally talk to the girl he’s had a crush on for years. Pumpkinheads is a swoony romance celebrating friendship and the bittersweet joy of leaving a place – and a person – with no regrets.

What better way to celebrate autumn than with a poem for every day of the season. In A Poem for Every Autumn Day you will find verse that will transport you to vibrant autumnal scenes, from harvest festival to Remembrance Day. Perfect for reading aloud and sharing with all the family, this book dazzles with an array of familiar favourites and remarkable new discoveries. These seasonal poems – together with introductory paragraphs – have a link to the date on which they appear.

Autumn is the first installment in Ali Smith's prize-winning seasonal quartet. Set in contemporary Britain, the story follows the relationship between an elderly man, who reflects on his past, and a young woman deeply affected by his wisdom and presence. As the seasons change, their bond evolves, highlighting the contrasts between past and present, and exploring the impact of art and memory on their lives. Smith's lyrical prose captures the essence of autumn as both a literal and metaphorical season of transformation.

If there ever was a season for dark academia, autumn would certainly be it. And Donna Tartt's debut is dark academia's origin story, frequently cited as the founding novel of the genre. An increasing sense of unease throbs through this unsettling elite college-set thriller, even though we know from the start how it's going to end. A group of (apparently) wealthy students, brought together by their eccentric classics professor, live an increasingly socially isolated, decadent lifestyle, which soon becomes murderous.