If you’re looking for the ultimate fall reading list, complete with mystery, heart, and uninterrupted escapism, you’re in luck. Whether you’re a fan of dark psychological mysteries, historical fiction, or sprawling fantasy series, these books will keep you hooked as the days get cooler and nights feel longer.

The Silent Patient

Hands down, one of the best books I’ve ever read – and I’ve read a lot of books. In the 368 pages, author Alex Michaelides successfully takes you down many twists and turns, some of which are shocking, some slightly gruesome, and some downright creepy. The Silent Patient is the ultimate fall, Halloween read, as the writing leaves you looking over your shoulder, even if you’re reading it alone in your bed…

The Silent Patient, a fictional mystery thriller, tells the story of Alicia Berenson, a famous painter married to a well-known fashion photographer named Gabriel. They seem to have it all, from the perfect marriage, to close friends, to a beautiful home in London. That is, until Alicia shoots Gabriel five times in the face – and never speaks another word.

Criminal psychotherapist Theo Faber is intrigued by Alicia’s story, and begins working with her as his patient, where he’s determined to get her to talk. But, the mystery begins to consume him (along with you, dear reader) causing the line between fact and fiction to become blurry, if not downright invisible.

The ending is too good to reveal even a snippet of, so all I’ll say is that that a book has never managed to surprise me quite like this one. If you’re interested in thriller mysteries, and even if you’re not, read this book – I guarantee you won’t regret it (and you’ll have far too much to think about).

The Book Thief

I know, we probably all read this book in middle school, but it’s time to give it a re-read with our slightly more developed prefrontal cortexes. The underlying themes throughout the book – literacy, power, love, hate, death, grief – carry important, lesson-worthy undertones.

This is also a great read for this time of the year, because, I mean, Death is the narrator. In the first few pages, Death discusses the color of the sky it prefers when collecting souls. “I like a chocolate-colored sky. Dark, dark chocolate,” it says. So inevitably, since the first time I read the book in 8th grade, I’ve associated The Book Thief with chocolate and the color brown – clearly a fall staple.

In this piece of historical fiction, author Markus Zusak follows the story of Liesel, a young girl in Germany, 1939 during the height of World War II. She steals a book by her brother’s grave, which becomes a love affair with literature – and thievery – at a time when book burnings were more common than not. Liesel’s foster family then goes on to hide a Jewish man named Max, speaking on the important intersection between knowledge, the human condition, and the importance of kindness.

Beyond telling an incredible story, The Book Thief is full of stunning imagery and Death’s unique point of view, taking the book to a more intimate, emotional level. Death’s observations bring a layer of intimacy and reflection and leave a slightly spooky feeling behind when you think about it too hard.

The Throne of Glass Series

I’m sure you’ve heard of Sarah J. Maas, or even this eight-book series from TikTok. By this point, BookTok has even begun to influence me, and I’ve never once had the app downloaded. I read Maas’s A Court of Thorns and Roses series back in highschool, and was immediately obsessed. The romance and fantasy mix, while also having the whimsical qualities of something like Harry Potter drew me in, and The Throne of Glass series is no different.

The fantasy series follows Celaena Sardothien, an assassin in a land from which magic has been erased. The series, each book getting longer and longer (and more interesting!) along the way, tells her story – from seeking her freedom, to plenty of romance (and yes, there are some spicy scenes), to fighting for a better world, as they always do in these fantasy novels. The intersecting plot lines between characters keeps the series interesting, and you’ve got plenty of love stories, sidequests, and backstories to capture your imagination.

This fall read falls slightly on the ~cozier~ side, because with the length of the books and Maas’s ability to fully draw you into the story, the best thing to do is curl up with a mug of hot cocoa (or glass of wine) and wrap yourself in a warm blanket at the end of the day. This series definitely requires a full, immersive reading experience – so don’t forget some snacks.

While I know the hardest thing about the fall may be actually finding time to sit down and find time to read, each of these books are worth whatever spare time you’ve got. If you’re looking for a creepy, psychological mystery, The Silent Patient will leave you questioning reality. The Book Thief, an introspective, deep read narrated by Death, brings up a more nuanced conversation of what it means to be human. The Throne of Glass series (yes, all eight!) is your cozy, romantic go-to, with more than enough plot lines and books to get you through not just fall, but maybe a season or two – and it’s so worth it.

Happy reading!

Sweater Weather: Cozy Up With These Fall Reads.