The humidity has left us, apple cider donuts are now on sale, Starbucks has brought out the infamous PSL — it’s fall, folks. Fall is the perfect time to curl up on the couch with your favorite pumpkin/apple-flavored treat and escape to another land. Here are the 10 books you need to read this fall.
1. A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
By far the most charming book I have read in a while. Following the story of Ove, a curmudgeon of a man who’s lost his wife and nearly lost his will to live who is forced to continue on as life gets in the way. A quick and unforgettable read. Anything by Frederick Backman is worth a read.
2. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by JK Rowling, Jack Thorne & John Tiffany
For any millennial who still hasn’t come to terms with the end of the “Harry Potter” series, this will reignite your love of all things magical once again. Because it is a play script, it goes very quickly, and sends the read on a roller coaster of emotions in just over 300 pages.
3. Me Before You, by JoJo Moyes
A handsome man, a down-on-her-luck 20-something, and England. What more could you want? This heartwrenching page turner packs a punch — be prepared for some serious ugly crying!
4. The Girl on the Train, by Paula Hawkins
If you haven’t read this yet, it’s time to get on board. (See what I did there?) Girlfriend is super creepy and has a serious drinking problem, but you can’t help but love her. I also am now way more aware of who I stare at (or who is staring at me) on the train.
5. Go Set A Watchman by Harper Lee
It’s certainly not easy to deal with “To Kill a Mockingbird’s” beloved Atticus being a racist, but it’s worth it. We get to see Scout all grown up, returning home to an eye-opening experience with the racism in her life.
6. Inside the O’Briens, by Lisa Genova
Set in Boston, this story tells a very raw account of a family who is faced with the fear of having Huntington’s Disease, a fatal genetic disorder that causes the progressive breakdown of nerve cells in the brain. Joe is a Boston cop with a family living in Charlestown, and is faced one day with the reality that he has this terrifying disease. As his disease progresses, his children face the same fear.
7. All the Light We Cannot See, by Anthony Doerr
This story follows Marie-Laurie, a young girl living in Paris during World War II who loses her sight at the age of 6. When the Nazi’s invade, she and her father are forced to flee, carrying the Museum of Natural History’s most valuable and dangerous jewel.
8. Orphan Train, by Christina Bakerline
Set in the late 1800s/early 1900s, The Orphan Train follows Vivian Daly, a passenger on the Orphan Train, as she tries to navigate in an unfamiliar part of the country. The Orphan Train Movement was a supervised welfare program that transported orphaned and homeless children from crowded eastern cities to less populated western towns.
9. Before the Fall, by Noah Hawley
Following a plane crash off of Martha’s Vineyard, we learn the stories of the 11 people on board — 10 very well-off people and one struggling painter, as two survivors attempt to deal with the traumatic experience.
10. The Boys in the Boat, by Daniel James Brown
“The Boys in the Boat” follows the true story of nine Americans who learned how to live life during the Great Depression through the hard work of rowing for the University of Washington. It’s unusual and captivating, a great Sunday afternoon read.
