Reading Recommendations: Autumn Reads
A new month means another batch of reading recommendations! September’s theme is Autumn reads! the books featured on this list make great cozy reads for the season. I hope you enjoy these picks!
As trees sway in the cool breeze, blue jays head south, and leaves change their colors, everyone knows–autumn is on its way!
Join a young girl as she takes a walk through forest and town, greeting all the signs of the coming season. In a series of conversations with every flower and creature and gust of wind, she says good-bye to summer and welcomes autumn.
This is a beautifully illustrated picture book by Pak which encapsulates the transition from Summer to Autumn. Watching the young girl (the main character) stroll through nature with a lyrical call-and-response dialogue was endearing to read. It may be sad to say goodbye to one season, but there is also the excitement of welcoming change for a new one. It’s a simplistic read that can be enjoyed by all ages and reminds me of why I love Autumn so much!
In a small back alley in Tokyo, there is a café which has been serving carefully brewed coffee for more than one hundred years. But this coffee shop offers its customers a unique experience: the chance to travel back in time.
But the journey into the past does not come without risks: customers must sit in a particular seat, they cannot leave the café, and finally, they must return to the present before the coffee gets cold . . .
Toshikazu Kawaguchi’s beautiful, moving story explores the age-old question: what would you change if you could travel back in time?
In this novel, readers are treated to the tale of a magical cafe that takes you to the past even if only for a moment in time. The novel has a great blend of fantasy and reality. The book focuses on different patrons and workers within the cafe and how their stories all intertwine with each other. This is a novel full of heart and it’s a bittersweet read as each character tries to find peace with their past. It’s well-written and very thought-provoking too. This novel’s charm is its world-building and characters. This cafe is a place that offers some comfort from a busy and harsh world.
Powerball winner Josie Morgan has learned the hard way that dating, in her financial situation, will only lead to heartbreak. She’s been perfectly happy living the single life and running the Pumpkin Everything country store. Too bad her mother can’t seem to take the hint. Unwilling to face another lineup of suitors and gold-diggers at this year’s Thanksgiving dinner, Josie opts to stay behind in Autumnboro to host a free meal for anybody without a place to go.
When Josie’s family turns up in Autumnboro, faking a relationship with funeral planner Riley Parker seems like the only way to make it through the holiday. Like every other man on Earth, Riley’s only interested in her money. So what if she has a teeny, tiny crush? If he agrees to help her out, she’ll gladly write him a check.
But as Thanksgiving draws closer, turkey and stuffing aren’t the only things heating up, and maybe money isn’t the only thing on Riley’s mind. Josie’s already hit the lottery once, dare she hope for anything more?
Maple Sugar Crush is a fluffy romance novel that channels all the goodness of a Hallmark romance film. This novel gave me all the Autumn feelings from the maple-flavored drinks to the lush scenery of the season. Autumnboro is a city that embodies the season it’s named after and the town embraces it fully. Josie, the main character, finds a bit of romance and also goes on a journey of self-discovery. She’s built up walls around everyone for so long and learns to open up to others for support. The romance is sweet and the buildup between her and Riley felt so natural.
North Carolina, 1863. As the American Civil War rages on, the Freedmen’s Colony of Roanoke Island is blossoming, a haven for the recently emancipated. Black people have begun building a community of their own, a refuge from the shadow of the old life. It is where the March family has finally been able to safely put down roots with four young daughters:
Meg, a teacher who longs to find love and start a family of her own. Jo, a writer whose words are too powerful to be contained. Beth, a talented seamstress searching for a higher purpose. Amy, a dancer eager to explore life outside her family’s home.
As the four March sisters come into their own as independent young women, they will face first love, health struggles, heartbreak, and new horizons. But they will face it all together.
What I really enjoyed about this version of Little Women is how it uses small bits and pieces of the original work but makes it into a novel that stands on its own. It’s about reckoning with history, overcoming tragedy, and these sisters grappling with the fact that they still have limitations to their freedom. These aspects really added to the historical parts and I can tell a lot of details came from heavy amounts of research. I think this is a novel for people who love Little Women and want to learn more about perspectives from a time of history where those types of stories have been omitted. (Review)
When Greg loses a shoe, Wirt must find a way to replace it, and fast if they want to avoid a repeat of the summer camp splinter incident. Luckily, it’s not long before they stumble upon Hollow Town, a hamlet populated entirely by wooden doll people, where Wirt finds work as a babysitter for the enigmatic Mrs. Clemence. However, the longer they stay in Hollow Town, the more it becomes clear that Hollow Town holds a sinister secret… The Emmy Award-winning series continues further into the Unknown with this brand-new Over the Garden Wall graphic novel.
As a huge fan of the TV series Over the Garden Wall, I knew I had to pick up this graphic novel set in the show’s universe. The story is layered with sub-plots, viewers have to decipher a mystery, and it has some deep metaphors as well. The same goes for Hollow Town, the illustrations have cozy autumn feeling with a eerie edge. The town itself is inhabited by wooden doll people more sinister than they first appear which adds to the constant suspense factors and thrills. A great read for those looking for a spooky read that is not too intense.
As all the other leaves float off and fly past, Little Yellow Leaf thinks, I’m not ready yet. As the seasons change all around, Little Yellow Leaf holds on to the tree. Still not ready. Will Little Yellow Leaf ever be ready? …
Another picture book on this list! The illustrations have a mixed media feel and look to them which made the reading experience more unique. This is a great book about Autumn but also is a metaphor for overcoming fear and the uncertainty of the unknown. I think that every reader can take away an important lesson from reading this book which I appreciated a lot. It motivates you to take a leap of faith and also to embrace change in your life. The Autumn imagery in this novel is so much fun!
That concludes my reading recommendations for Autumn reads! What books do you recommend or what are your favorites? Comment below!
I read your write-up on BEFORE THE COFFEE GETS COLD and remembered it was turned into a film.
I just found out about its movie adaptation so I can’t wait to watch it one day now that I’ve finished the book.