Books that *Treat*
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Hello readers,
And welcome to part two of fall book recommendations! If last week’s round-up was too spooky for your taste, then let me present:
Books that treat.
Or, books that feel like a reassuring hug, best enjoyed curled up by the fire (or YouTube ambience if you’re fireplace-less like me) with a warm beverage. I broke down this round-up into three categories: Books with elements of magic, love, and quintessential comfort. (Again, some books fall into more than one, or even all three, categories, so take these labels with a grain of salt!)
Something that I love about the evolution of Fall Internet Culture over the years is the normalization that embracing fall doesn’t only involve horror and Halloween (though I do love both of those elements!). If that’s not your thing, you can still get into the vibes and enjoy this nostalgic season by decorating for comfort, slowing down and taking more time to unwind, and enjoying the freshness of the weather changing (whenever the weather actually changes in your area, of course).
The books in this round-up are my current favorite comfort reads, and I hope you’ll pick one up as a way to savor this season! Now, as I type this with a cup of tea and Gilmore Girls on in the background, let’s get into the round-up:
A dose of magic
The Unmaking of June Farrow by Adrienne Young: A woman risks everything to end her family’s centuries-old curse, solve her mother’s disappearance, and find love.
The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna: An isolated witch gets an opportunity to embrace a quirky new family and a new love that ultimately changes the course of her life.
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig: Somewhere beyond the edge of the universe, there is a library that contains an infinite number of books, each with a story of another reality. A woman finds herself faced with the decision of what is truly fulfilling in life, and what makes it worth living in the first place.
Magic Lessons by Alice Hoffman: Set in the 1600s, this is the story of Maria Owens and the origin of a centuries-old curse, beginning with Maria’s exposure to the “Nameless Arts” and culminating to the lesson she will carry with her for the rest of her life: Love is the only thing that matters.
This is the first prequel in the Practical Magic series but can be read as a stand-alone!
The Rules of Magic by Alice Hoffman: The sequel to Magic Lessons, this is the story of Susanna and her three unique children (two of whom will grow up to be the memorable aunts in the beloved classic Practical Magic) who learn that the only remedy for being human is to be true to yourself.
This can also be read as a stand-alone, or as part of the Practical Magic series in publication or chronological orders. In my opinion, this one shines more as a sequel to Magic Lessons!)
The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling: An adorably charming novel about a witch who casts an innocent Ex Hex on the man who broke her heart, only to learn that the hex may not have been so harmless after all.
A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab: A dazzling world of parallel Londons where magic thrives, starves, or lies forgotten, and where power can destroy just as quickly as it can create. This is a great intro for newbies to the fantasy genre!
A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas: I wouldn’t normally recommend a sequel in a book round-up, however I can’t NOT recommend this follow-up to A Court of Thorns and Roses. No synopsis to avoid spoilers but seriously, read the first book and follow it with this one immediately after!
Grave Expectations by Alice Bell: A burnt-out Millennial medium must utilize her ability to see ghosts teams up with a band of oddball investigators to figure out which member of a well-to-do English family are guilty of murder.
A dose of love
The Flat Share by Beth O’Leary: A joyful, quirky rom-com about finding love in the most unexpected of ways: Sharing an apartment with someone you’ve never met. Perfect for fans of British humor!
When in Rome by Sarah Adams: A pop star ends up stranded in small town Kentucky and starts to fall for not only the cozy town, but also her grumpy tour guide. Grumpy/sunshine trope at its finest!
Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren: Childhood sweethearts reconnect by chance in this heartwarming story, alternating between Then and Now. A sweet, touching love story with emotional depth.
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab: In 1700s France, a young woman makes a Faustian bargain to live forever in a moment of desperation—and is cursed to be forgotten by everyone she meets. But everything changes when after nearly 300 years, a young man in a bookstore remembers her name.
Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid: Written as an oral history of one of the biggest bands of the seventies, this is a story about the whirlwind rise of an iconic rock group, their beautiful lead singer, and the mystery behind the group’s infamous breakup at their peak of fame.
The Star-Crossed Sisters of Tuscany by Lori Nelson Spielman: A trio of second-born daughters set out on a whirlwind journey through the lush Italian countryside to break the family curse that says they’ll never find love.
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid: An aging and reclusive Hollywood movie icon is finally ready to tell the truth about her glamorous and scandalous life. She chooses an unknown magazine reporter for the job, and no is more surprised than the reporter herself. Why her? Why now?
Adelaide by Genevieve Wheeler: A young American woman living in London meets a man who was The One she wasn’t even looking for. But is love enough?
Note of caution: This book explores grief and mental health while delving into what it’s like to be young and in love; definitely more emo romance than rom-com.
Normal People by Sally Rooney: A story of mutual fascination, friendship, and love, from the first conversation between two high schoolers to the years beyond and their inability to stay apart from each other. Also, more of an emo romance but this will scratch an academic vibe itch if you’re looking for that this fall!
Quintessential comfort
The Brilliant Life of Eudora Honeysett by Annie Lyons: A moving and joyful story about an elderly woman ready to embrace death and the little girl who reminds her what it means to live.
Sorry I Missed You by Suzy Krause: Quirky, heartwarming, and humorous. Three unlikely roommates move into a rental house with only one thing in common—important people in their lives have “ghosted” them. Fans of the show Only Murders in the Building will likely enjoy this one!
Tom Lake by Ann Patchett: On a family orchard in Northern Michigan, a mom of three adult daughters recounts the story of a famous actor whom she shared both a stage and romance years before at a theater company called Tom Lake. The audio by Meryl Streep is chef’s kiss.
The Collected Regrets of Clover by Mikki Brammer: A story about a death doula dedicated to ushering people peacefully through their end-of-life process, until the final wishes of a feisty old woman send her on a trip across the country to uncover a forgotten love story, and perhaps her own happy ending.
Meredith, Alone by Claire Alexander: After spending three years inside her house, Meredith figures out how to rejoin the world one step at a time after her carefully curated home is no longer a space to hide.
Separation Anxiety by Laura Zigman: A hilarious, heart-breaking, and thought-provoking story about a wife and mother whose life is unraveling and the well-intentioned but increasingly disastrous steps she takes to course-correct her relationships, career, and belief in herself.
The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune: A quirky, tender story that feels both like an escape and coming home. A case worker at the Department in Charge of Magical Youth is summoned by Extremely Upper Management and given a highly classified assignment to travel to an island orphanage where six dangerous children reside—but the children aren’t the only secret the island keeps.
Finlay Donovan is Killing It by Elle Cosimano: The life of a stressed-out single mom of two and struggling novelist is in chaos. When she’s overheard discussing the plot of her new suspense novel with her agent over lunch, she’s mistaken for a contract killer, and inadvertently accepts an offer to dispose of a problem husband in order to make ends meet. (One of my all-time favorites!)
The Mystery Guest by Nita Prose: Molly the Maid has a flair for cleaning and proper etiquette, and has risen to the ranks of Head Maid at a glorious five-star hotel. Just as her life is about to reach the pinnacle of perfection, her world is turned upside down when a renowned mystery author drops dead on the hotel’s tearoom floor.
Technically a sequel to The Maid but you could read this as a stand-alone cozy mystery!
And that’s a wrap! Hopefully, you’ve found a comforting read to sink into this season. If you missed my round-up of spooky, scary recommendations, check it out here!
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If you’re looking for even more fall recommendations, check out the books I’m prioritizing this fall!
