The winds are changing, the leaves are taking on their golden hue and autumn is finally here. Autumn is my favourite season for many reasons, but especially for reading. There is nothing better than sitting in the crisp morning air, or snuggled under a blanket with the rain hitting your window reading an atmospheric book to match the weather. To help you find the perfect books to read this month I thought I would give you guys some recommendations of books that I think are perfect accompaniments to this tumultuous season.
The Secret History by Donna Tartt
“Under the influence of their charismatic classics professor, a group of clever, eccentric misfits at an elite New England college discover a way of thinking and living that is a world away from the humdrum existence of their contemporaries. But when they go beyond the boundaries of normal morality they slip gradually from obsession to corruption and betrayal, and at last – inexorably – into evil.”
This book doesn’t only have a dark autumnal atmosphere, but also a story that will twist and turn, leaving you quite literally chilled to the bone. The complex cast of characters and murderous plot make this a classic must read.
The Unbecoming Of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin 
“Mara Dyer believes life can’t get any stranger than waking up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there.
It can.
She believes there must be more to the accident she can’t remember that killed her friends and left her strangely unharmed.
There is.
She doesn’t believe that after everything she’s been through, she can fall in love.
She’s wrong.”
Now this is a book that offers much more than the synopsis offers. This book plays on archetypes, blending the ideas of the hero, villain, sidekick and plot twists. With a complex unreliable narrator and extremely creepy story line this book is perfect for autumn. You will find yourself wading through the paranormal happenings held within the pages and second guessing not only the main character, but yourself.
Burial R
ites by Hannah Kent
“A brilliant literary debut, inspired by a true story: the final days of a young woman accused of murder in Iceland in 1829.
Set against Iceland’s stark landscape, Hannah Kent brings to vivid life the story of Agnes, who, charged with the brutal murder of her former master, is sent to an isolated farm to await execution.
Horrified at the prospect of housing a convicted murderer, the family at first avoids Agnes. Only Tóti, a priest Agnes has mysteriously chosen to be her spiritual guardian, seeks to understand her. But as Agnes’s death looms, the farmer’s wife and their daughters learn there is another side to the sensational story they’ve heard.”
This books barren and windswept setting blows right off the pages an immerses you within the Icelandic tundra. I found this novel not only informative but extremely moving is a subtle heart breaking way. This is a perfect read for any history fans out there.
An Enchantment Of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson
“Isobel is a prodigy portrait artist with a dangerous set of clients: the sinister fair folk, immortal creatures who cannot bake bread, weave cloth, or put a pen to paper without crumbling to dust. They crave human Craft with a terrible thirst, and Isobel’s paintings are highly prized among them. But when she receives her first royal patron—Rook, the autumn prince—she makes a terrible mistake. She paints mortal sorrow in his eyes – a weakness that could cost him his life.
Furious and devastated, Rook spirits her away to the autumnlands to stand trial for her crime. Waylaid by the Wild Hunt’s ghostly hounds, the tainted influence of the Alder King, and hideous monsters risen from barrow mounds, Isobel and Rook depend on one another for survival. Their alliance blossoms into trust, then love, violating the fair folks’ ruthless Good Law. There’s only one way to save both their lives, Isobel must drink from the Green Well, whose water will transform her into a fair one—at the cost of her Craft, for immortality is as stagnant as it is timeless.
Isobel has a choice: she can sacrifice her art for a future, or arm herself with paint and canvas against the ancient power of the fairy courts. Because secretly, her Craft represents a threat the fair folk have never faced in all the millennia of their unchanging lives: for the first time, her portraits have the power to make them feel.”
I haven’t actually read this book yet as it comes out on the 26th of September but it is one of my most anticipated reads of the year. Faeires, magic and woodland setting?! This book sounds like the definition of autumn and i think it will be the perfect thing to read this month.
Stalking Jack The Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco 
“Seventeen-year-old Audrey Rose Wadsworth was born a lord’s daughter, with a life of wealth and privilege stretched out before her. But between the social teas and silk dress fittings, she leads a forbidden secret life.
Against her stern father’s wishes and society’s expectations, Audrey often slips away to her uncle’s laboratory to study the gruesome practice of forensic medicine. When her work on a string of savagely killed corpses drags Audrey into the investigation of a serial murderer, her search for answers brings her close to her own sheltered world.”
This re -working of the famous Jack The Ripper murders is a brilliantly fun novel of wit, atmosphere and mystery. With strong female lead, a chilling smoky setting of London and a Sherlock/Watson style duo, there isn’t anything not to like about this book. This will keep you highly entertained and creeped out from the first page to the last.
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte 
“Charlotte Brontë tells the story of orphaned Jane Eyre, who grows up in the home of her heartless aunt, enduring loneliness and cruelty. This troubled childhood strengthens Jane’s natural independence and spirit – which prove necessary when she finds employment as a governess to the young ward of Byronic, brooding Mr Rochester. As her feelings for Rochester develop, Jane gradually uncovers Thornfield Hall’s terrible secret, forcing her to make a choice. Should she stay with Rochester and live with the consequences, or follow her convictions – even if it means leaving the man she loves? A novel of intense power and intrigue, Jane Eyre dazzled readers with its passionate depiction of a woman’s search for equality and freedom.”
This epic gothic tale that spans lifetimes is a haunting and beautiful story that is utterly unforgettable. Every time i opened the pages of this novel i was transported to ancient manors and dar corridors, wind swept moors and dust filled window seats. The dark tone of this story is fitting for the season and all the secrets it holds.
This is just a small selection of some of my favourite books to read this time of year. I hope you manage to find one or all of these books good accompaniments to your autumn tbr. What books are you reading this month and do you have any good recommendations?
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