8 Book Recommendations You Need To Read This Autumn

Books can transport us to a different world, leave us reeling, sad, or grinning like an idiot. Reading is great any time of the year, but it has to be said that there’s something special about reading on a cosy Autumn night, with a candle burning, a hot drink, and a ton of blankets to get comfortable with! These book recommendations are both old and new and have been chosen because I personally love them for all the different reasons listed below. Prepare for some major reading inspo!

1. Circe– Madeline Miller

Circe is witty, engrossing, and undoubtedly witchy. It tells the story of Circe (duh), a witch best known for appearing in The Odyssey who seduces Odysseus and keeps him with her for a year. Miller, best known for her previous work The Song of Achilles, which is stunningly beautiful and which I also highly recommend, interweaves myths and legends concerning Circe whilst still managing to make her realistic, flawed, and mortal – all traits which her family hate. Circe is the perfect read if you want to be sucked into an alternate world full of lavish descriptions and fleshed-out characters from mythology.

2. Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe– Benjamin Alire Saenz

Aristotle and Dante is the sort of book that feels as though it’s giving you a hug when you read it. From Ari’s confusion about his feelings for Dante, Dante’s self-assuredness, and their eventual realisations, Saenzs’ book hurtles through all the highs and lows of teenage life, including finding out family secrets, coming to terms with sexuality and heritage, and so much more. Although it is technically a YA book, don’t let this stop you if you like a book with a happy ending.

3. Call Me by Your Name – Andre Aciman

This is another book that you should only read if you’re willing to be completely sucked into its world. The writing is raw and unabashedly honest, and Elio’s inner monologue perfectly captures the blissful agony of having a crush that consumes you so deeply. In terms of plot not much actually happens, but the range of emotions Elio feels and how he describes his jealousy, anger, sadness, and brief joy, stuck with me for a long time after I finished reading.

5. The Secret History– Donna Tartt

This is the ultimate Autumn read. Dark, thrilling, and strangely addictive, The Secret History is another book that seems to move quite slowly whilst still pulling you in at every stage. Richard is definitely an unreliable narrator, and each character has a distinct personality that contributes to the plot of the story greatly, although I do have a partial spot for Francis. Tartt’s descriptions are rich and really help to create a shadowy, smoky atmosphere that’s perfect for when the night is drawing in. This is one of the book recommendations you need to check out!

6. Deathless – Catherynne Valente

Deathless is unusual, daring, and, at times, undeniably sexy. Based off Russian fairytales, it follows the story of Marya Morevna from her childhood to her marriage to Koschei the Deathless. Marya battles both real and imaginary demons and goes from being underneath Koschei to being in charge of his fate. Valente intertwines the history of Russia with Marya’s story so seamlessly that you are left to wonder which parts actually happened and which parts Marya dreamed up in an alternate reality. A book that grips you from the start until the end.

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7. Romantic Outlaws– Charlotte Gordon

This is the only non-fiction book on the book recommendations list, and that’s because it mostly reads like fiction. Gordon manages to present the history of the iconic duo, comprised of Mary Wollstonecraft and her daughter Mary Shelley, as though it were a novel. It has twists and turns, ups and downs, and has you feeling unbearably sorry for both women one minute and then unbelievably frustrated the next. It features main players in the women’s life, including Percy Shelley, Lord Bryon, and William Godwin. If you’re interested in the Romantics, this is a must-read!

8. The Book Thief– Marcus Zuzak

Full disclosure: The Book Thief was the first book that made me cry out of these book recommendations. Zusak’s clever writing from the perspective of Death itself offers a refreshing, brutal, yet often peculiarly heartwarming outlook on World War II and the effect it had on those living in Germany at the time. It focuses mainly on Liesel, an orphan who is sent to live with Hans and Rosa Hummel, a no-nonsense couple who end up harbouring a Jewish refugee named Max. This book will break your heart into a million pieces, but there is a sense of peace and reconciliation at the end that offers a small bit of hope. This book will hold a special place in my heart for life.

Now go forth and read! What are your book recommendations? Tell us in the comments!

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