One of the things that has kept me (relatively) sane this year bas been reading. Over the past several months, I’ve talked about different books I’ve read in my newsletters- sparking fun conversations with a LOT of my readers. So I’m adding a new type of blog post to my site with varying reading lists. Starting with a few Fall books to read, even if it is a little late into the season at this point.
Late into the season or not, Fall is my favorite time of year. So, I’ve been actively reading these books as autumn unfolded- and it’s been a wonderful way to really surround myself with everything pumpkin, apple, and changing leaves.
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
I also do something that I call “immersive reading”, which I wanted to share with you, as well. My husband and I both work from home, in adjoining home offices, which isn’t always conducive to reading. As such, I started listening to different background sounds and music as I read. And that evolved into a reading ambience that I could personalize and fine tune for each particular book.
So, not only will I be sharing my immersive reading experiences, but I am also sharing titles that I actually read. Not just a generic list of Fall books to read, but ones I recently finished reading- whether I loved them or not. Book and story appreciation is SO subjective, and you may enjoy ones that I found so-so and vice versa.
Now, what kind of books am I typically drawn to? Well, here’s an idea:
- Light, breezy, women-centric fiction
- Sugar and Spice (think Hallmark movie towns/charm with Lifetime movie romance/relationships)
- Magical realism (not a requirement, but I always enjoy a dusting of magic)
- Easy, escapist reads. I’m not looking for Earth-shattering profound sagas; I simply want to dive into a make-believe world for a little while.
With that in mind, let’s talk (briefly- no long summaries here) about the Fall-coded books I’ve finished just as peak season is falling to the ground.
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
Fall Books to Read: The Simplicity of Cider
I was lucky enough to find “The Simplicity of Cider” in my town’s Little Free Library. The author, Amy E. Reichert, was unfamiliar to me, but the story synopsis on the back cover definitely caught my eye. Not only do I love apple cider (both the adult and kid-friendly versions), but it takes place in the Midwest, which is where I grew up.
To set the immersive mood I was going for, I listened to this Apple Cide Lane video while reading. It’s a great background soundscape for any reading really, but the visuals on my computer screen really gave me apple orchard vibes.
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
I have to say, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It met a lot of my preferred criteria (easy read, charming setting, a whisper of magic) while falling short on others. Romance-wise, it’s not spicy at all- but honestly, it didn’t need to be. The history of the apple orchard setting; the interesting family dynamics; and the unfurling of a prickly main character kept the story moving well enough for me.
Recommend if you want a family-centric story that has a touch of romance (as opposed to a romance with a touch of family drama).
The Ex Hex
Even though my husband and I prefer shopping at local indie bookstores, we do occasionally find ourselves at Barnes & Noble. I even worked at a B&N in college, and a Bookstop before that (which was subsequently bought out by B&N). And that’s where I picked up “The Ex Hex” by Erin Sterling.
For this witchy, Halloween-themed book, I listened to this video with Halloween-themed music while reading. I usually prefer non-music for reading, but this visual on my computer screen was too cool to ignore.
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
This one was another enjoyable read- in fact, I finished this one in just a few days (which is fast for me!). It falls squarely in the romance category with a solid amount of spice- especially in the flirtatious build-up throughout the book. This is also a very Halloween-coded story, with a Halloween festival and themed shop as part of the landscape.
This one ticked all my preferred reading criteria and was one of my favorite Fall books that I read this year. Perfect for a witchy, spooky season-loving person like myself.
Recommend if you like a witchy, spicy story with fun Halloween vibes.
Fall Books to Read: The Pumpkin Spice Cafe
This book, “The Pumpkin Spice Cafe” kept popping up wherever I went. I saw it at numerous indie bookstores and finally broke down and bought it at Fred & June’s in Mooresville, NC. So, between seeing it everywhere and a very tempting story synopsis, I was certain that I was going to love it. It had so much potential: a cute bakery, a cute New England small town, a cat. But I hate to say that it was a real let-down for me.
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
Ultimately, everything about this story fell short (for me). Weirdly enough, the special edition that I bought had VERY large font, which seemed weird. But I then decided it was because the story was so underwritten- the characters were underdeveloped, the plot was underwhelming, and even the cute setting was under-described. Even some of the sentences were just too. darn. short. Everything about this book felt clipped and abridged to me; the extra-large font simply made it look like a normal-length novel.
Maybe it’s just me, though! This book had a lot of hype behind it and clearly a lot of marketing- but alas, it just wasn’t meant to be for me. In fact, this was by far the most disappointing of the Fall books I read this year.
The Honeycrisp Orchard Inn
I am, without a doubt, a Honeycrisp apple devotee. In fact, my husband and I pilgrimage out to apple orchards each September in search of tastiest apple in the world. So, it’s no surprise that this book, “The Honeycrisp Orchard Inn” by Valerie Bowman grabbed my attention right away. After feeling disenchanted by the previous Fall book, I needed a good redeeming story to soothe my book burn.
Of course, I needed a cozy orchard ambience video to listen to while reading, and this one was perfect.
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
Not only do I love Honeycrisp apples, but I also love Gilmore Girls- and there are a lot of Stars Hollow vibes in this story. Not only is the book centered on a Fall festival, but the local drive-in theater hosts Gilmore nights! I mean, Gilmore Girls on the big screen? That is REALLY speaking my language, let me tell you.
I thoroughly enjoyed this Fall book- it was a light and breezy read, had a nostalgic love story, and a charming apple orchard setting. It definitely had all those Hallmark movie qualities I love but with more flirty tension- highly recommend!
The Spook in the Stacks
Because my blog and entire 12-year blogging career is steeped in all things secondhand, I was determined to have another secondhand book in the mix. This one, The Spook in the Stacks, was one I found at my local library. Which means it’s older than the others here, and would likely be harder to find on a bookstore shelf.
I was drawn to it because it’s main setting is a library (I worked at one of those when I was a teenager, too) in coastal North Carolina. Plus, it definitely falls into the Cozy Mystery category (heck, there’s even a cat on the cover), so I had high hopes. For my immersive reading experience, I enjoyed listening to this Coastal Fall ambience video while reading.
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
This one had a lot going for it- a library in a lighthouse, a resident library cat, elements of Halloween and Sleepy Hollow references. But I didn’t love the book- I didn’t hate it, either, I just found it really hard to get into.
Admittedly, it is part of a series that I jumped into- maybe I should have read the others leading up to this one. But the main character’s relationship with her boyfriend was really odd and lukewarm, which seemed odd to me.
It’s not the first cozy mystery that I didn’t adore. Maybe that’s just not my genre- maybe I need more thriller-type mysteries. Because this one just felt flat through and through, even though other reviewers really seemed to like it.
Fall Books to Read
You win some, you lose some, and it’s quite possible that some of you will disagree with me on these titles entirely. But I certainly had fun plowing through a few Fall reads this year in order to collect them into a single post.
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
I’m not sure how often I’ll put together one of my new “Reading List” blog posts. But I hope you find it helpful, even if you simply Pin it for next year. Since I love immersive reading and didn’t want to read Fall books in the summer, the blog post had no choice but to arrive well into the season!
And if this post gives you ideas of Fall books to read in the future, then my job here is done. All I know is, these autumn-themed reads kept me sane and disconnected from the 24-hour news cycle that drives me batty. And some I enjoyed far more than others, though I’m curious if you agree/disagree on my assessments! Please do let me know what you think if you have or will read any of them.
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
And to share the books I loved AND in the spirit of all things secondhand, we distributed my three favorite titles to Little Free Libraries around Charlotte. I returned the library book to the library of course, and I’ll bring The Pumpkin Spice Cafe to a used bookstore for credit. Or who knows, maybe I’ll end up popping it in a Little Free Library, as well.
Happy reading, friends!
S
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Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
Sarah Ramberg is the owner of Sadie Seasongoods, a website that celebrates all things secondhand. From upcycling ideas and thrifted decor to vintage-centric travel itineraries, Sadie Seasongoods is a one-stop shop for anyone who loves thrifting and approachable repurposing ideas. Sarah is also the author of “Crafting with Flannel” and has been featured in numerous media outlets and magazines.
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