By Gemma Mathers, Isabella Whiley and Brittany Holness
The seasons are changing. The once warm, bright and sunny days of summer are coming to an end to make way for the cooler days and the muted colours that portray the new season of autumn – the season of fiery leaves and pumpkin spice. With a change in season, people often want a new beginning, but one thing that doesn't have to change is your reading habits. To keep the summer alive and transition to autumn flawlessly, here are some book recommendations. We have a great array of recent releases, upcoming releases and popular books to keep it feeling like summer, while also preparing you for autumn.
Emily Henry is the perfect author for summer. If you’re looking to cling onto the warm weather long after we’ve transitioned into autumn, then look no further than Emily Henry. Her latest novel, Funny Story, is yet another hit. It follows witty protagonist Daphne after her fiancé leaves her for his best friend, and she suddenly finds herself living with her ex-fiancé’s new fiancée’s ex. Within the publishing world, romance seems to thrive in summer. A romance book is a holiday staple, especially when paired with cocktails by the pool. For those who are in between seasons, not yet ready to give up summer but wanting their first good read for autumn, why not check out Emily Henry’s collection?
Another summer hit is This Summer Will Be Different by Carley Fortune. This novel has found great success among readers on social media, featuring in many TikTok Books of the Month videos. Fortune evokes the best of the summer months with her nostalgic writing style and her portrayal of summer romances. For the last few weeks (hopefully longer, but that might be wishful thinking in the UK) of summer, a sweet romance like Fortune’s is the perfect novel to reach for.
As summer comes to a close, we begin to see a shift in the waves of publishing. Social media sets its eyes towards autumn and winter to anticipate which books will make a splash. Blue Sisters might just be the perfect contemporary novel to bridge the gap between autumn and summer. Coco Mellors, author of the debut hit Cleopatra and Frankenstein, recently took the publishing world by storm with the release of Blue Sisters. After tragedy took their sister, Avery, Bonnie and Lucky Blue are left reeling and unable to repair the broken threads of their relationships. But when their mother breaks the only news that could force the sisters out of their respective corners of the world, they have no choice but to go home and face all they’ve lost. Coco Mellors is quickly becoming a staple in the contemporary genre. Her exploration of familial ties, relationships and the intrinsic pathways of being human make this novel a must for autumn.
Faebound is the first book in a new trilogy by Saara El-Arifi taking the romantasy community by storm. With thousands of posts under its hashtag on TikTok, this book is the perfect transition novel to get anyone excited about autumn. Following elvish sisters Yeeran and Lettle after exile from their homeland, readers discover the ancient world of the fae, long believed to be nothing more than a story. El-Arifi is a master at creating immersive new worlds that can instantly draw readers in. Her first series, The Ending Fire, showcases this talent, and Faebound is full of this wonderful storytelling. This book has everything needed to establish a thrilling trilogy; romance, drama, LGBTQIA+ inclusion, new worlds and landscapes to explore. As the nights start drawing in and the leaves begin falling, this book provides the perfect aesthetic to ease any reader into the darker months ahead.
Sarah A. Parker’s When the Moon Hatched is a fast-paced romantasy that contains all the elements of an intriguing read: dragons, strong heroines and much more. It is no wonder that this book became a high-ranked sensation in the reading community. It has received many accolades, being adored by fans on social media platforms and being ranked highly on Amazon weekly. This romantasy novel follows Raeve, an assassin who becomes imprisoned by the Guild of Nobles, a group who have a sinister plan for her. It isn’t until she meets dragon rider Kaan Vaegor that our romance story begins.
As we say goodbye to summer and welcome autumn, these recommendations can keep that summer feeling alive or, alternately, be just what you need while you enjoy a warm (or cold) pumpkin spice latte. Thankfully, out with the old and in with the new is for seasons and not books, so these books can be enjoyed all year round.