As the leaves begin to turn and the air gets crisp, there’s nothing quite like curling up with a cozy book that captures the magic of fall. Whether you’re drawn to witchy tales, classic fantasy, or heartwarming stories of new beginnings, these five books will be your perfect autumn companions.
Rewitched
By Lucy Jane Wood
I picked up this book at a book store in Oregon while on vacation this summer and read it just a few weeks ago. I almost wish I had waited a few more weeks 🙂. The story centers around a young witch who is trying to balance a job she loves at an independent bookstore, dealing with a toxic boss, struggling with self-confidence, all while trying to keep her witchy powers hidden.
When she is summoned to her coven on her 30th birthday to face a trial of her worthiness to hold her powers, they find her… somewhat lacking. Now she has one month to prove to the coven, and to herself, that she is worthy of keeping her powers.
Why it’s perfect for fall: This book takes place during the month of October, culminating on Halloween. The cozy fall vibes abound, in both the weather and the beautiful storytelling. The heroine, Belle, has a major case of low self-esteem and loved her journey of self-discovery and learning to rely on others throughout the book.
If you haven’t read it yet, October is the perfect month for it!
Genre: Cozy Paranormal
Vibe: Witchy, autumnal, self-discovery, bookish
Page Count: 384
Perfect For: Readers who love bookstore settings, anyone navigating their late 20’s, early 30’s, fans of light magic and personal growth journeys
The Hobbit
By J.R.R. Tolkien
To me, The Hobbit is the ultimate cozy fantasy. There is something about Bilbo’s journey that just screams fall to me. Maybe it is the fact that it is such a time of change. Tolkien has a way of telling the story that makes you feel safe and content. I know several people who re-read the book every autumn.
While the rest of us are starting to get the urge to nestle into our blankets with a cup of steaming tea, we get to read about Bilbo’s adventures, who also would love nothing more than to be cozied up at home.
Why it’s perfect for fall:Â After all of his adventures, Bilbo returns home again just as the leaves are falling and the fall crops are being harvested. Much like us after a busy spring and summer, Bilbo truly appreciated having the opportunity to settle back into his home and reflect on his journey.
If you have never read The Hobbit during the fall, I highly recommend it!
Genre:Â Fantasy
Vibe: Classic adventure, cozy fantasy, coming-home story, timeless
Page Count: 366
Perfect For: Fantasy lovers of all ages, anyone seeking comfort reads, readers who appreciate the journey as much as the destination, perfect for annual fall rereads
A Ghoulish Midlife
By Lia Davis & L.A. Boruff
Ava Harper is a widow and empty-nester in her forties who never imagined facing midlife without her husband. After also losing her beloved aunt who raised her, Ava returns to her childhood hometown to sell her aunt’s house—only to discover the house has other plans and won’t let her leave.
Ava is a witch with necromancer abilities that she’s spent her life denying and suppressing. Growing up in a family of traditional witches after being orphaned, she chose to ignore her darker powers. But returning home forces her to confront not only her magical heritage but also the people and memories she left behind.
This paranormal cozy mystery is lighthearted despite its spooky subject matter, featuring quirky characters like a cat who responds to any name related to “Snooze” and a ghoul butler Ava inherits from her deceased friend. The book balances magic, mystery, and a hint of romance (with a handsome sheriff’s deputy with unusual teal-and-blue eyes) while giving readers relatable midlife themes wrapped in supernatural fun.
Why it’s perfect for fall: The combination of witches, necromancy, small-town mysteries, and Halloween-adjacent themes make this an ideal cozy fall read. Plus, there’s something wonderfully comforting about a protagonist navigating midlife changes alongside supernatural ones—perfect for curling up with on a crisp autumn evening.
Genre:Â Cozy Paranormal
Vibe: Paranormal cozy mystery, witchy, small-town charm, lighthearted spooky
Page Count:Â 240
Perfect For: Women 40+, fans of paranormal women’s fiction, readers who want Halloween vibes without true horror, anyone who enjoys quirky characters and mystery with a side of magic
Legends & Lattes
By Travis Baldree
This wonderful cozy fantasy is perfect for all the Dungeons & Dragons fans out there. Follow Viv, an orc barbarian who is tired of the adventuring life and ready to settle down and open up a coffee shop. After completing one final adventure, she finally has what she needs to start over.
The story follows her mishaps and wins as she works towards opening her new venture. However, there are many things standing in her way – from people in her past to new challenges, not the least of which is that no one actually knows what coffee is! She meets new friends who support and encourage her along the way.
I loved the underlying theme of it being ok to start fresh, no matter how old you are, or how long you have been doing something. It takes a lot of determination, and maybe a little bit of luck, and a lot of support, but it is very possible.
Why it’s perfect for fall: Coffee shops and autumn are natural companions! As the weather turns cooler and we crave warm beverages and cozy gathering spaces, Viv’s journey to create her coffee shop feels perfectly timed. The themes of starting fresh and new beginnings mirror fall’s back-to-school energy and the new year many of us feel as summer ends. Plus, there’s something deeply satisfying about reading a ‘low-stakes’ cozy fantasy while wrapped in a blanket with your own warm drink.
Genre:Â Cozy Fantasy
Vibe:Â Cozy fantasy, low-stakes, found family, D&D-inspired, coffee shop warmth
Page Count:Â 296
Perfect For: Readers tired of high-stakes fantasy, coffee lovers, fans of slice-of-life stories, anyone considering a career change or fresh start, tabletop gaming enthusiasts
The Spellshop
By Sarah Beth Durst
The Spellshop is about a librarian, Kiela, forced to flee The Great Library, the only home she has know for a long time, with only a few crates of spell books, and her sentient spider plant companion, Caz. Kiela and Caz head to Kiela’s childhood home on a remote island, where they will have to start over with nothing.
As Kiela, tries to figure out how to survive, she finds her mother’s old jam recipe, and with a little help from the (maybe just a little bit illegal) magic spellbooks, she soon has a what she needs to open her jam shop. As she meets many other charming and wonderful characters on the island (including a very handsome merhorse rancher) she just might learn that there is more to life than books.
Why it’s perfect for fall: I love, love, loved this book! I recommend it to everyone I talk to. The beautiful cover art drew me to it, but it was nothing compared to the beautiful story within. Sarah Beth Durst has a way of making you feel like you are part of the story. Reading this book felt like a warm hug, hot cocoa, sweet cinnamon rolls, and your favorite teddy bear all rolled into one.
If you want all the cozy feels this autumnal season, this is the book for you!
Genre:Â Cozy Fantasy
Vibe:Â Wholesome, magical, cottage-core, warm hug in book form, romantasy-lite
Page Count:Â 377
Perfect For: Fans of cozy fantasy and slow romance, plant lovers, readers who adore small island communities, anyone needing a feel-good escape, lovers of magical jam and sentient plants
Which of these fall reads are you most excited to pick up? We’ll have The Spellshop and other fall favorites available in our curated book boxes when we launch in November! If you’re in the West Michigan area, stop by one of our craft markets to browse these titles and discover more cozy reads—plus all the bookish gifts and accessories to pair with them.
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