What I'm reading this fall

Expect lots of cozy vibes, a dash of spooky, and absurdly long fantasy books.

It officially feels like fall in New York, with temps dropping into the 50s, leaves falling by the bushel, and my off-brand baby UGGs making their seasonal debut. Like any other annoying Book Girlie™️, I believe cozy weather makes for the best reading weather. I open all of the windows, light a candle, put on a playlist (lately: Nora Ephron Fall), and snuggle up with my book under a blanket. And you best believe I save some books for this season specifically — maybe a cozy mystery or a lengthy fantasy — anything that feels like it fits the ~vibe~. So I thought I’d catch you up on my latest reads while also dropping some hints at what I’ll be reading over the next few months.

Saint X by Alexis Schaitkin

I love a full-cast audiobook, and it works exceptionally well in Schaitkin’s riveting mystery about a woman searching for the truth about her sister’s decades-old murder. Revolving through POVs, we see the story unfold between a luxury resort on a tropical island to the gritty backseats of NYC cabs. I liked the true crime element of this novel without it leaning into thriller territory; it has a lot more to say about people — how we misunderstand them, abuse them, angelicize or demonize them — than it does about murder. A truly enjoyable listen whether you’re lying on the beach or taking a chilly winter walk.

Good for people who like: true crime podcasts, vacation mysteries, I Have Some Questions for You by Rebecca Makkai

In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado

I’ve had this memoir on my TBR ever since reading (and loving) CMM’s short story collection, Her Body and Other Parties. This exploration of queer abuse — both in history and in Machado’s past — didn’t disappoint as a follow-up read. It’s crushingly haunting and paced with perfection; you feel as if you’re right alongside her as she unpacks her own trauma. Each chapter is written in a different style, which made it unlike anything I’ve ever read before. A couple notable ones: a choose-your-own-adventure chapter and a chapter with big There’s a Monster at the End of this Book vibes.

Good for people who like: unconventional memoirs, quick reads, non-fic disguised as speculative horror

Rouge by Mona Awad

I think “weird” is the only way to describe this book, which is usually my jam but there might have been too much going on here for even me. It’s sort of a mash-up of Snow White, vampires, and beauty influencer videos — if any of those are your thing. When Belle’s mother mysteriously dies, she discovers the cult-like spa her mother belonged to and quickly falls prey to its allure. The first half had me fully sucked in; it’s definitely mysterious, spooky, creepy. But the entire plot sort of went off the rails for me and I’m not sure I fully got the ending. The audiobook narration was amazing though!

Good for people who like: dark fairy tale retellings, Ottessa Moshfegh, the sublimely weird

Green Dot by Madeleine Gray

I usually steer clear of novels with cheating storylines, but something inside me told me this would be different. This is a distinctly Aussie book (meaning some references went over my head) about a young woman named Hera begrudgingly on the start of her career when she meets a married man and falls in love. It’s whip smart and funny, toeing the line of chronically online and self aware with painful accuracy and a darkly hilarious outlook on capitalist ennui that had me actually LOLing a few times. This is not a novel where a lot happens, and yet you feel so much. I think there were a few areas Gray could have expanded upon more, but overall this was one of my favorite books of the year. Oh, it doesn’t come out until February. Sorry!

Good for people who like: preordering books (lol), scrolling hot takes on Twitter, The New Me by Halle Butler

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna: Okay, technically I’ve almost finished this but I can’t not recommend this cozy little book in time for Halloween.

The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley: A friend gifted me this behemoth in June and I’ve been waiting for the temperature to drop to dive into the feminist take on King Arthur’s tale.

Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree: The prequel to one of the coziest books on Earth; I literally can’t wait to binge this with a cup of tea. (Out Nov. 27.)

Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami: I bought a gorgeous copy of this at a bookstore in New Orleans (random) and its Odyssey-esque plot seems perfect for a cold day spent inside.

Payback's a Witch by Lana Harper: I’m trying to be more open to romances after getting burnt a few times and this spooky sapphic one seems like a good place to start.

Evil Eye by Etaf Rum: An intricate look at the married life of a Palestinian-American woman. Enough said.

The Fraud by Zadie Smith: I’ve been craving juicy, fun historical fiction and Zadie said, “I got you.”

Silver Nitrate by Silvia Moreno-Garcia: SMG can be hit or miss for me, but her latest spooky tale about a horror director in the 90s intrigues me.

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That’s just the tip of the iceberg if I know myself and, also knowing myself, definitely subject to change at my every whim and mood. But if you plan on reading any of these in the next few months, let me know and we can read together! Until next time.

xoxo,

Kirby

Currently reading: Yerba Buena by Nina LaCour