Hi! It’s been a while (over a year, actually).
This is the part where I give you a life update. If you found this post on Pinterest or through a quick Google search, feel free to jump ahead to what you’re really here for: Books!
If you’ve been here a while and were wondering where the hell I’ve been, here it is: I have reasons for my absence that aren’t simply crippling procrastination or ADHD overpowering my attention to the point of no return (although that does happen). Put simply, we moved across the country at the start of the year, and within just a few weeks of us being in Virginia, my husband was diagnosed with cancer and subsequently went through both chemotherapy and radiation treatments.
Currently, we are in the limbo space where treatment has concluded. Still, he has not received his post-treatment scans, so the only update I have is that recovery from radiation was difficult, slow-going, and an ongoing process. Still, we are over the truly painful hump, and life is beginning to find its rhythm again.
That said, I feel ready to get back into writing, sharing, and being creative. Truthfully, being creative and writing is a constant; when I am absent from creative work for any period of time, there exists a colorful, ghostly little shadow that follows my every thought: when are you going to write, are you going to write today, how is your writing going, you should write a post about…. reader, at this point you can insert one of the endless ideas running through my brain at any given time, from the time I ran into a bear while hiking on the Pacific Crest Trail to Halloween movie nights, to vacationing in Shenandoah National Park. When it comes to writing content, the limit does not exist.
Full transparency: my reading list posts are always my easiest. So, here I am! The common phrase ripping the band-aid off seems fitting, and hopefully it stays off for a while. Only time (and my commitment level) will tell.
I hope you missed me as much as I missed you. Now, let’s get into my 2026 Fall Reading List: Cozy, Spooky & Atmospheric Books.
Read & Recommend
Unlikely Animals by Annie Hartnett
At the start of the year, I read Annie Hartnett’s Road to Tender Hearts and quickly became smitten with her work and narrative style—how she balances humor and pain, tackles tough topics, but doesn’t leave you cold. While Road to Tender Hearts is my go-to recommendation to anyone looking for a book rec for my fall reading list, I am actually highlighting Annie Hartnett’s previous novel, Unlikely Animals.
Unlikely Animals is a splendid escape into a fictional world where ghosts do part of the narrating, animals appear out of nowhere, and characters stumble into unusual situations while reflecting on real hardships and struggles.
I’d classify this read as cozy and humorous, thoughtful and fun— everything you need for a perfect fall read.
Dreamers of the Full Moon Coffee Shop by Mai Mochizuki
Without looking back, I am certain every fall reading list I’ve made has included a book with a cat. This is an unrealized (until now) tradition, and this year’s pick is Dreamers of the Full Moon Coffee Shop by Mai Mochizuki.
Talking cats, coffee, magical realism… need I say more?
When the Cranes Fly South by Lisa Ridzén
Gorgeous. This novel will pull you in and not let go.
Grab the tissues or hankies, or whatever you need to wipe the tears, because there will be tears.
When the Cranes Fly South by Lisa Ridzén is meaningful and thought-provoking. Although When the Cranes Fly South is fiction, throughout the book, I could not help but reflect on my life, think back to my grandparents, my parents, myself, my husband, all the people closest to me. I contemplated aging and change —how we live and where time goes; what we do in this life; how, in the end, we hold onto the things that matter; and the definition of “mattering.”
Wolf Worm by T. Kingfisher
Bugs, bugs, BUGS!
An entomologist would definitely have something to say about the above exclamation, for dear reader, Wolf Worm by T. Kingfisher is not solely about true bugs but insects in their entirety and how they just might eat your brains… or something like that.
Craving the perfect psychological horror this fall? Something fitting for spooky season? I present to you T. Kingfisher’s Wolf Worm. We have insects (love), a remote forest estate (love, love, love), a likable female lead, and a slew of suspicious happenings and characters to match.
I thoroughly enjoyed the insect-filled, colorfully detailed world of Wolf Worm, and I think you will too.
Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo
Ninth House was a novel I picked up a few years ago and mentioned in a similar fall reading list post, but I believe it deserves a second mention, in part because if you haven’t read it yet, it’s a great book to kick off your fall. Secondly, the third book in the series, Dead Beat, was released on September 15 (the day I am drafting this post).
My Fall TBR
Blacktail by Scott Hawkins
Currently reading…
This is my current October read, and I will return with a review.
The Eyes and the Impossible by Dave Eggers
Women Who Run with the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estés
“Within every woman there lives a powerful force, filled with good instincts, passionate creativity, and ageless knowing. She is the Wild Woman, who represents the instinctual nature of women. But she is an endangered species. For though the gifts of wildish nature belong to us at birth, society’s attempt to “civilize” us into rigid roles has muffled the deep, life-giving messages of our own souls.” —Goodreads
In November, I will find myself soulfully lost among the volcanic mountains and lakes of Guatemala, refilling my cup with laughter, friends, and connection. Something tells me this will be the perfect time to read Women Who Run with the Wolves.
You made it to the end!
What do you think? Do any books from my 2026 Fall Reading List spark your interest?
Comment below with what you’ve read lately. Share what you’re doing this Halloween or your favorite things about fall. Anything you’re hoping to see me post: travel content, movie-themed dinners? Let’s connect!
A Note: This post was 100% human-made. At no time did I use A.I to write this post. Images you see on this post were captured by me (or my partner) unless otherwise stated (credited/linked). Thank you for reading!
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