Image by Marco Verch via Flickr
Intro
As the leaves transformed into their warm, autumn hues, our editorial team gathered to share their curated list of fall favorites. From captivating books that put you in the spooky mood to cinematic gems that evoke the cozy spirit of the season, and melodies that perfectly complement the fall ambiance, we’ve compiled a diverse array of recommendations. We hope they’ll add a little warmth and color to your seasonal repertoire.
Haley Smith's Fall Pick
The Dead Romantics is a funny, modern, and unique paranormal romance by Ashley Poston that is a perfect read for fall! It follows the main character, Florence Day, who ghostwrites for a famous romance author. However, Florence wrestles with the possibility of losing her job when she can’t bring herself to write about love; something she doesn’t believe in anymore. Just when she’s steeled herself for the horrors of unemployment, she is called back home due to her father’s untimely death and she’s met with a nightmare she’s been running from for years. Before she has time to grapple with her misfortune, events take another turn when she is confronted with an unlikely visitor on the doorstep of her childhood home who only she has the ability to help. The gothic vibes of this book are reminiscent of The Addams Family, but a little more cozy than creepy and kooky. This book has all the things: ghosts, a funeral home, death, betrayal, mystery, romance, the girls and the gays, a small town, drama, and—of course—a great ending.
Tyler McDonald's Fall Pick
Once Autumn begins, and I have the first sip of my chai tea latte, I can almost hear the start of Taylor Swift’s “All Too Well” play aloud. As someone who grew up absolutely adoring Swift and her music, it’s no surprise that her classic fall album Red (Taylor’s Version) has become a seasonal staple for me. People mostly enjoy their Christmas classics, or their summer club songs, and I definitely do too, but nothing beats the nostalgia of listening to these tracks during the fall season. From the iconic scarf references, the red, brown, and orange autumnal color scheme, and the original October/November release dates, Red (Taylor’s Version) is the album of autumn. The sound itself is crisp like the autumn air, with its blend of country pop hybrid tracks, and secret references to maple lattes and the changing colors of the leaves, seamlessly reviving over a decade of fall memories associated with this album. If you’re searching for a fall album this year, this is definitely the one to go to.
Nate Thomas's Fall Pick
It doesn’t matter how old I get; nothing feels more like fall to me than watching “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.” It’s only 25 minutes long, apparently; I was under the impression it was a lot longer, but that’s growing up, I suppose. It’s no horror flick and I won’t pretend it’s some cinematic masterpiece, but it was such a childhood favorite of mine and such a holiday staple. I’ll hopelessly associate fall with the film for the rest of my life. It’s goofy, it’s short, and it’s sweet—but to me it’s timeless.
Connor Ploetz's Fall Pick
There is no doubt in my mind that Over the Garden Wall will go down in history as an American classic. This beautiful animated mini series, created by Patrick McHale, follows the story of two half brothers, Wirt and Greg, as they travel through the mysterious woods, aptly named The Unknown. The series is known for its wondrous autumn imagery, most notably the New England-inspired world of The Unknown. The gorgeous backgrounds filled with orange and red-leafed trees perfectly complement the old-timey jazz-folk soundtrack and the other autumn visuals dispersed throughout the series. Further, the story of these two brothers is utterly heart-melting, and in many ways, their journey through The Unknown feels like our journey through life. There is not a single autumn season in my house that goes by without multiple rewatches of Over the Garden Wall.
Sophie Carpenter's Fall Pick
For me, fall is the only time of year where I willingly subject myself to scary movies and books. A favorite so far for the 2023 spooky season is Victoria Schwab’s The Near Witch, which feels very Salem Witch trials mixed with folklore and a hint of fantasy magic. It features a mysterious, magical stranger, disappearing children, the possibility of a bedtime story come-to-life, village paranoia, and an awesome female lead character. The book is chilly and eerie, with great imagery that really invokes the fall season and may even give you goosebumps just to read about it all. And, admittedly, I don’t have the strongest stomach for spooky things, so my opinion might not be super reliable, but I did think the book was truly scary at times. All I’ll say is– be careful reading after dark.
Josephine Sampson's Fall Pick
Watching and reading Harry Potter is always a great thing to look forward to throughout the year. But there’s something about watching and reading it in months that end in “ber” that really makes it special. October is a super atmospheric time of year because the leaves have changed color, sweaters are pulled out of closets, warm drinks are found everywhere, and the coziness factor is at an all time high. The Harry Potter universe is just the cherry on top to all of these things. If you haven’t, I suggest reading or watching them this season. The books are a bit of a commitment, but once you’ve been introduced to the characters and the story, you’ll want to find out more! Just be sure to not say You-Know-Who’s name aloud while reading!
Grace Ertel's Fall Pick
“Fall is in the air” is what everyone starts to say around this time. I actually just got all of my fall decorations out – after putting it off for a few weeks. Around this time of year I really enjoy reading darker/spookier things to get myself in the mood for Halloween. One I just read not that long ago was We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson. It is a super quick read and will definitely get you in the fall spirit with some of the darker aspects throughout. Another thing for me is movies. Throughout the year, I am typically not a big movie watcher but when it comes to fall I have to watch the Halloween Charlie Brown special, It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. The little kid in me always finds joy in that and it has become a tradition for me. Happy fall to everyone and enjoy all of your fall reads!