Although I’m still not completely ready to acknowledge that summer is already drawing to an end, it’s becoming harder and harder to ignore the decreasing temperatures and browning leaves. The fact that I’m typing this indoors, wearing an oversized sweater, sipping a scolding hot coffee and debating whether or not it’s too early to turn on the heater says enough: autumn is here.
I’ll have to find solace in the fact that those cooler temperatures and rainy weather make for prime reading conditions, and I have a bunch of books on my TBR that I’m more than excited to get to. Today, I’ll share 8 books from my autumn TBR, that I hope to get to within the next couple of months. Most of them share that “atmospheric” nature that makes a good autumn-read for me. So without further ado: let’s get into the autumn-reading material.
1. Middlegame by Seanan McGuire High on my list of most anticipated novels of 2019 was Middlegame by Seanan McGuire, and although it’s been out for a few months now, I’ve held off on it until closer to autumn as it seems perfect for this time of year. At the time of writing this post, I’m already about 100 pages into this beast of a book, and man… it’s equal parts weird and awesome so far… I’m really excited to see where this goes next.
2. Lair of Dreams by Libba Bray (The Diviners #2) Mix nineteen-twenties-New York-glamour with an amazing diverse cast of characters and throw in a serial killer and a generous serving of occultism, and you basically get The Diviners. After hearing so much hype over this series, I finally started it at the beginning of 2019, and boy was I sleeping on a gem until now. If you haven’t read this book yet, I highly recommend it, especially round this time of year. As for me: I’ll be picking up its sequel Lair of Dreams sometime soon.
3. Other Words for Smoke by Sarah Maria Griffin I’m honestly not quite sure how to introduce this novel, as I don’t know too much about what it is about and would like to keep it that way. That being said, part of my was so intrigued by the description on the backflap, that I almost blindly bought it upon release. Instead of my summarizing it, I recommend you click the title and read the description for yourself on Goodreads, as it does a better job of giving you an atmospheric impression than I could do. After you’ve done that: tell me that doesn’t sound like a perfect autumn/Halloween read…
4. Things we Say in The Dark by Kirsty Logan Another one of my most anticipated releases of 2019, is the latest work by one of my all-time favourite authors Kirsty Logan. Things we Say in the Dark is a gothic short-story collection that looks equal part enchanting and profoundly unsettling to me. With stories of lingering ghosts in overgrown pools, schoolgirls obsessed with anatomical models, and a monster that calls to a girl at night, this collection promises to address themes of “female bodies, domestic claustrophobia, desire and violence, and more.” I can’t wait to get my hands on this one!
5. House of Glass by Susan Fletcher I started House of Glass earlier this year, but put it down for the time being, as I was unable to get into it properly. Like I mentioned in my wrap up then: this was 100% my problem, not the books, as my mind was just not in it, and I planned on picking it back up at a later time, preferably in autumn. That’s what I plan on doing now. House of Glass is a gothic historical fiction novel that tells the story of a young woman, tasked with creating a miniature paradise within the greenhouse at a mysterious mansion. Things however, are not what they seem around the premises, leaving Clara to explore the secrets of not just the manor, but all its inhabitants. Perhaps even including herself…
6. Things in Jars by Jess Kidd Another historical gothic fiction, this time by an author I’ve been closely watching for some time now: Jess Kidd. Described as gothic mystery set in the dark underbelly of Victorian London, where a female detective is pulled into the macabre world of fanatical anatomists and crooked surgeons while investigating the kidnapping of an extraordinary child… Not sure about me, but this screams “perfect Halloween-eve read” to me.
7. House upon the Between the Lake and the Woods by Matt Bell I won’t lie: I know very little about this second to last one, other than it being recommended by some reviewers I trust and the description from Goodreads. The latter hits all the marks for a good autumn read for me: it’s vague, yet unsettling and sounds whimsical but ominous at the same time. Described as “strange atmospheric magical realism” with fairytale elements, and an underlying tale of obsession and grief: I really hope this one doesn’t disappoint.
8. The God Jar by Phill Featherstone The final book on my list is a bit of a shot in the dark, as again: I know very little about this one, other than the description from Goodreads. I requested an early copy of this novel via Netgalley, purely off of the description, and it sounding like an interesting supernatural thriller. The God Jar follows a young couple, after they find a mysterious, possibly cursed object whilst scuba diving off the Cornish coast. Many of you will know that I have a soft spot for anything with an ocean-(side)setting. Few will probably know that, as much as I adore the ocean from a distance, it’s also one of my greatest fears, so horror/thrillers based around scuba-diving are particularly effective to me. I really hope this doesn’t disappoint, and plan on writing a full review after finishing this one.
As per usual, I will probably add and/or make changes to this list as I go along, but at least for now, these are the books I’m most excited to get to this season. I’m looking forward to seeing other peoples autumn TBR’s (or even Halloween TBR’s, as those aren’t far away either anymore), and hope to find some more inspiration there.
Until then, stay warm and cozy, and happy reading!
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