Autumn is the best season to be a bookworm.
It is the perfect time of year to hibernate in a cocoon of blankets, cosy socks and comfy clothes, and surround yourself with enough hot drinks and sugary snacks to see you through a reading marathon.
To help you harvest the best books for the season, I’ve selected my top picks for ideal autumn reads.
The Confession by Jessie Burton
Published on 19 September
Burton’s third novel has been described by Elizabeth Day as “without doubt one of the best novels in recent years” and already has a 4.14 score on GoodReads from previews alone.
Moving between the 1980s and the present day, the novel explores a complex mother-daughter relationship, female friendships and the power of a long-kept secret. It sounds utterly brilliant and, with Burton’s inimitable writing panache, is sure to climb its way to the top of the charts in no time.
The Dutch House by Ann Patchett
Published on 24 September
This book uses the best tropes of dark fairy tales to explore the complexities of family life. It has been described as the Women’s Prize for Fiction-winning author’s masterpiece and is receiving praise across the board from reviewers.
Imaginary Friend by Stephen Chbosky
Published on 1 October
This novel follows Chbosky’s smash hit debut The Perks of Being a Wallflower and retains all of the quality of his first literary outing. Haunting and mysterious, the book follows the story of a missing child and is a thrilling read.
Published on 3 October
This is Smith’s first short story collection and it comprises new works as well as pieces previously published in The New Yorker. The collection is varied and ambitious in its range, covering everything from historic to dystopian genres, and exploring the fundamentals of time, place and identity.
The publisher claims “nothing is off limits” and I believe it from an author of Smith’s skill and courage.
Published on 31 October
Perfectly timed for Halloween, this book is a good, old-fashioned haunted house story that will have you reading from underneath a very large, protective blanket. Set in 1917, it follows a war widow and her experiences in Greyswick, a country house manor with a dark history. It’s brilliantly creepy and deliciously gothic.
And, here are the books that are still on my to be read pile that I’m hoping to get through before Christmas:
The Strawberry Thief by Joanne Harris
City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert
The Familiars by Stacey Hall
Three Women by Lisa Taddeo
