October is when I start settling into the cozy feeling of fall. It’s also when I start changing up my TBR and reaching for books that fit the season a little better.
If you’re looking for books to read in October, this list is a great place to start your fall reading.
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Best Books to Read in October
Not every October read has to be scary or set around Halloween.
Some of the best books to read in October can be cozy mysteries, small-town stories, emotional reads, thrillers, or paranormal books.
This list brings together different kinds of stories that all work for October in their own way.
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The Witches of Bone Hill — Ava Morgyn
Cordelia and her sister Eustace travel to a small Connecticut town after inheriting their great aunt’s Victorian home. Once there, they uncover family secrets, strange rituals, and the truth about their connection to witchcraft. An old Victorian house, a family crypt, witchcraft, and plenty of secrets give the story a darker supernatural feel.
The Honeycrisp Orchard Inn — Valerie Bowman
After losing her job and boyfriend, Ellie returns home to her family’s inn on a Long Island apple orchard. She ends up working with Aiden to save the orchard’s Harvest Festival, and their clashing personalities quickly turn into something more. The apple orchard and Harvest Festival add plenty of fall charm.
The Obituary Society — Jessica L. Randall
After inheriting her grandfather’s house, Lila moves to the small town of Auburn and quickly gets pulled into its secrets. When strange things start happening, she realizes there may be more going on than she expected. It’s a good choice if you want a small-town mystery with a slightly spooky feel.
The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy — Megan Bannen
Hart is a marshal who patrols the magical wilds of Tanria, while Mercy is busy keeping her family’s undertaking business running. After another frustrating run-in, Hart starts writing anonymous letters to a stranger and finds an unexpected connection. The book has magic, quirky fantasy, an unusual romance, and plenty of small-town drama.
A Skeleton in the Family — Leigh Perry
Georgia returns to her hometown in Massachusetts and moves back into her childhood home with her daughter. She’s also reunited with Sid, the talking skeleton who has been part of her family for years. When Sid recognizes someone from his past, Georgia gets pulled into a mystery surrounding his death.
Always Be My Pumpkin — Linda Mcevoy
Gracie is a small-town librarian enjoying books, fall decorations, and the lead-up to Samhain when her childhood best friend Flynn returns. The two end up working together on the village’s Halloween festivities while sharing his family’s cottage. The library setting, Halloween events, and second-chance romance give it plenty of October vibes.
The Family Plot — Megan Collins
After her father’s death, Dahlia returns to her family’s isolated island home and is pulled back into the mystery of her twin brother’s disappearance. When his body is discovered, she starts questioning what really happened and what her family may know. It’s dark and unsettling, with an isolated mansion, true crime, murder, and plenty of family secrets.
The Inn at Tansey Falls — Cate Woods
After losing her best friend, Nell travels to the small Vermont town of Tansy Falls to carry out one final request. Her friend has planned two weeks of activities meant to help Nell experience the town and maybe see what comes next. The small-town setting, fresh start, and emotional story make this a softer pick for an October reading list.
The Drowning Kind — Jennifer McMahon
After her sister dies in the pool at their grandmother’s estate, Jax returns home and starts looking into what Lexie had been researching. She soon uncovers a darker history tied to the property and a mysterious spring. An old family estate, a mysterious pool, buried secrets, and supernatural elements give this story a creepy edge.
A Discovery of Witches — Deborah Harkness
While researching at Oxford, Diana Bishop finds an enchanted manuscript that brings her into a world of witches, vampires, and other supernatural beings. She also has to face a part of her own family history she has tried to avoid. There’s plenty of magic and mystery here, along with witches, vampires, and an old Oxford setting.
Murder at the Bookstore — Sue Minix
Mystery writer Jen returns to her small hometown hoping to work through a case of writer’s block. Instead, she gets pulled into a real murder mystery after the owner of the local bookstore dies and Jen becomes a suspect. Book lovers get a bookstore setting, an amateur sleuth, and a classic small-town murder mystery.
The 34th in the Floor — R. B. Schow and Bailey James
FBI Special Agent Sadie Gray returns to Grass Valley, California, for a murder investigation tied to a place she hoped to leave behind. As the case grows, she is forced to face parts of her own past while searching for answers. It’s a much darker read, with an FBI investigation, a serial killer case, and ties to Sadie’s past.
Picture Perfect Autumn — Shelley Noble
Photographer Dani follows a collection of old photos to a small Rhode Island town and a worn Gothic beach house. There, she meets Lawrence, a retired photographer with a complicated past. Photography, family history, and an old house give the fall setting a little extra charm.
Run On Red — Noelle W. Ihli
Laura and Olivia are driving along a remote country road when they realize a truck is following them. What starts as road rage quickly turns into a dangerous chase with no easy way to call for help. The remote road, pursuit, and survival element keep the tension high.
Small Town, Big Magic — Hazel Beck
Emerson owns a bookstore in the small town of St. Cyprian, where she discovers that magic is real—and that she’s a witch. As she learns more about the town and her own past, she also has to face a new threat hiding close to home. It mixes witches and magic with a bookstore, found family, romance, and cozy small-town life.
Into the Fall — Tamara L. Miller
Sarah’s life is already falling apart when her husband disappears during a family trip in the Canadian wilderness. As the search stretches on, she starts uncovering secrets about her marriage and the life she thought she knew. The remote wilderness and growing tension make the story darker and more suspenseful.
The Witch of Willow Hall — Hester Fox
After scandal forces Lydia and her family to leave Boston, they move to a country estate called Willow Hall. Strange noises, old family secrets, and ties to the Salem witch trials soon make it clear the house has a dark past. The witches, family secrets, and creepy old house give it a gothic feel.
The Pumpkin Patch Sisters — Amy Rafferty
After their mother dies, Dahlia and her three sisters return to the pumpkin farm where they grew up. As they work through the terms of the will, Dahlia starts uncovering family secrets tied to the farm and the town. A pumpkin patch, sisterhood, second-chance romance, and a little mystery add plenty of cozy fall vibes.
The Woodsmoke Women’s Book of Spells — Rachel Greenlaw
Carrie returns to the mountain town of Woodsmoke after her grandmother dies and leaves her an old cottage. As she settles back in, she is pulled into the town’s stories, family magic, and a mystery involving a stranger who appears with the first snow. You’ll find an old legend, mountain magic, romance, and a little mystery in this one.
The Bookshop Mysteries — S.A. Reeves
Gemma owns a quiet bookshop in a small Derbyshire town, but things change when a local author dies during a book signing. When the death starts to look suspicious, Gemma and her assistant Mavis begin looking for answers. The bookshop setting, amateur sleuths, and small-town secrets give it that classic cozy mystery feel.
The Night of the Crash — Jessica Irena Smith
True crime podcaster Steppy wakes up in the hospital with no memory of why she returned to her Colorado hometown. Her mother has been murdered, her brother is the main suspect, and another case involving a missing girl may be connected. Family secrets, a small-town setting, and a mystery tied to Halloween make this one darker and twistier.
The Death of a Maven — Kathryn Johnson
After the death of a close friend, Verity refuses to believe it was suicide and starts looking for answers. At the same time, she is dealing with two ghosts who have taken up residence on her Vermont farm. Small-town secrets, an amateur sleuth, and two helpful ghosts give this mystery a paranormal twist.
Gypsy Magic — H. P. Mallory and J. R. Rain
Poppy moves to the small town of Haven Hollow with her son, hoping for a fresh start and a chance to open her own potions shop. Instead, she starts having strange visions and quickly realizes the town may be hiding more than a few secrets. Ghosts, magic, and small-town secrets keep the paranormal side fun and light.
Shadow Falls — Wendy Dranfield
Detective Madison Harper is called to a small Northern California town after a twelve-year-old girl goes missing near Shadow Falls. As she searches for answers, Madison begins uncovering details that suggest there may be more to the case than anyone realized. The missing-person case and small-town secrets keep the suspense high.
A Love So Real — Kimberly Rae Jordan
Arianna leaves Los Angeles behind and ends up in the small town of New Hope Falls, Washington, where she hopes to figure out what comes next. There, she meets Eli, whose family owns the local resort and who is dealing with struggles of his own. The story brings together a fresh start, Christian romance, small-town life, and a beautiful Washington setting.
Autumn’s Deceit — Mary Stone
Special Agent Autumn Trent and her team are pulled into a disturbing new case when a young boy arrives with a message meant for the FBI. As the investigation grows, it becomes clear someone is targeting the team in a very personal way. A serial killer case, FBI investigation, and personal threats make this one of the darker books on the list.
Idaho Fall — D. J. Maughan
After a fall from a balcony leaves Rita in a coma, she discovers she can leave her body and follow the investigation into what happened. As she listens in, she starts learning things about her life and the people around her that she never knew. Mystery, suspense, and plenty of secrets keep you guessing.
A Fall to Remember — Ellie Alexander
Miranda runs her family’s market in Half Moon Bay, California, and unexpectedly goes viral after posting a series of bad vacation photos. Soon, she’s asked to help promote the town’s Fall Harvest Festival with Jim, who is there to capture it all on camera. The fall festival, small-town setting, and sweet romance fit perfectly on an October TBR.
A Time of Witches— Madeline Martin
After her mother’s death, Lilith begins noticing strange things she can’t explain and travels from Savannah to an old manor in England looking for answers. Her story connects with Sybil, a woman accused of witchcraft centuries earlier. Witches, family secrets, an old manor, and two timelines give the story a darker historical feel.
People Watching — Hannah Bonam-Young
Prue lives a quiet life in the small town of Baysville, Ontario, where she helps care for her mother and sticks close to familiar routines. Things start to change when Milo, a free-spirited traveler, comes to town and brings a little adventure into her life. Small-town life, opposites attract, family struggles, and plenty of romance give this one a softer feel.
How to Choose What to Read in October
I like to mix up my October TBR with a few different genres.
Some days I want something cozy, while other days I’m in the mood for a mystery, thriller, or paranormal read. I also like adding in a romance or women’s fiction book when I want something a little lighter.
When I’m choosing books to read in October, I try to include a little variety. Having different genres on my list gives me plenty to choose from throughout the month.
More Fall Related Posts
- Best Fall-Themed Books for Cozy Reading
- The Ultimate Fall Reading List: 250+ Books
- 15 Movies With Fall Vibes to Watch This Autumn
- Cozy Indoor Hobbies for Fall and Winter
October always feels like the start of a new reading season to me.
I hope this list of books to read in October gives you a few new ideas for your TBR and helps you kick off your fall reading.
My first reads in October will be The Obituary Society and Picture Perfect Autumn, what will yours be?