Five Cozy Books For Fall
By: Emma Nelson
As summer fades and fall begins to roll in, I can't think of a better time to nestle up by a crackling fire, hot cocoa in one hand and a book in the other. Something about the fall puts me in a reading mood. But not just any book will quench this reading thirst; I need cozy books. So after a lot of reading, I've compiled a list of the 5 best books to read during the fall season, and I've got something for everyone.
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First of all, I'm going to start off with 3 books all wrapped up under one cover, Let It Snow by John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle. This book is 3 short stories that all are tied together in one way or another. Since it is 3 short stories, I'm going to break it down into pieces.
The first story is about this girl named Jubilee; it's Christmas Eve, aka her and her boyfriend Noah's 1 year anniversary. She plans to go to a smorgasbord at Noah's house, but her plans change when her parents end up getting arrested, so she is sent to stay with her grandparents. She meets a smorgasbord of characters on her journey, like cheerleaders, a man dressed in tin foil, and many more interesting characters. Her train crashes due to the snow, and she is forced to stay at a nearby waffle house. Here she meets Stuart. He invites her to his home while she waits for her train to be fixed. This short story was filled with action, and overall there was a romantic and fun ending. I think the short story was the most entertaining out of all of them. It has excellent pacing- which I cant say about the other two- and it has drama and twists, and it does a great job of developing the characters. I think it was an enjoyable read and probably my favorite short story in this book.
The following short story is about a group of friends who have to win a race to the Waffle House. The first group there gets to play Twister with cheerleaders. They have a treacherous-but fun adventure throughout the story. I think this story did the best job of making you like the characters. All of them are fun and written realistically. Reading this made me feel like I was in their friend group, marching through the snow alongside them. It was a fun read, and the ending was very satisfactory compared to the other short stories.
The last one is cool because it has a lot of references to the other two. This one is about a girl who is having relationship struggles. To mend their relationship, she invites him to the Starbucks where she works and where they got together on Christmas 1 year before. When he doesn't show up, she has to prove her selflessness not only to her friends but also to herself.
All three of these stories are adorable and fun. Getting to hear the little easter eggs that tie all the stories together is super fun and exciting. They're all easy reads, and they will definitely put you in the holiday mood. If you like cheesy romance and holiday cheer, then this book is for you!
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Now, if the cold isn't really your thing, perhaps an escape into the hot summer of northern Italy is more your style. Call Me By Your Name by André Aciman is a tragic love story between a young man, Elio, and a guest visiting his parent's house, Oliver. This book pushes the limits and breaks your heart.
What makes this book great?
It is narrated through Elios's perspective, his thoughts, and worries about how he feels for Oliver. There is a straightforward build in intensity throughout the book that is written incredibly well; what starts as curiosity turns to admiration turns to a mere crush turns to lust. Elio coming to terms with his sexuality, and his thought process behind that, is something I think any queer reader can relate to.
André Aciman made it clear through his writing that he sincerely thought about every word, and his efforts definitely show. This book had me stopping and closing the book to appreciate the beautiful language. I found myself reading sentences over and over again. So many memorable quotes that pull at the heartstrings. For example:
"If I could have him like this in my dreams every night of my life, I'd stake my entire life on dreams and be done with the rest."
"I suddenly realized that we were on borrowed time, that time is always borrowed, and that the lending agency exacts its premium precisely when we are least prepared to pay and need to borrow more."
This book is wonderful. It's relatable, gritty, and terribly tragic.
What makes this book “cozy”?
When reading this book, it's easy to completely get absorbed into the atmosphere André Aciman has created. The heat and the love is all so perfect and you really feel like you are Elio in northern Italy falling in love. This book is an amazing escape from normal life which is why I personally love reading it during the cold season because I hate the cold, but with this book, I could stay curled up under my blanket for hours feeling all the emotions Elio feels, happiness, angst, loss, love.
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Do you wanna better yourself while stuck inside hiding from the cold? Then Tiny Beautiful Things: Advice on Love and Life from Dear Sugar is an excellent book for you. The story consists of letters sent to Sugar asking for advice. There's advice on so many topics, such as love, loss, grief, and even more specific issues such as a mother who has lost her child and a young boy being disowned for being gay.
What makes this book great?
I'm aware a collection of advice columns may sound tedious. However, the writing style and the tone of Sugar's voice is so fantastic it's unlike any self-help book I've ever read. Sugar shares her own stories and shows so much empathy and understanding throughout the whole book.
She clearly cares about what she's doing, and it shows. Sometimes she says the everyday cliche advice, but she expands on them. She makes the basics her own.
"Most things will be okay eventually, but not everything will be. Sometimes you'll put up a good fight and lose. Sometimes you'll hold on really hard and realize there is no choice but to let go. Acceptance is a small, quiet room."
Overall her language choices and advice, in general, make me want to go out and truly live. She is more inspiring than I was expecting. No matter who you are, you will get something out of this book.
What makes this book “cozy”?
This book does a great job at making you feel less alone, so if seasonal depression is something you struggle with, reading this book is a great way to get off on the right foot. Also, her presence is so pure and lovely. Every time Sugar uses pet names, I feel like I'm talking to a grandma who is sharing all her wisdom while I eat the cookies she baked for me. I love it! "It is not as incomprehensible as you pretend, sweet pea. Love is the feeling we have for those we care deeply about and hold in high regard."
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The next book is a murder mystery book called And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie. Ten people are lured to an island and discover they are all going to be killed as punishment for their "crimes," a voice from a gramophone explains that they're here because each of them-in some way-are responsible for someone else's death. A nursery rhyme on the wall in each of their bedrooms predicts how each of them will be killed off, and they all have to play detective and find out which among them is the killer.
What makes this book great?
I will say this book is a little hard to follow at times, especially in the beginning. There are a lot of characters to keep track of, and it can be a little overwhelming, but once the story starts flowing, it gets easier. It also isn't too long, which helped keep my interest.
This is written very well for a murder mystery. Since the book was written in 1931, it gives me rustic and almost nostalgic vibes which I adore! The killer is not easy to guess but not impossible either; making the book very fun to read. The nursery rhyme gives you clues on what's going to happen next, but I still found myself surprised at every death and wondering what would happen next.
As you read and gather clues as to who the killer could be you also learn more and more about the actual characters and the secrets they keep from each other. There’s lots of banter and it helps keep the flow going, it is a pretty short book and the amount of action Christie fits in is very impressive and very well done.
What makes this book “cozy”?
This book is a great way to say goodbye to the spooky season, and the nostalgic vibes make it a very cozy book to read.
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The following review will be short not only because I'm sure you've heard about this book many times but also because I have yet to finish it. However, I had to include it because the writing style and story are incredible; the book I'm speaking about is The Book Thief by Markus Zusak.
This book is my current read, and I'm highlighting it as I go along, and let me tell you, I don't think I've ever highlighted a book so much - the imagery in this book is fantastic!
"Yes, the sky was now a devastating, home-cooked red. The small German town had been flung apart one more time. Snowflakes of ash fell so lovely you were tempted to stretch out your tongue to catch them, taste them. Only they would have scorched your lips. They would have cooked your mouth."
This quote pops up pretty early in the book, and as soon as I read it, I knew this book was going to blow me away. There was something about the way he described something so sad and terrible in such a beautiful way. It made me feel like I was melting into the page. All the imagery and personification were done so well, and the story and plot are so amazing.
Having the story be narrated by death, I find it very fun and different. I also love how death is his own character with his own personality and thoughts. It's such a unique point of view, and it's not corny or cliche. It's written perfectly. The writing is very thought out and done so incredibly well! I can't wait to read more of this beautiful book.
As the holiday season rolls around, roll up in a blanket and read these incredible books--They won't disappoint you!