🍂 40+ very specific autumn fantasy book recommendations to read alone in the forest 🍂

books mentioned:
lonely castle in the mirror
last tale of the flower bride
the silent companions
our hideous progeny
house of roots and ruin
the darkest part of the forest
immortal longings
stolen heir
life as we knew it
hell bent
harrow the ninth
what moves the dead
thorn hedge
wicked deep
the queer principles of kit webb
girl who fell beneath the sea
one for my enemy
if we were villains
lakesedge
a magic steeped in poison
the binding
the raven cycle
gilded
garden of the cursed
sea of tranquility
the children of green knowe
the hacienda
language of thorns
blood debts
the black witch
a dowry of blood
a far wilder magic
station eleven
emily wilde's encyclopedia of fairies
spells for forgetting
heart of stone
house of salt and sorrow
divine rivals
the bear and the nightingale
half a soul
our wives under the sea
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🍂 40+ very specific autumn book recommendations to read alone in the forest 🍂

[@rowen.m]

To the person who asked about a Carmilla-esque book, please read “The Wicked and the Willing” by Lianyu Tan. It’s set in 1927/1928 Singapore. Very atmospheric and spooky. Lesbians, need I say more! I’m only 90 pages into it, but I’m enjoying it so far. ❤

[@caricanread]

Wait whaaaat looking this up RIGHT NOW

[@saramm3765]

Not the original person but Oooh thank you! Adding to my list.

[@rowen.m]

@@saramm3765 Of course! Hope you enjoy, but please check the trigger warnings! This book does not mess around.

[@rowen.m]

@@caricanread I hope you'll agree with me in saying the book cover is a 10/10. I'll post an update with my final thoughts once I finish reading it. :)

[@sophiehancock7421]

@@caricanreadaunt😢da😮😢😢 a a😮wrouuhm

[@erinl898]

when i saw the title of this video i literally said "oh thank god" loud enough for my mom to ask what happened 😭 i've been needing some fall vibes and you always have the best recs, thank you cari!!

[@caricanread]

😂😂😂 omg hahah hope you enjoyed

[@erinl898]

@@caricanreadomg LOVED IT as always! i put a bunch of these on hold at the library and just got ahold of blood debts, can't wait to start 😄😄

[@Merve77772]

I recently read the perfect autumn book that feels so much like a Ghibli movie. It's called Unraveller by Frances Hardinge and it takes place in a world where spider like creatures give other humans the ability to curse each other and the main character can break them. It has spooky vibes but is actually really cozy and super atmospheric.

[@mariemadlenek]

I actually hate spiders but this sounds interesting so I will look it up !

[@coral54hgmb]

I’m going to comment here so I can hopefully remember to look this book up later!

[@lolaevergreen9077]

We wouldn't mind an hour+ long book recommendations video! :D

[@welephantsoup]

no literally i would kill for more longer cari content

[@bookbrain1557]

Just what i needed for my favorite season of the year!!

[@caricanread]

🍂🤍🍂🤍

[@scarlettteacup1676]

Another cute fantasy romance with autumn vibes is An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson. It's not my favourite of her books but it's still really good and definitely very autumn-y

[@9ol4]

Also, mushrooms + romance + gothic = Mexican gothic. It’s not everyone’s cup of tea and it’s a lot of not plot just vibes kind of thing, but definitely loads of mushrooms, romance and gothic 😂

[@rachelcruz2404]

YES this is exactly what I was thinking!!! one of my FAVORITE books

[@Lara_Ameen]

OMG! YES! Great choice!

[@izzyborn8917]

A really good eerie gothic dark stormy autumn night book is A Study In Drowning by Ava Ried. Highly recommend! ❤ Thanks for the vid Cari 😊

[@caricanread]

I havent liked an ava reid yet but i plan to give it a try!!

[@megandcochrane]

I just finished Anatomy : A Love Story and it was so amazing. Not smutty, not too lovey dovey…just the yearning and then the surgical stuff. So good, so gothic, and I need everyone to read it. Also! The audiobook narrator is Scottish.

[@caricanread]

I actually was really bummed by the story- especially the ending! Im glad you liked it tho!!

[@Stoney1413]

new writer goal: write a novel that cari would recommend and gush about.

[@pancieran]

I can't believe you're giving us a video on the raven cycle (my fav book) this close to my birthday THANK YOU 😭😍

[@caricanread]

Yesss see you next week 🐦‍⬛

[@delaneyheil9575]

So I just finished the book Little Thieves by Margaret Owen and I have been clamoring to recommend it to you! It's got fantastic humor, really great world building with a Germanic twinge to everything, solid stakes with a ticking clock, it's my favorite book I've read this year! If you can get around to it, I'd love to see what you think! 🥰

[@scarlettteacup1676]

oooh yes I read that last year - one of my favourite books of the year!

[@rixanoz]

I’m getting my tea and clearing out my tbr for this one.

[@caricanread]

yeeeee!

[@carolynndunn5316]

This title had me DYING. I was literally hoping you would upload because I'm going backpacking (alone, in the woods) next week and I've been needing some new books to bring. I might avoid the really, really spooky ones tho haha

[@caricanread]

Omg perfection hahahha

[@sarawiser]

please tell Kurt that I got all my friends using Mirror and we are OBSESSED it makes my little ADHD brain so happy :)

[@caricanread]

omgggg thank you :'''')

[@anon9067]

i'm so glad you read the raven cycle! those books were my entire personality when i was 17 😅

[@Eve.003y]

Another very autumnal book to read in the woods is house of hollow. It is one of my favourites. The author creates lots of vibes with smells and descriptions, we have a great mysterious plot, an eerie atmosphere with a dark folklore feeling, an interesting main character, little hints of romance, it has small town vibes at the beginning and it involves a forest.

[@annalachelt7441]

How did we get through a whole video about autumn books with no mention of "The Night Circus?" This book is just 100% autumn vibes to me, truly a beauty of a novel, go read it! But thanks for all the recs, Cari!

[@caricanread]

I really didnt like the night circus 😂😂😂

[@welephantsoup]

@@caricanreadthis might be the very first take of yours that I disagree with and I’ve been here for lover a year now 😮 justice for the night circus! 😢

[@carolineblueskies]

Always love your very specific recs! Currently reading A Far Wilder Magic and loving the vibes!

[@sualipa]

thank you so much for the recs!!!

[@viktoriavladimirova4008]

I love it when your videos are long because of how good of a time I am having.🧡🧡

[@sarasgonzalezg]

I've been devouring your content since I found your channel about a week ago. Love your book recommendations!!!

[@sappho4828]

the binding is my favourite book !! just of all of them. i feel a little jealous/possessive seeing it recommended but it is absolutely breathtaking !! definitely recommend checking trigger warnings first though, this one doesn't pull any punches

[@antonymeanonyme8944]

YES EMMET BABY ALSO i cried

[@kingdomkeeper17]

Ah! I love this! I will also need a Winter vibes list eventually 😅🩵

[@michellecgb]

Sooo ready to add some books ro my tbr. Thank you, I already love this video

[@caricanread]

🥰🙏🥰🙏

[@kristinblack7457]

What good timing this video has! I was in such a reading slump - hadn't finished a book in months - and now I have like 10 books on hold and have read two since you posted this. Thanks Cari!

[@vsmo_6]

I've been waiting for this one!! Thank you for the video🥰

[@caricanread]

🥰🥰🥰

[@who-is-eva]

Here in southern germany we are in that same beautiful period between summer and autumn as you are in Seoul and I just got up, made myself some tea and am ready to take notes for my fall tbr, yay! Also! Finished Lonely Castle in the Mirror two weeks ago and it hasn't let me go yet, it's my favourite book of the whole year, maybe my new all time fave!

[@missalicia]

Cari with another video to toss around my tbr for the rest of the year 🥺 🍂 i was waiting for that one! 🫰🏻

[@caricanread]

LOL sorry hhahaha

[@barbarakratc7441]

I've been meaning to come back to tell you that YOUR recommendations are the ONLY ones I fully trust. Idk how you do it, but every book you have recommended that I've read have always been bangers. So, THANK YOU for reading and curating these amazing lists. You are the best!

[@watashiwamosura]

I literally watched a video essay about Kowloon yesterday evening and now you mention it this morning, I guess I have to read that book!

[@ImogenReeves]

Love all the book recommendations

[@mollygross9594]

omg you just unlocked a deep memory with life as we knew it!!! completely forgot about that book but i was obsessed when i was younger. i remember staying up all night to finish it and using the light from my nintendo DS to sneakily read it lol.

[@alyssabarroga6518]

Really love your recs! Especially Thornhedge because I was really intending to read it in between revision sessions for my exams 😂

[@janettebabcock7115]

Ughhh I’ve been waiting for a cozy fall video from Cari ❤️ needed this so bad work has been terrible.

[@caricanread]

🥰🙏🥹

[@bhsprinkle]

Autumn is here. Thank you for talking about some books that you read. Added some to my tbr.

[@caricanread]

Yay!!!

[@NellyVilla09]

27:49 omg my request made it to your thumbnail AAHHHHH 💃🏻🕺💃🏻🕺

[@justbreathe857]

I LOVE life as we knew it, the entire series is beautiful. I’ve never heard anyone else mention it, thank you!!! I’m irrationally excited about hearing it recommended lol

[@miirriam]

I liked the Coven a lot. It has autumn vibes, magic feels alive, great MC and interesting romance💔

[@rfayed4283]

The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein is really good Frankenstein retelling! It definitely gives dark-spooky-fall-ish vibes

[@caricanread]

Omg looking this up ASAP

[@springsbloom]

i have been waiting for this!!!!

[@caricanread]

🥰🥰🥰

[@MsLrenee937]

This poison heart should have been on this list. It definitely feels like autumn to me. Lots of forest scenes.

[@mariluuu17]

Yaaas!!! I've been waiting for this video, and I'm soooo ready to add all your recs to my TBR. Thank you so much, Cari ❤

[@caricanread]

yay!! thanks for watching^^

[@hooflepoof630]

OMG!!! I loved Life as We Knew It when I was a teen!! Going to buy it now and reread it!! Thank you Cari for reminding me of it! ❤❤❤❤

[@AnimeLover36902]

Thank you for mentioning life as we knew it. I had the exact same reaction as you. I wanted to go to the store and start hoarding, canned foods and medical supplies. It was an amazing yet terrifiying book! I recommend it to anyone who’s in a good mind space.

[@lbtea7]

Perfect going-into-October video! And oh yes Silent Companions was very well done with the subtle-not-so-subtle unsettling #chills

[@blargedymcgee2653]

I have been trying to remember the green knowe books for like 30 plus years off and on. Thank you so much

[@caricanread]

idk what it is about those books that makes them stick with you!!

[@kaleighk1775]

I would recommend A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness if you haven’t read it. It’s got fall vibes with fantasy academia.

[@benjaminbrelje2289]

Discovery of witches is a great book The whole series I thought was pretty good Deborah harkness is talented

[@caricanread]

For some reason i really didnt enjoy it - i think I read the first two books 🤔

[@spacemari7498]

now i must survive this next week to finally witness you breaking down over the raven cycle!!!!!

[@caricanread]

Yessss hahha

[@lunabunnystudios]

the New Jersey charm !! love it

[@DenaliMarina]

Needed this!!❤

[@caricanread]

Hope you enjoyed 🥰

[@meliscobanozcikmak7588]

the outro.. sooo sweet of you hahah :) I actually got up to get some water

[@cheeyahmay8705]

Yay! I’ve never been this early and it’s my favorite season.

[@caricanread]

wahh thanks for being here!

[@parisgellerLUVER]

Early! I love her videos they are so amazing!

[@caricanread]

thank you :')

[@bubbleblower5907]

the raven cycle is my roman empire

[@caricanread]

i understand hahah

[@gigigigigigigigi]

now definitely autumn came in korea!!! i already miss summer😅 thank you for recommending i’ll study english with these book

[@vesper180]

A series I really loved that has a lot of the kind of vibes mentioned and also leaning into winter vibes is The Farseer Trilogy (and subsequent ones) by Robin Hobb. (Also, the first series where I actually cried hard at a character's death.) Also, if you can get a hold of a copy, Red as Blood by Tanith Lee which is a great short story compilation of her twist on many traditional types of fairy tales.

[@Lara_Ameen]

I picked up EMILY WILDE because of your recommendation a few videos ago! It seems cozy. I’m excited to read it! But I love some of these other recs, too! 😍 Also, I read GHOST MUSIC a few months ago per your recommendation and that definitely has mushrooms! I loved that book!

[@meghanb9270]

Highly recommend The Lighthouse Witches if you want spooky magic Scottish folklore vibes!! Love love loved it and everyone who I've recommended it to has also loved it.

[@ehmjey7567]

I am so in love with Emily Wildes Encyclopedia of Fearies and was wondering if you enjoyed it!! I'm not the biggest Romance reader but i love it when it’s incorporated and i loved the academic vibes. It was also just so fun without not having an actual thought out plot besides the romance-banter

[@sarap6862]

I loved the girl who beneath the sea!! Thanks for recommending it. ❤I picked up a few more of your recommendations to read in the next few weeks. I’m looking forward to cooler weather (70’s instead of 100 degrees) so I can curl up in front of the fake fireplace on my tv and read. 😊 P.S. I just made myself a cup of coffee with pumpkin spice creamer when you said to drink water. Lol I promise to drink more water after I finish my coffee.

[@lianajay04]

i'm from the southern hemisphere and the vibes were definitely received!

[@naoweik1296]

Just saying, love hearing you talk about books, so if you want to do hours long videos I'm all for it 😂

[@sweetmalissa]

Lonely castle in the mirror did get made into an anime movie!!!! I saw it in theaters this summer. So amazing. ❤

[@rhosymedra6628]

If you want nonfiction, I'm reading The In-Between by Hadley Vlahos (pretty sure she's on yt!). It's about her experiences as a hospice nurse with patients who have spooky *but comforting* experiences as they die. It's really compassionately written and interesting.

[@czernyyyy]

aaahhhhhhhhh omg you finally read the raven cycle?????? eeeeeeeee can't wait for the video!!

[@c_e_mcgill]

Finally catching up on my KZbin watch list & was so pleasantly surprised to hear you shout out Our Hideous Progeny again!! Thank you so much, Cari! 😊🖤 (P.S. A Dowry of Blood was SO good, one of my faves this year!)

[@DianeC1975]

Great list. Love the Green Knowe books, need to reread these. I may try T Kingfisher books. 👍📚🍁🤗💕

[@caricanread]

Definitely give thornhedge a try!

[@DianeC1975]

Just ordered it last night. 😉

[@mikaylaleighann]

Divine rivals😭😭😭😭😭❤️❤️❤️ I loved ittt

[@caricanread]

So good 😭😭😭

[@kellyschaos]

im currently experiencing my 23rd california autumn and i JUMPED when that prompt came up and you recommended life as we knew it!! i remember reading that when i was younger as well and enjoying it,, maybe i should revisit it lol

[@benjaminbrelje2289]

I don't know if you've ever heard of this one it's pretty old it's called sabrial not sure if I'm spelling that right it's by Garth nix and it's definitely like kind of science fictiony but also has a lot of like necromancy and there's a talking cat that's like possessed I believe not exactly sure how to describe it but it was a really really good time I read the book while I was listening to it on audio and Tim Curry does an amazing job

[@caricanread]

Oh i havent!!

[@bmoforever5562]

I love Language of Thorns (the audiobook version of The Witch Of Duva is also excellent company for cooking anything autumnal ❤)

[@caricanread]

Ohhh ill look that up!!

[@nele8282]

Cari!! I was looking on your channel for your thoughts on Circe after recently rereading it and I couldn't find you talking about either that or Song of Achilles. If you haven't read these yet you have to!! I know for a fact you would like them especially Circe is such a good book :)

[@banaa9463]

"some guy with a manor" 😆😂 great recs btw

[@neko_stardust4127]

They finished lonely castle in the mirror the adaptation already, its so good!

[@thepoetesskhansaa]

Creepy Forest: The Devouring Gray by Christine Lynn Herman, and also For the Wolf by Hannah Whitten Gloomy Gothic Church vibes: Vespertine by Margaret Rogerson

[@izaaaaaarah1270]

I need that edition of Frankenstein!!! 😭😭

[@ivers26]

This was fun! Love the concept. See you in a couple of months for the winter one?? ❤

[@caricanread]

Ohhh maybe yes!!

[@thornalexanderstyle]

I live on Vancouver Island and love seeing Emily St. John Mandel on your channel! Highly recommend Astra by Cedar Bowers and Greenwood by Michael Christie, fellow islanders with dystopian/cult undertones

[@caricanread]

Yes! Just read greenwood and will talk about it in my wrap up!!

[@madimiss]

I love Gilded!!!

[@romywolfofficial]

Raven Cycle video next? Oh my. I'm not sure I am ready to relive the feels 😅

[@caricanread]

😅😅😅

[@rynrose81]

The standing outside your house waiting to see if you have to evacuate while you watch the flames draw nearer vibe is so real. I’m from Colorado though so apparently our fire season is late December 🙃

[@nickicannon144]

Wow The Children of GREEN Knowe ! I remember the BBC made a childrens tv mini series back in the 80s which was really creepy… will have to revisit the books such a blast from the past.

[@nissasbookcorner]

this video is so cozy :)) i feel like i’m never gonna get through all the fall books i wanna read this season but watching all these fall videos counts right?

[@codysmovingcastle]

Recommending Summer Sons for what is essentially Adam/Ronan fanfic with a unique plot, yearning, and a Southern Gothic academia setting!

[@antonymeanonyme8944]

ok i think you sold me there

[@sweetmalissa]

I ADORED Dowry of Blood!!! 🥰🥰💖💖💖💖😈

[@alexhornsey9414]

"Omgod this is going to be so long ugh" I literally don't see the problem Cari. I love your videos, short or long

[@caricanread]

Bahahha thank you! As i was filming i was like “oh no this is going to be hours long hahah”

[@alexhornsey9414]

And hours long is okay. I will consume the content lol

[@racheldarby8173]

LONGER VIDEOS ARE THE BEST!😊

[@caricanread]

Thank you 🥹

[@sameenmehdi2671]

The BEST book for revenge best served cold AND feminine rage is Slewfoot by Brom. It’s so so so good!!

[@pez.3117]

My personal favorite autumn book is The Dreadful Tale of Prosper Redding! It’s middle grade, which I think is part of its charm-spooky family drama, wonderfully funny and fleshed-out characters, demons!!! And many many pumpkins. The vibes are a combination of chilly, magic-filled nights and the comfort of an unfamiliar home. Wonderfully cozy and there is a sequel!

[@caitlin1008]

My recommendation for the 'a book for the melancholy of endings' would be Before the coffee gets cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi

[@IL-nl9jn]

for spooky girl gets spooked i would also recommend Gallant by V E Schwabb

[@tree_hugger6921]

Half a soul was so fun. The fairies are the funniest thing. They might just be my fav fae rep?

[@mikh263]

caraval too!

[@mommybird4768]

I read Life As We Knew It when i was 14 and even at 27 still haven't recovered from the anxiety of it lol and I definitely read Green Knowe as a kid and completely forgot so I'm gonna have to go back and reread them. If you want a good creepy apocalyptic series I recommend The Forest of Hands and Teeth.

[@caricanread]

Omg looking that one up rn just for the title havhaa

[@lennonmotta4869]

girl i was randomly watching one of your How much a spend in a week videos on your main channel, and then I thought it would be super cool if you made a How much I read in a week video. it would be interesting to know more. of course booktubers read more than average since its their job, but it would be super cool to hear more details about your reading habits in a week. i would also like to see this coming from other booktubers, but you are my favorite in the universe so yours is more important anyway.

[@tuanayilmaz2076]

Cari, love you. Muah :*

[@morganinwanderland]

I have also been ready for autumn since July 🥵 I’m looking forward to Silent Companions. I had never known about the existence of those creepy cutouts. Did you see any on your UK travels? Also, per your recommendation, I read My Best Friend’s Exorcism and loved it! Very nostalgic. And, if you like Frankenstein inspired books, I recommend The Memoirs of Elizabeth Frankenstein.

[@caricanread]

I am ALWAYS freaked out by cutouts in museums - they get me every time ahah cant imagine people willingly having them in their house

[@TG-df6uy]

my unrequested fall/halloween recommendations: The Dreamblood Duology by NK Jemison. We Have Always Lived in a Castle by Shirley Jackson. Once and Future Witches by Alix Harrow. Build Your House Around My Body: A Novel by Violet Kupersmith. The Witness for the Dead by Katherine Addison. Into This River I Drown by TJ Klune. Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune. Endless Night by Agatha Christie

[@simranjain8586]

Cariiii you need to read ‘house of hollow’ this fall

[@caricanread]

I read it last year or two years ago!