I know many of you are book repeaters, and I also know that many of you are seasonal readers, and look forward to visiting with specific titles during specific times of the year. I am not a big book repeater (though I love women who are — it’s such a strong signal of someone who knows herself and takes her own joy seriously!), but I have been feeling called in that direction this year for some reason. Maybe I am feeling extra nostalgic? Maybe I want to lean into certain feelings? Mentally, I’m here:

And here are the vibes I’m after with my reading programme this fall:

+Dark academia;

+High school literature classics, especially ones set in school;

+Small town romances;

+Cozy mysteries;

+Little Women (in a category of its own, for obvious reasons) — but also Wuthering Heights or Poe would be great literary classics for the season. But also, Laura Dern narrates the Audible audiobook for Little Women and it is SO GOOD. Sometimes I listen to this when I can’t fall asleep or am sick or am in the dentist’s chair in search of distraction! I also like the Thandiwe Newton reading of Jane Eyre for these circumstances. Finally, it’s a perfect time of year to rewatch The Little Women. I couldn’t have imagined anyone playing Laurie better than Christian Bale but I did so love Timothee…perfectly foppish?

Anyway, back to books: do you have recs for any and all of these categories? Please share! In the meantime, I’m listing off the books on my radar that fit each of these above descriptions, some of which I’ve already read, others are major resume gaps, and several are Magpie reader approved:

+Dark academia: Secret History by Donna Tartt (Magpie reader fave);

+Cozy mystery: Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier, And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie, Ruth Ware’s latest (released last month);

+High school literature classics: Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, anything Fitzgerald but especially This Side of Paradise (Fitzgerald’s debut, and the opening is set at Princeton);

+Small town romances: If It Make You Happy by Julie Oliver (releasing 9/2; I already pre-ordered! I mean, say less: “Travel back in time to 1997 in this cozy, slow-burn romance set in the autumn glow of small-town Vermont”); B. K. Borison’s Lovelight Farms series (these are to me the equivalent of a pumpkin spice latte — not something I’m super into on a regular basis, a little too sweet, a little too much, but so delightful once or twice a season! The kind of thing you could throw in your bag for a weekend trip upstate and devour in a few sittings.)

+Don’t fall neatly into the categories above, but also on my list:

I actually just downloaded the first two of these while compiling this post, because both are on Kindle Unlimited:

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna. This is a witchy romance and I was enticed by Emily Henry’s book blurb on its cover; she doesn’t seem to do a lot of blurbing so this was convincing: “This is one of my coziest reads of the last year, and I find myself thinking about its enchanted setting all the time“)

My Oxford Year by Julia Whelan. “Set amidst the breathtaking beauty of Oxford, this sparkling debut novel tells the unforgettable story about a determined young woman eager to make her mark in the world and the handsome man who introduces her to an incredible love that will irrevocably alter her future—perfect for fans of JoJo Moyes and Nicholas Sparks.” This was recently made into a Netflix movie, so could be fun to read first and then have a cozy viewing night after.

The Black Magic Series by Alice Hoffman — a Magpie reader rec! Several of you revisit this series year after year. Description: “In this “ bewitching” (The New York Times Book Review) novel that traces a centuries-old curse to its source, beloved author Alice Hoffman unveils the story of Maria Owens, accused of witchcraft in Salem, and matriarch of a line of the amazing Owens women and men featured in Practical Magic and The Rules of Magic.”

You can also find all these books here in my Amazon storefront.

Post-Scripts.

+Of course I’m also reading (actually almost done with!) this month’s book club pick, a spectacular historical fiction called Isola by Allegra Goodman. This book is gripping — I’ve stayed up late reading it multiple nights in a row. The prose isn’t as artistically explorative as some of our previous book club picks but the story is absolutely fabulous (and, apparently, based on true events). I hope you’ll read along with me this month! Will be sharing a review plus fun playlist, mood board, etc on 9/15! You can sign up for book club emails here. They are a fun “expansion pack” on my monthly book club posts with some extra notes and finds tucked in there.

+We publish the good news.

+Motherhood can feel like a surfeit.

Shopping Break.

+If you love my VB blazer but not the price, this is a great look for less.

+Love J. Crew’s Cosmo pant in the kiwi green color! I like the idea of pairing with gray as styled on the site, or maybe tone-on-tone green!

+OMG this cropped shearling jacket. I own a jacket like this from this exact brand but it’s much boxier / bigger and I called it my Cameron Diaz in The Holiday coat! All my Shopbop hearts updated here.

+Fun chunky necklace to wear with fall colors. (Under $100!)

+Everyone’s favorite sweater-jacket hybrid. Love the new espresso color!

+Coziest fall socks to layer under my favorite fall clogs. Speaking of fall clogs: I have a feeling these Pradas are going to be A Thing this season.

+My current favorite pajamas. So soft and swingy and easy. But also love this camel stripe set as we ease into fall. And: pumpkin jammies for your little ones!

+Hotel Lobby’s fall scents are here! I love the Napa scent (earth, oak, black current) and am curious to try Aspen next (cedarwood, leather, pine)!

+Wanting to wear this nail color in the 85 Rouge H color all fall long.

+Ordered myself this Agatha Christie puzzle for fall! The brand has other fun motifs, too — Jane Austen, Bridgerton!

+50% off almost everything at Splendid with code VIPTIMEOFF. Treat yourself to a gorgeous new athleisure set. As you know, my toxic trait is finding the one thing not included in the sale, but I do have to again plug these perfect joggers. I’ve been wearing them constantly (literally, every night since I received them). They have a perfect thin weight that adds no bulk to your frame and the silhouette/hang is just perfect. They drape off your body in the most flattering way. I have the matching sweatshirt, too. On Monday, I had a routine mammogram that I was dreading and I literally told myself, “afterward, you can get home and put on soft clothes and have a cup of tea and bury yourself in a chappywrap blanket and you’ll feel right as rain.” Reader, it worked. I put this set on and felt so relaxed and made whole. I’m now wondering about these wide-leg versions.

+Gorgeous ivory patchwork top. Ideal for pairing with dark-wash jeans, brown cords!

+Another great denim cropped barn coat. The cord collar! And a good price too!

+The Great’s sweaters are SO FUN.

+I’ve been really liking Barefaced’s 10-in-1 skin booster (a retinoid alternative). I’m now eyeing their toning pads.

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