Fall officially started last week, and I couldn’t be happier. It’s my favorite season, full of changing colors, fun holidays, and cool weather. One of the best parts about fall is enjoying the great books and movies that come with it. While you can get cozy and enjoy almost any piece of media during this time of year, today I wanted to share some of my favorite books, films, and shows that I think encapsulate autumn.
Enjoy!
Under the Whispering Door
If you want a good cozy book, look no further. TJ Klune’s Under the Whispering Door is heartwarming and comforting. It takes place in a tea shop, which is also a gathering place for spirits who are not quite ready to move onto the afterlife. The main character is one such spirit, who stubbornly refuses to leave Charon’s Crossing. Surrounded by tea, scones, and the owner of the establishment (who also happens to be a reaper), Wallace has one week to decide if his life had even been worth living for. This is another book that will make you want to get cozy and enjoy the journey.
Over the Garden Wall
This is, without a doubt, one of the best pieces of fall media you could ever consume. I’ve seen it described as the perfect American fairy tale, a description I find perfectly apt. It tells the story of brothers Greg and Wirt, who find themselves lost in a strange woods full of even stranger people. It feels like a whole season passes, as colorful fall turns to snowy darkness as Greg and Wirt get more and more lost on their journey home. This mini-series is short and sweet, with wonderful songs, great humor and heart, and a journey of two brothers that will stick with you long after you finish watching. Of all the things on this list, this is the one I’d recommend the most.
Don’t Let the Forest In
What starts in fall? School of course! Don’t Let the Forest In takes place in an isolated private high school in the woods. The forest serves as the boundary between reality and mystery, and the borders begin to blur as the fantastical stories and drawings of the main characters start to become real. Psychological and botanical horror are ever present in this spooky book that also has the perfect fall and dark academia vibes.
Coco
I love this movie. I think it’s one of the best films to come out of Pixar in the last decade. The music, culture, and artistic direction are perfect for fall. Taking place during Dia de los Muertos, an incredibly important and vibrant hispanic holiday, Miguel learns to juggle his love of music with his love for his family. Even if you don’t celebrate the holiday, anyone can enjoy this movie and what it has to offer (and have the songs stuck in their heads for days after).
Slewfoot
This book is on the spookier side for this list. Witches and devils are perfect for fall, and where better to find them than in the colonial era? Taking place during the times of the witch trials in New England, Slewfoot is about a woman who learns to speak to the spirit of the woods, who in turn begins to help her out. Full of female empowerment and feminine rage, it’s perfect for those who like a little darkness and light all in one.
The Village
This is one of my favorite fall movies. I used to be even more of a scardy cat that I am now, barely able to handle spooky things. This was one of the first scary movies I was able to stomach, and it’s one that I enjoy to this day. It’s about a remote village, where they townspeople need to be on guard for mysterious creatures in red that lurk outside. But when a young man is hurt, the main character, a blind girl, is the only one who can traverse the woods and look for help, unable to see the maddening creatures. And don’t get me started on the twist. If you haven’t seen this yet, go in blind, and enjoy the spooky atmosphere and the mystery of the village.
Spells for Forgetting
If you want something more realistic, but still magical, Spells for Forgetting is gloomy and chilly in the way that only the PNW gets in the fall. Magic, mysteries, and maybe even murder. Three of the best ‘M’ words. This book is a solid read, with the setting being the best part of it. Taking place on an island beyond the coast of Washington, it feels isolated and all on its own. Trust me, you will want to have some cider or tea handy while you read this one.
It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown
This one is just plain nostalgia. I don’t have to say much here, other than to carve a pumpkin and enjoy this classic masterpiece. Laugh at the jokes, enjoy the music, and root for Charlie Brown, even if the whole world seems against him. I can’t say much more about such a staple of fall culture other than reminding you of its existence. Go enjoy a piece of your childhood this autumn and give it a watch.
An Enchantment of Ravens
One of my favorite books is An Enchantment of Ravens, by Margaret Rogerson. This book just screams fall, from the beautiful cover art, to the themes of change, and of course, because of the fae prince of autumn featured in the novel. This book is the story of Isobel, a human painter, and Rook, the prince of autumn, who commissions a work of art from her. When they begin to fall for one another, they need to journey through fae in order to avert suspicious and avoid breaking The Good Law, lest the Alder King find out. A fun romance, beautiful scenes, and lots of change are in store for anyone who picks this book up.
And there we have it! Nine books/movies/shows to start off fall right. I’ll probably be consuming most of these myself, and hope you enjoy them if you give them a try. Fall is the perfect time to find something new, and what’s better than something cozy, spooky, or nostalgic?
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