I keep seeing these different fall book tags floating around the internet and decided it’s about time I finally jump on the bandwagon!

I’m not sure where I’ve been, but I didn’t realize that being obsessed with fall was such a thing. I’ve noticed this year that a ton of people are really into fall scents and colors and books and drinks, and it’s apparently a whole cult! I enjoy fall, but I’m personally more of a Christmas person, though I’d probably consider spring my favorite season.

Regardless, I’m very excited to dive into the Finally Fall Book Tag. You can view the original video on Alina’s channel here.

In fall, the air is crisp and clear: name a book with a vivid setting

I’m so tempted to say Harry Potter, but (spoiler alert) I’m saving that for a later prompt, so I’m going to go with Leigh Bardugo’s Grishaverse books. There are two series set in this world: the Grisha trilogy, which follows Alina as she uncovers her tremendous ability to summon light in a world threatened by darkness, and the Six of Crows duology, a heist story set in a different part and time of the same world.

It wasn’t until I read the Six of Crows duology that I fell in love with the Grishaverse. Bardugo really used this second series to bring the world to life and take it to the next level, revealing a complex and fascinating world that I’m very eager to return to. I’m so excited that she’s announced there will be another series set in the Grishaverse, as there’s still so much more of it that we have to see!

Nature is beautiful…but also dying: name a book that is beautifully written, but also deals with a heavy topic like loss or grief

Hmmmm. I think I’m going to go with Hate to Want You by Alisha Rai. Nicholas and Livvy dated in high school before a tragic accident involving their parents created a rift between their families. The two have continued to meet up for one night a year every year since then, but Livvy and Nicholas are forced to deal with each other and their pasts when Livvy moves back home to be with her aging mother.

I actually wasn’t the biggest fan of this book just because I don’t care for second chance romances (it’s by far my least favorite romance premise), but I do think it was really well written and adeptly handled heavy topics like loss and depression while still giving the reader a great romance and happy ending. I’ve very excited for the sequel to come out next month!

Fall is back to school season: share a non-fiction book that taught you something new

All of them! There are soooo many I could list (and if you want more, check out my recent nonfiction recommendations post—any of them could really work for this). I think one of my favorites that I’ve read recently is Modern Romance by Aziz Ansari and Eric Klinenberg. This book looks at modern day dating and how it’s evolved with the rapid advances in technology, touching on topics from Tinder to sexting to cheating.

This book involved a fair amount of psychology, which I found fascinating. For instance, they talk about the power of waiting in the context of what difference it makes to delay responding to a text, as well as how people’s behavior changes when they go from having very limited options to virtually unlimited choice. They also touch on how romance and dating varies in different cultures, which really helps put the American dating scene in context. Plus, as you’d expect with Ansari, it was hilarious. I enjoyed this book a ton while also learning a lot, which made it a perfect combo for me.

In order to keep warm, it’s good to spend some time with the people we love: name a fictional family/household/friend-group that you’d like to be a part of

Olivia at Purely Olivia recently reminded me of my love for the Anne of Green Gables series, which makes me want to answer the Blythe family right now. Anne and Gilbert are probably one of my original favorite couples and I loved following their story throughout several books, including the ones focused on their children. I think it’d be a lot of fun to be part of their family.

The colorful leaves are piling up on the ground: show us a pile of fall-colored spines

Metamorphoses by Ovid (translated by Charles Martin): Not my favorite book ever and definitely better consumed in small bites, but I really enjoy mythology and am glad I read it since it’s such a classic text.

Outcasts United by Warren St. John: I read this my freshman year of college, so it’s been a while, but it really stuck with me. It’s about a group of refugees who come together to form a soccer team, and you learn a lot about their different cultures and what their experiences have been like in the U.S.

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline: This is from my TBR shelf, and I’m planning to read it before the movie comes out in March. My understanding is that it’s a virtual reality book with a lot of eighties pop culture references and overall just a fun read.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by JK Rowling: I don’t think this needs much commentary. I say this every time I feature these books, but I can’t get over how gorgeous and colorful these editions are.

The Martian by Andy Weir: This is a really fun read about a man who gets stranded on Mars and has to MacGyver his way into surviving until he can be rescued. It was a really fun read and is definitely worth checking out.

Remembrance by Meg Cabot: I loved the Mediator series in high school, so I was really excited when Cabot released a new book in the series ten years later. It was so much fun to revisit this world. The premise of the series is that the protagonist can see ghosts, including a really cute one who’s haunting her bedroom.

Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli: I think this book is a little overhyped, but it was a fun read and I really enjoyed it. The book follows Simon as he deals with being blackmailed for exchanging anonymous emails with another boy at his school. The movie adaption is coming out in March, so you should definitely read this soon!

Fall is the perfect time for some storytelling by the fireside: share a book wherein somebody is telling a story

Ugh, this question makes me think of The Name of the Wind, which is taunting me on my shelf but which I’m trying not to cave and read before the third book is announced! Actually, though, Nevernight by Jay Kristoff is another great pick for this prompt. The book follows the story of Mia Corvere as she enters the Red Church in order to become an assassin and avenge the murders of her family. It’s told by an unknown narrator with a very sarcastic sense of humor who enjoys inserting numerous footnotes into the story. I’ve heard a lot of people are turned off by the footnotes, but I actually really enjoyed them. A lot of them were pretty funny, and they really bring the world to life. I’m very eager to continue Mia’s story with Godsgrave, which just came out last month, but I somehow haven’t gotten to it just yet.

The nights are getting darker: share a dark, creepy read

I’m not much of one for creepy reads, so I’m struggling to come up with a good answer for this one. I just finished reading And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie, so I’m going to go with that. The book tells the story of 10 people who visit an island and are killed off one by one. What really creeped me out about this book is that each murder matches the deaths detailed in a nursery rhyme about 10 soldiers that is framed in each guest’s room. To make it even creepier, the guests eventually realize that the number of soldier figurines on the dining room table decreases with each death.

This was definitely a creepy book, and while it got off to a slow start, it eventually hooked me and keep me reading all night. It took so much willpower not to skip to the end and figure out who the murderer was, but I’m glad I didn’t. I really enjoyed watching this story unfold and got nowhere close to figuring out what was actually going on. This is definitely a classic mystery for a reason!

The days are getting colder: name a short, heartwarming read that could warm up somebody’s cold and rainy day

I feel like any romance novel could really qualify for this, but I’m actually going to go with To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han. I guess it’s maybe not that short, but I raced through it in less than a day. It follows the story of Laura Jean, who writes love letters to her crushes when she’s ready to move on and then collects them in a hat box under her bed. But one day her letters are accidentally sent, and Laura Jean is forced to deal with the consequences.

This book is so, so cute and I highly recommend it. I love Laura Jean and her family, and it was so much fun to see how she handles the different boys approaching her in response to her letters. This book will definitely give you all the feels and warm up any cold and rainy day. Plus, when you’re done, you have TWO MORE books to read!!

Fall returns every year: name an old favorite that you’d like to return to soon

I’d like to avoid answering Harry Potter because it’s such an obvious choice for so many people, but it’s genuinely the perfect answer to this prompt. While I do have a list of books I’d like to reread, Harry Potter is one of the only books on that list that I regularly revisit. It’s actually been a while since I’ve read the Harry Potter series, which is why I’m in the midst of rereading it right now.

The only other book I would potentially answer with is Pride and Prejudice, but I’m actually trying to go back and reread Emma, Mansfield Park, and Northanger Abbey before I circle back to Pride and Prejudice. So I wouldn’t say it’s a book I plan to return to soon, but it is an old favorite that I love rereading.

Fall is the perfect time for cozy reading nights: share your favorite cozy reading “accessories”

So my new favorite reading accessory is this adorable tea set that I was given as a wedding gift. I use all the time! It’s a little bit of a process, but I love the ritual and just think it’s so fun. When I’m being lazy, I make this amazing oolong tea from Harney & Sons, but when I’m up for it, I prefer to make a breakfast tea and mix in some sugar and milk.

I can’t say I really have any other specific accessories for when I’m reading. Sometimes I like lighting a candle, sometimes I wrap up with a blanket, sometimes I straight up put my feet on the heater. But the tea set is always around when I’m settling in for a long read!

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And that’s it for this tag! Considered yourself tagged if you’re interested in doing the Finally Fall Book Tag. I’d love to hear your answers! And let me know in the comments what your favorite part about fall is.