There’s something magical about fall reading. Crisp air, golden leaves, and cozy blankets make it the perfect season to get lost in a book. Whether you’re sipping pumpkin spice lattes, curled up by the fire, or simply enjoying shorter, darker evenings, fall invites you into the best time of the year to get settled in with a new book.
After all, it's the season of Rory Gilmore studying sessions, and what better way to celebrate with some trending BookTok favorites? Here are the must-read Fall 2025 releases to get you into that cozy, page-turning mood:
1. Sweet Heat by Bolu Babalola
Kiki and Malakai’s romantic history is complicated—so when they’re thrown together as maid of honor and best man at a mutual friend’s wedding, sparks fly in all the wrong ways.
Between the wedding festivities and unexpected crises, they are repeatedly thrown together in ways that test patience, boundaries, and lingering desire. Kiki grapples with lingering resentment and a desire for independence, while Malakai struggles with guilt and vulnerability he’s never expressed before.
Unresolved feelings, messy family dynamics, and the playful, flirty banter that creates those classic heart-fluttering moments... I mean, what more could you ask for from a rom-com novel?
2. A Forbidden Alchemy by Stacey McEwan
Nina Harrow and Patrick Colson, childhood friends from impoverished mining towns, are tested for magical potential at the age of twelve. Passing the test means becoming an Artisan, a privileged elite with elemental magic, while failure relegates one to the status of a Craftsman.
As they grow older, Nina and Patrick uncover a brutal corruption within their society, leading them to opposite sides of a class war between Artisans and Crafters. Forced to undertake a dangerous mission to recover a magical artifact that could tip the scales of power, they must navigate betrayals, deadly duels, and the relentless scrutiny of political factions.
As the mission progresses, their initial mistrust evolves into reluctant reliance, and a forbidden romance ignites amidst life-or-death stakes. Secrets are revealed about their families’ pasts, hidden betrayals, and the magical system itself, forcing them to confront not only the enemy outside but the prejudices and fears within themselves.
Think the elegant royalty of Bridgerton combined with the danger of Shadow and Bone, with morally complex characters who will keep you rooting and reeling simultaneously.
3. Gifted & Talented by Olivie Blake
The Wren siblings—Meredith, Arthur, and Eilidh—are prodigies in their own right, each carrying the weight of their father's magitech empire.
Meredith, a biomancy genius, navigates the pressures of leading a neuromantic startup. Arthur, an idealistic congressman, struggles with public scrutiny and magical malfunctions. Eilidh, the youngest, grapples with her own emerging abilities and the family's expectations.
As they contend with their individual challenges, the siblings uncover secrets that threaten their family's legacy and their own identities.
4. The Bewitching by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
In this multigenerational tale, three women—Alba, Betty, and Minerva—are connected by a family curse and the dark magic that haunts their lineage.
Alba, longing for a life beyond her rural Mexican farm, discovers her own latent magical abilities. Betty, decades later, seeks closure for a long-lost friend and uncovers the sinister forces at play. Minerva, in the present day, finds herself entangled in the mysteries of the past, facing the consequences of the curse that binds them all.
5. The Devil She Knows by Alexandria Bellefleur
Samantha's life takes an unexpected turn when she encounters Daphne, a demon offering her six wishes. However, there's a catch: using all her wishes will cost Samantha her soul.
As their relationship deepens, Samantha grapples with the allure of Daphne's world and the moral implications of her desires. The story delves into themes of temptation, identity, and the complexities of love, as Samantha must decide what she's willing to sacrifice for her heart's deepest wishes.
6. Coldwire by Chloe Gong
In a dystopian future dominated by digital surveillance and corporate control, a skilled hacker uncovers a conspiracy that threatens the fragile balance of society. As they delve deeper into the digital underworld, they encounter rogue AIs, corrupt officials, and a network of rebels determined to expose the truth.
7. Katabasis by R.F. Kuang
Alice Law, a Cambridge PhD student and magician, embarks on a perilous journey through a kingdom to retrieve a coveted recommendation letter from her deceased advisor.
Along the way, she confronts surreal punishments, academic rivalries, and her own psychological demons. The narrative intertwines dark academia with elements of Dante's Inferno, exploring themes of ambition, guilt, and the afterlife, as Alice navigates a realm that blurs the lines between her world of prestigious academia and the unexpected supernatural.
8. The Summer War by Naomi Novik
Celia, a young woman from a war-torn land, discovers her magical abilities on the day her beloved brother, Argent, leaves home. Furious at his abandonment, she lashes out, only to find herself embroiled in a conflict that threatens her family and her future.
As she hones her powers, Celia must navigate the complexities of war, loyalty, and identity, facing challenges that test her understanding of magic's true cost.
9. Alchemised by SenLinYu
Helena Marino, an alchemist and healer, awakens with no memory of her past in a world ruled by necromancers. Assigned to Kaine, the High Reeve, she uncovers a hidden past that intertwines their fates.
The narrative explores the complexities of identity and power, as Helena and Kaine navigate a world where alchemy and necromancy dictate their destinies.
10. The Second Death of Locke by V.L. Bovalino
This debut fantasy series opener follows Locke, a man caught between life and death, as in literally awakening in a liminal space between life and death. He is tasked to uncover the truth behind his own demise. As he delves into the mysteries of his existence, Locke encounters beings who challenge his perceptions of reality and morality.
