5 Cozy Reads From Reese's Book Club That Give All The Fall Feelings

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When August nears its end and whispers of fall start making their presence known, put away your favorite beach reads that get you into the summer mindset and reach for something cozier. There's nothing like snuggling on a chaise lounge wrapped in a warm blanket, and digging into a haunting tale or a mesmerizing mystery as you sip a pumpkin spice latte and listen to the sound of dry leaves blowing in the wind. And, with the dozens of monthly picks from Reese Witherspoon's book club, there's no shortage of gripping stories to choose from.

While summer is all about light-hearted romances and feel-good narratives, autumnal reads should have more meat, with some magic and otherworldly occurrences to get you in the spooky spirit. The fall days may be shorter, but that only means there's more time to settle inside and reach for your TBR as the light wanes. So, light a cinnamon candle, turn on your reading lamp, and get lost in our picks for the best autumnal tales.

If you're looking for one of the best thriller and mystery picks from Reese's Book Club, look no further than "First Lie Wins" by Ashley Elston. This fast-paced tale will keep you riveted until the end, making for the perfect binge-reading session on a chilly night. Evie Porter has wooed Ryan Sumner, and the two have a seemingly perfect relationship, except that the protagonist is not who she seems. Porter is really a con artist who works for a mysterious man named Mr. Smith to dig up dirt on high-profile people. Sumner is her latest assignment, but it's Porter who finds herself the target of this cat-and-mouse chase.

Readers loved Reese Witherspoon's January 2024 pick, with one writing on Amazon, "Just wow. This story is a spine-tingling, suspenseful romance with lots of intrigue and twists and turns, and I really enjoyed it. It not only left me with a book hangover, but I found myself going back over a couple of chapters." Apparently, Octavia Spencer thought "First Lie Wins" was a hit, as her production company is working on a Hulu series adaptation of the book. "The screenwriting is incredible, and it's very true to the book but elevated for television. I've had a few calls and Zoom meetings with Octavia Spencer, and she is just so lovely and nice," Elston told 225. The Hulu series doesn't have a release date yet, but we can't wait for it to make it onto the platform.

Since "Groundhog Day" came out in the '90s, time loop tropes have come up over and over again, but Cesca Major's novel, "Maybe Next Time," has a romantic angle that's sure to pull at your heartstrings. The story follows Emma Jacobs, a stressed-out literary agent who has too many balls in the air. When she disappoints her husband Dan on their anniversary, he ends up dying in a car crash. The next morning, Jacobs wakes up to find Dan perfectly alive, only to relive the moment later on, which keeps occurring day after day. Eventually, she realizes just what's important in life, and that includes putting her family first, ending the heartbreaking cycle of losing Dan.

Major's tale is one of our favorite second-chance romance books, and it just so happens that Reese Witherspoon chose "Maybe Next Time" as her pick for November 2023, making the supernatural twist perfect for fall. Jacobs's frenetic life is sure to resonate with a lot of readers and remind them to cherish their loved ones. "It's a celebration of love, it's a celebration of family. It's a celebration of joy and seizing the day," Major shared on her YouTube channel. Her book might make you shed some tears, but it's ultimately a feel-good story that'll have you reflecting for days.

Fall is the best time to cozy up with an epic tale, and if you're a fan of "Doctor Zhivago," you'll love "The Secrets We Kept" by Lara Prescott. The book is partly based on the Russian writer Boris Pasternak and his relationship with Olga Ivinskaya, which inspired his 1957 novel, which takes place during the Russian Revolution. The other main characters, Irina and Sally, work with the CIA to distribute "Doctor Zhivago" around Russia to dissuade the citizens from communist notions. Prescott's story of love, war, and betrayal is not a light read, so be prepared to get lost for hours while sipping on some hot chocolate in front of a crackling fire.

From real-life historical events to an LGBTQ+ romance, "The Secrets We Kept" has it all. "There's no secret that 'The Secrets We Kept' is going to be a big hit this fall. It's one of those books that I imagine publishers dream about — filled with true-to-life intrigue, touching upon little-known history, and presenting real-life and fictional characters that readers really care about," a Goodreads reader raved about the Reese's Book Club September 2019 pick. Another predicted, "Exciting doesn't begin to describe this meticulously researched and dramatic journey. I am astonished that a book this remarkable is a debut. Without a doubt it will be a best-selling blockbuster."

There's no better way to ring in the upcoming holiday season than to snuggle up with a book titled "One Day in December." The romance novel written by Josie Silver begins with the protagonist, Laurie, who instantly falls in love with a handsome man she catches a glimpse of on a London bus. After a year of pining for the stranger, she meets him as her best friend Sarah's boyfriend, Jack. Throughout the years, Laurie navigates her feelings for Jack while trying to remain loyal to Sarah and juggling her marriage to Oscar, whom she marries after a jaunt in Thailand.

Fans of Hallmark movies will love "One Day in December," as there are familiar themes of love triangles, missed chances at love, and a feel-good, happy-ever-after ending. "If you are feeling under the weather, or if life is too much or is getting you down, this is a great book for giving you a lift," one reader shared on Goodreads. Another wrote, "Prior to reading this, I was in a bit of a reading slump. Nothing fit or felt quite right until I read 'One Day in December.' This turned out to be the perfect holiday read as it took away my reading frustrations and brought me into the holiday cheer!" So, if you're anticipating some winter blues, give yourself a little pick-me-up with this love story.

"The Night Tiger" by Yangsze Choo has all the elements of a haunting fall read: superstition, mysterious deaths, and intertwined fate between two strangers. Set in Malaysia during the 1930s, a young woman named Ji Lin comes across a dismembered finger and attempts to bring it to the hospital, where she believes it was stolen from. Little does she know that the finger is actually from a man who could turn into a tiger. Before dying, he asked his house servant, Ren, to find and bury it along his body within 49 days, or else his spirit would wander the earth forever as a tiger. As Ren searches for the finger, he's brought to Ji Lin, and they are both caught in the middle of sinister murders and a race to return the digit to its rightful owner.

Readers will be entranced by the Chinese folklore woven into Choo's book, as well as the historical aspects of the once-called "Malaya". On what drew her to write "The Night Tiger," she told the Los Angeles Public Library, "I've always been interested in old colonial houses, man-eating tigers, and Chinese dance hall girls, and when I began writing this book, I had the chance to put all of them in (this is the fun part of writing fiction!)." Halloween may be all about werewolves, but a weretiger is an unexpected twist, so wait for the next full moon and dig into this juicy historic tale.

Reese Witherspoon has a wide variety of tastes when it comes to her book club picks, from young adult rom-coms to sweeping historical fiction. When it came to choosing the perfect fall books, we opted for a few that had supernatural twists to go with the ghostly Halloween season, such as "The Night Tiger" and "Maybe Next Time." And, since the cooler months are great for cuddling in bed with a good book, we recommended ones that were more complex and thought-provoking, while still being gripping page-turners. Whether you're hunkering down in front of a blazing fire or enjoying a reading sesh during a crisp autumn day on a picnic blanket, we're sure one (or all) of our five picks will get you feeling the fall season.