As leaves change and evenings draw in (if you’re in the northern hemisphere), thoughts turn to longer nights and crisp, golden days. (Even we can’t resist this most solid of seasonal clichés, it’s true.) 

If you’re lucky, at least a few of those mellow, fruitful hours might be spent deep in a book and sipping your seasonal beverage of choice. Here at Bookscouter HQ, we promise won’t judge you for your PSL, white hot chocolate or chai latte, though we do offer a few recs for your next read, curated from BookTok books for fall 2023 (with the merest of minor spoilers ahead):

BookTok Books for Fall 2023

The Starless Sea

by Erin Morgenstern

Who doesn’t love stories about stories? Better yet, actual mystery and peril in the stacks. Evoking the wonder of words and imagination, this enchanting novel takes grad student Zachary and readers on a journey through a labyrinthine world and his own past. Morgensern’s clever bijoux structure of interconnected stories building to a single narrative thread and her lyrical prose captivate, long after the last page.

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue

by V.E. Schwab

This high-concept cautionary tale follows Addie LaRue, a young Frenchwoman who makes a Faustian bargain in exchange for freedoms rare for women of her time. Immortality costs Addie more than her soul: she’s cursed to be forgotten by everyone she meets. She does, however, leave her mark in a myriad of small ways. Addie’s globe-trotting, centuries-spanning life explores identity, love, and the stories we create about ourselves. 

The Gilded Wolves

by Roshani Chokshi

Set in a lavish alternate version of 19th-century Paris, this book follows a diverse group of characters as they embark on a daring heist to unlock a powerful artefact. It combines history, magic, and x-marks-the-spot adventuring: perfect for a cozy, escapist Sunday.

The Song of Achilles

by Madeline Miller

This emotive retelling of a core Greek myth explores Achilles and Patroclus with striking realism: read Miller’s novel and you’ll almost smell the blood, sweat and sawdust of the arena and the battlefield. The Song of Achilles explores classic themes of love, friendship, and the tragedy of war in granular, personal style, making it a must-read for fans of historical fiction and mythology.

Ace of Spades

by Faridah Abike-Iyimidé

Tackling themes of identity, racism, and power, this gripping thriller follows two Black students at a prestigious academy as they uncover a dangerous secret. It’s a strong entry in a crowded genre, reminiscent of Pretty Little Liars, The Secret history, if both were given a contemporary YA spin, with an eye to identity politics.

The Once and Future Witches

by Alix E. Harrow

Witches: for life, not just for October! In the second AU on our list, Harrow reconstructs late 19th-century America this compelling slice of revisionist history takes in folk feminism, the craft, and sisterhood. It follows three sisters as they fight for their place in the world and rediscover the magic of their ancestors.

The Maiden

by Alex Michaelides

From the author of The Silent Patient, this psychological thriller takes place at Cambridge University, where The Maidens, a secret society, is targeted by a serial killer. It’s a gripping, twisty page-turner and another study of privilege run amok, ripe for a little Dark Academia cosplay this fall.

Project Hail Mary

by Andy Weir

Written in Weir’s trademark snarky first person, by the author of The Martian, Project Hail Mary follows an unlikely astronaut who wakes up aboard a spaceship with no memory of how he got there, or of much else. He must unravel the mysteries of his purpose, survive harrowing dangers and tech disasters. All while establishing first contact with intelligent life and saving the human race from extinction. 

Realm Breaker

by Victoria Aveyard

In this epic fantasy, first of a trilogy, Aveyard creates a group of unlikely heroes, who (of course) must unite to defeat an ancient evil. With intricate world-building and brisk repurposing of familiar tropes, the highest of stakes and a diverse, sprawling cast of characters, it’s a firm favourite among high fantasy enthusiasts on #BookTok.

That’s just a few of the top BookTok books for autumn 2023: chat about our picks or tell us about your own tagging BookScouter on Facebook or TikTok!

Also, feel free to check out booklists of must-read BookTok books for fall 2024 and hot BookTok books for summer, or maybe you’d prefer to explore the list of spicy BookTok books we’ve prepared a bit earlier. Anyway, we wish you to enjoy your literary journey with the latest sizzling BookTok reads. And stay tuned for more BookTok lists from BookScouter!