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
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.
@penguinbooksaus You are invited to join Zachary on the starless sea 🗝🐝 #bookaesthetic #bookish #thestarlesssea ♬ original sound – Amelie
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue
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.
@littlebookthings a girl is running for her life… #theinvisiblelifeofaddielarue#veschwab#addielarue#booktok#aesthetic#fy#books#booksoftiktok#bookrecommendations#bookrec#reading#love#runaway ♬ runaway by aurora cover by lyn lapid – LYN
The Gilded Wolves
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.
@bookswith.nf It’s so beautiful and the found family is chef’s kiss #fyp #fypシ #booktok #bookish #thegildedwolves #foundfamily #bookaesthetic #roshanichokshi #books ♬ Ava by famy – 🍵🎀
The Song of Achilles
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
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.
@kimmybookss i literally can’t wait for this video to come out, are you excited? #fyp #foryoupage #booktok #bookish #bookclub #aceofspades #ROMWEGetGraphic #reader ♬ Intense Moment – Pacifica Music
The Once and Future Witches
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.
@cassiesbookshelves sapphic suffragist witches. do i need to say more? #onceandfuturewitches #witchybooks #sapphicbooks #booktok #witchtok #wlwbooks #nabooks #suffragette ♬ original sound – iphilgood
The Maiden
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.
@lmklaura honest book review of the Maidens by Alex Michaelides! #bookreviews #themaidens #alexmichaelides #darkadademia ♬ original sound – laura
Project Hail Mary
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.
@neville.medhora Project Hail Mary is the must-read book that everyone loves. Its amazing storytelling and thrilling plot will leave you hooked and make you fall in love with reading
♬ Here With Me – d4vd
Realm Breaker
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.
@courtofkayla Y’all don’t want to miss out on this one @victoriaaveyard #realmbreaker #books #newrelease #victoriaaveyard #courtofkayla #bookrecommendations ♬ original sound – CourtOfKayla
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!
