Though I love to be cozy, I don’t always want my books to be cozy. Sometimes, I need to sink into the moody, dreary, and dark vibes of the fall season. I want to be a little unsettled (but in the best way!).
To prepare for spooky season, I’ve compiled my favorite atmospheric reads for the autumn. These are the novels that I love to read (and re-read) when I’m trying to capture that perfect moody fall feeling.
But First–What Makes it Atmospheric?
An atmospheric novel relies heavily on setting, mood, and sensory details, creating an almost immersive reading experience. Rather than rushing through the plot, the writer uses vivid descriptions and imagery to really set the scene. The setting is not just the backdrop for the plot; instead, it actively shapes the plot and its characters.
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My Favorite Atmospheric Reads
The books I’ve chosen have beautiful, haunting prose and some emotional weight, making them a great choice for curling up on a rainy afternoon or chilly evening.
For each rec, I’ve included the genre, a favorite quote, a summary, and my thoughts. I love each of these books so much, so I hope you enjoy them too!
Side note: If you’re interested in keeping a reading journal while you read, check out my post on the topic or my Reading Journal Kit to help you get started!
So, in no particular order, here is my list:
Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus by Mary Shelley (1818)
Genre: Gothic Fiction; Horror
Life and death appeared to me in ideal bounds, which I should first break through, and pour a torrent of light into our dark world. A new species would bless me as its creator and source; many happy and excellent natures would owe their being to me. No father could claim the gratitude of his child so completely as I should deserve theirs.
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
Summary:
This classic Gothic novel tells the story of Victor Frankenstein, an ambitious young scientist who creates a living creature with different body parts in an unusual science experiment. Disgusted and horrified by his creation, he rejects the “monster,” which leads to a devastating series of events for Victor and those close to him.
My Thoughts:
Mary Shelley wrote this story at 18 after Lord Byron challenged her to write a ghost story. The story that she created is haunting, and it explores deep philosophical questions about science and ethics, a topic especially relevant in our world today. It’s perfect for someone who loves a little gothic horror mixed with science fiction. The vibes are spooky and bone-chilling, making it a perfect read for dark and dreary days.
The Bloody Chamber and Other Stories by Angela Carter (1979)
Genre: Gothic Fiction; Short Story collection
She herself is a haunted house. She does not possess herself; her ancestors sometimes come and peer out of the windows of her eyes, and that is very frightening.
The Bloody Chamber by Angela Carter
Summary:
This collection of subversive, feminist gothic short stories reimagines classic fairytales, empowering female characters by giving them more agency in their own tales. Retellings include Bluebeard, Beauty and the Beast, Little Red Riding Hood, and others.
My Thoughts:
All the women in this short story collection seek liberation in some way, and these dark (and sometimes gruesome) stories subvert the traditional fairy-tale narrative to highlight the ways women suffer. Though you can read these dark short stories independently, I would recommend reading the entire collection for maximum emotional impact. If you’re into really dark, feminist fairytales, then give this one a go.
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë (1847)
Genre: Gothic Fiction; Romance
I am no bird; and no net ensnares me: I am a free human being with an independent will.
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
Summary:
This classic Gothic novel tells the story of Jane, a resilient young woman striving to overcome her harsh childhood. She takes a position as the governess at Thornfield Hall, where she meets her employer, the mysterious Mr. Rochester. She quickly learns that the manor and the man are both hiding devastating secrets that will change her life forever.
My Thoughts:
Jane is a strong, independent character who follows her own moral compass, despite pressure from others. Her smarts and toughness make her one of my favorite characters in all of literature. I love this novel because it is psychologically intense, which really comes out through the first-person narration, while also being a love story at heart. The romance between Jane and the brooding Mr. Rochester is top-notch. Thornfield Hall is immensely dreary and ominous, making this the perfect read for a dark autumnal day.
The Maidens by Alex Michaelides (2021)
Genre: Psychological Thriller; Mystery
After all, everyone’s entitled to be the hero of their own story. So I must be permitted to be the hero of mine. Even though I’m not. I’m the villain.
The Maidens by Alex Michaelides
Summary:
The novel is set at Cambridge University, and it follows Mariana, a group therapist. When a student and member of a secret society called “The Maidens” is found murdered, she begins to investigate a charming, charismatic university professor, convinced that he is actually a serial killer.
My Thoughts:
This “dark academia” novel blends the story’s central mystery with Greek mythology, which I love. Cambridge, the setting of the novel, gives an overall gothic, moody vibe that makes me think of warm cardigans and steaming cups of tea. It’s the perfect dark autumnal vibe, if you like a fast-paced mystery with some creepy moments.
We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson (1962)
Genre: Horror; Psychological Thriller
My name is Mary Katherine Blackwood. I am eighteen years old, and I live with my sister Constance. I have often thought that with any luck at all I could have been born a werewolf, because the two middle fingers on both my hands are the same length, but I have had to be content with what I had. I dislike washing myself, and dogs, and noise. I like my sister Constance, and Richard Plantagenet, and Amanita phalloides, the death-cup mushroom. Everyone else in my family is dead.
We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson
Summary:
In this psychological mystery and gothic novel, Mary Katherine (“Merricat”) lives in isolation and seclusion with her sister, Constance, and her uncle. Before the events of the novel, the rest of her family was poisoned with arsenic; her sister was tried and acquitted of the crime, but there was still a general feeling of distrust from the local villagers. When their cousin Charles appears unexpectedly, Merricat is the only one who sees the danger he poses for their family, and she must fight to protect those that she loves.
My Thoughts:
This story is strange in the best way possible. I love the (very unreliable) narrator, Merricat, who is completely entrancing and unforgettable. This is my type of horror novel because it doesn’t rely on traditional jump scares; instead, it creates a pervasive, nagging feeling of psychological discomfort. You can tell something is “off,” but it isn’t completely obvious at first. Side note: it can move a little slowly at times, but I promise it’s worth your patience.
A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness (2011)
Genre: Fantasy; Romance
Somewhere in the center of my soul, a rusty chain began to unwind. It freed itself, link by link, from where it had rested, unobserved, waiting for him. My hands, which had been balled up and pressed against his chest, unfurled with it. The chain continued to drop, to an unfathomable depth where there was nothing but darkness and Matthew. At last it snapped to its full length, anchoring me to a vampire. Despite the manuscript, despite the fact that my hands contained enough voltage to run a microwave, and despite the photograph, as long as I was connected to him, I was safe.
A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness
Summary:
This fantasy novel is the first book in the All Souls trilogy. It follows Diana Bishop, an Oxford historian and non-practicing witch, and Matthew Clairmont, a vampire scientist. At the beginning of the novel, Diana finds a long-lost manuscript that all of the magical beings in their world (witches, vampires, and daemons) desperately want. As these beings begin pursuing Diana, she must embrace her magical lineage to survive.
My Thoughts:
I love that the novel is set among the dreamy spires of Oxford University, giving it that “dark academia” aesthetic that’s so perfect for autumn. I really enjoyed the blend of historical details and witchcraft as well as the forbidden-romance dynamic between Diana and Matthew. Also, I really love that Diana is an adult woman in her 30s, not a teenager like most fantasy FMCs.
Wild and Wicked Things by Francesca May (2022)
Genre: Fantasy; Romance
Our fates had been tied together since the first moment we met—because, magic or not, I had never wanted anyone or anything other than her.
Wild and Wicked Things by Francesca May
Summary:
This is a dark historical fantasy set in the 1920s after World War I that is basically a sapphic, witchy reimagining of The Great Gatsby. The novel follows Annie, who has returned to Crow Island to settle her father’s estate. The island is full of illicit magic and other temptations, including her enigmatic neighbor, Emmeline, who throws wild Gatsby-esque parties. After witnessing a confrontation that she wasn’t supposed to see, Annie is pulled into a dangerous world of magic that she wasn’t ready for.
My Thoughts:
I loved the atmospheric writing in this novel; the setting of Crow Island really comes to life, and I found myself being sucked into the moody vibes. I love the queer romance in the novel, though the pacing can be a little slow at times. If you want a witchy, queer reimagining of The Great Gatsby, this could be the read for you.
‘Salem’s Lot by Stephen King (1975)
Genre: Horror; Supernatural Fiction
But when fall comes, kicking summer out on its treacherous ass as it always does one day sometime after the midpoint of September, it stays awhile like an old friend that you have missed. It settles in the way an old friend will settle into your favorite chair and take out his pipe and light it and then fill the afternoon with stories of places he has been and things he has done since last he saw you.
‘Salem’s Lot by Stephen King
Summary:
This novel follows Ben Mears, a writer who returns to his small hometown of Jerusalem’s Lot after many years. He hopes to write his next book about the long-abandoned Marsten House, where he had a negative experience as a child. He quickly learns that the house is no longer vacant and that sinister things are happening to the locals. Ben and his allies join forces to try to stop the evil happening in their town.
My Thoughts:
This was the first Stephen King novel that I ever read, and I was surprised how much I loved it. I was blown away by the beautiful prose partnered with the ominous tone of the setting. Overall, it isn’t a jump-scare kind of novel; instead, there is a general sense of uneasiness and hysteria that slowly creeps through the novel. It’s the perfect read for someone who wants something creepy but not completely terrifying.
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern (2011)
Genre: Fantasy; Romance
You may tell a tale that takes up residence in someone’s soul, becomes their blood and self and purpose. That tale will move them and drive them and who knows what they might do because of it, because of your words. That is your role, your gift.
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
Summary:
The Night Circus tells the story of a magical wandering circus that opens only at night and appears seemingly at random. However, there is more to the circus than meets the eye. Inside, two young magicians, Celia and Marco, are trapped in a magical competition arranged by their mentors. Eventually, the stakes are raised as the two begin to fall in love.
My Thoughts:
I really enjoyed the novel’s atmospheric setting. The imagery-filled prose is also really beautiful and flowy, and I found myself annotating line after line. The novel is a little slow-paced, focusing more on the fantasy aspects than intense action scenes, so keep that in mind as you’re reading.
Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë (1947)
Genre: Gothic Fiction
My great miseries in this world have been Heathcliff’s miseries, and I watched and felt each from the beginning: my great thought in living is himself. If all else perished, and HE remained, I should still continue to be; and if all else remained, and he were annihilated, the universe would turn to a mighty stranger: I should not seem a part of it.
Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë
Summary:
This Gothic classic centers on two multi-generational families, the Earnshaws and the Lintons, and their obsessive, lifelong need for revenge. The main story follows a severely mistreated orphan named Heathcliff who falls in love with his adopted sister Catherine. Their love grows obsessive and wildly toxic over the years, and tragedy seems to constantly befall the two families. The novel deals with themes of intense passion, revenge, obsession, and generational trauma.
My Thoughts:
There is a reason this is considered to be one of the greatest novels ever written, and I couldn’t agree more. It is one of my favorite books of all time, and I recommend it to anyone who will listen! It is absolutely devastating, both in the plot and the beautiful, atmospheric writing. The relationship between Heathcliff and Cathy is consuming and tragic, something that will stick with you long after finishing the book.
Final Thoughts
There are so many novels that could be on this list, but these are some of my favorites for a moody, dreary autumn. All of these novels are a little unsettling, thought-provoking, or immersive in the best way possible. And though I have so many new books on my TBR list, I know that I will be doing a re-read (or two) of some of these gems this season.
