With fall very much here, this is the most epic time to curl up with a cozy blanket and read a good book.

September always seems to creep up on us, which is why I didn’t get too much reading done. But, some of the books I’ve picked up and finished are some of the best I’ve read all year. And, I’ve read more than 100 books so far in 2024.

Ahead, you’ll find a collection of some of the best fall books, along with some epic thrillers and mysteries that are ideal for a spooky season. Even better, these titles can be found on audible, should you prefer listening while walking or on your morning commute.

RELATED: Best August books, ranked and reviewed

You’ll also want to check out the full list of Reese’s Book Club picks and, now that the leaves are beginning to change its colors, what’s on Rory Gilmore’s reading challenge.

Read on for more recommendations by the Amazon Books editors, too.

Goodreads rating: 3.83/5 stars

About the book: “What Have You Done?” by Shari Lapena explores the unraveling of a family’s secrets and tensions when a woman is found dead, prompting intense scrutiny and revelations that challenge perceptions of trust and loyalty.

If you want the next best thriller, this one was a full ride. I’ve been a fan of Lapena for quite some time, so I knew this was going to be at the top of my reading list this month. As expected, I was pleased.

“Fairhill is a town where no one locks their front door, everyone knows everybody else and raising kids is the town’s communal job,” Vannessa Cronin, Amazon books editor, told the New York Post. “But all of that changes when the body of Diana Brewer is discovered by a farmer in a hayfield. The town then instantly turns from friendly to a fearful hub of suspicion, paranoia, and accusation. The big hook here though is the artful way Lapena gives the late Diana a voice in this addictive thriller.”

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Goodreads rating: 3.86/5 stars

About the book: “An Ambush of Widows” by Jeff Abbott follows two widows whose lives intertwine after their husbands are murdered, leading them to uncover dark secrets and confront a web of deception that threatens their safety.

This title is one of the five-star reads I completed in 2024, hands down. Not enough people are talking about this super twisty and entirely engaging plot that centers on two widows who are uncovering a web of secrets. You’ll never guess the ending, either.

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Goodreads rating: 3.92/5 stars

About the book: “Miss Eliza’s English Kitchen” by Annabel Abbs tells the story of Eliza Acton, a pioneering Victorian cook who defies societal norms to create a revolutionary cookbook, intertwining her culinary journey with themes of independence and the struggle for recognition in a male-dominated world.

Lovers of historical fiction will enjoy this title as it’s character-driven, feels like a classic and holds the theme of perserverence that’s applicable to anyone at any stage of life. It’s a great read to break up some other genres, too.

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Goodreads rating: 3.29/5 stars

About the book: “Beware the Woman” by Megan Abbott is a suspenseful tale that follows a young woman’s unsettling visit to her estranged father’s home, where she confronts dark family secrets and the sinister influence of a controlling stepmother.

I’m just going to cut to the chase — this book was spooky. It’s truly unlike any other book I’ve read and a true page-turner. Even though the plot takes a bit to get into, you’ll get through it quickly because it’s so eerie, you’ll need to know what happens next. There’s also an interesting relationship between the protagonist and her father-in-law that puts the “S” in spooky.

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Goodreads rating: 3.11/5 stars

About the book: “The Turnout” by Megan Abbott delves into the intense and complex dynamics of two sisters running a ballet school, where their dedication to dance becomes entwined with obsession, rivalry and the haunting presence of their past.

As a former dancer, you don’t have to ask me twice to read a thriller with themes of ballet. It’s not every day you read a suspenseful novel about a ballet school and, because I loved “Beware the Woman” by the same author, I decided to pick up this acclaimed title and give it a go.

“Megan Abbott has made a name for herself by writing tight, dark novels about the spaces where women compete, and ‘The Turnout’ continues her winning streak by tackling the world of ballet,” Sarah Gelman, Amazon editorial director, told The Post. “Abbott’s prose is so corporeal and fraught with sexuality, you can almost smell the dancers’ sweat. You’ll never look at the Sugar Plum Fairy the same way again.”

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Goodreads rating: 3.76/5 stars

About the book: “The Resort” by Sue Watson follows a group of friends who reunite at a luxurious resort, only to find their idyllic getaway spiraling into chaos as hidden secrets and long-buried tensions surface, threatening their relationships and lives.

Once you have a resort-style getaway and drama among a close-knit circle of characters, you have my attention. “The Resort” by Sue Watson is one of the best reads that fits that niche plot, and she does it well. It’s not the typical who-dun-it, either; it’s sure to keep you on your toes.

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Goodreads rating: 4.18/5 stars

About the book: “Blue Sisters” by Coco Mellors explores the tumultuous relationship between two sisters navigating their contrasting lives, love affairs and personal struggles while grappling with family dynamics and their shared past.

Enter another five-star read of 2024. I love books with multiple perspectives and this novel, in particular, was well-thought-out and completely entertaining. It was the perfect book to cozy up on the couch with, and fans of ‘Hello Beautiful,’ ‘The Nest,’ ‘Malibu Rising‘ and other juicy family dramas will fall head over heels for Coco Mellors’ punchy writing and characters, too.

“Entertaining and emotionally affecting, the plot centers around the three living Blue sisters a year after their fourth sister, Nicky Blue, dies of a drug overdose,” Al Woodworth, Amazon books editor, shared. “Deeply satisfying, always messy, and ever true, Mellors’ story heralds the bonds of sisters and the horrors of addiction with both humor and heart, which is why we named it one of the 10 Best Books of September.”

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Goodreads rating: 3.71/5 stars

About the book: “Prime Time Romance” by Kate Robb follows a middle-aged woman who embarks on a quest for love and self-discovery through the world of online dating, confronting societal expectations and her own insecurities along the way.

I’m a sucker for a good rom-com, which is why I was so excited to read “Prime Time Romance” by Kate Robb. Not to mention, it’s ideal for fans of “The Bachelor” and modern-day relationship plots.

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Goodreads rating: 4.00/5 stars

About the book: “Becoming Elizabeth Arden” by Stacy A. Cordery chronicles the life of beauty pioneer Elizabeth Arden, detailing her rise from a humble background to a formidable entrepreneur who revolutionized the cosmetics industry and reshaped women’s empowerment in the early 20th century.

Beauty fans will adore this full history of Elizabeth Arden, so much so that they’ll gain an education. As someone who reviews hundreds of beauty products a year, I was excited this in-the-life account of Arden was recently published. It’s also one of the best to listen to on audible as it reads like your favorite podcast.

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Goodreads rating: 3.47/5 stars

About the book: “The Pumpkin Spice Café” by Laurie Gilmore follows a woman who returns to her small hometown to revive a beloved café, finding herself entangled in old relationships and new beginnings as she rekindles her passion for baking and community.

OK, I was certainly influenced by TikTok. With a name this cute and a cover this autumnal, how could I not cozy up with my blanket and relax with this adoring book? It’s ideal for fans of “Gilmore Girls,” too, and not just because of the author’s last name.

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Goodreads rating: 4.12/5 stars

About the book: “Nexus: A Brief History of Information Networks from the Stone Age to AI” by Yuval Noah Harari examines the evolution of communication and information systems throughout history, highlighting how these networks have shaped human societies, culture and technology from ancient times to the modern era.

“‘Sapiens’ author Yuval Noah Harari’s offers a fascinating look at AI, the ‘alien life form’ we’ve unleashed on humanity, making it one of our Best Books of September,” Lindsay Powers, Amazon Books editor, told The Post. “This brilliant and thought-provoking read is about more than buzzy technology; it’s a wide look at how humans have leveraged technology to communicate through time, and how that has shaped culture, power and currency.”

What’s more, he deploys fascinating stories and reshapes the way we see the world. 

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Goodreads rating: 4.34/5 stars

About the book: “We Solve Murders” by Richard Osman follows a group of clever retirees who use their wit and life experience to solve cold cases, blending humor and intrigue as they navigate the complexities of crime and friendship in their quaint retirement community.

In the acknowledgments of “We Solve Murders,” Richard Osman admits that as he began to write the new book, he felt as though he were “somehow cheating on my other characters,” meaning Joyce, Elizabeth, Ibrahim, and Ron, aka The Thursday Murder Club.

“We know exactly what he means, but it doesn’t last long,” Cronin shared. “Osman’s ‘Agatha Christie cross-pollinated with Guy Ritchie’s sensibility is also in the DNA of this new book, and we are all in on this witty, brilliant new series starter.”

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Goodreads rating: 3.74/5 stars

About the book: “The Night We Lost Him” by Laura Dave revolves around a mother grappling with the sudden disappearance of her son during a family crisis, forcing her to confront deep-seated fears, secrets and the complexities of motherhood as she seeks the truth.

“It can’t be easy to follow up a blockbuster hit on the scale of ‘The Last Thing He Told Me,’ but Laura Dave knows where her strengths are, and she brings her trademark emotional heft to this story of estranged half-siblings investigating the suspicious death of their father,” Cronin said. “With the perfect mix of heart-pounding and heartfelt emotions, Dave lets the secrets emerge.”

Cronin said she uses architecture as a striking analogy for relationship-building, and “delivers yet another suspenseful page-turner that should be a book club staple for a long time to come.”

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Goodreads rating: 4.12/5 stars

About the book: “Sunderworld, Vol. I: The Extraordinary Disappointments of Leopold Berry” by Ransom Riggs follows the quirky and imaginative journey of Leopold Berry, a young boy navigating a world filled with peculiar characters and unexpected challenges, all while grappling with his own identity and aspirations.

“In his first novel after the ‘Miss Peregrine’s Peculiar Children’ series, Ransom Riggs proves he’s not a one-trick pony,” Seira Wilson, Amazon Books editor, said. “He knocks it out of the park with this first book in the new Sunderworld series that has an especially jaw-dropping ending.”

Leopold Berry is a remarkably average kid with ties to an extraordinary world found in the magical, seedy, glamorous city of Los Angeles — a one-of-a-kind place, where seemingly anything can happen — and in this novel, does. “Wildly imaginative and emotionally charged, Riggs mixes reality and magic in an alchemy of words that glitters like gold,” Wilson concluded.

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Goodreads rating: 4.43/5 stars

About the book: “Tell Me Everything” by Elizabeth Strout is a poignant exploration of interconnected lives in a small town, revealing the complexities of human relationships, secrets and the search for understanding through the lens of a woman’s memories and reflections.

“In a world where it’s easy to feel isolated and alone, Elizabeth Strout has the miraculous ability to make us feel not only seen, but understood,” Abby Abell, Amazon Books editor, said. “That is truer than ever in ‘Tell Me Everything,’ which brings us back to beloved Crosby, Maine and the endearing characters we’ve met before. And if you haven’t met them yet, this is a lovely place to start.”

Strout is such a keen observer of life, and this book is full of empathy, and wisdom and humor.

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