Once upon a time there was the autumn… the quintessentially forgotten season, a melancholic interlude between summer and winter, the middle brother, ignored when things go well, detested in the worst cases.
The summer reigned supreme, with its endless sunny days, its overwhelming loves, its timeless adventures. When it faded and the air grew cooler again, it took only a moment before we were hurled into the reassuring embrace of winter: streets slick with rain, gleaming shop windows, mounds of whipped cream on hot chocolate, and, of course, him, the undisputed king of the season: Christmas.
All it took was a blink of an eye to find ourselves already in the glorious spring, among exploding flowers, renewed desires, and promises of a brighter life than ever.
And autumn?
Well, poor autumn was relegated to the last row, the season of dead leaves, hibernation, thick fog, thunderstorms and the constant dilemmas about what to wear to avoid freezing and, at the same time, suffocating from heat. It’s safe to say it didn’t enjoy a sparkling reputation, here. The other seasons stood out in every narrative: from Christmas romantic comedies to summer coming-of-age tales, up to the exuberant spring awakenings.
Certainly, autumn had enjoyed a brief moment of glory with Autumn in New York, which lent it some elegance, but as a literary or cinematic genre, the season never managed to compete with the majesty of the others.
At least, until now.
Yes, because in recent years autumn has made a stylish comeback. It doesn’t need fanfare – after all, we’re talking about autumn, the master of delicacy – but quietly and almost stealthily it has won everyone back, especially the young. On TikTok, the platform where the most unexpected trends are born, a genuine “autumn fever” has exploded.
It’s impossible not to come across videos celebrating the enchanting charm of this season: spiced beverages, evenings wrapped in blankets watching comforting films, and a cozy warmth that glows thanks to its warm colors and its magical vibes.
Autumn has become not only “aesthetic,” but the very symbol of evocative beauty, captivating the eye first and then the soul.
On social media, autumn dominates as the season of atmospheres: college-style skirts, steaming teas, fragrant cinnamon rolls, pumpkin villages to explore, corners lit by candles and dotted with incense and tarots.
The season is the cornerstone of some of the most loved trends: from dark academia to WitchTok, passing through the compulsive rewatch of Gilmore Girls, autumn has become the emblem of comfort and self-care—themes dear to Gen Z, which has made balance and well-being a life philosophy.
But it isn’t only about coziness and refuge: autumn is also mystery, esotericism, magic. These elements blend into an irresistible mix that draws us in and transports us to imaginary worlds, where we find ourselves spellbound before countryside cottages wrapped in golden foliage, or eager to sip tea in a Gothic café in the heart of Edinburgh.
You’ve probably felt the urge to immerse yourself in these magical atmospheres, haven’t you? Then it’s time to move on to the recommendations.
We couldn’t tease your autumn hunger and then leave you with a dry mouth. Let’s talk about books, because there’s no season better than autumn to curl up with a good novel, while the wind rages outside and leaves dance (after all, readers love to claim autumn as the perfect season for reading… though it should be noted that, for readers, every moment of the year is ideal for diving into a book).
The Girl in the Fog
Perfume
A Room Full of People
Among the most popular recommendations on social for the “must-read autumns,” thrillers stand out, with a preference for those psychological, set in remote towns, shrouded in fog and relentless rain. If it’s tension you seek, The Girl in the Fog (Longanesi) by Donato Carrisi is the read for you.
But if you’re drawn to even darker and more unsettling reads, you can’t miss Perfume (Tea, translated by Giovanna Agabio) by Patrick Süskind, a masterpiece of darkness and sensuality, or A Room Full of People (Nord, translated by N. Stabilini and I. C. Blum) by Daniel Keyes, which will plunge you into vertiginous psychological abysses.
Naturally, when we speak of autumn, we cannot ignore the classics of the dark academia genre. At the head of this “movement” is The Secret History (Rizzoli, translated by Idolina Landolfi) by Donna Tartt, a true manifesto of the genre, whose blend of intellectualism and decadence sparked a flowering of similar novels. Among the most cited, we find Bunny (Fandango, translated by Chiara Brovelli) by Mona Awad and If We Were Villains (Sperling & Kupfer) by M.L. Rio, titles capable of transporting you to academic realities where study, passion, dedication, secrets, dangers and betrayals are the heart of the narrative.
And let’s remember that autumn revolves around a grand holiday, an event that exerts magnetic appeal and perhaps was the twist that gave charm to this season. We’re talking, of course, about Halloween. In Italy, until a few decades ago, this occasion went almost unnoticed, but today it has become a reason to celebrate properly with costume parties, scary disguises and the ever-present “trick or treat.”
Halloween has brought back the passion for “spooky” atmospheres, dragging with it a significant procession of monstrous creatures: ghosts,
And so, there is no shortage of themed reading for those who want to dive into these suggestions as well. The evergreen Twilight by Stephenie Meyer (Fazi, translated by Luca Fusari) has become a classic for those seeking love stories with dark tones, while more recent releases, such as those by A.K. Blakemore (also for Fazi) bring new voices to the contemporary gothic landscape. And, of course, there are also the great masterpieces by Shirley Jackson, or Interview with the Vampire (TEA, Margherita Bignardi) by Anne Rice, which continue to enchant and unsettled readers.
The world of autumn reading is boundless: it ranges from the pillars of horror to books loved on BookTok, passing through fantasy and romantasy, where creatures and passions intertwine in gripping plots that perfectly harmonize with the notes of this season.
Now we move to a completely different genre: romantic comedies set in autumn. It’s known that romance is having a golden season, and could there have been a fine love novel immersed in the warm and enveloping autumn dusk atmosphere? Of course not. Alongside the “spooky” universe, we indeed find the cozy one, the two official poles that embody autumn’s charm.
In this regard, anticipation is also growing in Italy for the arrival, on October 29, of The Pumpkin Spice Café by Laurie Gilmore (for Newton Compton), beloved by the #BookTok community. But abroad, autumn romcom production is already vast: books with warm, orange and coral-toned covers, with leaves swirling and pumpkins sprouting where hearts would be around couples of lovers. These novels, with their mix of comfort and sweetness, perfectly capture the essence of an autumn that can be mysterious, yet tender and romantic.
And speaking of romantic comedies, a new release with Rizzoli is The Wind Blows on Little Balmoral by Sophie Jomain, a “mystery tinted pink”, where the northern wind “brings not only shivers, but also the promise of a second, unexpected opportunity…”.
Is it possible that readers are thinking: here is yet another thing that has been stereotyped or, more precisely, romanticized – and even more precisely, aestheticized. It’s hard nowadays to find something that isn’t boxed and codified into a precise aesthetic. This is perhaps one of the hallmarks of TikTok and of the visual social culture, which has long since invaded every corner of our daily life: you must have a precise, uniform, and instantly recognizable character. It applies to feeds, to people, and, of course, to the seasons. C’est la vie. After all, it isn’t so bad to let yourself be carried by dreamy videos that paint a season as if it were a Grimm Brothers’ fairy tale (ah, there’s another perfect autumn reading tip).
Just don’t take it too seriously, and don’t forget that autumn will not always look like a golden landscape or the ASMR rustle of leaves underfoot. Much more likely, it will taste of a pot of kale stew, or the smoky scent of charred chestnuts wrapped in a damp cloth. It will be the beauty of a stroll ending with shoes muddy from the mud, or the challenge of an evening spent outside a venue with no socks, confident that you can linger a little longer in the benevolent climate of September. Only to wake up the next morning with a fever to remember.
