Fall Books To Cozy Up With
I’m so excited to share another book review with you guys! Fall is the perfect time for my favorite genre: thrillers. I always gravitate toward mystery/thriller novels, simply because I read so much classic literature for the classroom. The majority of books on this list are thrillers; however, you’ll find a few that deviate and fall into another category. I’d love to know if you’ve read any of these! And let me know which one sounds best. As always, it is so appreciated if you use my links when purchasing. Every book is linked through Amazon 🙂 Happy reading!
PS: If you need more reading recommendations, check out my previous book reviews here, here, and here.
I Know Who You Are– Alice Feeney
Aimee Sinclair is an actress with a secret. When her husband goes missing, the police are convinced that she’s hiding something…and she is. When Aimee’s past comes back to haunt her, she has to balance her sanity and keep her career intact. This book is told with alternating perspectives between Aimee’s past and her present, all leading toward a climatic ending. I couldn’t put this one down!!
An Anonymous Girl– Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen
I think this one was one of my favorites on the list! I was so enthralled with the unique story. Jessica signs up to be a test subject for a psychological study on ethics and morality. At first, things are fine and it seems like it’s an easy way to make quick money. Circumstances progress, and Jessica finds it harder and harder to separate real life from the study. The psychologist seems to be deceitful and soon Jessica is caught up in a crazy plot and web of lies. This book is by the same authors as The Wife Between Us and I love the writing style and storyline! Totally worth the read!
The Silent Patient– Alex Michaelides
I’d heard of this book for a long time and had to wait forever to get my hands on it via the library. It wasn’t quite as good as I’d hoped, but I still really enjoyed it and would recommend it, particularly because of the CRAZY twist ending. It follows the story of a psychiatrist and his silent patient. He is determined to make her talk and tell her story (she is believed to have killed her husband). He digs deep into her past and uncovers quite the story…
Sometimes I Lie– Alice Feeney
Oh my goodness! This book. It tells the story of a woman who is in a coma. She can hear everyone around her but can’t wake up. The story alternates between her coma state and her past, leading up to how she got there and what led up to the accident. It’s a true psychological thriller and I loved this one!
People Like Us– Dana Mele
I think this book is actually in the “young adult” category but when it was described as being perfect for fans of Pretty Little Liars, I knew I needed to give it a shot. Some of the writing was a little more juvenile, but the storyline was still great. There’s a murder investigation at Kay’s fancy private school and she seems to be the primary suspect. The dead girl has left a scavenger hunt for Kay and secrets seem to be around every corner.
After Anna– Alex Lake
A young girl goes missing and her parents are struck with grief. The mystery really arrives when Anna shows up a week later with no memory of what’s happened or where she has been. The story is told from the mother’s perspective and the nightmare of what she’s living through. This story had a very Gone Girl-esque feel to it!
The Widower’s Wife– Cate Holahan
LOVED this one and it’s one of my favorites on the whole list! Ana Bacon falls off a cruise ship but something doesn’t add up…the police start to investigate fowl play and turn to the husband. The insurance investigator questions Ana’s death and the ten million dollar life insurance policy really starts to make Ana’s husband look bad. But the husband has multiple alibis
The Perfect Mother– Aimee Molloy
I am so excited because this book is in production to become a movie with Kerry Washington as the star! A group of mothers go out for drinks and during their absence, one of the babies is kidnapped. The mothers come together to find the child and they are led through a wild maze of secrets and lies. Great twist at the end and I can see this being an awesome movie!
Under a Silent Moon– Elizabeth Haynes
I love Elizabeth Haynes as an author. This is a crime novel about two deaths that are seemingly connected. DI Louisa Smith investigates and uncovers shocking secrets that lead to the unveiling of the crime and the murderers.
Girl, Wash Your Face– Rachel Hollis
Here’s a nonfiction book for you! If you want an encouraging and motivational read, this is it! I read this book in one sitting and love the comedic and relatable writing style of Rachel Hollis. She also has a fantastic podcast and another book called Girl, Stop Apologizing. Such a great read for any stage of life! She discusses
One of Us Is Lying– Karen M. Mc Manus
This one was such an interesting read! It was described as a combination between The Breakfast Club and Pretty Little Liars. It’s set in a detention classroom and one of the students has an asthma attack that leads to death. According to the police, the death looks more like intentional murder. Someone in detention has to be responsible…but who? Each character seems to have a secret or a motive of some kind. This book will have you guessing the entire time as you read and the ending is amazing!
Something In The Water– Catherine Steadman
This is one of my top picks on the list! A honeymoon in paradise turns dark when Erin and Mark find something in the water during a scuba dive trip. They have to decide whether to speak out or keep the secret that they found. Soon, they are in a dangerous situation, trying to escape with their lives. I don’t want to give too much away but I finished this book SO fast and the ending did not disappoint.
Under My Skin– Lisa Unger
This book gave me major Girl On The Train vibes. Poppy’s husband was murdered and she can’t remember where she was on the day that he died. She suffers from blackouts and nightmares, always questioning what’s real and what is in her mind. Poppy tries to uncover the truth about her husband’s murder through the novel and gets caught in a very dangerous game.
The Giver– Lois Lowry
I put this one on the list because I recently re-read it in preparation for the school year. My 8th graders will be reading The Giver, and if you haven’t read this classic dystopian novel, you are missing out! I read it in 2 days and it’s such an easy read. The story is compelling and filled with universal truths that still hold value today in our world.
Salt to the Sea– Ruta Sepetys
This is another one that I read in preparation for the school year. This is a fabulous historical fiction novel and despite it being meant for young adults, I loved it. The characters and storyline are so rich and detailed and the writing is beautiful. It’s based off the sinking of the Wilhelm Gustloff during WWII. It follows four different characters and their journey to find safety. It is a haunting story that I am so excited to teach to my 9th graders!
Looker– Laura Sims
This is my latest read and it is so short! Such a great weekend psychological thriller. A college professor lives across the street from a famous actress and covets her life and family. She wants her life so badly, that she becomes obsessive with the actress. There are lots of twists and turns in the creepy, Hitchcockian book!