Every year, everyone gets very excited about all of the creepy books there are to read at Halloween–and justifiably so. But the rest of fall deserves love, too! I decided to dig around and look for some books that reflect all of the best things about autumn, not just Halloween, though there are a couple here that could pull double duty.
Whether they actually take place in the fall or play with fall-adjacent themes, these graphic novels are perfect for cozying up with as the temperature drops and the smell of fallen leaves and pumpkin spice dances in the air.
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Apple Crush by Lucy Knisley
The entire “Peapod Farm” trilogy could probably go here, but since apples are a fall crop, I’m highlighting this one. Jen, a former city girl, has acclimated to farm life, but there’s a new challenge ahead: crushes. More specifically, everyone expects Jen to have them now that she’s in sixth grade, but she just…doesn’t.
Pumpkinheads by Rainbow Rowell and Faith Erin Hicks
Pumpkinheads does take place around Halloween, but it also qualifies as an autumn book. For two months out of the year, Josiah and Deja have a great time working at the same pumpkin patch, then don’t see each other again until next fall. But now that they’re about to graduate high school, this is their very last season at the pumpkin patch, and they are determined to make it a memorable one.
Foothold: Rigsby WI Volume One by S.E. Case
Best friends Bethany and Jeordie navigate life as misfits in small-town Wisconsin through the autumn of 2002. Between preparing for homecoming, dealing with family, and struggling with romantic relationships–or a lack thereof–they and their classmates have plenty on their minds.
Note: This comic uses language that was common in the early 2000s but is recognized as offensive today.
The Setting Sun by Osamu Dazai, adapted by Cocco Kashiwaya
I selected this one based on the title and on vibes rather than the season. In this adaptation of a classic Japanese novel, Kazuko and her mother, formerly wealthy aristocrats, must grapple with the consequences of Japan’s loss in World War II. They move out to the country to save money, but the ghosts of the past still manage to find them there.
The Witch’s Soup by Masayasu Fukushima
Witches may be Halloween-y, but you know what’s perfect for all of fall? Soup! Eld Elflaim plans on using her nefarious brew to wipe out the human race, but when she gets a taste of the soups humanity can make, she starts rethinking her priorities.
The English translation of The Witch’s Soup is available exclusively through the emaqi Premium subscription service.
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