Top Ten Books on My Fall 2026 To-Read List

Posted September 21, 2026 by Jana in Top Ten Tuesday / 21 Comments

Welcome to another TTT! And happy first day of Fall! Fall is my favorite season, and my mom, sister, and I are going on our annual leaf peeping drive in the mountains today (followed by ice cream after) and I’m so excited! It’s officially my favorite time of year and it only gets better from here (well, for the next 3 months at least). I love reading Fall-themed rom-coms, cozy fantasies, and spooky, atmospheric tales during this time of year so those are what my list is filled with today. I’m excited to see what you have planned for your cozy Fall reading!

The Mudpuddle Manual of Natural Magic by Ciara Blume

A murder, a mystery, and a not-so-overactive imagination…

Eccentric heiress Maida Westbrook treasures her peaceful, “ordinary” life in California—morning strolls along the beach, warm evenings by the fire, and losing herself in her beloved library of myths and legends. Yet, despite knowing the difference between fact and fiction, Maida can’t shake the nagging sense that there’s more to her story than she’s been led to believe. Strange and inexplicable occurrences have always surrounded her, dismissed as nothing more than an overactive imagination.

When a distant relative mysteriously vanishes, a body is discovered, and Maida’s lifelong dream of owning a charming bookshop suddenly comes true she realizes her imagination might not have been so far-fetched after all.

There’s just one the sentient bookshop has gone into hiding and it’s up to Maida to coax it back. To claim her inheritance, she must step out of her safe, predictable world and embrace a reality where magic is not only real—it’s woven into the very fabric of everyday life. That handsome neighbor? He might be a shapeshifter. And the barista who runs the local café? She’s likely brewing more than coffee.

As Maida unravels the secrets of her past, she’s forced to rethink everything she once held true. Saving the bookshop—and protecting her newfound magical family—will require more courage than she ever thought possible, including risking her heart.

How To Marry A Winged King by A.J. Lancaster

Cinders just wanted to dance at the ball.
But she becomes part of a game to find a fae king’s bride.

As a lowly human, Cinders has never been good enough for her noble fae family – but she can’t escape them. Every dawn, the magic binding her to their manor calls her back.

When the fae king announces he’ll choose a bride at the Thrice-Held Ball, Cinders is of course forbidden to attend. Even if the dancing doesn’t go past dawn, her family would never allow her to be seen with them. But after she receives a pair of enchanted shoes that alter her appearance, she can’t resist the chance to become someone else for a night. She’ll dance in disguise for the three nights of the ball and enjoy her small stolen freedom.

She never expected to catch the fae king’s eye, or for her act of rebellion to turn into something far more dangerous. Everyone wants to know who the mysterious masked lady is, and they won’t rest until they find out. King Tawhiri sees her as no one ever has before, but how can she trust it’s more than just enchantment at work?

Can she make it home by dawn? And does she even want to marry a winged king, anyway?

A gorgeous reimagining of the Cinderella story, set in an enchanting world full of fae, magic and romance.

Til Quest Do Us Part by Ivelisse Housman

Two Former Teen Protagonists Who Saved the World now need to learn how to be adults—with adult feelings—in this witty, warm romantic fantasy.

Princess Elysande Sybilla Aurelion of Estrachia, Voice of the Thousand-Eyed Goddess, impulsively made a vow to her knight, Faron, at eighteen years old, under the secrecy of night and the thousand watchful eyes of her patron deity. To be fair, they expected to perish at the hands of a raging sorceress the next day—but then they didn’t.

Once she took the throne, everything changed. Ely and Faron agreed that they were too young and too important—as the now Queen and Knight Guardian—to be anything more. And with Ely’s responsibility as the new sovereign of her people, it was better to forget the whole thing than risk the kingdom’s newfound peace.

Ten years later, Ely finds herself needing to marry the prince of a neighboring territory for political advantage, and discovers that she is, technically, married to her best friend. And the Goddess won’t let her out of her oath that easily. Now, Ely and Faron must work together to seek the deity and break their vows in favor of the greater good—even if they risk rekindling a flame that never truly died.

Forbidden to Fall by Martha Keyes

He’s the villain in everyone else’s story. What happens if he becomes the hero of hers?

Sadie Stevenson is very good at three things: baking, avoiding conflict, and pretending she never had a crush on her brother’s best friend—ex best friend, that is.

She’s about to get worse at all three.

When James Carver returns to Autumn Ridge after eight years away, Sadie tells herself that working alongside him at Carver Maple Farm is just business. She tells herself she can handle this.

She cannot handle this.

In a town with a long memory and with a brother who will never forgive, falling for James isn’t just complicated, it’s forbidden.

Too bad James Carver turns out to be nothing like the villain she was promised.

A Fall to Remember by Ellie Alexander

If you love cozy small-town settings, swoon-worthy autumn vibes, second-chance romance, and The Gilmore Girls, pour yourself a pumpkin spice latte, and curl up with A Fall to Remember.

Miranda Brown never meant to become famous. She just wanted a quiet vacation―a rare break from running The Green Grocer, the cozy market that’s been the heart of Half Moon Bay, California, for three generations. But when her spectacularly terrible travel photos go viral, Miranda becomes an unlikely internet sensation.

Now a major travel company wants her to cover her hometown’s beloved Fall Harvest Festival, sending the charming (and undeniably handsome) Jim Cole to help capture her authentic, imperfect magic on camera.

As golden leaves fall and the scent of apple cider fills the air, Miranda finds that being yourself is harder than it looks―especially when she’s falling for Jim. But when she learns his job depends on this campaign’s success, she must decide: are his feelings real, or is she just part of his marketing plan?

A cozy, heartwarming romance that celebrates second chances and finding love when you least expect it. Perfect for fans of Laurie Gilmore, Julia Olivia and Misty Wilson.

Rewitched by Lucy Jane Wood

Belladonna Blackthorn hasn’t lost her magical spark . . . but she hasn’t seen it in a while, either.

Balancing work at her beloved Lunar Books with protecting it from her toxic boss, who’s running it into the ground, and all the while concealing her witchcraft from the non-wicches around her – Belle is burnt out. Perfecting the potential of her magic is the last thing on her mind.

But when her 30th birthday brings a summons from her coven, and a trial that tests her worthiness as a witch, Belle risks losing her magic forever. With the month of October to fix things, and signs that dark forces may be working against her, Belle will need all the help she can get – from the women in her life, from an unlikely mentor figure, and even an (infuriatingly handsome) watchman who’s sworn to protect her . . .

With found family, slow burn romance and an uplifting message about self-love, this is the cosy, autumnal read that you’ve been waiting for.

The Dog Park Murders by Angela Barker

A killer has been unleashed in their small town…

Juliette Macintyre has never met a dog she didn’t love. For one thing, dogs don’t judge, unlike the human residents of Labrador Falls. Most locals look at her with suspicion because her father was once a dirty cop, even though Juliette is upbeat, helpful, and the best pet groomer around. She just needs to prove it…starting with new resident Joel Cunningham, an enigma wrapped in a checked shirt and a scowl.

Joel runs the Brewed Awakening café, where the coffee is as smooth as Joel is surly. He doesn’t serve pumpkin spice, he doesn’t chitchat, and he claims he doesn’t like dogs. Yet when Juliette stumbles upon a dead body in the dog park, strangled with one of her custom leashes, Joel becomes an unexpected ally.

He has no intention of opening up, to either his cute neighbor or the foster pup she foists on him. But he can’t let a biased detective frame Juliette for murder. Whoever killed the widely loathed Maurice Allsop may be desperate enough to strike again. If they can just ignore their chemistry and focus on the clues, Juliette and Joel might be able to solve the case—before somebody else bites the dust…

The Haunted Librarian by Auralee Wallace

A lonely librarian finds love, friends, and a few ghosts between the shelves in this cozy, paranormal tale from beloved bestselling author Auralee Wallace.

It’s a dark and stormy night…and Amelia Bates is caught in the rain. Life hasn’t always been kind to her, and being a ghostseer certainly doesn’t make things any easier.

Glowing warmly through the autumnal downpour is her safest the library. Amelia, the newly hired librarian, has always relished the comfort of curling up with a novel, vastly preferring it to the company of humans (alive or ghostly).

But Amelia is shocked to discover the building is full of more than quiet stories and warm cups of tea. There are curious, talkative patrons, a shy, bespectacled head librarian who makes her heart skip a beat, and three quirky spirits causing paranormal havoc that endangers the future of the library.

To help the ghosts and save the building, Amelia will have to gather all her bravery and wits, because learning to trust others might just be the first step to a happily ever after she only thought was possible in books.

Some Kind of Haunted by Hazel Beck

Home is where the haunt is.

Lexi Darling has always been a city girl through and through. New York is loud, crowded, and just chaotic enough to keep her mind off everything she’d rather not think about—especially the eerily realistic nightmares that have plagued her all her life. So when she and her twin brother, Logan, are summoned to the postcard-perfect town of Midas, Iowa, one golden October to handle an inheritance from the grandmother they never knew, Lexi figures it’ll be a quick detour: sign a few papers, snap a fall foliage selfie, and catch the next flight home.

But Midas has other plans.

The town has been waiting for the Darling twins, and it’s not about to let them leave. Their arrival stirs up a centuries-old curse, one that promises something dark and hungry will rise again by Halloween night. And the key to stopping it might just lie in their family’s mysterious past. Now, trapped in Midas with the shadows closing in, Lexi has to team up with a group of stubborn locals to save the town…including Jack, the grumpy-but-unfairly attractive diner owner who drives her crazy in all the wrong ways.

As the nights grow longer and an uncanny evil creeps closer, Lexi must uncover the truth behind the curse before Midas—and everyone in it—is consumed. Because in Midas, some secrets refuse to stay buried—and some nightmares never end.

A Time of Witches by Madeline Martin

Two women, bound by blood and betrayal, must break silence across centuries—or be silenced forever, in the dazzling new novel by New York Times bestselling author Madeline Martin.

Lilith Legare’s life is unraveling. Since her mother’s death, strange things have been happening – plants turn toward her touch, animals linger in her path, and the birthmark on her arm has started tingling. Worse still is her recurring nightmare of being burned alive at the stake.

Her search for answers brings her from Savannah to England, to the decaying Brackenmere Manor where the past blurs with the present. There, Lilith discovers a legacy she never asked for and along with it, the threat of peril. History must be rewritten, or she too will die.

In 1645 Suffolk, Sybil Brantham stands accused as a witch. An educated, wealthy widow, she is branded a threat by men who fear her independence. As arrests begin and suspicion abounds, Sybil must protect her younger sister, even as betrayal takes root within her household.

Across centuries, Lilith and Sybil are bound by blood and by danger. To save themselves, and each other, they must confront the silence that has stolen women’s power for generations—and dare to claim their voices before it’s too late.

Are any of these on your to-read list this season?
Have you read and loved any of my picks?
What’s the book at the top of your to-read list right now?


Top Ten Authors I’ve Met

Posted September 14, 2026 by Jana in About Me, Top Ten Tuesday / 16 Comments

Welcome to another TTT! This week’s topic is: Top Ten Authors I’ve Met. I used to go to a lot of author events when I read YA, but there aren’t as many opportunities for adult fiction authors (at least where I live). It was hard limiting my list to just ten, as I’ve been lucky enough to meet quite a few amazing authors, but these ones have been the most memorable!

Marissa Meyer
She came to my local library in 2012 as part of the Fierce Reads tour when Cinder came out, and I was so excited to meet her! I love the Lunar Chronicles.

Leigh Bardugo
She was also part of the Fierce Reads tour for Shadow and Bone. I literally bought the book only because it was one of my first author events and I was excited to meet authors and get some signed books. I had no idea how much I would love the Grishaverse. I met her again at an ALA annual conference and she complimented my long eyelashes and slipped me some Grisha nail polish under the table that she wasn’t supposed to give me. lol.

Sarah J. Maas
I met her at my very first ALA annual conference in Anaheim! She was there to promote Throne of Glass. I’d never heard of the book before, but it looked really good so I had her sign my ARC. Again, I had NO idea how much I would love the worlds she’s created since.

Marc Brown
I met him at ALA in 2014! If you don’t recognize his name, he’s the author and illustrator of the Arthur children’s book series! I have always adored Arthur, even as an adult. The books and show were a huge part of my childhood and it was surreal meeting him. It was a surprise to see him there, and I wish I’d known ahead of time so I could have brought some of my Arthur books for him to sign. I did get a lovely hardback copy of his new (at the time) book titled In New York, though.

Markus Zusak
Another ALA author surprise! His flight was super delayed and they worried he would not make it in time, but he got there and stayed way longer than he’d planned to make sure everyone could get their books signed. He signed a complimentary copy of The Book Thief for me, which I later read (and loved) as part of my YA lit class in grad school. He was so, so nice.

Susan Wiggs
She was the keynote speaker for the Utah Readers Luncheon in 2018 and it was really fun meeting her! She signed my copy of The Charm School.  When I handed it to her she gave it a wistful smile and told me it had quite the cult following among teens when it came out in 1999. It’s still my favorite book of hers.

Susan Mallery
She was the keynote speaker for the 2019 Utah Readers Luncheon and I got quite a few of her Fools Gold books signed.

Mo Willems
The author of the Pigeon books! I met him at ALA (I can’t remember which one) and I was so excited. He’s so nice!

Mary E. Pearson
Mary made me feel like a celebrity. I was standing in her signing line at ALA and when she looked up and saw my name and my blog’s name on my badge, she screamed “Jana!!!!” and jumped out of her seat and ran around the table to hug me. Everyone looked at me like “who the heck is she??” I’d fangirled hard over The Kiss of Deception and interviewed her on my blog, and she remembered me!

Anna Banks
I also met her at my library for the 2012 Fierce Reads tour. I was a newish blogger and had been requesting ARCs from so many publishers and getting declined for all of them. Of Poseidon was the very first ARC I was actually sent as the result of an emailed request. Up to that point, I was just reviewing what I bought and what I could “read now” on Netgalley. Macmillan took a chance on me with Of Poseidon and I have been receiving their books for review ever since! I can’t believe it’s been 14 years now. Anyway, Anna signed that ARC and drew a little shark in it.

Do you like going to author events and book signings?
Which authors have you met?


Top Ten Favorite Indie and Self-Published Books

Posted September 7, 2026 by Jana in Top Ten Tuesday / 13 Comments

Welcome to another TTT! This week’s topic is an indie freebie, which was submitted through my topic request form by @dark.shelf.of.wonders and Books Are The New Black! I love supporting authors who self-publish or who publish through small, independent presses so I’ll be sharing some of those hidden gems that not as many people talk about regularly! And these aren’t just my favorite indies, they are some of my very favorite books ever! All ten of them got 5 stars from me. I might be the most excited to jump around the Linky and see everyone’s lists because I’m hoping to find some recs for amazing books that I haven’t stumbled across on my own!

First to Fall by Jenny B. Jones
My Lucky Charm by Courtney Walsh
Acting Merry by Martha Keyes
Desert Island Duke by Kate Bateman
Another Fish in the Sea by Amy Kelly
Love, Loss, and Pasta Sauce by Stephanie Taylor
When She Was Naughty by Tessa Dare
Faking Christmas by Cindy Steel
Miracle on Ladies’ Mile by Joanna Shupe
Kissing for Keeps by Martha Keyes

Have you read any of these?
Do you like finding lesser-known indie titles as much as I do?


Top Ten Books With Nationalities In the Title

Posted September 1, 2026 by Jana in Top Ten Tuesday / 23 Comments

Welcome to another TTT! This week’s topic was submitted by Cathy @ WhatCathyReadNext and is: Books With Nationalities In the Title (e.g. The French Lieutenant’s Woman, Mexican Gothic, An American Marriage, etc.). Here’s a great list of nationalities if you need a little help thinking of titles! I love a good hunt for titles that fit these weekly prompts, so this sounded like fun to me! And it was! I have read the first and last books and the others are from my to-read list!

My American Duchess by Eloisa James
The Swedish Prince by Karina Halle
Wild Scottish Knight by Tricia O’Malley
Christmas Wishes & Irish Kisses by Debbie Johnson
A Greek Affair by Linn B. Halton
The Spanish Love Deception by Elena Armas
Canadian Boyfriend by Jenny Holiday
The Little Swiss Ski Chalet by Julie Caplin
My Very Italian Holiday by Sue Roberts
Your French Kisses by Lauren Blakely

Have you read any of these?


Top Ten Bookish Places I’ve Visited

Posted August 24, 2026 by Jana in Top Ten Tuesday / 15 Comments

Welcome to another TTT! This week’s topic is Bookish Places I’ve Visited, and was submitted by Susan @Bloggin’ ’bout Books! Share all the cool places you’ve been that are bookish or tied to books! This includes neat libraries, book stores, places featured in books, places inspired by books, author homes/places they’ve stayed, etc. You can also share your bucket list of the bookish places you’d like to visit someday. I’ve decided to share places I’ve been that are tied to books, whether through authors or the actual settings of books I’ve read.

Shakespeare & Company Bookstore in Paris, France
I bought a lovely copy of Shakespeare’s love sonnets.

Hotel Metropole in Bellagio, Italy on the shores of Lake Como
Mark Twain stayed here!

Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, France 
The setting of Victor Hugo’s The Hunchback of Notre-Dame.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City
The setting of From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E. L. Konigsburg.

The Grand Canal in Venice, Italy
Lord Byron swam across the Grand Canal!

St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Midtown New York City
F. Scott Fitzgerald, author of The Great Gatsby, was married here.

John’s of Bleecker Street in Greenwich Village New York City
I’m stretching this because it’s just too cool. Frank Sinatra loved this pizza place!! And he did technically co-author a book on how to sing with a voice teacher of his, so I’m counting it.

Cannery Row in Monterey, California
John Steinbeck made this place famous with his novel, Cannery Row. Side note, I used to live in Monterey!

Key West, Florida
Ernest Hemingway lived here while writing many of his most famous works. Robert Frost, one of my favorite poets, also spent his winters here.

Pisa, Italy
From Dante’s Inferno.

Other cool places I’ve been to that are tied to books/authors: Rome (Nathaniel Hawthorne), Central Park in NYC (Catcher in the Rye, Stuart Little), Sagrada Familia in Barcelona (George Orwell famously claimed this to be “one of the most hideous buildings in the world”), and Annapolis, MD (I used to live here and it’s heavily featured in the Ghosted series by B.K. Borison).

What literary locations or bookish places have you visited?