It’s fall, y’all! I think I’ve said that about 37 times in my recent instagram posts, but oh well. Maybe you folks will learn to love it.
Is it too ambitious to call this post “Fall Book Recommendations 2020” ? I’m hopeful I’ll have another version next year.
Below is a small selection of books that either take place in fall or give me fall vibes, which I hope you will read and enjoy as much as I have.
Unstoppable Moses by Tyler James Smith
It’s no secret to most of you that Unstoppable Moses is one of my very favorite books, and I’m sure nobody is surprised to see it on this list. Unstoppable Moses takes place in a chilly Michigan October, which is a relatable experience for many Michiganders who went to fall camp (my 6th grade year, our camp experience was in late October/early November).
You can find my full review of Unstoppable Moses here, but to summarize briefly and succinctly: this novel is a brilliant YA coming-of-age story. Moses Hill recounts his traumatic experiences while working as a camp counselor and getting a “fresh start” to be someone less iconic than his trauma had forced him to become.
Looking For Alaska by John Green
Having confessed to being a John Green fanatic, I’m sure everyone expected to see at least one of his pieces on this list. Looking for Alaska takes place in Alabama as the school year begins, which is why it evokes such strong autumnal ambiance.
As soon as I post my review of Looking for Alaska, I’ll be sure to drop a link here for you to read. In the meantime, Looking for Alaska is a novel about Miles “Pudge” Halter who attends the same boarding school his father had before him. While Miles is away at school, he makes new friends, falls in love, has some interesting new experiences, encounters a distressing event, and becomes obsessed with understanding the motives of the girl he loved while driven by guilt.
Naomi and Ely’s No Kiss List by Rachel Cohn & David Levithan
This is a bit of a light-hearted exploration of friendship that I enjoyed on a much more superficial level than the other two I’ve listed here.
Naomi and Ely’s No Kiss List is about best friends Naomi and Ely who live in the same apartment building and have been inseparable for as long as they can remember, relying on a “no kiss list” to keep them from falling for the same boy… until Ely falls for Naomi’s boyfriend in the wake of Naomi’s dad sleeping with Ely’s mom. Chaos ensues, love bubbles up. It’s adorable. It’s funny. It’s written in several points of view. In the end, there’s a satisfying resolution that involves important realizations.
Incandescent Salt Mine 