Looking for a fall reading list with a little variety? These pictures bring together pumpkin-covered paperbacks, darker book stacks and pretty ways to keep track of your next read.
There’s even a story basket if you’re planning a read-aloud.
You can keep your list short or leave room for a few different moods. Start with a title that catches your eye, then borrow a little seasonal decorating inspiration for your reading journal or book club.
Books and reading ideas to save for fall
orange spines and little pumpkins
We’re starting off with this pretty orange-and-cream stack. The Picture of Dorian Gray sits alongside the sun and her flowers, with A Court of Silver Flames farther down. I love the little white pumpkin on top.
Try gathering a few books you already own before adding more to your fall reading list. They don’t all have to share a genre or a matching cover.
a pumpkin spice journal
How cute is this reading journal? The Pumpkin Spice Café gets a whole spread of pumpkins, checked patterns and little coffee images. The book itself sits just above it.
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If you like keeping notes, give your next read a page of its own. Add a few thoughts beside pictures that remind you of the cover.
the secret history and fallen leaves
This black cover looks so good against all those orange leaves. Donna Tartt’s The Secret History is held with its front cover facing the camera, with colorful tabs visible along the page edges.
Keep a few tabs nearby if you want to mark passages to revisit. You don’t need a whole journal to save something that catches your attention.
dark books and a tiny ghost
I am obsessed with that little ghost beside the orange pumpkin. Below them, the stack includes If We Were Villains, The Haunting of Hill House, Slewfoot and Babel.
There’s also Legends & Lattes tucked into the mix. For a similar shelf display, try a little ghost decoration beside your books.
falling like leaves
The fox-face socks are adorable, but Falling Like Leaves by Misty Wilson gets the center spot here. Its illustrated cover sits among orange, white and pale green pumpkins.
If you want a book-photo idea, borrow the scattered leaves and autumn colors. A single pumpkin beside your book would be enough for a simpler version.
a spread of autumn covers
Not sure which cover to look at first? There’s plenty here, from Rewitched and Apple of My Eye to Kindling and The House Witch.
I especially love the blue truck on Apple of My Eye.
Lay out your own possibilities like this if you like seeing the covers together. It’s a pretty way to photograph the books you’re considering.
pumpkin hollow and glowing leaves
How adorable is that smiling pumpkin? Love and Lattes at Pumpkin Hollow by Victoria Walters sits among leaf-shaped lights, pinecones and pumpkin decorations.
The pink sky and orange house on the cover are so cute together. This is a lovely image to save if you enjoy colorful seasonal book displays.
fall in love with reading
Don’t want to fill your journal with cutouts? No problem!
This page uses brown lettering with small drawings of leaves, an acorn and a pumpkin.
Try a similar opening page for your reading notebook, then write your book choices beside little checkboxes on the next page.
choose a reading mood
Gothic romance, dark academia or witchy vibes? Those are the categories named above this reader’s tall stack.
The titles on the held books aren’t clear enough here to identify them.
You can still borrow the sorting idea. Make a small section for each mood in your notes, then add titles as you find them.
a book and a cinnamon bun
The Cinnamon Bun Book Store beside an actual cinnamon bun? I love this pairing.
The iced swirl sits next to the green illustrated storefront, with a speckled red mug above them.
Try matching your reading snack to a title just for fun. Keep any lit candle on a clear, stable surface away from books and bedding.
a pumpkin-filled reading tray
This is another pretty setup for The Cinnamon Bun Book Store. The large orange pumpkin container and smaller red and white pumpkins sit beside a drink with leaf-shaped foam art.
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A tray is a simple place to gather your current book and a drink. I’d leave a little extra room around the cup when using it rather than styling it for a picture.
a pumpkin soup story basket
How sweet is this story basket? Pumpkin Soup by Helen Cooper sits behind a toy duck, a cat and a squirrel.
The big spoon and orange pumpkin complete the display.
For a read-aloud, you could set out a few matching toys beside the book. There’s no need to recreate every detail.
book club with black bows
This book club setup may just be my favorite gathering idea here. We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer is displayed on a little easel, with pastries and dark red flowers nearby.
The page-style banner with black ribbons is such a pretty detail. For your own version, use spare printed pages and place the chosen book where everyone can see it.
two books on one tray
How cute are these two Laurie Gilmore covers together? This picture pairs The Pumpkin Spice Café and The Cinnamon Bun Book Store with a cup and a plate of round waffle-patterned biscuits.
I love the orange café beside the green bookshop. The big brown leaves around them are such a pretty finishing touch.
a page of book possibilities
If you prefer a written list to a stack of books, this one gives you plenty to look into. Visible choices include Cackle, Practical Magic, Shady Hollow and The Night Circus.
Pick a few titles to investigate rather than copying the whole page. A short list leaves room to discover something else along the way.
witchcraft and tarot titles
This stack takes a different direction from the illustrated novels above. Tarot No Questions Asked, Plant Witchery and The Green Witch’s Garden are among the visible titles.
If you’re curious about witchcraft or spiritual practices, try making a separate reading list for those interests.
an autumn checklist
Want somewhere simple to write your choices? This blank to-do list has orange leaves, pale pumpkins and an illustrated drink around the writing space.
I love the little stack of books at the bottom.
You could use a similar layout as a reading tracker. Write one title on each line and check it off when you finish.
colorful covers on lavender
I love the lavender background behind these orange-filled covers. The Goode Girls of Maple Lane, If It Makes You Happy and There’s Pumpkin About You appear alongside several other autumn-looking picks.
If you’re making a digital shortlist, try arranging cover images in a small grid like this. Add your own notes separately so you can remember why each book interested you.
a quiet cream-and-green stack
Don’t want pumpkins on every cover? This understated stack is a lovely change.
Patti Smith’s Devotion and Year of the Monkey sit above On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous, The Hole and other titles.
The cream and pale green spines look so pretty together. For a similar photo, keep the background plain and let the stack be the only decoration.
yellow flowers and a blue door
Last but definitely not least, we have a little seasonal decorating inspiration. I love the yellow flowers on this ladder beside the blue door!
The small striped pumpkins and leafy plants are so pretty together.
Borrow those blue, yellow and orange colors for a reading-journal page. Or try flowers and pumpkins beside a welcome sign at your next book club gathering.
Just a little note - some of the links on here may be affiliate links, which means I might earn a small commission if you decide to shop through them (at no extra cost to you!). I only post content which I'm truly enthusiastic about and would suggest to others.
And as you know, I seriously love seeing your takes on the looks and ideas on here - that means the world to me! If you recreate something, please share it here in the comments or feel free to send me a pic. I'm always excited to meet y'all! ✨🤍
Xoxo Frida