There’s something about autumn that makes me want to cancel every plan, put on an oversized sweater, pour myself something warm, and disappear into a book.
Preferably somewhere with a fireplace.
Even better? Somewhere in Italy. 🇮🇹
Fall is the perfect season for slowing down, romanticizing the ordinary, and letting a good book transport you somewhere you’d rather be. Whether you’re a solo traveler looking for your next adventure, a cozy-homebody who considers reading an Olympic sport, or the kind of person who chooses books based entirely on their vibe (guilty!), I’ve got a TBR list for you.
So grab your favorite mug, find your coziest reading spot, and let’s build your ultimate autumn reading list.
And yes, there are Italian destinations involved. Obviously.
Before We Get Cozy…
One little book-lover’s note before we dive in: I’m a big believer in supporting your local libraries and independent bookstores whenever you can.
There is something pretty magical about wandering through a neighborhood bookshop, discovering a recommendation from a librarian, or checking out a stack of books for free from your local library. And if you haven’t discovered Libby yet, consider this your sign! The Libby app lets you borrow ebooks and audiobooks from participating libraries using your library card — which means you can build an impressive TBR without necessarily adding to your bookshelves (or your budget).
So, whenever possible, check your local library, independent bookstore, or Libby first! Supporting these spaces helps keep books accessible and keeps our communities full of places where people can learn, wander, discover, and connect.
That said, I know not every book is available everywhere — especially when you’re traveling, living abroad, looking for a specific edition, or simply don’t have easy access to a local library or bookstore. That’s why I’ve included Amazon links throughout this guide as an accessible option for finding each book.
Basically: borrow it, buy it locally, download it, listen to it, swap it with a friend — whatever gets a good book into your hands.
Because the important thing isn’t how you get the book.
It’s that you read the book.
P.S. Some links in this post may be affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through them, at no additional cost to you.
First: What Kind of Autumn Reader Are You?
Before we get into the books, let’s make this interactive.
The Solo Traveler
You’re constantly thinking about your next destination, you’re perfectly happy eating dinner alone, and your ideal vacation itinerary includes approximately 30% sightseeing and 70% wandering around without a plan.
Your autumn reading mood:
🌍 Travel memoirs
🇮🇹 Italy-set stories
🧳 Books about starting over
☕ Stories that make you want to book a flight immediately
Start with: Under the Tuscan Sun by Frances Mayes.
📖 Find Under the Tuscan Sun on Amazon
This memoir follows Mayes as she purchases and renovates a villa in Tuscany. It’s practically a prescription for anyone who has ever looked at a photo of the Italian countryside and thought, “What if I just moved there?”
Speaking from experience… sometimes you actually do.
The Cozy Book Girl
Your perfect evening includes a blanket, candle, tea, rain outside, and absolutely no obligations.
You don’t want an adrenaline rush.
You want comfort.
Your autumn reading mood:
🧦 Cozy fantasy
☕ Small-town settings
🍰 Bakeries and cafés
🏡 Found family
✨ A little bit of magic
Your book: The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna.
📖 Find The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches on Amazon
This is the kind of book that practically begs to be read under a blanket. Think magic, found family, a quirky household, and plenty of warmth.
It’s essentially the literary equivalent of a hug.
The “Just One More Chapter” Girl
You tell yourself you’re going to read for 20 minutes.
Three hours later, it’s 1:17 a.m. and you have absolutely no regrets. Welcome to my life!
Your autumn reading mood:
Mysteries
Suspense
Atmospheric settings
Questionable characters
“WAIT… WHAT?!”
Your book: The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner.
📖 Find The Lost Apothecary on Amazon
Set between eighteenth-century London and the present day, this historical mystery centers around a secret apothecary and the women connected to it.
It’s atmospheric, mysterious, and especially delicious for a chilly autumn evening.
The “Main Character in Europe” Reader
You don’t just want to read a book.
You want to become the book.
You want to wander cobblestone streets, drink wine at tiny cafés, wear an outfit that would look ridiculous anywhere else, and fall dramatically in love with your own life.
Your autumn reading mood:
🇮🇹 European escapes
🍷 Wine
🏛️ Beautiful old buildings
💌 Romance
🌿 Reinvention
Your book: The Enchanted April by Elizabeth von Arnim.
📖 Find The Enchanted April on Amazon
Originally published in 1922, the novel follows four women who rent a medieval Italian castle on the Italian Riviera for a month. The setting itself becomes an important part of their escape and transformation.
Basically: four women + Italy + a castle + an escape from ordinary life.
Need I say more?
Books for When You’re Dreaming of Italy
Obviously, this one is personal to me! Sometimes the best way to travel is to read your way there first.
If Italy is calling your name but your passport isn’t cooperating just yet, add one of these to your autumn TBR.
Under the Tuscan Sun — Frances Mayes
For: Tuscany dreamers, future expats, food lovers, renovation enthusiasts.
This is the obvious choice for anyone who has ever fantasized about waking up in a Tuscan villa.
Read it with:
A glass of Chianti
Something involving pasta
An open window
An Italian playlist
The Enchanted April — Elizabeth von Arnim
For: Women craving an escape, vintage travelers, Italy lovers, romantics.
Four women rent a castle in Italy and discover that getting away from everyday life might change more than just their scenery.
Travel challenge: After finishing the book, choose one Italian destination you’ve never visited and put it on your future travel list.
The Talented Mr. Ripley — Patricia Highsmith
For: Dark tourism, psychological thrillers, Italy + mystery lovers.
This is Italy with the lights turned down.
The story follows Tom Ripley as he travels to Italy and becomes increasingly entangled in deception, identity and crime.
Find The Talented Mr. Ripley on Amazon →
Pair it with: An atmospheric evening, a dark glass of red wine, and absolutely no googling spoilers.
The Solo Traveler’s Autumn Reading List
One of my favorite things about books is that they can make you feel less alone while you’re traveling alone.
And if you’ve ever traveled solo, you know there are certain moments that are made for reading.
At the airport
Instead of scrolling through Instagram while waiting for your gate:
Read 20 pages.
Bonus points if you’re dramatically sipping an overpriced airport coffee.
On the train
Italy is basically designed for train + book combinations.
Window seat?
Check.
Book?
Check.
Italian countryside flying by outside?
Main character status: activated.
At a café
Find a table outside.
Order something you can’t pronounce confidently.
Open your book.
Pretend you’re writing a novel.
You don’t actually have to write anything.
On a solo beach day
Put your phone away.
Read until you lose track of time.
Take a walk.
Read some more.
Repeat.
This is what I like to call intentional vacationing.
The Ultimate Cozy Reading Ritual
You don’t need to travel to make reading feel like an experience.
Sometimes the destination is your couch.
Here’s your autumn reading recipe:
1. Make a warm drink.
Tea, coffee, hot chocolate, pumpkin spice latte…
Or, if we’re leaning into the Italian lifestyle:
Caffè + biscotti.
2. Put your phone somewhere inconvenient.
Preferably far enough away that checking Instagram requires actual effort.
3. Turn on a lamp instead of the overhead light.
Instant cozy points.
4. Add a blanket.
This step is scientifically proven by absolutely no one.
5. Pick a soundtrack.
Try: Italian jazz, soft piano, rain sounds, or autumn acoustic playlists!
6. Read for 30 minutes.
Not 300 pages.
Not your entire TBR.
Just 30 peaceful minutes.
For Your Spooky Season Reading Mood
Maybe you want your autumn reading to be a little darker.
Not necessarily “sleep with the lights on” dark.
More like…
“I enjoy being mildly unsettled while drinking tea.”
Try:
The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner
Historical mystery + secret apothecary + women + secrets.
The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna
Magical, cozy and heartwarming rather than terrifying.
The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman
A cozy mystery about a group of retirees who investigate murders.
Your spooky-season reading question:
Would you rather…
A) solve a murder
B) investigate a haunted house
C) live in a magical cottage
D) disappear to an Italian villa
I’m choosing D.
Obviously.
Create Your Own “Book + Destination” Pairing
Here’s where I want you to have some fun.
Choose a book and pair it with a destination.
Italy
Under the Tuscan Sun + Tuscany
Italian Riviera
The Enchanted April + Liguria
England
The Thursday Murder Club + a cozy English village
Small-town autumn
The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches + your favorite little town
Dark academia
The Talented Mr. Ripley + Venice
Now make your own.
What book would you pair with your dream destination?
Tell me in the comments or over on Instagram — I’m always looking for my next literary escape.
My Autumn Reading Challenge
Want to make your fall reading a little more fun?
Try this 7-book autumn reading challenge:
☐ A book set somewhere you’ve never visited
☐ A book written by a woman
☐ A mystery or thriller
☐ A book featuring travel
☐ A book you’ve been meaning to read forever
☐ A book chosen entirely because you love the cover
☐ A book you read somewhere beautiful
And for the final challenge…
☐ Read a book in a café in another country
Because why not make the TBR part of the travel itinerary?
The Curves & a Carry-On Autumn TBR
If I were building my own autumn stack, it would look something like this:
For Italy dreams:
Under the Tuscan Sun
For an Italian escape:
The Enchanted April
For a mysterious night:
The Lost Apothecary
For cozy magic:
The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches
For a rainy weekend:
The Thursday Murder Club
For something darker:
The Talented Mr. Ripley
The goal isn’t to read every book on your list.
The goal is to create little moments you actually look forward to.
A rainy afternoon.
A train ride through the countryside.
A quiet morning before everyone else wakes up.
A café table for one.
A glass of wine at sunset.
A blanket, a book and nowhere you need to be.
Because sometimes travel isn’t about how far you go.
Sometimes it’s about where a story takes you.
Your Turn!
What are you reading this autumn?
Are you:
The Solo Traveler
The Cozy Book Girl
The Mystery Addict
The European Main Character
The Spooky Season Reader
Tell me your reading personality — and your current favorite book — in the comments!
And if your autumn reading list has convinced you that you also need an Italian getaway…
Well.
I certainly won’t talk you out of it. You know you’ll find me there!
Happy reading, travelers.
XO,
Sondra
Save This Post for Later
Pin this guide for your next cozy reading day, solo trip, or Italian travel planning session.
Speaking of which, I can help with that:
Planning Your Trip to Tuscany → There’s so much more to Tuscany than Florence and Pisa.
Things to Do in Florence → My favorite city gets a lot of coverage here on the blog!
Autumn in Italy→ My bucket list for Fall in Italy!
Traveling Solo in Italy → I’ve done it for 12 years, I’ve got you!
Moving to Italy → Now I live here, go figure!
Italian Travel Inspiration → your Italy destination hub
Discover Tuscan Wine → Learn all about the types of wines and where to find them in the region
And send this to the friend who always says:
“I need a new book.”
You know the one.
Leave a Reply