The leaves change colors, from a lovely green to a vibrant orange, yellow, or red. The wind picks up, chilly and crisp. Scarves and sweaters are back in the picture, and pumpkin-flavored drinks warm everyone’s hands. Nothing is better than cozying up with a blanket, a book, tea, and the orange trees and puffy clouds outside the window, creating the perfect setting. Fall is my favorite season, and I have a fun article for today.
Nothing is better than fall, cozy books, and a fall movie classic. Ranging from spooky fall movies to cozy ones, the list is endless. Of course, every movie has its perfect book to match it. Here is a list of fall movie classics and their perfect book pairing.
Spooky Pairings
Hocus Pocus (1993) and Payback’s a Witch by Lana Harper
Disney’s Hocus Pocus (1993) is one of the fall classics people watch for the rest of their lives. It is a movie full of whimsical witches, cozy autumn vibes, and the perfect amount of simple spooks. It follows two siblings who move to Salem and summon three witches executed in the 17th century. It is a movie for all ages, set in the perfect autumn town. Salem in the fall is a dream vacation for me. This movie has got to be at the top of everyone’s fall movie marathon list, but I have the perfect book for it.
Payback’s a Witch was published in 2021 and written by Lana Harper, and is the first book in the Witches of Thistle Grove series. It is the perfect fall story with the same whimsical and magical vibes that Hocus Pocus offers. It is a story about a young witch, Emmy, who has self-exiled and lives her own life until she is pulled back into her small, magical town. Gareth, the most powerful witch and a reason for Emmy’s self-exile, has wreaked havoc. Playing both Emmy’s best friend, Linden, and her new crush, Talia, Emmy gets wrapped up in their tricks and revenge. A fall, sapphic story is just what every reader needs this autumn.
Coraline (2009) and The Thirteenth Tale by Diana Setterfield
Coraline (2009) may not be set in the fall, but it is always associated with the fall theme and Halloween, for the autumn and gothic backgrounds included in the animation. It is full of mystery, spookiness, and humor that everyone enjoys every time autumn comes around. It follows a young girl, Coraline, who does not like her new town, but when she discovers a hidden passage and an alternate family, things couldn’t be better, right? Mystery is the perfect vibe for fall, because when the seasons go from warmer to colder, something mysterious enters the air, too. When you need an ideal mysterious movie for the fall, this one is it. Plus, how can you hate the claymation style?
The book paired with this movie is perfect: The Thirteen Tale by Diana Setterfield, published in 2006. While the book is not set in the fall, the themes are similar to those of Coraline, giving off the perfect autumn mystery and bookish vibes. It follows a woman who spent decades creating elaborate stories of her life, which all made her famous, but hid her true past. As she is dying, she hires a writer, and they get into the mysterious and rat, respectively, together. It brings a rich type of storytelling into it, just like the movie. From a gothic setting to a mysterious family, this book perfectly matches Coraline.
Cozy Pairings
Practical Magic (1998) and The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling
Practical Magic (1998) is more on the end of cozy fall movies, rather than mysterious and spooky like the other ones. It is based in New England in the fall, but it is full of the feel-good, homey, cozy vibes people look for during autumn. Plus, it is another story about witches. How can one say no to that? It follows two sisters, who are witches, but are not very well-liked. They face everything together, and now they must face a curse threatening everything and everyone they love. It is a heartwarming and perfect fall feeling.
The Ex Hex was published in 2021 and was written by Erin Sterling. It is the first book in the Graves Glen series and has the same vibes: fall, cozy, and feel-good. Nina is the female main character, and after a nasty breakup, she put a hex on her ex. Thinking it was nothing, her ex, Rhys, returns to their town, and chaos follows him everywhere, showing her this hex wasn’t small. Now her magical creatures attack her village, and she and Rhys must work together to save everything. It was like this book was made for Practical Magic (1998).
Dead Poets Society (1989) and The Secret History by Donna Tartt
A fall movie classic that instantly comes to mind is Dead Poets Society (1989). It is an older movie, but one that is set in the fall season at an all-boys preparatory school. Though “cozy” might not be the perfect word to describe the movie, it is a coming-of-age movie that still feels good, ideal for a warm, cozy watch. The film follows an English teacher who takes a job at a school that is all about tradition, when he is the opposite. It is a beautiful story of boys breaking out of their shells and embracing themselves despite the pressures they face from their families and futures. It is a classic, but perfect in the fall, and this book is an ideal match.
The Secret History was written by Donna Tartt and published in 1992. It is a story set in the fall and revolves around students, but in a different way. The fall cozy vibes are mixed with mystery. It follows a group of misfit college students who follow their teacher’s influence. They learn to break the norms to live their way until things end… horribly. With a darker twist on coming-of-age, this book is perfect to read during the fall.
Movies and books go well together, and there is no shortage of fall books and films. These are the perfect fall movie favorites to match with fantastic fall books. All you need now is a cup of warm tea, a blanket, and for fall to come a little quicker.
Want some autumn fantasy stories? Click here to read which we think are the best ones.
Click here for the team’s favorite cozy mysteries to read this fall.
