7 Spooky But Not Too Scary Books for Fall

As soon as the 4th of July was over, I started thinking about fall. Flame-colored leaves, crisp morning air, apple cider… I want it all! Alas, I’m currently living in South Carolina and lord knows when the air will feel crispy. At the moment, it just feels swampy. 

But I can mentally transport myself by reading some spooky but not too scary books—because I’m a wimp and can’t handle anything too suspenseful or thriller-y. Here are some of my favorites!

Sidenote: If you want to read more, you might ponder using my 30-Day Personal Experiment Method.

7 Spooky But Not Too Scary Books for Fall

The Bone Houses by Emily Lloyd-Jones

I have been recommending this book to everyone! I’m not usually a fan of fantasy books or teen protagonists, but this book does both perfectly. It’s about 17-year-old Ryn who is a gravedigger. But in this world, the dead bodies don’t always stay dead. The risen corpses are called “bone houses” (hence the title). Ryn meets a mapmaker named Ellis and together they set off to understand the curse that caused the bone houses.

The book is so atmospheric. The description on Amazon calls in horror but I definitely felt like it was spooky, not scary.  It’s one of the most memorable books I read last year. I think I’ll be rereading it this fall. Get it HERE.

The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow

This is another one of my all-time favorites! I’ve read it twice and it feels like the perfect fall novel. It’s a mix of historical fantasy during the suffragette movement in the late 1800s, set in New England.

There’s no such thing as witches. There used to be. And there will be again. The stories of the three Eastwood sisters are intertwined with each sister on a unique journey as part of the movement to allow women the right to determine their future. Perfect fall setting. Witches. Female empowerment. So freaking good. Get it HERE.

Murder Outside the Lines by Krista Davis

This is book three in the Pen & Ink cozy mystery series. Florrie is the manager of a local bookstore and a coloring book author. Florrie arranged to have a psychic author do a reading at the bookstore but the author arrives saying she just saw part of a dead body.

You can probably read this as a standalone book but I recommend the whole series. It’s cute and lighthearted with loveable characters. Get it HERE.

Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Ok, definitely the most suspenseful option on my list. This is a classic gothic novel, meaning there’s a slow burn of not fully knowing what’s going on with a spooky atmosphere, and then all of a sudden you can’t stop reading because it gets intense!

Noemí goes to visit her cousin who just got married and things are not quite right. It takes her a while to figure out what’s happening with her cousin’s new husband and the house they live in. The reveal blew my mind on this one. Get it HERE.

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

My husband and I listened to the audiobook of this recently and I loved it! It’s a middle-grade story about a boy who is raised by ghosts in a cemetery. Much of the book is set in the cemetery, giving perfect fall vibes. There’s also mystery about the boy’s family.

It’s spooky but also quite a sweet story. The audiobook read by Neil Gaiman is great if you’d prefer to listen. Get it HERE.

Pressed to Death: A Perfectly Proper Cozy Mystery by Kristen Weiss

This is book two of the Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum Mystery series. Maddie is the owner of a paranormal museum and this book is set during Halloween. A haunted grape press goes missing, plus of course there’s a murder to solve.

The whole series is fun and quirky. The setting and characters make me want to live in their world! Get it HERE.

New Orleans Vampires: History and Legend by Marita Crandle

How about a non-fiction recommendation? I love reading books about ghost stories because they’re a window into history. If something is haunted, it’s because something happened there. So I learn a lot of history through ghost stories. This book is similar.

New Orleans has many history-based rumors about vampires. This book does a deep dive into the real-life events behind each rumor. It’s well-researched and many vampire rumors are debunked. If I ever visit New Orleans, I’ll definitely be visiting the sites mentioned in the book! Get it HERE.

Bonus: The Harry Potter Series

It feels unnecessary to even mention this, but if you’re craving fall vibes, read or listen to the Harry Potter series! Since the books each start at the beginning of the school year, there is plenty of autumnal ambiance. Plus, witches and wizards and ghosts. Good stuff. Always. Get it HERE.

Spooky But Not Too Scary Books On my TBR List

I can’t vouch for these books yet, but here are some of the spooky books I’m hoping to read soon: 

• Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman
• A Dreadful Splendor by B.R. Myers
• A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness 

Your turn! Leave a comment about your favorite spooky but not too scary books. I’d love some recommendations.