5 Clean Autumn Reads Paired with Autumn Beverages

Hey, friends! I'm here with two special announcements. First off...

That's right! It's AUTUMNNN! *throws leaves and confetti* Also known as The Best Season of the Year™️.

(And yes, let's totally ignore the fact that I forgot it was autumn until two days after it started. XD)

For those who don't know, I basically live for autumn. In every way possible. I love everything about it—from the aesthetic to the sweaters to the leaves to the boots and the very wonderfully bookish environment it brings. And yes, in case you're wondering, I refuse to call it fall. British English for the win. 😜

Don't believe me? Well, this is what my Instagram account looked like last autumn:

A little bit crazy, don't you think? But no regrets. 🍁😉

So, in this blog post, I'll be going over a few clean reads that are perfect for autumn, paired with autumn beverages. Hopefully, these reads + beverages will help inspire you to take a breather and a moment away from the busyness of life, and just enjoy these masterpieces of novels.

But first off, for my second announcement...

I'm back!

For those who don't know, I was on a blogging hiatus for about a month (though yes, it feels like so much longer). And while I'd love to say I hated every minute of it and was just itching to write more for you guys, that ... wasn't exactly the case. The break was really good for me, honestly, as yes, keeping up with a blog does take a lot of energy (at least for those people like me who are not blessed with amazing high-energy superpowers).

So. While I will still be posting on my blog, I'll only be doing so twice a month, rather than once a week. I've thought it over, and I feel that this change will force me to be more intentional with what I'm putting on my blog.

Anyway, with all that said, on with the program!

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Set the Stars Alight | Earl Grey

While Set the Stars Alight by Amanda Dykes doesn't necessarily take place in autumn, it's a beautiful, cozy read set on the East Sussex Coast, featuring the author's signature touch of whimsy, deep themes, and a bit of humor. It's a historical fiction with dual-POVs, one set years in the past and one set in the present, as the characters work to unearth a story of sacrifice and hope.

As I wrote on my Goodreads, this book feels like what would happen if L. M. Montgomery wrote a modern novel with the same aesthetic as Anne's House of Dreams, minus the gossip. Because I'm sure by now, you guys all know how I feel about Anne of Green Gables. 😅

For this read, I paired it with Earl Grey because it's impossible not to after reading the book. There are so, so many references to it, plus a warm cup of tea definitely fits the cozy, friendly feel of this story.

The Gold in These Hills | Coffee

With gorgeous, hopeful themes, The Gold in These Hills by Joanne Bischof is another dual-POV historical fiction, focusing on the events of gold mining in Kenworthy, California as it follows a mail-order bride, Juniper, her young daughter, and her few friends who remain in the ruins of a disintegrating ghost town.

And I'd have to say—coffee is the only thing that'd "click" with this story. Like coffee, the painful bitterness of life is portrayed honestly and realistically. There's betrayal. There's hurt. There's loss. But amidst it all is comfort, and hope, and trust—just like a steaming cup of coffee paired with a sunrise every morning.

The Disappearances | Apple Cider

The Disappearances by Emily Bain Murphy is part historical fantasy, part magical realism, part mystery. In other words, it's an atmospheric story with a haunting, mysteriously sinister feel to it—and one that I absolutely love. While it is YA, there are some lovely themes below the surface as we follow Aila Quinn as she attempts to unearth a town's curse that may be linked to the death of her secretive mother.

This book is golden, elusive, and sweet, while at the same time being atmospheric and sinister. So hence the reason I've decided to pair this one with apple cider!

The Lost Girl of Astor Street | Ginger Ale

Set in the dark underbelly of Chicago, The Lost Girl of Astor Street is a suspenseful mystery that follows the main character, Piper Sail, who embarks on a search for her lost best friend—and unearths a dark web of secrets and corruption while she's at it. This book definitely has more slightly darker tones than the previous books, but the author still manages to weave Christianity in a subtle, not overpowering way. I was hooked on this one from the very first page, and I pretty much read it in one sitting.

This one is paired with ginger ale because our protagonist is both spicy and sweet. Piper Sail is sassy, fiercely loyal, and determined to do what's right regardless of the costs or how dangerous the situation.

Pax | Hot Chocolate

Pax is one of my all-time favorite middle-grade stories. As some of you from my mailing list know, this story was what ignited my love for soulful stories. But not only that—this book is literally perfect for autumn. Just look at the cover. 😌

Anyway. Pax follows a boy as he searches for his pet fox after the war around them tears them apart. A sweet, autumny story filled with valuable, heartfelt lessons and a bittersweet ending that would make for a perfect read-aloud. Throughout parts of Pax, I just feel like giving Peter a giant steaming mug of hot chocolate and telling him it'll be okay even when it's obviously not, so ... yes, it's purely subjective.

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe | Chai

I practically grew up on The Chronicles of Narnia, so it'd be crazy not to include it in this post. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe follows the Pevensie siblings through a wardrobe into a world of Narnia, a place completely frozen and under the heavy hand of a cruel Queen. To me, this book is seriously nostalgic while also being thought-provoking. It was written by C. S. Lewis, after all. ;)

To me, this is the type of book that'd pair pretty well with the symphony of spices in chai. It's warm and comforting while also being sweet and adventurous.

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Now it's your turn!

What are your favorite autumn reads paired with beverages? What is one season (if any) that you absolutely love and can't live without? Have you read any of the books mentioned in the post? What did you think of them?

Let me know in the comments below!

~Em ✨ | E. C. Colton

P. S. Comment below if you got the subtle, unintentional lyric reference in this post. 😉