9 Cozy Paranormal Romances to Curl Up With This Fall
Fall is in full swing, and that means it is time for some of the best things in the world: knit sweaters, hot drinks, scented candles, and being cozy. Please name a better word in the English language. We would wait but we already know you can’t. Fall is about being comfortable, and as we embrace chillier weather, we start thinking about our favorite comfort reads to get into the spirit of the season.
Even though Halloween is over, it’s still spooky season until winter arrives. Swooon has compiled a list of cozy witchy and/or paranormal romances that will help you feel at your most autumn. So grab that fluffy blanket and your favorite warm beverage and queue up your TBR list because these are the books we recommend for a cozy spooky reading session this fall.
Divine Rivals
Rebecca Ross
Divine Rivals may be one of the most magical books you read this year. It’s set against the backdrop of two ex-lover gods now at war and the humans taking up arms for both sides. Iris Winnow scores a job at the local paper to help support her family after her brother joins the war effort, but is constantly vexed by her fellow journalist Roman Kitt who is also vying for the columnist promotion. Iris deals with the stress by writing letters to her brother on her typewriter and slipping them beneath the wardrobe where they immediately disappear. When someone unexpectedly writes back saying they’ve received Iris’ letters but are not her brother, a connection is formed that carries her to the front lines of the war and to being the person who may finally have the power to stop the bloodshed. It feels like a World War I literary fic, but Ross’ prose is so beautiful and engaging you won’t be able to put the book down.
The Dead Romantics
Ashley Poston
Florence Day is a romance ghostwriter who finds the job impossible after a catastrophic breakup with the man she thought was the love of her life. Then a family emergency forces her home just as her new editor demands she still meet her quickly approaching deadline. To make matters worse, when Florence finally gets home she finds the ghost of her now dead editor haunting the local funeral parlor. Together, the two must figure out his unfinished business and maybe rekindle Florence’s love of love along the way. It’s grumpy/sunshine and Ashley Poston shows off her skill at writing swoony banter scenes. These are ghosts you definitely won’t mind hanging out with.
Bride
Ali Hazelwood
Ali Hazelwood is famous for her woman in STEM romances, and Bride is her first trip into the paranormal world – and it’s her best yet. Misery Lark is the daughter of the most powerful Vampyre councilman and betrothed to the Were Alpha Lowe Moreland. The marriage may be the key to uniting a divided kingdom of supernaturals and humans, but as Misery quickly learns in the Were camp, things are far more complicated than she ever knew. In true Ali Hazelwood fashion, it is a he-falls-first romance, but the world is so fascinating and the banter between Misery and Lowe is god-tier. It is her most fun romance so far and a great entry-level book to deeper paranormal romances.
Rules for Ghosting
Shelly Jay Shore
Rules for Ghosting is also for those not afraid to get a bit emotional during their comfort reads. Ezra Friedman can see ghosts, which would be pretty cool if his family didn’t own a funeral home. Ghosts are a frequent part of his life, which has made Ezra reluctant to be around the family business, despite his crush on Jonathan who volunteers there regularly. His tie to Jonathan becomes even more complicated when Ezra starts seeing the ghost of Jonathan’s dead husband, Ben. To make things worse, Ben is the first ghost who can talk to Ezra, breaking all the rules Ezra has constructed to keep himself safe from the horrors of his youth. As Ezra spends more time with Jonathan, and Ben, he learns they are more connected than he ever knew, and Ben may be the key to putting everything in Ezra’s life back together.
Casket Case
Lauren Evans
If witches are less your thing but you don’t mind a death-tinged romance, Casket Case is worth investigating. Nora Clanton was convinced she would never return to her tiny hometown of Rabbittown, Alabama, but when both her parents die suddenly in a car accident, she’s forced to return and take over their casket-selling business. She’s resigned to a quiet life surrounded by coffins until Garrett Bishop shows up at the shop out of the blue. The handsome stranger ignites something in Nora that she thought was long dead, but Garrett is carrying a secret that will alter Nora’s entire world. This book is for anyone who has had to battle grief and needs help seeing light at the end of a dark tunnel.
The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches
Sangu Mandanna
If you are looking for a witchy romance that feels like a giant hug, then The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches needs to be your first stop on this list. It’s a grumpy sunshine romance that centers on Mika Moon, a talented witch looking for connection after a life of solitude. She finds more than she bargained for when she responds to an unexpected message asking if she’d be interested in tutoring three orphaned witches. Mika must decide if she wants to take on tutoring the powerful young witches at the risk of exposing the entire magical community, and she can’t tell if the surly, handsome librarian who also looks after the girls belongs in the pro or con column. It’s such a heartwarming book about accepting yourself and found family, and, of course, being brave enough to take the leap into love. It is the bubbliest of romances but also super witchy – the best of both worlds.
Apprentice to the Villain
Hannah Nicole Maehrer
Forgive us, we are recommending another sequel. Apprentice to the Villain is the follow up to Hannah Nicole Maehrer’s debut novel Assistant to the Villain, both of which take place in a fairy tale world where Evie Sage is relieved and terrified to find herself employed as the assistant to the evil villain. She’s happy to have the paycheck and an endless supply of vanilla candies, but the dead bodies and torture do take some getting used to. The first book is very much like The Office meets Once Upon a Time, but it also has far more summery vibes compared to the second book. Maehrer has also grown a lot a writer between the two novels. Apprentice is more enticing, spicier, and darker than its predecessor and fits right in with the fall vibe. Oh, and did we mention the villain’s real name is Trystan Maverine? If that doesn’t scream delicious dark hero MMC, we don’t know what to tell you.
The Kiss Curse
Erin Sterling
If you want something just like The Ex Hex but slightly different, head over to Book 2, The Kiss Curse. This book centers on Vivi’s cousin Gwyn Jones, who is very happy running her little witchy shop in Graves Glen with her mom and cousin. That is, until Wells Penhallow shows up and sets up shop directly across the street. It’s enemies to lovers, but add in some magic and fated kisses. Can these two get over themselves and face the latest threat to Graves Glen before it’s too late? If you loved the witchy but fluffy vibes of The Ex Hex, The Kiss Curse is also going to be right up your alley.
The Ex Hex
Erin Sterling
We’re starting off with a one-two punch from Erin Sterling (which is the pen name for Rachel Hawkins), starting with The Ex Hex. This is the first book in Sterling’s Ex Hex duology, but is also a standalone story (meaning no big cliffhanger at the end). Vivienne Jones, better known to her friends as Vivi, nursed her broken heart nine years ago with sad music, a lot of vodka, and an accidental curse on her no-good boyfriend. When Rhys Penhallow returns to town almost a decade later, Vivi realizes her hex may have done more than give Rhys a few bad days. The two need to work together to undo the damage and save the town, but can they focus when old feelings haven’t really been resolved? The Ex Hex is for anyone who wishes they could channel the love they feel watching Practical Magicinto their reading experience.
