As the leaves start to change colors and the nights turn cool and rainy, there’s nothing better than to curl up under the covers with a warm cup of hot chocolate and a good book. Here are the top 5 books you should read this fall:

“Cloud Cuckoo Land” by Anthony Doerr

This book takes YA fiction to another level. Doerr connects five different characters through time and space and lets the reader observe their tragedies, their comedies, their hardships and their good fortunes. This book can be confusing at first, but watching the pieces fall into place and figuring out how these stories fit together is satisfying. This is a perfect read for a cold October weekend. 

“Of Women and Salt” by Gabriela Garcia

This book also weaves stories and characters together through time and space, telling the stories of Hispanic women in snapshots. It’s dramatic and violently emotional at points, but is a fair commentary about the stresses of raising children as an immigrant woman. As Garcia’s debut novel, this book is engaging, captivating and at 207 pages, is a book you can read in one sitting. 

“If It Bleeds” by Stephen King 

October is the perfect time for something spooky and suspenseful, and this book provides just that. “If It Bleeds” is a collection of four novellas by King, spanning four different (but equally eerie) topics. Taking the reader through creepy old cabins in the woods, the trauma of a school bombing and the fear of death, this book is representative of King’s classic take on horror, and is sure to keep you up all night. Whether you’re a long-time fan of horror or just dipping your toes in, this is a good place to start.

“The Nakano Thrift Shop” by Hiromi Kawakami

Set in the bustling city of Tokyo, Japan, this story follows an ambling romantic plot between two thrift shop employees. As the seasons go by and the characters get older, the thrift shop remains a second home to them. With a dash of whimsy and a unique charm, “The Nakano Thrift Shop” feels like a warm cup of tea — the story is a nice slow burn, and it’s perfect on a rainy fall night. 

“Eat A Peach” by David Chang

Divided into two parts, this book first recalls Chang’s most important anecdotes up until his first restaurant opening in 2004. Despite the title, this memoir features stories and memories that are anything but peachy. “Eat A Peach” is raw and transparent as Chang reflects on the flaws of the restaurant business and fighting his own demons in order to be successful.