Four books for fall

I, like so many people, love fall. Maybe because I have a fall birthday, maybe because I grew up in the Midwest (where fall is lovely and perfect). Regardless, it's probably my favorite time of year, and I love many things about it: the weather, the smell in the air, the color of the leaves (when I'm able to see them), pumpkins, apples, cinnamon, spice, back-to-school, football, fires, boots and scarves and sweaters (not so much in South Texas, of course, but I've been known to rock boots, short sleeves, a skirt and a scarf when I can. It's all about adapting fall traditions).

Fall is the beginning of the "cozy" seasons: the days are shorter, the air cooler, and it's perfect for curling up with stories. Here are some good stories for fall:

1. Anne of the Island and Anne of Windy Poplars, by L.M. Montgomery
Basically, I think the Anne of Green Gables books are perfect for any time of year, but these two books in the series are especially well-suited to fall, because they both have a school setting. Anne of the Island being Anne's college years, and Windy Poplars telling the story of her years teaching at a private girls' school while Gilbert finishes medical school.

2. Dairy Queen, by Catherine Gilbert Murdock
Two things make this a perfect fall book in my mind: the Midwest and football. Dairy Queen is the first of a fantastic trilogy about D.J. Schwenk, the daughter of a dairy farmer, the sister of two all-star football players, and a darn good athlete on her own. It's part coming of age story, part romance, part sports story, and 100 percent fantastic.

3. Shiver, by Maggie Stiefvater
This is the first book in Stiefvater's Mercy Falls trilogy (well, kind of a quartet now). It's set in the Midwest, and cold weather is practically a character. It's a supernatural teenage romance, which isnj't for everyone, but Stiefvater is a fantastic, lyrical writer. A secondary fall recommendation would be The Scorpio Races, with its haunting tone and vaguely British Isles setting.

4. Chime, by Franny Billingsley
This surreal book has witches, magic, sisters, family, romance, and a moody atmosphere that is also perfect for reading by firelight (or just turn the lights down low if you're climate is too hot for a fire 364 days out of the year). You can check out my expanded thoughts here.