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10 best books to read this fall, according to Boston.com readers
“It’s one of my favorite reads of the year!”
Fall brings with it a whole new season of books to enjoy, from skin-crawling horror, to high-octane sports novels, to eye-opening nonfiction, and more.
When we asked Boston.com readers what books they are enjoying this fall, we heard from over a dozen readers.
They recommended books across genres: from memoir, to historical fiction, to mystery, and everything in between.
Here are the books Boston.com readers say they’re loving this season.
Responses have been lightly edited for grammar and clarity.
Readers share the books they’re reading this fall 2025
“107 Days” by Kamala Harris
“Harris’s recollection of the events that led up to the November 2024 election presents a first-person account of the strategies and infighting that resulted in her loss. Reading this book will help voters evaluate her ability to run successfully for another political office. This easy-to-read, 304 page work is perfect for those transitioning from the leisurely outdoor activities of summer to a back-to-the-office commute in the fall.” – Laurie, Braintree
“Coming Up Short” by Robert Reich
“Incredibly informative read from the former Secretary of Labor under Bill Clinton. As a person who doesn’t really understand economics, which I’m going to guess most people don’t, it’s been made clear to me how and why income inequality has led to polarization in our society. It’s a personal book, often funny, and absolutely maddening to find ourselves at this place in history. I wish more people listened to Bob Reich and believed in the Common Good.” – Marion C., Cambridge
“End Zone” by Don DeLillo
“Football, humor and irony.” – Gwen G., Brookline
“Everything is Tuberculosis” by John Green
“With the disturbing trend in our country to discount medical research for many hard-to-treat diseases, Green’s book offers a look at how one of the world’s most deadly diseases has been cured (the tragedy is that many countries can’t afford the cost of the most efficient drugs to sustain treatment).
Green focuses on Henry, a boy from Sierra Leone and follows his story throughout the book. When we meet Henry, he looks like a seven-year-old boy but is actually seventeen due to malnutrition and wasting from contracting TB. This book serves as a wake-up call for the need to continue bringing life-saving care on a global scale and reviving scientific and medical research for everything from cancer to Parkinson’s disease. An interesting read! When I’m not dipping into nonfiction, I enjoy fiction and poetry at any time of year.” – Robin S., Mashpee
“How To Stand Up To A Dictator” by Maria Ressa
“Not only reading it, but teaching two college courses based on this timely and necessary text. I chose this title because I don’t feel like I have the luxury to kick back and go leaf peeping this season. Our First Amendment rights are being challenged every day. Americans must educate themselves about social media’s role in the dismantling of democracy. Other great titles for this fall of democracy reading: include ‘On Tyranny,’ ‘Democracy Awakening,’ ‘Maus’, the US Constitution. If you have the privilege to be reading for pleasure this autumn – enjoy it. You may not have the privilege next year.” – Kelly H., East Boston
“James” by Percival Everett
“Heard good things about it, and was recommended by a trusted book seller! Didn’t disappoint! Also something by Stephen King … always good for a dark and stormy night!” – Sue C., Jamaica Plain
“Mansfield Park” by Jane Austen
“This is a Cinderella story, plus. It’s a window into the lives of the very rich and privileged and the ways they exercise their power. There’s the seduction of wealth — why marry poor, when you can marry rich? Themes are relevant today, as is the example of what it takes to develop and hold on to values of fairness, authenticity, and kindness under pressure.” – Anna, Boston
“My Friends” by Fredrik Backman
“It looked like a feel-good, heartwarming story, and it sure was! I highly recommend it — it’s one of my favorite reads of the year!” — Leslie L., Winchester
“The Boys in the Light” by Nina Willner
“I love a good piece of nonfiction that reads like a novel (think ‘The Boys and the Boat’ or ‘Unbroken’ come to mind). Set during the horrors of WWII, ‘The Boys in the Light’ is an inspiring read that shows both unbridled cruelty and hatred but also altruism of the highest order. As the days grow darker in the fall, this is a great tonic against the gloom. It is at once a history lesson and a lesson in human nature that will warm your heart.” – Doug A., Metrowest
“We Are All Guilty Here” by Karin Slaughter
“Two teenage girls are kidnapped. A deputy tries to find them before they are killed.” — Mary C., Fairview Park, Ohio
Boston.com occasionally interacts with readers by conducting informal polls and surveys. These results should be read as an unscientific gauge of readers’ opinion.
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