5 Fall Book Recs By Female Authors For Your TBR List!

As the days grow shorter and colder, now is the perfect time to curl up with a good book. Here are 5 faves that speak to this moment, each offering its own blend of emotional depth, cultural insight, and timeless reflection!

1. The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy 

Roy’s debut novel is a lush, heartbreaking portrait of memory, caste, and forbidden love set in 1960s Kerala, India. Told through a non-linear narrative that shifts between past and present, Roy explores how small events can ripple into profound and enduring effects. Her prose feels almost cinematic – each sentence is vivid and deliberate. Reading it now, amid global conversations about inequality and inherited trauma, reminds us how personal stories can echo larger systems of power and history. 

2. Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler

Set in a dystopian 2024 California ravaged by climate change and extreme inequality, Butler’s Parable of the Sower follows a young woman as she struggles to survive amid societal collapse and forms a new belief system rooted in adaptability. Rereading it today feels eerily relevant, a reflection of our own fears and hopes in the face of uncertainty. 

3. Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri 

Lahiri's collection of 8 short stories delves into the lives of Indian immigrants and their families, exploring themes of cultural identity, family ties, and the nuances and complexities of human relationships. Lahiri’s writing captures the ache of assimilation with subtlety and grace. For readers reflecting on belonging – whether geographic, cultural, or emotional – her stories offer both solace and understanding. 

4. Excuse Me by Liana Finck

Finck’s graphic essays blend humor and vulnerability, tackling creativity, identity, and the chaos of modern life with sharp wit. Her line drawings feel spontaneous yet deeply considered – a perfect read for anyone craving levity that still makes you think.

5. I Want To Die But I Want To Eat Tteokbokki by Baek Sehee, translated by Anton Hur 

This Korean memoir-in-conversation offers an intimate look at depression and the search for meaning in everyday life. Through candid dialogue with her psychiatrist, Baek reflects on the contradictions of wanting both escape and connection, comfort and change. With her recent passing, her words take on added poignancy – a lasting testament to her vulnerability, courage, and insight. Our condolences go to her loved ones and readers who found solace in her work. It’s a tender, resonant read for a month that often lingers between melancholy and renewal. 

Together, these books invite readers to slow down, reflect, and rediscover small joys amid uncertainty – a fitting ritual for Fall. Happy reading!