Westerly Sun Column | Fall is Officially Taking Over New England

The first signs of fall have arrived, and I’m not referring to the slight chill in the morning air. You can always tell that autumn is around the corner when the candy corn, Mallomars, and pumpkin-flavored everything hits the shelves. I was at Stop and Shop the other day and passed by numerous fall-themed treats, from Pumpkin Spice English Muffins to Pumpkin Pie Hummus. I can’t really hate on it, considering the reason I was at Stop and Shop in the first place was to buy Mallomars. As fall is officially taking over stores, it only seems right that the library follows suit and starts pushing all of our autumnal goods!

Fall is all about cozy vibes, like wool sweaters and warm cider, so it stands to reason that cozy books would also be popular this time of year. Culinary-themed cozy books work especially well this time of year, such as “Death by Chocolate Pumpkin Muffin” by Sarah Graves, part of her long-running “Death By Chocolate” series, and “The Pumpkin Spice Café” by Laurie Gilmore, a small-town romance revolving around a coffee shop in the fall. This is not to be confused with “The Pumpkin Vice Café“ by Ellie Alexander, a small-town mystery revolving around a bakeshop in the fall. Alternately, you can find animal-themed cozies, like “Pumpkin Spice Puppy” by Laurien Berenson, a murder mystery that takes place in Connecticut in the autumn. If you’re more of a cat person, there is also “Autumn at the Cat Café” by Kathleen Fuller, a closed-door romance reminiscent of Gilmore Girls…that is, if Stars Hollow had a cat café.

Of course, there are many nonfiction books that offer more practical ways to welcome this wonderful season. Cookbooks like “Purely Pumpkin” by Allison Day and “The Pumpkin Spice Cookbook” by Heather Thomas will help fill your home with the comforting smells of fall. “Oh My Gourd!” by Jack Hallow offers more than just a great title, it’s a handbook that will guide you through everything you can do with a gourd, from using it to make a delicious fall treat, to turning it into a water bottle. We also have a large collection of knitting and crocheting books that will literally keep you warm in the coming months, such as “Cozy Knits” by Tanis Gray and “Wrapped in Crochet” by Kristin Omdahl.

If the change of season has you feeling a bit less ambitious, might I suggest wrapping yourself in a blanket with a warm beverage and an autumn-themed film? “Ghostbusters” or “Hocus Pocus” will give you a great combination of nostalgia and Halloween energy, whereas the “Halloween” or “Scream” franchises may be more gratifying for fans of horror.

All of these books and films are available through the library, so whatever your taste (literally or figuratively), the library has you covered this fall.

by Cassie Skobrak, Adult Services Librarian