Many readers enjoy picking up a festive book, especially during the upcoming holiday season. Mia Powell (‘24) is one of these people who will be reading holiday related books.

   “I plan on reading “The Secret History” again, it’s one of my favorites. It really just reminds me of academic fall,” Powell said.

   Dr. Rachel Herney (FAC) is another avid reader that is reading to get into the fall mood. She runs the school book clubs, and they just recently finished one of their fall reads.

   “So far I have read the “London Seance Society,” and that was pretty good. I also read [the book clubs] fall choice for October, which is “No Exit,” and that was really good. I read that in like two days. Now I’m reading the “Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires,” which is so funny so far,” Dr. Herney said.

   Powell would prefer to read a festive book rather than watching a holiday movie.

   “It’s something that I go to just because I love reading more than I like watching movies, because I can visualize it better. But I love it, it’s my thing,” Powell said.

   To add to the overall experience, Powell also annotates her books.

   “I annotate very important parts or points that make me smile or giggle but It’s really just things that I want to go back and read again,” Powell said.

   Some readers may not have a certain book that they read during the fall, but they stick with the fall themes.

   “I don’t have one particular [book] that I read in the fall. I just tried to stick to anything that’s like horror or thriller just to kind of get you in the mood for Halloween. Usually, I will throw in a Stephen King short story here and there,” Dr. Herney (FAC) said.

   Kaelyn Rosa (‘24) is another student who is using seasonal books to get into the festive mood.

   “Well, at the moment I’m reading American Psycho, and that’s like my first fall book that I’m starting to read. I have to go book shopping to find more fall books,” Rosa said.

   Rosa described why she likes reading seasonal books during this time of year.

   “It’s just cozy to do whenever I’m just cozying up in my room, and it has little Christmas lights around it,” Rosa said.

   With many new books coming out during the fall, like Stephen King’s now book “Holly,” Dr. Herney is ready to read the next book in one of the series she has started.

   “The next book that I’m gonna read is the second book to “Fourth Wing.” It’s coming out in November. So, I should be finishing my slaying vampires book by the end of this month. I have to of course reread “Fourth Wing” to just refresh myself and then I’ll be reading book two from Rebecca Yarros, so I’m very excited,” Dr. Herney said.

   Dr. Herney gave some recommendations of some authors that she really likes, ranging from different genres like fantasy to YA.

   “Sarah J. Maas is amazing. I started with the Throne of Glass series, and was hooked. I also really like Jodi Picoult as an author. She’s more of a realistic fiction and she always has some sort of court case or something going on within her stories. Stephanie Meyer is a great author too, so anything by her. I know I’m an adult, but I’m really into YA, because it’s an escape,” Dr. Herney said.

   With many fall books coming out this season, readers continue to get into the festive mood by cozying up with a new book.