With autumn foliage lining the sidewalks and temperatures dropping, we’ve reached the perfect time of year to cozy up with a mug of hot chocolate, a warm blanket, and, most importantly, a good book. During the hustle and bustle of exam season, a book can be the perfect break. Gathered here are books ranging from nonfiction to horror stories to fantasy, and books that just speak “autumn.” Here’s what Oberlin students are reading this fall.

These interviews have been edited for length and clarity.

Oluwadara Arogundade, College first-year: Genesis: Artificial Intelligence, Hope, and the Human Spirit by Henry A. Kissinger, Eric Schmidt, and Craig Mundie 

Okay, it’s kind of a heavy one. It’s called Genesis by Henry Kissinger and two other people. It’s so far very interesting. It’s about AI and its impacts on our world from a former secretary of state. I think it’s very applicable to today.

Mai Bolster, College first-year: Heartstopper by Alice Oseman

One thing that I will always come back to are the Heartstopper graphic novels. They specifically make me think of fall because of the leaves in the graphics.

Cecilia Fiorito, College fourth-year: The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco

It’s a medieval murder mystery set in an Italian monastery. Eco is mostly known for his work on theorizing anti-facism. He’s commonly given the title of the guy who defined fascism, but his fiction is equally as interesting. He’s really interested in questions of how we can know things and assign meaning. 

Oona Haskovec, College first-year: It Lasts Forever and Then It’s Over by Anne de Marcken

If you’re looking for something a little spooky, deep, and fall and Halloween vibes, there’s this book about this person who leaves the afterlife hotel and goes on this journey. There are a bunch of zombies. The writing is good and it’s not very long.

Clare Kammeier, College third-year: Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides 

It’s by the author who wrote The Virgin Suicides, and it tells a story about an intersex individual. It’s just very interesting.

Evelyn Kerstein, College second-year: Perfume: The Story of a Murderer by Patrick Süskind and The Secret History by Donna Tartt

The first one would be The Secret History, but that’s very basic. It is nice to read during the colder months. Another book, which I read when I was 13 and still think about, is called Perfume: The Story of a Murderer. I read it when I was 13 because it was Kurt Cobain’s favorite book. I don’t care about Kurt Cobain anymore, but the book is really weird and really good. 

Neilah Kessel-Belko, College first-year: Educated by Tara Westover

It’s about a girl who grows up in a strictly Mormon household who never went to school. Her life is just insane, and then she puts herself through college. It’s really cool and fun to read when starting college.

Natalia Locilento, double-degree third-year: Meeting in Positano: A Novel by Goliarda Sapienza

Currently, I’m reading a book called Meeting in Positano: A Novel for a class, and I’ve been thoroughly enjoying it. It’s like, take the unproblematic parts of Call Me By Your Name and make it lesbian. Honestly, it’s more summery if anything, but I feel like it’s a really good transition book into the fall.  

Sam Sentivan, Conservatory first-year: Lyrics and Poems: 1997-2012 by John K. Samson

I recently re-read John K. Samson’s book of lyrics and poetry that he released a few years ago. I’ve held a lot of his writing as a big inspiration on writing I do in music. He’s one of my favorite modern artists and thinkers in general. I love that book a lot.