Magical realism books for Fall
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Do you ever find yourself wishing for a touch of enchantment, a subtle magic to awaken the world around you? There’s no better way to experience this gentle wonder than by losing yourself in a truly spellbinding book. And what could be better for this than a magical realism book?
What is magical realism?
Magical realism is a genre where the fantastical is woven seamlessly into our familiar, everyday reality. Unlike traditional fantasy, you won't find dragons, elaborate magical systems, or entirely new dimensions here. Instead, imagine a quiet suburban town where a bakery's cakes can evoke forgotten memories; where a character can hear the whispers of ancient trees; or where a seemingly ordinary family’s heirlooms possess strange magical powers. The magic isn't questioned by the characters; it's simply a fact of their existence, often reflecting profound truths about humanity, culture, or the world around us. It's about finding the extraordinary in the ordinary, making the impossible feel utterly real, and inviting you to see the world through a lens of gentle, enchanting wonder.
2025 & 2026 magical realism book suggestions
The past two years have been fruitful in terms of magical realism novels, and I’m thrilled to share these books below that will whisk you away from the mundane, each with their own particular kind of magic. So prepare your coziest blanket and warmest mug and remember, these aren't just books; they're invitations to step into worlds where the impossible feels utterly real and deeply personal.
Enjoy picking your next read!
Bailey returns to her grandmother’s mysterious Southern home, where old secrets, restless ghosts, and a decades-old love story reveal a family legacy she never understood.
Name a most anticipated book of summer by People, Goodreads, SheReads, Buzzfeed and Souther Living
Three strangers walk into a mysterious Time Travel Agency hoping for second chances but changing the past may cost far more than any of them imagined.
From the celebrated author of As Long as the Lemon Tree Grows
Every woman in Jihad’s family carries a magical gift tied to color. After tragedy leaves hers shattered, one sketchbook becomes her only way back to herself.
A retelling of the Cinderella tale from the bestselling author of A Forgery of Fate
A young woman with a mysterious gift navigates war, family secrets, and first love after losing the bracelet meant to protect her from a generations-old curse.
A romance reader lands inside her favorite author's newest book—only to discover it's a thriller, and the charming hero is trying to kill her.
Didion never expected to see her childhood friends again. She definitely didn't expect to be trapped in a time loop forcing them to rewrite the past together.
From Reese’s Book Club LitUp Fellow Natalie Messier
Joey dies after a disastrous dinner party and wakes up eighteen again, determined to win back her longtime crush.
After a birthday wish, Ruby wakes up inside her seventh-grade M.A.S.H. game where her future includes a mansion, roller disco, and her brother's infuriating best friend.
From Alice Hoffman, the bestselling author of Practical Magic
At an elite women’s college in the 1950s, two students uncover a centuries-old sisterhood of witches. But someone is targeting its members, and history is repeating itself.
Read my review
From the bestselling author of Sounds Like Love and The Seven Year Slip
Sophie arrives at a grand coastal estate expecting a fresh start. She doesn’t expect a magical garden or the mysterious man trapped inside it.
Read with Jenna June 2026 pick
Guinevere grew up as both a real girl and the heroine of her mother’s bestselling fantasy series, but the truth of her childhood is far darker than the books ever revealed.
The sixth book in the multi-million-copy bestselling Before the Coffee Gets Cold series
In a quiet Tokyo café, four strangers get one brief chance to revisit the people they’ve lost—if they return before the coffee turns cold.
Grace thought she’d lost herself years ago. Then she returns to the beach town where all her former selves are waiting.
When betrayal leads Nora, Daisy, and Soraya into a magical apothecary, revenge is tempting—but reclaiming their power and finding new love is even sweeter.
Read with Jenna February 2026 pick
From the author of YA Reese Pick Throwback
Psychic matchmaker Cassia knows her destined soulmate—but falls for Ellis, a younger client who isn’t fated, forcing her to question her family’s magic and the future she was promised.
GMA book club September 2025 pick
Lisavet Levy, lost in a library of memories, battles government agents altering history. Years later, Amelia Duquesne seeks her uncle's book there, discovering the past isn't what it seems.
AMAZON
In an abandoned house, Serin discovers a ticket granting access to the Rainfall Market, where she and her magical cat companion Issha explore enchanting realms to redefine her life within a week—or risk disappearing.
AMAZON
Josephine, grieving her husband, stumbles upon her great-grandma's old house and wishes she'd never been born. Restoring it sends her back to a 1920s party, where her fate hangs in balance.
AMAZON
From the national bestselling author of The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches
Witch Sera Swan runs an enchanted inn in Lancashire but recently lost her powers. As she works to get her magical powers—and life—back on track, she welcomes guest Luke Larsen, a handsome and icy magical historian who has absolutely no interest in getting involved in the madcap goings-on of the inn.
After fleeing her cheating husband, Bea discovers she's a powerful witch with a secret family. When her niece vanishes, she must harness her magic and defy a death prophecy to save her.
AMAZON
From the bestselling author of Reese's Book Club Pick Cassandra in Reverse
Margot experiences visions revealing her future with single-dad Henry. Realizing she cannot alter these pre-seen events, she must decide how to live and love fully.
AMAZON
A pen pal letter connects Chloe and Oliver. Years later, her yellow origami roses blanket NYC. One rose finds him, reigniting their unique bond.
AMAZON
From bestselling author of The Book of Doors
Magda investigates a new artifact for a secret society. Attacked by a killer, she uncovers the Society's deceptive mission and her family's hidden magical legacy.
AMAZON
Sisters Kennedy and Emma inherit a spooky trailer where a witch grants them three wishes: Kennedy wants money, Emma wants her ex. Halloween magic reveals family secrets and their true desires.
AMAZON
An instant bestseller
A night of drinking lands Alexis in the wrong year, where her younger self, old regrets, and unexpected opportunities collide with hilarious consequences.
AMAZON
Anita's quiet life in Ebey's End is upended when orphaned July arrives, bringing uncanny insights to the Island Grocery. Tiny gifts spark big changes, revealing secrets and forcing the quirky town to embrace forgiveness and family.
AMAZON
Seoul au pairs make wishes at a magical waterfall. Lydia finds fame, Jenny a forbidden romance, and Selene clues to her past. But when magic backfires, they are forced to choose between their wishes and their unexpected bond.
AMAZON
JUNE 2025 REESE’S BOOK CLUB PICK
Monica, a lonely college freshman, seeks to reconnect with her grandmother Yun and her lost cousin, uncovering magical family secrets and memories woven through Yun’s past in wartime Shanghai.
AMAZON
Meg Bryan, a famous actress hiding her true self, finds herself in an alternate Irish life where her best friend Aimee is alive.
AMAZON
Looking for more book suggestions?
Carter is getting married, Libby is heartbroken, and the only person who can help her break the Coldwell family curse is Carter’s handsome ghost cousin, Trip.
AMAZON
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