Sometimes you run across a book that just feels like fall, know what I mean? Whether the action (all or part) takes place in autumn or not, there is just an undercurrent of crunchy leaves, bluebird skies, wood smoke and chill breezes. These are the kind of books that make me want to breathe deeply to take in those autumnal smells, then curl up beneath a cozy blanket, wrap my hands around a steaming cup of spiced tea, and read the afternoon away.

The Eagle of the Ninth, first book in Rosemary Sutcliff‘s classic Dolphin Ring Cycle about ancient Britain, has that fall feeling. Although the action follows hero Marcus Flavius Aquila throughout the seasons of the year, the pages themselves seem to be pervaded by the scent of smoke from Uncle Aquila’s fire, or the chilly breeze ruffling northern fields as Marcus sets out on his quest to recover the lost Eagle from his father’s old Roman Legion. It’s the type of book that pulls you into the story and holds you steadfast – perfect for reading on a cold night.

I’m not sure what it is about Persuasion that feels so perfectly for fall. Perhaps it’s because it is Jane Austen‘s final completed novel; that melancholy feeling of knowing that – although she was only 40 years old when she finished the novel, she was in the late autumn of her life. Or perhaps it’s the fact that the novel opens in fall and contains classic descriptions of the season – setting the tone for its deeper and slightly darker tone. In any event, it’s a relatively common experience to feel that pull toward Persuasion when the leaves begin to drop.

For those afternoons when you just want to curl up with something beautiful, but you don’t have the energy for a long classic, look to The Lost Spells, follow-up to Robert MacFarlane and Jackie Morris‘s gorgeous The Lost Words. Here you’ll find MacFarlane’s stunning poetry featuring British fauna (like the red fox and the goldfinch) accompanied by Morris’s mesmerizing art. Both the subject matter of the poems, and the deep navy, russet, and burnished gold (and more) colors of the art cry out to be read out in the brisk air.

What books call to you in the darkening days of fall?