As Georgia begins to tease us with cooler mornings and evenings, we’re starting to crave the cozy, the pumpkin spice, the blankets and reading. I will forever be thankful to my friend Maggie for urging me to get into Dramione fanfiction. It has truly reignited my love of fiction. Dark, with heavy themes, and morally grey men, yes. But fiction none-the-less. And now that Manacled and The Auction have been reworked into their own universes and are now/becoming traditionally published pieces… I am ready to be wrecked all over again. Here are my top picks for new books to be read before the end of the year.

✨ Alchemised by SenLinYu
This is the book I’ve been waiting for. Honestly, it feels surreal that it’s finally here after all the anticipation. One week from today I will have a signed copy of Alchemised in my hands. And let’s face it, I will probably be crying already reading it.  I’m ready to sink into its dark magic and let it swallow me whole. Manacled was the first Dramione fanfic I read. It took me 44 hours and I read it like it was my full time job. The story haunts you, months later. The deep characters and plot SenLinYu is able to create, I just know this book is going to be perfection.

🌹 Rose in Chains by Julie Soto
The next dark AU fanfic I read was The Auction. And, like Manacled but different, this book was a masterpiece. And that’s why I’m looking forward to this one. Rose in Chains is a reworking of The Auction, but it will be more, as this is actually the first of a trilogy. I’m curious to see how it translates into this new form, and I already know I’ll feel the ache of familiarity when I open it. I have it on my shelf right now, but I have been holding off for just the right time to jump in.

☀️ Awake by Jen Hatmaker
I have always loved reading the words of Jen Hatmaker. She comes right off the page feeling like a wise friend. Sharing the lessons she learns along the way. For the Love, Seven. I always had my pen handy to underline and take notes. I am so excited to read her memoir.

🎨 Becoming an Artist by Scott Christian
This one feels like a mirror I’ve been avoiding but also longing for. It’s about failure, creative voice, and joy in the process. All themes I’ve been working through and thinking about in my own life with setting goals and starting back up with my own creativity.

So that’s part of my Fall TBR. A little magic, a little truth-telling, and a reminder that making art is supposed to be joyful, even when it’s hard. If I can finish the year with these stories shaping me, I’ll consider it time well spent.

What about you? What are you reading to close out the year?