Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë – Isabel Dempsey (arts editor)

Okay yes, it’s a bit of a pretentious choice but I’m an English student so cut me some slack. Besides, with the anticipation for the start of university, the sombre weather, and the reintroduction of knitwear into my wardrobe, when else am I meant to romanticise my degree as some dark academia pursuit? ‘Jane Eyre’ has genuinely always been one of my favourite books, and what says autumn better than cloudy Yorkshire moors, beautiful old manor houses, and (spoiler) crazed ex-wives locked away in an attic? There’s just something so comforting in the familiarity that this dark and moody classic provides me. Horribly (and anti-feministly) I find myself indulging in its beautifully toxic romance every time, greedily eating up all the angst and turmoil it provides.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky – Jack Heath (arts writer)

I’ve found that autumn means a lot of different things to me as it progresses. Much like the way the leaves of Boston Ivy slowly burn from green to red, I find myself growing more introspective, burrowing deeper into warmth and books against the dark. For that, The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a perfect comfort book – one that would be well-thumbed if it wasn’t digital! A classic American coming-of-age novel, its concern with the troubled passage into adulthood is mirrored by the movement of the seasons – shifting through autumn to winter, back to summer, with the autumnal scenes especially made up of that particular brand of teenage poignancy. I first read it when I was 12, and I try to read it every year, re-engaging my friendship with the main character, the lessons that taught me so much, and its often-haunting beauty.

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle – Robert Bell (arts writer)

A classic, but definitely one worth revisiting. I find something very comforting about returning to these familiar stories told in their original form. These books are definitely a great choice for anyone who likes the challenge of trying to guess the who-did-it before the big reveal (although even I must admit that Doyle’s writing can make this quite an easy challenge at times!).

Cannery row by John Steinbeck - Hannah Gillott (magazine editor)

A short story is the perfect read for a cold autumn evening, enveloped in warm blankets and the comfort of another world. Cannery row paints a picture of Montorey, California in the midst of the Great Depression, and explores the beauty of camaraderie at a time of immense struggle. The book is a tactile expression of Steinbeck's nostalgia, transporting you to a lost town, lined with canneries and a rare 'quality of light'.

Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie - Sophie Macdonald (magazine editor)

Purple Hibiscus is a coming-of-age story told through Kambili's impressionable eyes. This is a story about a young girl navigating both political life in postcolonial Nigeria and the disintegration of her family. She is also initially shy and introverted, but, once her veil of childish naivety lifts, Kambili tells a story that is authentic and hers. Purple Hibiscus is a story about female discursivity and empowerment, and it is also the perfect gripping book for a rainy day.