A Good Book for Colder Days

As the days draw in and we begin to retreat indoors, few things feel lovelier than settling into a quiet corner with a good book. To mark the start of the season, we turned to someone who captures its beauty so naturally, photographer and content creator Polly Florence.

Known for her softly lit imagery and thoughtful musings on home, travel and the gentle rhythm of everyday life, Polly’s world feels like an exhale. A lifelong reader, she finds comfort and inspiration in the pages of a good story. Here, she shares six books that feel just right for this time of year.

The Secret History, Donna Tartt

A book that still feels so vivid in my mind years after I first read it, The Secret History by Donna Tartt is, like the others on this list, best described as atmospheric. It’s a beautifully written novel set at a small college in Vermont, following a group of six Classics students. The story has a haunting quality, heightened by its autumn and winter setting.

Along with the cosy, academic backdrop, the themes of elitism, beauty and mystery make it an immersive read — one that will keep you captivated on a quiet evening as the nights draw in.

There is nothing quite like the world of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. It was one of the first classics I chose to read for myself, rather than as school reading, and it remains a firm favourite. It surprised me in the best possible way; I thought I knew what to expect from all the adaptations I’d seen, but the real story is so much richer.

It follows the scientist Victor Frankenstein and the creature he creates. Themes of grief, alienation and humanity run throughout, blending gothic literature with early science fiction. It’s completely absorbing and perfectly suited to a grey November day

The Shadow of the Wind is one of those books that stays with you long after you’ve finished it. As soon as I reread the first few lines, I’m drawn straight back into its world. If I could describe it in one word, it would be atmospheric — the mood and tone capture you from the first page.

It tells the story of Daniel, who becomes entangled in the secrets of post-war Barcelona and the mysterious author Julián Carax. It’s best read without knowing too much in advance. The sense of mystery pairs perfectly with a dark, rainy autumn day

Rebecca, Daphne du Maurier

Rebecca feels like a book made for a stormy autumn evening. Set in a gothic mansion on the Cornish coast, it tells the story of a young woman who marries an older widower and moves to his home, Manderley, where all is not quite as it seems.

I still think about this novel often — it has truly stayed with me. Daphne du Maurier created such vivid, complex characters and a hauntingly beautiful story that draws you in from the very first line.

The Hound of the Baskervilles, Arthur Conan Doyle

Another classic that perfectly suits the season is The Hound of the Baskervilles. Set across Victorian London and the wilds of Dartmoor, it follows Sherlock Holmes as he investigates the legend of a mysterious hound said to haunt the Baskerville family.

Even if you know the outline, it’s a story best experienced as you read. Doyle’s descriptions of autumnal landscapes are beautiful, and the eerie Dartmoor setting is unforgettable — ideal for anyone craving a moody mystery with a cosy, old-fashioned twist.

Finally, a book I return to every autumn: The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. It’s a story of dreamers, of a circus that appears only at night, and of a duel between two young magicians in the late nineteenth century.

Much of it takes place in the autumn months, and the writing is so richly descriptive that it feels like stepping into another world. You can almost feel the chill of the night air and smell the hot chocolate as you wander through the magical circus. If you’re looking for something cosy and enchanting with a hint of mystery, The Night Circus is a perfect choice.