{
  "id": 17101556,
  "title": "The Rise of the Sexy-Cozy Autumn Read",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/29/the-rise-of-the-sexy-cozy-autumn-read",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-29T17:30:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Atlantic",
    "slug": "the-atlantic",
    "url": "https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/2026/10/halloween-romance-books/689209/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The autumn season brings with it a unique selection of books, ranging from cozy and comforting reads to spooky and thrilling tales. This trend has gained significant traction over the past two to five years, driven by a combination of market forces, social media trends, and readers seeking solace in a more comforting literary experience. Historically, holiday-themed romances were typically released around Christmas time, but now, publishers are strategically positioning them for the fall season. A notable example is Erin Stirling's novel \"The Ex Hex,\" which explicitly embraces both Halloween and autumn themes. Similarly, Jeannie Chin's \"The Inn on Sweetbriar Lane\" was set in fall and featured a pumpkin festival, although it wasn't initially marketed as a seasonal romance. Since 2021, there has been a noticeable surge in interest for Halloween-themed romance novels, with The Ripped Bodice bookstore in Los Angeles reporting a significant increase in such books being brought in during the fall. This shift can be attributed to the cozy and romantic aspects of autumn, such as falling leaves, cool weather, pumpkin-spiced beverages, and the idea of \"cuffing season,\" all of which create a perfect atmosphere for romantic novels. Publishers are deliberately incorporating seasonal elements into their storytelling, as seen in Emily Henry's \"Beach Read,\" which featured a lake-side setting and was set in the fall, helping to popularize the trend of highly literal seasonal romances. The rise of \"spooky season\" as a cultural phenomenon, which extends the playful spookiness of Halloween throughout the autumn months, has also contributed to this trend. Additionally, readers may be drawn to seasonal romances as a way to find comfort and a sense of stability amidst economic and political uncertainties, or simply for the thrill of a spooky and romantic story.",
  "summary": "It’s spooky season. Time to read … romance?",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}