Fall has officially arrived, and along with the changing leaves and cooler temperatures comes the urge for bookworms consume every spooky, cozy novel there is. It’s time to hone in the horror, return to seasonal rom-coms or, if you’re into dark academia, head back to school.

Originating online around 2015, dark academia is a popular aesthetic that now extends beyond the internet. Though there is some variety to what makes a DA story, they’re typically set in schools, feature a moody atmosphere and center a mystery or the protagonist’s pursuit of knowledge (think movies like Dead Poet’s Society or TV shows like Wednesday).

It’s fitting, then, that there are a plethora of dark academia novels for readers who can’t get enough of the aesthetic. We’ve rounded up a reading list of the best books to delve into this fall — from subgenre staples to newfound favorites.

‘Katabasis’ by R.F. Kuang

The cover of ‘Katabasis’ by R.F. Kuang.

Harper Voyager

This gripping odyssey follows Magick students (and academic rivals) Alice Law and Peter Murdoch, who go through literal Hell to save their professor. Kuang’s latest is a satirical look at the brutal nature of academia.

‘We Love You Bunny’ by Mona Awad

The cover of ‘We Love You, Bunny’ by Mona Awad.

S&S/Marysue Rucci Books

Readers were first introduced to the Bunnies — a creepy clique of writing MFA students  — in Mona Awad’s Bunny. In its follow-up, the group is back with a vengeance after one of their own publishes a novel that puts the Bunnies in a bad light.

‘The Secret History’ by Donna Tartt

The cover of ‘The Secret History’ by Donna Tartt.

Alfred A Knopf

Arguably the quintessential dark academia novel, Tartt’s campus narrative centers a group of six Classics students who are torn apart after one of them winds up dead.

‘If We Were Villains’ by M.L. Rio

The cover of ‘If We Were Villains’ by M.L. Rio.

Flatiron Books

A group of students studying in an elite Shakespeare program face their own dramas offstage, when one of the thespians ends up behind bars for the murder of his classmate. Rio’s debut novel is a riveting read with a haunting ending.

‘The Bewitching’ by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

The cover of ‘The Bewitching’ by Silvia Moreno-Garcia.

Del Rey

This era-spanning gothic novel follows three women who are each impacted by witchcraft. It’s largely set on the gloomy campus of Stoneridge College, and brings Moreno-Garcia’s signature horror skills to the dark academia genre. Pro tip: Don’t read it with the lights off.

‘I Have Some Questions for You’ by Rebecca Makkai

The cover of ‘I Have Some Questions for You’ by Rebecca Makkai.

Viking

When Bodie Kane returns to teach at the New England boarding school where her roommate was murdered decades earlier, she comes to see that the case may not be completely solved. This is a literary thriller, mystery and an ode to true crime all wrapped up in one.

‘The Library of Hellebore’ by Cassandra Khaw

The cover of ‘The Library at Hellebore’ by Cassandra Khaw.

Tor Nightfire

Set in a school for students with dangerous powers, where teachers feast on their pupils upon graduation, this novel centers on a group of classmates who must team up to save themselves from a brutal end.

‘Sleepwalking’ by Meg Wolitzer

The cover of ‘Sleepwalking’ by Meg Wolitzer.

Riverhead Books

Wolitzer’s debut novel, about a trio of college students each obsessed with a different dead poet, is both a striking coming-of-age story and a compelling portrait of grief.

‘Where Sleeping Girls Lie’ by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé

The cover of ‘Where Sleeping Girls Lie’ by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé.

Feiwel & Friends

After Sade arrives at the prestigious Alfred Nobel Academy, the school year takes a turn when her roommate vanishes and another student winds up dead — putting Sade and her roommate’s friend, Baz, on the case. This is another novel from the Ace of Spades author you won’t be able to put down.

‘Never Let Me Go’ by Kazuo Ishiguro

The cover of ‘Never Let Me Go’ by Kazuo Ishiguro.

Harper Perennial

Years after leaving Hailsham, a secluded English boarding school in the countryside, Kathy looks back on her time at the institution, which was more than it appeared to be. This novel, also the basis for the 2010 film of the same name, seamlessly blends literary and science fiction.