Good morning everyone to this Monday! Feeling inspired over the weekend I am excited to share a list of books currently on my own reading list this autumn as part of our own Finer Things Club. There was a period that I was reading every night but as most things, once you fall out of the routine it can be very hard to get back into it. While I have only ever read by myself, many people find enjoyment in a book club that be done amongst friends or even through work. Through this article by Grace He, they talk about the benefits of starting an office book club and how to go about it. At its core it is about forming a club that colleagues can exchange ideas, get to know each other, find an excuse to read more, and maybe you’ll make some friends along the way.1
In addition the organization and prep work, it is obviously important to have a book lined up (whether reading alone or in a club) so I wanted to share the books current on my agenda to read the next few months. A couple are oldies that I love to come back to, and then several brand new books I am eager to read. I hope some of them seem interesting to you and if they are, go out and get a copy either online (I am including links) or to your local bookstore. If you have some of your own suggestions, feel free to share!
The Secret of Secrets by Dan Brown
You either loved or hated The Da Vinci Code and if you loved it, check out the newest book in the series following Robert Langdon on another adventure. I have loved these books (and films) since the very beginning so I was quick to get it preordered am excited to see how this picks up from the last book.
Mercy by Lily Davis
I got to meet this author at Excalibur Con 2025 and hear about this first book in their Dominion of Traxans series. This series is inspired by fantasy, science fiction and as a member of the LGBTAQI2S+ community, they ensure the world they have created is inclusive of our community. I am incredibly excited to recommend this series and to open it up myself!
Children of Angels by Faith MacGregor
This was another author I got to meet at Excalibur Con which goes to show everyone can find something they like there, including getting to meet writers! This is also the first in a series inspired heavily by classic mythology and having raised myself on Greek mythology as a kid I know this will be right up my alley.
Soul Boom: Why We Need a Spiritual Revolution by Rainn Wilson
You know him as Dwight Schrute by actor Rainn Wilson devoted a great deal of time trying to get in touch with his spirituality and trying evaluate what we need as humans. Mixed in with his own brand of humor he has written a book on perhaps the lack of spirituality people have in their lives, going beyond individual cultures and religions. I am eager to go on this journey with Rainn as I think all of you should too!
Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton
The book the started the entire franchise; given that we recently got a new movie in the series now is the perfect time to read this book if you haven’t. This has been one of my favorite books since school and I make it a point to reread it every couple of years. While the movie is one my favorite of all time, this absolutely fleshes out the world so much better. To all of my readers still obsessed with dinosaurs after all these years, this one is for you.
Brendan and the Beast by Fox Beckman/Stolen From Tomorrow by Fox Beckman
Did I hear you wanted a gay retelling of a classic fairy tale? Written by a good friend of mine, I absolutely need to recommend this to anyone looking for some queer (and spicy) books to curl up with this autumn. If you are more in the mood for a fantastical series, look up Stolen from Tomorrow which is Book 1 in The Trust Trilogy which blends magic, supernatural encounters, and love story stretching through time.
Some Things I still Can’t Tell You by Misha Collins
I got a few of these years ago to give out during Christmas, a collection of poems by Misha Collins of Supernatural fame. Not every book needs to be an epic tale, sometimes an entire story can be told with a simple poem. It was in high school that I went through a period where I was very interested in poetry so it felt necessary to include at least one.
The Complete Fiction of H. P. Lovecraft by H. P. Lovecraft
Going into the Halloween season I had to also include something with a spookier feel and this is the one I wanted to read, although I always get an urge this time of year. Rather than a novel, I offer up the complete fiction works of H. P. Lovecraft, the man who brought us Cthulu. Sometimes you just need a short story to get you by so in a way this is a multitude of stories and books rather than just one. So grab a copy of this to read on the couch, pumpkin spice latte next to you after a successful outing to Spirit Halloween.
I hope you are inspired by my recommendations to pick up a copy of one or more of these and rediscover the joys of reading. If anyone has been part of an office book club, let us know about the experience! Any tips on facilitating a successful club?
Hope you all have a great day, and I hope to see you at the next meeting of the Finer Things Club!
- He, G. (2024, December 17). How to Run an Office Book Club. Teambuilding.com. Retrieved September 14, 2025, from https://teambuilding.com/blog/office-book-club ↩︎
