Raise your hand if you've already started your seasonal Gilmore Girl's rewatch! There's no way it's just us, right? Right??
Well, if you've already flown through the first 3 seasons and are looking for a way to prolong that nostalgic feeling, we're here with a list of book recs that will transport you right back to Stars Hollow. Or, you know, another town that's eerily similar.
Fall Too Well by Erin Branscom
Gilmore Girls fans, listen up. This is a second-chance, workplace romance between a single mom and a brooding cowboy. If you ever wondered what would have happened if Gilmore Girls was set in Oklahoma instead of Connecticut, this book is your answer.
Bonfire & Bliss Bookstore by Brittanee Nicole
This friends-to-lovers romance has us dreaming of small town fall days. When her former childhood best friend (+ a bunch of tattoos) moves back home, Penny is forced to give love a second-chance after her failed engagement. This one is for those you who want to be kissed in an apple orchard.
The Magic We Made by Meg Cabot
When her small town is overrun by witch-obsessed tourists, Frankie begins to suspect something is very wrong with the towns new resident psychic, Ash Merit. This book has the perfect GrumpyXSunshine relationship that we love in GIlmore Girls, plus some slightly higher stakes for those of you who want your cozy with a side of mystery.
Lost and Found by Tarah DeWitt
Lost and Found is likely the most emotional of the books on this list, but we're including it because of its themes of motherhood, female friendship and a swoony friends-to-lovers romance. When a young woman loses her best friend, she decides to take an unconventional approach to motherhood. While this one is heavy on grief, it's also full of humor and heart.
Hart's Landing by Melanie Harlow
When a woman returns to her hometown after running away years ago, her old fling is determined to take a second chance at love. Mila, who has been running away from her past, is determined to avoid his charm. Read this one if you want a small-town, second chance featuring a hot farmer mayor who is down bad.
Bed and Breakup by Susie Dumond
One of our favorite authors, booksellers, and friend has written one of our favorite small-town romances (and it's set 30 minutes away from our shop!). Bed and Breakup is a about two exes who are determined to get along long enough fix up their crumbling Bed and Breakfast. This is a GrumpyXSunshine, found-family romance for those of you who dream of staying in the Dragonfly Inn.
If It Makes You Happy by Julie Olivia
If It Makes You Happy is set in a small, quaint New England town in the 1990s. Cue immediate Gilmore Girls nostalgia. If that alone isn't enough to make you immediately run to pick this one up–she runs a bed and breakfast and he wears lots of flannels.
Baby Dragon Cafe by Aamna Qureshi
Okay, we know that this one requires a bit of suspension of belief, but trust us it's solid Gilmore-Girls Core. It's got the coziest of small time vibes. He’s grumpy, she’s sunshine. Oh, and did we mention that it's set at a cafe where she serves “coffee, coffee, coffee"?
Plus, don't miss the Aamna Qureshi's newest book, The Baby Dragon Bakery!
Fall I Want by Lyra Parish
First of all, cover... Secondly, this is another cafe-centric, small-town romance. Expect lots of fall festivities, pumpkin spice lattes, and the magical feeling of falling in love in autumn. And, most importantly, he falls first.
People Watching by Hannah Bonam-Young
Team Jess! Come get your man! When a heavily-tattooed "bad boy" arrives in a small Ontario town, you know the chemistry is going to be off the charts. This emotional romance is all about the character development and unlikely pairings.
Payback’s a Witch by Lana Harper
Lana Harper's hilarious rom-com is basically all about the townies. If you want a fall romance that focuses just as much on the town as it does the actual couple, then this is definitely the one for you.
Pumpkin Spice Cafe by Laurie Gilmore
Okay, so this one took Booktok by storm last year, and for very good reason. It's so perfectly in the Gilmore Girls aesthetic, the author even has the same last name. Honestly, we don't think it goes to far to just call this one Gilmore Girls fanfic...
Accidentally Amy by Lynn Painter
In this grumpy/sunshine, friends-to-lovers romance, it all starts out with coffee. What's more Gilmore Girls than that? If you need another reason to love, Lynn Painter is a staff favorite, so this rec comes even more highly recommended. Read this one while sipping out of your Luke's mug.
Fall Into Temptation by Lucy Score
Fall Into Temptation is THE book for Lorelai fans. This one is heavy on complicated family dynamics and centers a single-mom as the main character. If you want that small-town Hallmark movie feel, then Lucy Score will definitely deliver.
Crazy Spooky Love by Josie Silver
Though it's technically more of a cozy mystery, we're including Crazy Spooky Love because it heavily features three generations of women, just like Gilmore Girls. It also has the same "townie" feel and, of course, a strong romantic subplot with all the ghost-hunting shenanigans.
