Media Diet: How to Prep For a Fall Trip to New England
What to read, watch, and listen to before you hit the road
These picks will transport you to a place where the air is crisp, the apple cider is sweet, and the leaves are the perfect shade of orange — just in time for a fall trip to New England.
Grab a pumpkin-shaped Reese’s (the best kind) and enjoy.
Read
I am a seasonal mood reader through and through. As soon as September hits, I’m itching for stories at magical boarding schools or horrors unknown. Here are a few of my favorites from recent years to get you in the spooky spirit.
Ninth House
Brought by mysterious benefactors to study at Yale and serve an ancient order moderating the University’s secret societies, our main character must grapple with her past and her powers.
Wilder Girls
Trapped in their Maine boarding school by a mysterious illness with gruesome side effects, three best friends from Raxter School for Girls are on a mission to find a cure or a way out. Proceed with caution — this one contains body horror and a divisive ending if you read Goodreads comments.
Bunny
Two controversial books in a row, but I will clearly read any book with an unhinged, New England academic setting. An MFA student gets sucked into an alluring, but sinister, group. This will leave you feeling like “wtf did I just read?” and I loved it.
If you like any of these books, follow me over on Goodreads.
Watch
If the book section leaned too far into horror for your liking, the watch list embraces cozy, comforting nostalgia of fall. An October media diet needs a healthy balance of both, in my opinion.
There are countless movies and TV shows set in New England or that have the right vibe, but these are a few I return to every year.
Gilmore Girls (Netflix)
This is the playbook for fall in New England. Turn on Season 1 episode 7 “Kiss and Tell,” Season 3 episode 9 “A Deep-Fried Korean Thanksgiving,” or Season 4 episode 9 “Ted Koppel’s Big Night Out.”
Knives Out (Amazon Prime)
An extremely fun whodunit with a standout cast, not unlike Clue (also set in New England!). It’s got mansions, family drama, fall leaves, Chris Evans in cable-knit sweaters — what more could you want?
Hocus Pocus (Disney+)
If you’re headed to Salem this season (more on that coming soon), this is a must-watch. It was filmed on location and you’ll easily find the filming spots around town. So study up before you make your trip.
Listen
To make things easy, I just made a playlist. Equal parts spooky, rainy, and crisp.
I have a ton of New England fall content coming your way this month, so stay tuned!