It’s spooky szn and I take it very seriously.

I’m a seasonal reader, and I, like many-a-basic-bitch, love fall and take probably too much joy in creating my spooky fall TBR.

I already started off strong in September with the atmospheric autumnal reads and I go even harder in October. I tend to read about 12-25 books a month, but I’m also a mood reader, so I try to keep my actual TBR stack pretty short so I can have flexibility.

So here’s my short stack of my MUST-READS for October and I’m v excited for all of them. We got two re-reads and three brand new reads.

Re-Reads

Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas

I read this book for the first time October of last year (2020) and when I was putting together my fall TBR this year, I had such an intense craving to step into this world again.

In Cemetery Boys we follow Yadriel, a trans Latinx boy determined to show his family he’s a true brujo. He ends up accidentally summoning the ghost of Julian, another high schooler, and together they set out on a mission to find out what happened to Julian, and help solve another murder that hits closer to home for Yadriel. All in time for Día de Muertos!

Like I said above, I loved being in this world with this cast of characters. The story and pacing are compelling, and it’s impossible to not fall in love with the one true himbo, Julian.

House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig

This will be my third re-read of this book! It’s become a fall tradition at the point and I’m just as pumped to be creeped out this time around as I was the first time.

A retelling of Twelve Dancing Princesses, in House of Salt and Sorrows, we’re immersed in the seemingly cursed Thaumas family at their manor along the rocky, chilly seaside. The family is reeling from their most recently family loss, one of many recent losses. We follow Annaleigh, who is suspicious of the onslaught of family deaths. There are midnight balls, mysterious island newcomers, and what seem to be magic portals to other places. So much mystery! So much intrigue!

My absolute favorite thing about this book is the atmosphere. The chilly, seemingly haunted manor, the chilly cliffs of the rocky island. It’s fall perfection.

Fresh Reads

The Carrow Haunt by Darcy Coates

In my forever search of straightforward ghost stories, I came across this author who seems to own the genre.

In the Carrow Haunt, Remy holds tours at the reportedly haunted, and crumbling, Carrow House. What once was a “health retreat” turned hotel in the early 1900s is now abandoned. When the original owner was brutally murdered, the murderer assumed his identity and went on to create a hotel of horrors. In the present day, Remy holds tours of the property. When she’s approached by a party interested in investigating the ghosts at Carrow House for a week, Remy signs on to act as host and expert. The party gets stormed in, and people begin to go missing and end up murdered…OH MY GOD I AM SO EXCITED.

I know this is both the unpopular and gauche take, but ya girl always just wants a straight up ghost story. So often it’s about the ghosts of the past, of grief, blah blah blah. OR the ghost is explained as something based in reality. Which is so boring. It seems this is neither. And it’s exactly what I’ve been searching for.

Middlegame by Seannan McGuire

I have yet to meet a Seannan McGuire book I don’t like. I’m an avid fan of the Wayward Children series, and tell just about everyone who asks for recs about Into the Drowning Deep (written under a pen name). And I hear this may be her magnum opus. Everyone friggin loves this book, and I’m ready to love it, too.

In Middlegame, we’re following twins Roger and Doger who were created by an alchemist to ascend to godhood.

That’s about all I know and all I want to know. Science! Godhood! Twins! Can’t go wrong.

Small Town Monsters

This is pitched as “The Conjuring meets The Vow” lmaoooooo.

We’re following teens Vera and Maxwell in their small town (duh) as they experience suspicious creepy things in their own homes, then come together to investigate what the hell is going on around them.

I love the conjuring and I love a fun YA and this seems to promise both.

And that’s my lil list!

Once again, I try to keep it pretty short so I have flexibility, but these are the titles I’m most excited to dive into in October. What are you reading?