I’ve been planning to read a bit more seasonally moving forward (if I can manage it!) So, I put together a little spooky TBR list. These books are perfect for October, but you could also pick a few books to scatter throughout your autumn reads.
Horrorstör by Grady Hendrix
Something strange is happening at the Orsk furniture superstore in Cleveland, Ohio. Every morning, employees arrive to find broken Kjerring bookshelves, scattered Glans water goblets, and smashed Liripip wardrobes. Sales are down, security cameras reveal nothing, and store managers are panicking.
To unravel the mystery, three employees volunteer to work a nine-hour dusk-till-dawn shift. In the dead of the night, they’ll patrol the empty showroom floor, investigate strange sights and sounds, and encounter horrors that defy the imagination.
I’ve already borrowed a physical copy of this from the library and am so excited to dive into it. A horror novel that basically takes place in an Ikea? Yes, please!
The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix
Fried Green Tomatoes and Steel Magnolias meet Dracula in this Southern-flavored supernatural thriller set in the ’90s about a women’s book club that must protect its suburban community from a mysterious and handsome stranger who turns out to be a blood-sucking fiend.
This is one of Grady Hendrix’s newer novels and I honestly can’t decide which I want to read first. I’ve also never really gotten into the horror genre of books, so here’s hoping that this is the moment! If you’ve already read his novels or plan to pick one up, let me know which you would go for.
Vampires of El Norte by Isabel Cañas
Vampires and vaqueros face off on the Texas-Mexico border in this supernatural western.
If you’re a fan of historical fiction then this novel is probably going to be the perfect spooky book for you this month. Vampires on the battlefields of war is not a totally new concept, but I’ve never seen it done the same way twice in media. So I’m super excited to get into this one, even though I waver on on the border of liking historical fiction and finding it a little too snoozy. I’ll definitely be picking this up to see if it’s as interesting as the blurb makes it seem.
Also, I know we’re “not supposed to” judge a book by it’s cover, but this one is absolutely stunning so I’d honestly read it for that alone, let’s be honest.
My Roommate is a Vampire by Jenna Levine
Cassie Greenberg loves being an artist, but it’s a tough way to make a living. On the brink of eviction, she’s desperate when she finds a too-good-to-be-true apartment in a beautiful Chicago neighborhood. Cassie knows there has to be a catch–only someone with a secret to hide would rent out a room for that price.
Cassie’s new roommate is a vampire. And he has a proposition for her.
A romantic comedy for you! If horror isn’t your thing or you just want to break up the darker or more dramatic books on your TBR this month, then maybe think about picking up this debut. I know I’d like to get around to it if I have time!
Enchanted to Meet You by Meg Cabot
A witchy rom-com about a plus size witch who must team up with a handsome stranger to help protect her village from an otherwordly force–but will she be able to protect her heart?
And another romantic comedy! I know there are many people who have read Meg Cabot books for years, but I just haven’t been one of them. As the first novel of hers I will be picking up, I hope this witchy romance is just the book for me (and you). I mean, when the whole town turns on you and bans you from the Witch’s Council, but then years later needs you to save them all? I’m sure the journey will be entertaining at the very least.
Playing the Witch Card by K.J. Dell’Antonia
Gilmore Girls meets Practical Magic.
The story of one woman’s Halloween homecoming to the town where she swore off magic, and where she must reclaim it in order to create the life she desires and protect everyone she loves from an unexpected threat.
Two exes. One misbehaving mother. Surprising magic. The perfect recipe for Halloween chaos.
This is a new release and it seems like the perfect cozy autumn spooky read. Gilmore Girls and Practical Magic are two of my childhood favorites, so if this novel can deliver on that promise I’ll be happy. Do you prefer cozy or scary vibes during October? I think I usually go for a happy medium.
The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna
A warm and uplifting novel about an isolated witch whose opportunity to embrace a quirky new family–and a new love–changes the course of her life.
I actually started listening to the audiobook of this on the drive to upstate New York with my best friend last weekend. On a chilly and rainy morning, this really was a warm and cozy read. We didn’t get too far into it, but it’s really cute and I definitely do want to finish it soon. There is an eccentric cast of characters and a cheerful sense of humor layered throughout the novel.
If you’re looking for something sweet and heartwarming to read this fall then this might be the one for you.
The Wicked Deep by Shea Ernshaw
Hocus Pocus and Practical Magic meets the Salem Witch Trials in this haunting story about three sisters on a quest for revenge–and how love may be the only thing powerful enough to stop them.
This novels seems perfectly spooky and haunting. I’m really interested by Ernshaw’s drawing in of history and the similarities to Hocus Pocus with the three sisters who were put to death for witchcraft.
I just borrowed this from the library as well (my kindle is stuffed full of books at the moment) and it might have to move way up to the top of my TBR.
Starling House by Alix E. Harrow
A contemporary gothic fairy tale about a small town haunted by the history it can’t quite seem to bury and the canny, clever young woman who finds herself drawn to the house that sits at the crossroads of it all.
You might recognize this novel from my August post of fall 2023 releases. This one is set to release October 3rd, so it’s the perfect time to pick it up if you want to avoid spoilers!
This is one of those haunted house books that people seem to love, but I’ve never actually read any. I do have a few on my long TBR list though, so just let me know if you’d like a post on that in the future. It might give me the push I need to actually read them all.
Nightbitch by Rachel Yoder
One day, the mother was a mother but then, one night, she was quite suddenly something else…
An ambitious mother puts her art career on hold to stay at home with her newborn son, but the experience does not match her imagination. Two years later, she steps into the bathroom for a break from her toddler’s demands only to discover a dense patch of hair on the back of her neck.
As the mother’s symptom’s intensify, her temptation to give in to her new dog impulses peaks, and she struggles to keep her alter-canine identity a secret.
While not strictly spooky, this is a… weird book let’s say and I think this would be the perfect time to read it. I bought a copy from a local bookstore and read this almost exactly a year ago. My one regret is really not getting myself to form coherent thoughts enough to write a review for this novel. I gave it 4.5⭐️ because it was absolutely fascinating, and strange, and Yoder’s commentary on motherhood was brilliantly done. Just go into it knowing it’s weird, and enjoy the ride.
If you’ve made it to the end of this post, congratulations and I hope you’ve found at least one book you want to read this month! I really hope my mood reading tendencies let me actually read all the spooky books I want this season. Please wish me luck!!
What spooky book are you most excited to read this year? Are there any favorites you come back to every single year? If so, please comment down below because I’d love to read it!
Happy October & Happy Reading👻
