October is here, and that means it’s the season for cozy sweaters, changing leaves, and spooky books! While some people devour horror books by the likes of Stephen King, I tend to be a scaredy cat, and I’m not ashamed to admit it! So I tend to prefer books that are spooky, but not so scary they’ll keep you up late at night. If you’re like me, I’ve rounded up ten books that will be the perfect addition to your October TBR!
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The Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater
So many people would list Maggie Stiefvater as one of their favorite authors, but I have yet to read any of her books. That ends this month! I’ve heard her series The Raven Cycle is one of her most beloved, and with a spin-off coming out in November, it’s perfect timing. I’ve been told it’s a little spooky, and the story starts with the main character Blue seeing ghosts with her clairvoyant mom, so that seems promising!
The Au Pair by Emma Rous
This is another one I keep hearing about, so I’m excited to finally read it. I love a story full of family secrets, and it seems like this one will deliver. The day Seraphine and her twin brother were born was also a day of tragedy in her family, but now that Seraphine is an adult, she discovers an old family photo that reveals everything may not be as it seems.
Tunnel of Bones by Victoria Schwab
This is the second in Victoria Schwab’s series about Cassidy Blake, a young girl who can cross into the world of ghosts, and her adventures as she visits some of the most haunted cities in the world. It’s technically a middle grade, but I got a little spooked reading the first book in the series, City of Ghosts, so I think it’s just the right amount of ghosts! To find out more about the book and Victoria Schwab, read my interview with her!
The Line Between by Tosca Lee
Tosca Lee’s newest series combines a manipulative doomsday cult and a deadly outbreak of a disease similar to rapid early-onset dementia, and I am here for it. Wynter escapes the cult she was raised in, only to enter a world on the brink of the destruction she’s been taught to fear her whole life. The sequel, A Single Light, just came out in September, so you can binge-read both now!
Feathers by Madeline Nixon
This book stands out a little bit in the list for two reasons. One, it’s not a novel, but a collection of short stories about ghostly encounters. Two, they’re creative non-fiction about the author’s experiences with the otherworldly. I connected with Madeline on Instagram a while back, and I am excited to finally be reading her book! I’m always looking to read more creative non-fiction, so this is at the top of my list.
The Devouring Gray by Christine Lynn Herman
The description of this book gives me the same vibes as the movie The Village, which I loved, so I’ve been looking forward to Christine Lynn Herman’s debut novel. The town of Four Paths has long been terrorized by the Gray, a shapeless monster lurking the woods just outside the community. When Violet Saunders is forced to move to Four Paths, the Gray is growing stronger, and she finds herself pulled into the lore of the town.
The Witch Elm by Tana French
I read this book a few months ago for a book club, and it certainly gave us plenty to talk about. After Toby goes to his uncle’s house to take care of his uncle and recover himself from a near-death experience, a dark secret is uncovered that leaves Toby questioning if he truly is a good person, or if he is just very good at forgetting. This book had me reading late into the night, but it’s also much more than just cheap thrills–it explores the characters deeply and questions whether being a good person is a choice, or just luck.
Wilder Girls by Rory Power
Okay, first of all, this cover is gorgeous. I’ve heard mixed reviews of this book, but the description calls it a “feminist horror story” so how can I not give it a shot?? The premise also sounds really interesting–it’s about a boarding school off the coast of Maine, and the girls quarantined there after a vicious disease called the Tox ravages the island. When Hetty ventures into the wilderness in search of her best friend, she learns there is more to the story than the girls have been told.
Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo
If I’m listing books I’m excited to read in October, you know Leigh Bardugo’s new release has to be included! Bardugo is the author of the Six of Crows duology and the Grishaverse trilogy, both YA fantasy. This is her first foray into the adult genre, and it pulls from her time as a student at Yale to explore the secret societies of the university. It sounds deliciously dark, and I can’t wait to get my hands on it.
The Witches of New York by Ami McKay
This one just sounds fun and witchy. Set in the 1880s in New York City, it’s about a pair of witches who own a tea shop serving high society ladies interested in magic, seances, and the supernatural. When their new assistant shows a proclivity for magic, they’re delighted, but her powers may not be enough to prepare her for the darkness that lurks in the city.
What is on your TBR for October? Let me know in the comments!
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Featured photo by Neven Krcmarek
Ahhh honoured to be on this list with such fabulous authors!!
It’s the perfect book for October!