From witchy suspense and campy horror to sharp romance and fake dating, these are the five books I’m recommending this October.
My October reading recommendations are embracing the whole range of fall moods. Want a creepy old house? I’ve got you. A sarcastic final girl who’s had enough? Definitely. Two people fake dating while everyone—including the reader—can see what’s happening? Also yes. Here are five books I think deserve a spot on your TBR.
Old Ham by Seraphina Nova Glass
Sometimes I want a thriller I can fall into and finish before I’ve had time to talk myself into doing something responsible instead. Old Ham delivers that short, strange, bingeable reading experience. Its increasingly unhinged heroine makes this one especially memorable, while the obsession and secrets keep things moving. Pick it up when you’re in the mood for psychological suspense with a woman you won’t soon forget.
Read my full review →here
Bad Words by Ríoghnach Robinson
A critic and an author with years of history and a very public literary feud? I was in. What kept me invested was how smart and messy their connection felt. Bad Words digs into criticism, writing, and the complicated people behind both, while letting the romance take its sweet time. And I do mean slow slow burn. If you like bookish stories with flawed characters and plenty to think about, this is one to try. I listened to the audiobook and thought the narration was excellent, too.
Read my full review →here
The Witch by Freida McFadden
This is classic Freida brain candy with an especially good October setting. Julia returns to her family’s centuries-old Massachusetts estate, where strange occurrences draw her into the story of a woman executed for witchcraft in 1692. The creepy house, dual timelines, twists, and short chapters made it so easy to keep saying “one more chapter.” If you want a compulsive fall read with Salem-era history and a ghostly edge, add The Witch to your stack.
Read my full review →here
This B Just Won’t Die by Tanya Pell
Barb survived her final girl era twenty years ago, and she is thoroughly sick of everyone’s shit. Naturally, a killer starts recreating the murders from her old slasher franchise. This book is gruesome, suspenseful, satirical, and genuinely funny—a thriller, horror, and comedy mashup that worked so well for me even though I’m not a big horror reader. Barb’s sarcasm and female rage were exactly my kind of thing. Natalie Naudus also nails both her fed-up attitude and the more emotional moments on audio.
Read my full review →here
Never Been Tamed by Corinne Michaels
After all that murder, let’s end with two people pretending their fake relationship is just an arrangement. Harper needs a boyfriend for her cheating ex’s wedding, and broody Dr. Ares Pierce agrees to play the part. The problem? These two are down bad for each other, no matter how hard they try to deny it. I loved the quirky small town, the meddling residents, the heartfelt moments, and the spice. Desiree Ketchum and Jason Clarke were perfectly cast for the audiobook. It’s the second book in the series, but Harper and Ares’s romance stands on its own.
Read my full review →here
That’s my October stack! Which mood are you in first: witchy and creepy, messy and bookish, gloriously unhinged, or small-town and swoony?
Shop the list here
Also here are some more books I’m hoping to get to this month as well!
