Halloween Roundup

 

Before spooky season has come to an end, I'm sharing all my favorite books for Halloween that can be enjoyed well into the fall season. There's something here for everyone and be sure to let me know your favorites in the comments below.

 

 

Books That Are Perfect For Halloween - This includes picture books all the way up to adult fiction.

 

 

If You Love Scary Stories (but not too scary!) - I love to read spooky books around Halloween, but I can't hand anything too scary!

 

 

24 Books To Cozy Up With This Fall Season - These books can be enjoyed throughout the entire season.

 

 

I hope everyone has a fun-filled Halloween!  

Blog Tour and Giveaway: All the Small Wonderful Things

 

Middle grade literature holds a special place in my heart. I am always on the hunt for a heartfelt middle grade read and when I heard about All the Small Wonderful Things by Kate Foster, I knew I had to read it. Plus, it involves a boy and his dog! There's nothing like a love of a dog, especially when you are a young child. Cue my heart melting. 

All the Small Wonderful Things just came out this week and is a Junior Library Guild selection for 2023. I partnered with Kate Foster to host a fantastic giveaway to celebrate the publication of this new novel. If you are a dog lover, (and have a rescue dog like me!), you will adore this book and giveaway!

Learn More About the Novel:

 

All the Small Wonderful Things 

Written by Kate Foster

Ages 8+ | 240 Pages

Publisher: Candlewick | ISBN-13: 9781536225808

Publisher’s Book Summary: "In an endearing story about an autistic boy and his steadfast furry pal, Alex is convinced that winning a trophy at the dog show will help him make a real friend at last.

Eleven-year-old Alex knows that starting middle school will be a big change, and for an autistic person, change can be terrifying. He is sure that having a friend by his side will help. But how can he make one? Alex devises a plan to impress the kids at school by winning a trophy at the PAWS Dog Show with his trusty sidekick, Kevin the Cockapoo. This should be a walk in the park, right? If only. It turns out that finding a friend is harder than Alex thought—unless, maybe, friendship is about something more than popularity.

This charming story, told through Alex’s clear and honest voice, navigates relationships of all stripes between classmates, new neighbors, family, and, of course, a kid and his dog. After all, friendship isn’t one-size-fits-all—maybe it’s found in the small things where you least expect it."

 

You can purchase your own copy of All the Small Wonderful Things at Bookshop, Barnes & Noble, and Amazon. You can learn more about Kate Foster by visiting her website.

The Giveaway:

 

Enter the giveaway for a chance to win an autographed hardcover copy of All the Small Things and a $100 dollar donation will be made to a rescue dog charity of the winner's choice. Good luck!  

All the Small Wonderful Things: Book Giveaway

 

Book Review: Starling House by Alix. E. Harrow

Pages: 320

Genre: Adult Fiction

Pub. Date: October 3, 2023

Publisher: Tor

Source: Library

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

 

 

Goodreads says, "A grim and gothic new tale from author Alix E. Harrow about a small town haunted by secrets that can't stay buried and the sinister house that sits at the crossroads of it all. Eden, Kentucky, is just another dying, bad-luck town, known only for the legend of E. Starling, the reclusive nineteenth-century author and illustrator who wrote The Underland--and disappeared. Before she vanished, Starling House appeared. But everyone agrees that it’s best to let the uncanny house―and its last lonely heir, Arthur Starling―go to rot. Opal knows better than to mess with haunted houses or brooding men, but an unexpected job offer might be a chance to get her brother out of Eden. Too quickly, though, Starling House starts to feel dangerously like something she’s never had: a home. As sinister forces converge on Starling House, Opal and Arthur are going to have to make a dire choice to dig up the buried secrets of the past and confront their own fears, or let Eden be taken over by literal nightmares."

 

 

Opal is left to raise her younger brother, Jasper, in a run-down motel in Eden, Kentucky, which is the opposite of Eden. The town is an old coal town filled with a lot of strange mist and dead-end jobs. Opal's main goal is to get Jasper out of this town, so she will do whatever it takes. She has been having strange dreams about the Starling House, an old mansion in town that no one has been inside except the family members. Her dreams are so vivid that she practically knows the inside of the mansion without ever stepping foot inside, so when the possibility of her taking a job there comes up, she jumps despite her hesitation. The house is eerie and labyrinthian, and its resident, Arthur, is a bit of a recluse. He needs someone to clean the house, so Opal takes this chance. The more time Opal spends at Starling House, the more she realizes her connection to the house. That's when things start to get dangerous and Opal realizes that there's something sinister lurking at Starling House. Alix E. Harrow's Starling House is an atmospheric novel that's perfect for spooky season. It's one of the most memorable haunted house stories I've read in quite awhile.

Opal is the kind of underdog that I love to get behind in Starling House. She has had some bad luck and is left to raise her brother. She takes on crap jobs just to make extra money in order to get him out of Eden. Her dreams have been haunting her and drawing her closer and closer to Starling House. I loved getting to know Opal and what she has done to survive these past few years. I was rooting for her from the beginning and the more time she worked at Starling House, the more she realized her connection to the house. What first drew her interest to the mansion was the fact that it was built by the author of her favorite childhood book, The Underland. As Opal spends more time at the mansion, the more she realizes that this fictional book filled with strange beasts may be based on some truth as something strange is going on at the house.

Arthur, the owner of Starling House, reminded me of Boo Radley in the best way possible. His family history is steeped in curious events and I was flipping the pages to find out what exactly is going on at the house and why he feels he needs to stay and "protect" things. He was a complex character and while I was invested in his story as well as Opal's, I can't say I felt overly connected to the characters as much as I was hoping.

In turn, what really drew me to Starling House was the atmosphere. Harrow is a wonderful writer and her story is filled to the brim with Southern Gothic vibes that are really compelling. I can't handle the horror genre, but Starling House had just enough spook factor for me to enjoy it without it being overly terrifying. 

So, if you love a good haunted house novel, Starling House includes one of the best haunted house depictions I've read in years. I especially enjoyed the Gothic vibes and Southern influence. Have you read Starling House? Are you a fan of Alix E. Harrow? Let me know in the comments below.

 

Can't Wait Wednesday: The House on Biscayne Bay

Can't Wait Wednesday is hosted by Wishful Endings and helps us spotlight upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating!  

The House on Biscayne Bay by Chanel Cleeton

Pub. Date: April 9, 2024

 

Goodreads says, "As death stalks a gothic mansion in Miami, the lives of two women intertwine as the past and present collide in New York Times bestselling author Chanel Cleeton’s atmospheric new novel. With the Great War finally behind them, many Americans flock to South Florida with their sights set on making a fortune. When wealthy industrialist Robert Barnes and his wife, Anna, build Marbrisa, a glamorous estate on Biscayne Bay, they become the toast of the newly burgeoning society. Anna and Robert appear to have it all, but in a town like Miami, appearances can be deceiving, and one scandal can change everything.

Years later following the tragic death of her parents in Havana, Carmen Acosta journeys to Marbrisa, the grand home of her estranged older sister, Carolina, and her husband, Asher Wyatt. On the surface, the gilded estate looks like paradise, but Carmen quickly learns that nothing at Marbrisa is as it seems. The house has a treacherous legacy, and Carmen’s own life is soon in jeopardy . . . unless she can unravel the secrets buried beneath the mansion’s facade and stop history from repeating itself."

 

I'll read anything Cleeton writes! I am very much looking forward to this novel and I love a Miami setting. Is it spring yet? Let me know what you think in the comments below.  

 

Book Review: The Witches of Bone Hill by Ava Morgyn

Pages: 411

Genre: Adult Fiction

Pub. Date: September 26, 2023

Publisher: St. Martin's

Source: Publisher for review

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Goodreads says, "Cordelia Bone's meticulously crafted life and career in Dallas are crashing down around her thanks to a philandering husband with criminal debts. When her older, carefree sister, Eustace—a cannabis grower in Boulder, calls to inform her the great aunt they never met has died and they must travel to a small town in Connecticut to deal with the estate, she sees an opportunity to unload the house and save herself. But once there, the sisters learn they are getting much more than they bargained for. The Victorian mansion they stand to inherit is bound in a dynasty trust controlled by their late aunt's aging attorney who insists they inhabit the house and retain it but keeps them in the dark about the peculiar rituals of their ancestors. Not to mention a sexy, tattooed groundskeeper with a shrouded past who refuses to leave the carriage house and a crypt full of dead relatives looming at the property line. As both women grapple with their current predicament, they come face to face with a haunting family secret, the truth of what happened to their mother, and the enemy that's been stalking them from the shadows for generations. In a twisting torrent of terror and blood, the sisters must uncover the power within them to heal their fractured relationship, reverse their mysteriously declining health, and claim the lineage they wanted to escape but now must embrace if they are to survive at Bone Hill."

 

Cordelia Bone is going through a nasty divorce, which leaves her in dire straits. She finds out that an aunt, whom she has never heard from, has died and left her, and her sister, a Victorian mansion complete with a family crypt. This mansion is called Bone Hill and Cordelia and Eustace, her sister whom she has a complicated relationship with, go to the house to sort things out. While at Bone Hill, things get creepy. The house is spooky, strange things happen and Cordelia just wants to sell it as she needs the money. Things are really growing on Eustace and she might even want to move in. The more time they spend there, the more secrets surrounding their family unfold and Cordelia is questioning things about her family's history and even her abilities. Ava Morgyn's The Witches of Bone Hill is your quintessential witchy read; there are elements of horror, paranormal, and romance that will keep fans of witch-centered stories flipping the pages way into the night.

I always love stories where family members inherit a strange home and that's the case in The Witches of Bone Hill. Cordelia is desperate to make money off the property, but when she gets there, she realizes this isn't the run-of-the-mill home. It's a run-down Victorian mansion filled with creepy things from another generation not to mention a crypt. It was giving me Haunted Mansion vibes. Slowly Cordelia learns more about her family's dark history and strange things start occurring at Bone Hill. She even starts seeing apparitions, some whom look exactly like her ancestors. The only good thing at Bone Hill is the mysterious and good-looking groundskeeper. Just when Cordelia thought they could sell the house and make some money, they realized they could only receive the inheritance if they followed their great aunt's wishes and stayed at Bone Hill. As more time goes on, Cordelia realizes that something or someone wants them gone!

So, The Witches of Bone Hill was way more spooky than I initially thought and had a lot of gruesome moments. This is by no means a cozy fall read, but rather a witchy read perfect for Halloween and fans of the Mayfair Witches series as well as Alice Hoffman. If you are looking for a witch-centered read with a lot of bite, this is it! 

 

Books That Are Perfect for Halloween

 

Halloween is fast approaching! Grab your favorite candy and a glass of your favorite adult beverage and curl up with one of these books that's perfect for the spooky season.  Today I am highlighting my favorite Halloween picture books as well as some spooky and ghostly reads for adults. There's nothing better than curling up with a atmospheric novel during the month of October. If you find a book that sparks your interest, many of the YA and adult books' detailed reviews can be found in my review archive. 

 

My Favorite Picture Books for Halloween:

1.  It's Pumpkin Day, Mouse! by Lauren Numeroff

2.  Eeek! Halloween! by Sandra Boynton

 

3.  It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown by Charles M. Schulz

4.  Biscuit's Pet and Play Halloween by Alyssa Satin Capucilli

5.  The Berenstain Bears Trick or Treat by Stan and Jan Berenstain

6.  Where is Baby's Pumpkin? by Karen Katz

7.  Five Little Pumpkins by Ben Mantle

8.  One, Two....Boo! by Kristen L. Depken

 

10.  Happy Halloween, Stinky Face by Lisa McCourt

11.  Room on the Broom by Julie Donaldson

 12.  The Little Shop of Monsters by R.L. Stine

13.  The Berenstain Bears Go on a Ghost Walk by Stan and Jan Berenstain

 

 

 

13.  The Widow's Broom by Chris Van Allsburg

14.  In the Witch's Kitchen: Poems for Halloween by John E. Brewton

15. Creepy Pair of Underwear! by Aaron Reynolds

16.  Pumpkin Jack by Will Hubbell

 

 

17.  Too Many Pumpkins by Linda White

18. The Big Book of Monsters by Hal Johnson

 

 

19.  Little Blue Truck's Halloween by Alice Schertle

20. Curious George Haunted Halloween by H.A. Rey

 

 

21. Halloween ABC by Sarah Albee

22. Scary, Scary Halloween by Eve Bunting

 

 

23.  M is for Monster by Patrick Lewis

My Favorite Books for Halloween: Beginner Chapter Books

 

 

 

1.  A Ghost Named Fred by Nathaniel Benchley

2.  A Good Night for Ghosts by Mary Pope Osborne

 

 

 

3.  The Haunted Castle on Hallows Eve by Mary Pope Osborne

4.  Vlad the World's Worst Vampire by Anna Wilson

 

5.  Shadow in the Woods and Other Scary Stories by Max Brallier

6.  Nate the Great and the Halloween Hunt by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat

7.  The Notebook of Doom series by Troy Cummings

8.  Polly and Buster series by Sally Rippin

9. The School is Alive! by Jack Chabert  

10.  In a Dark, Dark Room by Alvin Schwartz

11. Sleepy Hollow Sleepover by Ron Roy

 

My Favorite Books for Halloween: Middle Grade and Young Adult Fiction

 

1.  Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling

2.  The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

 

 

3.  The Diviners by Libba Bray

4.  Blythewood by Carol Goodman

 

 

 

5.  The Cure for Dreaming by Cat Winters

6.  The Witch Haven by Sasha Peyton Smith

 

 

 

7.  The Spiderwick Chronicles series by Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black

8.  Fablehaven by Brandon Mull

 

 

 

9.  The Witches by Roald Dahl

10.  A Tale Dark & Grimm by Adam Gidwitz

Twenty Books for Halloween: Adult Fiction

Sometimes I want something witchy and other times I just want a good thriller for Halloween, but nothing *too* spooky. If you are like me, then I've got you covered! You can find my reviews for most of these titles here.

 

 1.  Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

2.  The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling

 

 

3.  A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness

4.  The Witch of Willow Hall by Hester Fox

 

5.  Mrs. Poe by Lynn Cullen

6.  A Witch in Time by Constance Sayers

 

 

7.  Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris

8.  The Complete Stories and Poems by Edgar Allan Poe 

 

 

9.  Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

10.  The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving 

 

 

 

11.  Spells for Forgetting by Adrienne Young

12.  The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner

 

 

 

13.  The Guest List by Lucy Foley

14.  Daisy Darker by Alice Feeney

 

 

15. Hester by Laurie Lico Albanese

 16. The London Seance Society by Sarah Penner

17. Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto

18.  The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna

 

 

 

 

19. Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman

20.  Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll

 

Let me know what you think of my ultimate list of spooky season reads and let me know in the comments below if you have any recommendations for me.