Sorry it took me so long to get another book review up, you guys! This month I’m sharing four stellar reads that are all fitting for October. Seriously, every single one of this is a spooktastic and thrilling read. But for my very favorite book, make sure you catch #4 on the list. I just finished this one yesterday and my mind is still churning from how good it was!

1. The Turn of the Key, by Ruth Ware

Ruth Ware really redeemed herself with her new book, The Turn of the Key (since I didn’t care much for her last one, The Death of Mrs. Westaway). This novel pulled me in right from the beginning and kept me hooked until the very last page! It’s also the perfect book for October, as the story revolves around a gothic, creepy house with a hideous history. When Rowan Caine accepts a nannying position at Heatherbrae House, she thinks the job position is nearly too good to be true – a generous salary, a gorgeous home in the Scottish Highlands, and a picture-perfect family – so what if all four previous nannies left within the past year? Soon after accepting the nannying position, both parents have to go away on business and Rowan is thrown into taking care of the entire household and four children by herself. Right away, some CREEPY things start happening in the house, most of which seem supernatural – I was completely creeped out in real life as nightfall hit each evening. This book has some major twists and turns that knocked me off my feet, making for a truly thrilling ride.

2. Someone We Know, by Shari Lapena

This is another novel I would highly recommend! I love Shari Lapena and was eagerly anticipating her next read, and it didn’t disappoint. The story is a bit complicated so let me see if I can explain…! Teenager Raleigh Sharpe has been breaking into his neighbor’s homes. He doesn’t steal anything, he just wants to see if he can hack into their computers. When his mother, Olivia, finds out about the break-ins, she leaves anonymous notes to let the homeowners know what her son has been up to. But then one of her son’s victims, Amanda Pierce, ends up dead. As the news of Amanda’s death spreads, the list of suspects grows… even Olivia and her husband come under suspicion. The book takes turns telling the story from different viewpoints, and it turns out that nearly everyone in this nice little neighborhood has their own little secrets, and their own motivations for killing Amanda. The ending of this really shocked me, as I had NO IDEA who killed Amanda and simply could not figure it out until the very end!

3. The Winter People, by Jennifer McMahon

I came across this novel when I was looking for New England ghost stories. From the description, I thought it would read like the surface-level thrillers I’m used to, but it was much deeper, and much darker. I really enjoyed this book, but D*MN! It really freaked me out a couple of times, and I had trouble sleeping after staying up late at night to read it! It also paints New England in not-so-good of a light, which I didn’t really appreciate since I wanted to keep my nice rosy perspective of New England in tact, haha. Here’s a synopsis: West Hall, Vermont, is a town where people go missing without explanation. The most mysterious secret is that of Sara Harrison Shea, who, in 1908, was found murdered in the field behind her house just months after the tragic death of her daughter, Gertie. Skip to the present day where 19-year old Ruthie is now living in Sara Harrison Shea’s house, along with her mother and younger sister. One night, Ruthie comes home after drinking to find her mother, Alice, missing. She and her younger sister practically tear the house apart looking for clues to her mother’s whereabouts, when they discover Sara Harrison Shea’s diary. As Ruthie gets sucked into the story, she discovers that she’s not the only person looking for someone that they’ve lost, or a way to bring them back. This novel is beautifully written; the characters are vividly and fully developed, just be prepared for the subject matter to get quite spooky and supernatural. If you had the chance to bring back a deceased love one for just a short period of time to say goodbye, would you? Even if you could, this book reminds the reader of the old adage, “be careful what you wish for.”

4. The Witch of Willow Hall, by Hester Fox

Let me start out by saying this is my FAVORITE BOOK that I’ve read all of 2019!!! Out of all the books on this list, I would recommend this one the most! It has everything I love about a book and especially a book in October: ghosts, witches, romance and historical New England (but painted in a nice light, haha). The main character is completely lovable and I related to her in a lot of different ways (including our love for reading). In the wake of a scandal, the Montrose family and their three daughters – Lydia, Catherine and Emeline – flee Boston for their new country home, Willow Hall. As the family settles into their new home, strange happenings seem to follow in Lydia’s wake. She hears the deep, painful wails of a woman in mourning, she sees pale-faced little boys roaming the grounds and their tinkling laughter fill the halls. As Lydia continues to ignore these signs, tragedy befalls the Montrose family and dark secrets from the family’s past come bubbling to the surface. In addition to the historical fiction/fantasy that Fox has constructed, there is a bit of romance thrown in. I honestly didn’t see this coming (especially based on the book’s description), but I got truly sucked into this love story and was absolutely on the edge of my seat to see how it all played out. Every time I thought the relationship was going to work out, my heart absolutely soared. I absolutely loved every single thing about this book, from the historical setting to the characters (both lovable and unlovable), and especially the romance. Ah, I get chills just thinking about it, because a book this perfect is a rarity to come by!

Hope you enjoyed, and let me know if you have any other recommendations for October! Spooky month isn’t over just yet!!! xoxo