• 

It’s been a minute since my last book review! (I actually think it’s been a full year since my last one – oops!) I still love to read books, however I definitely don’t have as much time to read since Kennedy was born. I’ve read quite a few books since last year, but I tried to pick and choose the ones that would be best to read during the month of October! This my absolute *favorite* time of the year to read, since I absolutely love spooky and atmospheric tales. Please let us know in the comments if you’ve read any good fall books lately, I’m due for a good one!

The Witch Haven, by Sasha Peyton Smith

This one is the definition of PAGE-TURNER, y’all. I finished this entire book in two nights (and paid for it both mornings, lol). It’s the absolute perfect book for October so if you’re looking for a Halloween read, this one is it! I would liken it to the Harry Potter equivalent for females! It has a little of everything… romance, murder, intrigue, magic, and even history, as the story takes place in New York City in 1911, with seventeen-year-old Frances Hallowell as the protagonist. Frances’ powers as a witch are awakened when she is attacked by a man and he ends up dead at her feet – with scissors in his neck – and she can’t explain how they got there. Before she can be condemned as a murderer, Frances is whisked off to Haxahaven, a school for witches. I do have some gripes about the ending of this book (to me, it got a little farfetched), however I think it’s 100% still worth the read.

The Folk of the Air series, by Holly Black

I guess I’ve really been loving the fantasy novels, lately! I read all three of the books in this YA series when Kennedy was around three months old. I have such lovely memories of rocking her to sleep with my iPhone in my hand, reading this story! This series is absolutely addicting and nearly perfect in every way. It has a little bit of everything including romance and suspense, and it’s honestly nice to just escape Earth for a little bit and live in a fantasy world, even if it’s in your head. The story revolves around a mortal girl named Jude. She was stolen by her faerie stepfather and raised in the world of Faerie with her sisters after their parents are murdered before their eyes. As a human, she’s an object of scorn to Prince Cardan and his group of friends – right up until the entire royal family is murdered in a bloody coup, and it turns out that, even though she is mortal, Jude has the skills, the smarts, and the ruthlessness to fight traitors, protect her friends, and stay alive herself.

Such a Quiet Place, by Megan Miranda

Ooooh, this is a good one, y’all! I’m a huge fan of Megan Miranda’s novels, and this one didn’t disappoint. When I wasn’t reading this book, I was thinking about it! Although it’s filled with mystery and intrigue, it’s actually set during summer so it might resonate better as a beach read. It’s all about the tight-knit community of Hollow’s Edge, a quiet neighborhood in Virginia with a pool, lake and forest to enjoy. It’s a lovely place to live – if you can get past the murder of Brandon and Fiona Truett. Their murder completely rocked the neighborhood and has neighbors looking over their shoulders and pointing fingers. Ruby was convicted for the murders, but when the conviction is overturned, she waltzes right back to Hollow’s Edge. This one had me guessing right up until the very end!

Survive the Night, by Riley Sager

I am normally a huge fan of Riley Sager’s novels but this one fell short for me. It started off really strong and honestly had me SHAKING – I was so scared of where I thought the story was heading! But then, it took a turn, and got wilder… and wilder… and wilder. Not in a good, scary way, either. The female protagonist, Charlie, just might be the dumbest female I’ve *ever* read about! Charlie wants to leave college to go home to Ohio, so when she meets stranger Josh Baxter on campus, who is driving to Ohio, it seems like the perfect solution. She doesn’t think twice before getting in his car, and the two head on their merry way. But the longer Charlie sits in Josh’s passenger seat, the more suspicious he seems – and the more she questions if she will be able to survive the night.

Local Woman Missing, by Mary Kubica

This was an enjoyable thriller that I read within a few days! Eleven years ago, a woman goes missing, leaving her newborn baby and husband behind. Weeks later, another local woman and her young daughter don’t come home. The town is shocked and devastated – could there be a link between these families? When the young girl is finally found after escaping from her captors, everyone is dying to know what really happened all those years ago. The story is told from several different viewpoints, and I cared deeply for each of the characters and the situations they found themselves in. My one critique would be the ending! It was shocking, but it simply didn’t fit with the rest of the book. Still an enjoyable read, though!

If you’ve read any good fall books lately, let us know in the comments!!