SPOOKY (AND CREEPY) BOOKS I WANT TO READ THIS HALLOWEEN SEASON // aka an ambitious reading list from a scaredy cat

Hi hello, yes you are on my blog. Fun fact about yours truly: I’m the biggest wimp out there…

So why am I making a Halloween reading list you ask? You know, not even I can answer that very valid question.

Literally cannot handle horror AT ALL. I will get nightmares and creepy faces will stare at me for a solid day. I can handle some gore, not all of it. But creepy people NO THANK YOU.

Anyways, I did this post last year. It may be bad but you can go and read if you want I guess. But because it’s Halloween, even though where I live people don’t really do anything, I feel like reading spooky and mysterious books. Which you will see is what makes up this list.

So let me stop rambling and actually get into THE BOOKS.

also yes I am semi-dividing these books into genres but some of them belong in other sections as well but am we’re just going to roll with it

PARANORMAL:

The Dreadful Tale of Prosper Redding by Alexandra Bracken:

I love Alex’s books. I know it’s not everyone’s favourite and the genre has died out but The Darkest Minds is one of my faves and I have a huge soft spot. The publisher very kindly sent me both books in her middle grade duology and I’ve been itching to pick them up ever since. My sister has read them already which means I’m the worst. I love Alex’s writing, it’s simplistic yet still packed with description. All I really know is that it’s about a boy being inhabited by an ancient demon?? But I think the best way to get into these books is by knowing little so we’ll just have to wait to see. They’re not too long either and I’ll probably end up binging these two because that’s my favourite way to read series!!

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The Devouring Gray by Christine Lynn Herman:

The only thing I needed to know were Stranger Things meets Raven Boys! I am OBSESSED with both of those things and even though I’ve heard fairly average reviews about this book I shall read it anyway because I’m like that. Yes I do know I make questionable life choices most of the time. But it’s fine right?

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The Girl Who Drank The Moon by Kelly Barnhill:

I, again. know next to nothing about this book. I know it’s an NYT besteller and that it’s middle grade. I know there are witches and that the cover is super pretty. It seems super magical and whimsical and I’m super intrtigued to see what it’s about. I literally just bought this book and want to read it asap.

HISTORICAL FICTION:

The Diviners by Libba Bray:

This was on last years list but OH WELL. We all know I’m a terrible person who like doesn’t read?? Anyways YES this book. I still need to buy a copy, I just haven’t seen it around many bookstores (I know online shopping exists people but I prefer saving shipping costs whoops). Basically all I know is that this is historical fiction, which I haven’t read too much of but is definitely one of my favourite genres (is that alllowed idk). I know there are super powers and a mystery?? I am sold and NEED to get to this one soon.

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Stalking Jack The Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco:

Okay so for some reason I have been having this big urge to binge this series like NOW. I actually have literally just read the first book and it was such a fun time. I’m currently reading book two and it’s giving me even more Halloween vibes. I love the Victorian era setting and the romance. I’m really enjoying these books, they’re nothing mind-blowing a tad trashy but SO FUN!

MYSTERIES:

Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson:

I also do not own a copy of this book yet but it’s been super hyped and it sounds like a super fun mystery. Boarding school settings are always great and chasing after a cold case sounds really interesting. I actually know a lot of people were a tad disappointing so my expectations are low. I still really want to read it. It sounds like the kind of movie I’d like to watch. I’m also not interested in murder mysteries that much and I know this story is absout a kidnap. My tween obsession with The Famous Five is thriving!!

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We Were Liars by E. Lockhart:

Yes I am the last person on the planet to read this book. It is so short I could read it in one sitting. But alas, I have not. But I am determined to at some point READ THIS BOOK. I know it’s super eerie and it’s set on an island with cousins?? Nobody really knows about this book whether they’ve read it not so I don’t have much to go on. I’m hoping that I’ll get to it soon because I must know what everybody’s been talking about. I also have her latest book which is also short and I want to read. I think it came out like 2 years ago so it’s not recent but WHO CARES?!

THRILLERS:

Little Monsters by Kara Thomas:

Gosh, I’ve had this book on my shelf WAY TOO LONG it’s actually shameful. And I’ve been meaning to read it. I just don’t tend to pick thrillers up often. They scare me most of the time tbh as we’ve mentioned. I just most of the time never really care about murder mysteries? But I’ve heard so much about this one and I really want to read it. I think it’s about a girl who goes missing at a party and idk maybe her body is found?? Just read it Ruby and you’ll find out.

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People Like Us by Dana Mele:

Okay, actually I have been eyeing this book on my shelf recently. It was one of my most anticipated releases a while back when I was still obsessed with Pretty Little Liars. That phase is over BUT I was sent an ARC through this service. It arrived late because the postal service sucks but still. I feel like it’ll just be a super addictive read that I won’t be able to put down. I think I read the first like 50 pages ages ago when it arrived but I wasn’t in the mood (which is my brand at this point) and it was also set at a boarding school. It had something to do with a lake?? I’m not entirely sure. I read a mystery early this year which had that sort of vibe so I’m definitely delving more into the genre, it’s just not my go-to. But yes, I think this may be one I pick up soon because I’m just in the mood for addictive and creepy stories.

The purpose of this post is to put it out there to actually get off my butt and read these books. Will it actually happen? Probably not because my brain listens to no-one when deciding what to read. I can’t be held accountable. But I do really want to get to these books soon so here’s to hoping it does happen.

HAVE YOU READ ANY OF THESE BOOKS? WHAT BOOKS ARE ON YOUR HALLOWEEN TBR? WHAT ARE YOUR FAVOURITE SPOOKY BOOKS? I’D LOVE TO KNOW!

xo