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This spooky season I decided to get into the Halloween spirit by reading a few haunted books. But it wasn’t all ghosts and witches, I read books about grief, relationships, and life journeys. From memoirs to magical lands, here is everything I read in October.
Clio was loving her carefree life as a stylist and influencer in New York. She has curated the picture-perfect aesthetic, except she holds a deep dark secret. She grew up in a haunted house. When her estranged mother dies, Clio heads back to Jersey with her sisters where they learn they are now the owners of the possessed house. While Clio’s sisters want nothing to do with the house that caused them childhood trauma, she sees it as an opportunity to flip a house for content. That is until a wicked presence reveals itself, causing chaos, truths to come out, and unspeakable things to happen.
4.5 stars
Review
It was a good mixture of fun and spookiness. Nothing over the top, or that will give you nightmares. However, there was suspense, something that goes bump in the night. The perfect story for Halloween. I thought the book kept you interested, wanting to know what happens next. *Spoilers* I would have liked the book to have included the older couple who sold the house originally incorporated into the story. Did they know about it? I know it says that the spirit can go dormant, but the fact that they kept it for so long when they didn’t live there makes me question them. And also know why Alex, or Clio, didn’t just tear down the house.
Morgan is making sure her 16 year old daughter, Clara, doesn’t make the same mistakes she did; getting pregnant and married at a young age. While they struggle to connect, the only person who can keep the peace between the two is Chris, Morgan’s husband and Clara’s dad. When a tragic accident happens to Chris, Morgan and Clara find it difficult to coexist. Morgan turns to the last person she thought she ever would, Chris’s best friend Jonah. While Clara turns to the one boy she is forbidden to see. With each passing day secrets are revealed, resentment and guilt build up, causing an even deeper estrangement between the two.
4 Stars
TW: deals with grief
Review
I saw the movie before I read the book. In my opinion this is one of those instances where both were equally good. I liked the things they changed for the movie, but I also liked how the book goes into more detail. It’s always better when you can read the inner thoughts of characters. It helps shape the narrative- especially when dealing with grief. The story is wild and unique, however, it does a good job capturing the different stages of grief. Especially between a mother who is trying to keep it all together and a child who is spiraling.
As a renowned journalist and presenter for over 40 years, Katie Couric has made a name for herself. From the Today Show to CBS News to being a wife and mother, we get a hilarious and brutally honest insight into Katie’s life. She takes us back to her beginnings, lets us peek behind the curtain of anchor news, and gives her personal thoughts and opinions on affairs. What I loved most about the book was the way Katie owns up to her faults, doesn’t hold back on her opinions on anyone or anything, and lets us in on dealing with grief. It’s brilliant, heartbreaking, hilarious, and filled with juicy gossip.
5 stars
A Demon’s Guide To Wooing a Witch
*Spoilers if you haven’t read the first book
Claudia knows she isn’t the ideal Mayor’s daughter, but she likes being rough around the edges. She likes working out at the gym, getting into fights at bars, and speaking her mind. After celebrating a victory over that horrible demon, Claudia sees someone in danger in the alleyway. It wasn’t until she saves him that she sees it’s none other than Astaroth, the vile demon himself. But something strange happened. Astaroth has no idea who is she. In fact he can’t remember anything at all, or why another demon named Moloch is after him. When Claudia is begrudgingly forced to team up with Astaroth, they go on a journey try to get his memory back ,and figure out how to defeat Moloch and save the demon plane.
4 stars
Review
This one was just as fun as the first book. A story filled with magical creatures, coexisting with each other in the human world. I did enjoy this book, however, I thought it dragged on a little too long. Or maybe I just got tired of the redundancy of telling the reader that Claudia is rough around the edges. With that being said, I enjoyed following along their journey and really loved the ending.