You guys already know that (as of September 1st), it is already fall in my book! Maybe I've bumped my head, or had one too many pumpkin chai's from Starbucks...call me crazy--but I am so ready for the change in season! As a mood reader, I often like the books that I read to reflect the season or match the 'vibe' (for lack of a better word). I will often feel more inclined to read romances in the spring/summertime because---to me---those books are often brighter and fluffier. I'll reach for horror and thrillers more in the fall/winter because they are moodier and much darker.
To be completely transparent with you, I will reach for thrillers all of the time (which, if you follow my reviews, I am sure you already know). Look....mood reading isn't an exact science and I am no scientist! I never said that my mood reading tendencies made sense---but they do make sense in my own mind, and that's what matters!
Today, I wanted to showcase my spooky/fall reading lineup. With how busy my schedule has been recently, this may be a bit of an ambitious lineup but I am hoping to get through as many of these as possible---especially considering that this summer wasn't the most productive reading season for me.
Lock Every Door by Riley Sager
Thriller
No visitors. No nights spent away from the apartment. No disturbing the other residents, all of whom are rich or famous or both. These are the only rules for Jules Larsen's new job as an apartment sitter at the Bartholomew, one of Manhattan's most high-profile and mysterious buildings. Recently heartbroken and just plain broke, Jules is taken in by the splendor of her surroundings and accepts the terms, ready to leave her past life behind.
As she gets to know the residents and staff of the Bartholomew, Jules finds herself drawn to fellow apartment sitter Ingrid, who comfortingly, disturbingly reminds her of the sister she lost eight years ago. When Ingrid confides that the Bartholomew is not what it seems and the dark history hidden beneath its gleaming facade is starting to frighten her, Jules brushes it off as a harmless ghost story—until the next day, when Ingrid disappears.
Searching for the truth about Ingrid's disappearance, Jules digs deeper into the Bartholomew's dark past and into the secrets kept within its walls. Her discovery that Ingrid is not the first apartment sitter to go missing at the Bartholomew pits Jules against the clock as she races to unmask a killer, expose the building's hidden past, and escape the Bartholomew before her temporary status becomes permanent.
I have heard from friends that Riley Sager is hit or miss for them. This sentiment seems to be echoed throughout the reading community on Instagram/TikTok. I have yet to catch up on this author's backlog of books but what I have read, I really enjoyed. This is one of Riley Sager's most talked about books. I'm looking forward to giving this one a shot and possibly opening up to more of this author's works in the future!
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins
Fantasy/Young Adult
It is the morning of the reaping that will kick off the tenth annual Hunger Games. In the Capital, eighteen-year-old Coriolanus Snow is preparing for his one shot at glory as a mentor in the Games. The once-mighty house of Snow has fallen on hard times, its fate hanging on the slender chance that Coriolanus will be able to outcharm, outwit, and outmaneuver his fellow students to mentor the winning tribute.
The odds are against him. He's been given the humiliating assignment of mentoring the female tribute from District 12, the lowest of the low. Their fates are now completely intertwined -- every choice Coriolanus makes could lead to favor or failure, triumph or ruin. Inside the arena, it will be a fight to the death. Outside the arena, Coriolanus starts to feel for his doomed tribute... and must weigh his need to follow the rules against his desire to survive no matter what it takes.
I was a huge Hunger Games nerd in elementary/middle school, but I have been absolutely dragging my feet on picking this one up. Dystopian/fantasy novels usually just scream fall to me, so I found it fitting to include here! Also, the film adaptation of this book is out soon and I can't go see the movie without reading the book first. This is a must read by November!
The Cousins by Karen M. McManus
Mystery/Young Adult
Milly, Aubrey, and Jonah Story are cousins, but they barely know each other, and they've never even met their grandmother. Rich and reclusive, she disinherited their parents before they were born. So when they each receive a letter inviting them to work at her island resort for the summer, they're surprised... and curious.
Their parents are all clear on one point—not going is not an option. This could be the opportunity to get back into Grandmother's good graces. But when the cousins arrive on the island, it's immediately clear that she has different plans for them. And the longer they stay, the more they realize how mysterious—and dark—their family's past is.
The entire Story family has secrets. Whatever pulled them apart years ago isn't over—and this summer, the cousins will learn everything.
Karen M. McManus' book, One of Us Is Lying was the first book that I reviewed on the blog. It was a 5 star read but (again, I am a mood reader) I haven't picked any of her other books up since. This book, in particular, grabbed my attention because it is very much giving 'Knives Out'---great movie, by the way. Just like Knives Out, I have a feeling that this book will be perfect for fall!
The Secret History by Donna Tartt
Mystery/Literary Fiction
Under the influence of their charismatic classics professor, a group of clever, eccentric misfits at an elite New England college discover a way of thinking and living that is a world away from the humdrum existence of their contemporaries. But when they go beyond the boundaries of normal morality they slip gradually from obsession to corruption and betrayal, and at last—inexorably—into evil.
Dark academia is one of my favorite subgenera and it absolutely screams fall, in my opinion! I am a bit embarrassed that I haven't read this book yet, I know it is considered a classic for so many people. It is super hefty though, and I just haven't been able to devote the time to a 559 page book. I am going to set aside some time this fall to (at the very least) start this one.
Someone We Know by Shari Lapena
Mystery/Thriller
Maybe you don't know your neighbors as well as you thought you did . . .
"This is a very difficult letter to write. I hope you will not hate us too much. . . My son broke into your home recently while you were out."
In a quiet, leafy suburb in upstate New York, a teenager has been sneaking into houses--and into the owners' computers as well--learning their secrets, and maybe sharing some of them, too.
Who is he, and what might he have uncovered? After two anonymous letters are received, whispers start to circulate, and suspicion mounts. And when a woman down the street is found murdered, the tension reaches the breaking point. Who killed her? Who knows more than they're telling? And how far will all these very nice people go to protect their own secrets?
In this neighborhood, it's not just the husbands and wives who play games. Here, everyone in the family has something to hide . . .
You never really know what people are capable of.
I have several books written by this author on my shelf that I have thrifted or traded in Little Free Library swaps. I know she is loved online but I have yet to venture into her works. I had a friend really enjoy this, which makes me more interested to read it! She's has yet to steer me wrong!
Like I said at the beginning of this post, this is a non-binding schedule. This is more of a TBR (to be read) list than anything. While I am super hopeful that I get through several of these books, I am realistic and understand that I may not have the time to. All I know is that I am thrilled to get into some fall reads, whether they were on this list or not!
As always, thank you for reading!
XO,
Madison
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