Reading Lists

Six May 2024 Books on my Summer TBR

Summer reading is here! Summer reading is here!

I love reading year round, but there is just something about summer reading. Mornings feel more luxurious without needing to hustle a kiddo out the door to school, and I can allow myself extra book time before I start my work-from-home day. I spend many weekend mornings at adult swim at our local pool, which I have really come to love and look forward to. It seems each time I go, everyone there has their nose in a book (or a Kindle!) Last, I just love the summer releases that get me so excited to pick up my library holds – seasonal destinations, rich people behaving badly, scary horror (especially haunted house stories), innovative thrillers that keep me up past my bedtime, and sweet and cozy rom-coms that make my heart happy.

My summer reading list is quickly approaching sixty titles, so to make things a bit more manageable I thought I would break it down into publication month and share a few from each smaller list.

First up, let’s take a look at titles published in May of this year that caught my eye and found their way to my Summer 2024 shelf.

This Summer Will Be Different by Carley Fortune

Lucy vacations at Prince Edward Island and meets local Felix, with whom she has incredible chemistry. But Felix is her best friend’s younger brother and there are many reasons they shouldn’t be together.

I enjoyed Fortune’s previous two summer titles, rating them four stars each.

The Five Year Lie by Sarina Bowen

A woman searches for the truth after receiving a text from her ex who vanished and has been presumed dead for several years.

My search for incredible thrillers continues. I am generally harder on this genre than others, and many thrillers let me down.

When She Was Me by Marlee Bush

Cassie and Lenora are the sole permanent residents of Cabin 2 in an isolated Tennessee campground. When a teenager camping in the neighboring cabin goes missing, they must find out what happened while reliving their own pasts.

In the summer, I will read just about anything set at a camp or campground…especially if it’s in the thriller or horror genres.

The Family Experiment by John Marrs

For those who are desperate to have families, thanks to the wonders of technology a new option exists: a subscription service for a virtual child created from scratch. From this technology emerges a new game show, where families compete to raise their virtual children with the chance to keep their virtual child or risk it all for a real baby.

The One by Marrs is one of my all-time favorite thrillers – I couldn’t put it down. This plot feels very “Black Mirror”, which has me intrigued.

Oye by Melissa Mogollon

Oye is described as a “coming-of-age comedy, telenovela-worthy drama, and a moving family saga”…all things that I love in my reading. I am not sure if I will love the telephone conversation format, but I can’t wait to give it a try.

You had me at telenovela. (And the great cover art!)

The Guncle Abroad by Steven Rowley

(Have already read at time of posting.) I was so completely charmed by The Guncle when I first read it two years ago, I couldn’t wait to spend more time with a literary family I love so much. In the sequel, GUP takes his niece and nephew on a whirlwind European tour before their father’s wedding in Lake Como, Italy.

This is a family I want more, more, more of. The Guncle books have so much heart, and I adore them. Another easy five stars from me.

Are any of these titles on your summer reading list? Come chat with me on Instagram @cozylittlebrownhouse!

October 2023 Books Read

October was an incredible reading month. I continued to work on my fall reading list, usually huddled underneath my new heated blanket with a steaming cup of Joffrey’s coffee nearby.

I’ll continue to work from my fall list through November, before shifting to my Winter Reading List. (Which I can’t wait to start working on in about two weeks!)

Five Star Reads 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Magic Lessons by Alice Hoffman

Black Sheep by Rachel Harrison

Big Bad by Chandler Baker (short story, Amazon Creature Feature)

Black River Orchard by Chuck Wendig

Four Star Reads 🌟🌟🌟🌟

Best of Luck by Jason Mott (short story, Amazon Creature Feature)

It Waits in the Woods by Josh Malerman (short story, Amazon Creature Feature)

A Haunting on the Hill by Elizabeth Hand

Three Star Reads 🌟🌟🌟

🎧 Hey, Hun: Sales, Sisterhood, Supremecy, and Other Lies Behind Multilevel Marketing by Emily Lynn Paulson

Bewitched, Bothered, and Biscotti by Bailey Cates

The Invisible Hour by Alice Hoffman

Two Star Reads 🌟🌟

In Bloom by Paul Tremblay (short story, Amazon Creature Feature)

September 2023 Books Read

The Honeys by Ryan La Sala CR: Scholastic

Weyward – Emilia Hart

The story of Weyward Cottage takes place during three distinct periods of time:

2019: Kate flees an abusive partner to the dilapidated home she inherited from her great aunt, but begins to suspect her aunt harbored a secret.

1619: Altha awaits trial for the stampeding death of a local man, and as a woman deemed dangerous, her fate is unknown.

1942: With WWII keeping Violet confined to her family’s oppressive estate, she yearns for her deceased mother and hopes to learn more about who she was.

This is beautifully written, sweeping story about three powerful women who seek to make a home in the world. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Honeys – Ryan La Sala

Mars returns to Aspen, a secluded summer camp retreat for elites, to explore the mysterious circumstances surrounding his sister’s horrific death. He settles in with The Honeys, a group of girls who maintain beehives, with whom his sister spent much of her time. Over the course of a hot summer stay, Mars realizes that Aspen isn’t exactly what it appears to be, and he could also be in danger.

This was a fun YA novel that kept me guessing until the end. I loved the atmosphere at Aspen, right down to its bizarre traditions and folksy horror elements. ⭐⭐⭐

The September House – Carissa Orlando

Margaret and her husband Hal have finally purchased their dream home – a charming Victorian on Hawthorn Street – but soon realize that the house is haunted. Very, very haunted. And September? September is its most active month. But Margaret refuses to leave – it’s her home, after all. Four years of nightmarish living later, Hal leaves, unable to take it any longer…but he won’t return phone calls and no one knows where he is. Their daughter, Katherine arrives to search for him, totally unaware that her parents’ home is haunted. And of course, she arrives in September.

I LOVED this book. It was so incredibly fun, and the nonchalance of the narrator about her situation made for a nice balance of humor and horror. Carissa Orlando will become an auto-read author for me. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

What Lies in the Woods – Lindsay Currie

Lindsay Currie writes spooky middle grade fiction, so if you’re looking for something lighter, or something to read aloud as a family during October, one of her books might be for you!

Ginny Anderson’s father is a restoration expert, and his job leads his family to a summer spent at Woodmoor Manor, a decrepit estate at the edge of a creepy wood. Locals worry about creatures that walk the forest, and when the mansion comes alive with eerie activity, Ginny devotes her time to uncovering the secrets within its walls. ⭐⭐⭐

The Return – Rachel Harrison

Four friends gather at an eerie secluded boutique resort after one of them reappears after two years missing, with no memory of what happened to her. But she’s not the same…

This book has a low rating on Goodreads, and the primary complaint seems to be too much talking and not enough happening for much of the book. I actually liked this, and enjoyed the dynamic among the group of friends. I wish Harrison would set another story at this creepy hotel, because the setting was fantastic for the season. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Cackle – Rachel Harrison

After loving The Return, I immediately picked up Cackle, the story of a young woman who leaves New York City following a breakup to take a teaching position in a quaint village upstate. The town is warm and inviting, perfect and picturesque. Just what she needs for a fresh start.

Then Annie meets enchanting Sophie, who takes a keen interest in Annie, wanting to become friends and spend more and more time together. Completely charmed by her, Annie can’t help but want to be in her new friend’s presence, even though the townsfolk seem to fear her. As unusual events begin to unfold, Annie can’t help but wonder who (or what!) Sophie really is.

Perfectly atmospheric for fall with just a hint of spookiness, I think Cackle is a fun book for anyone looking for a seasonal read. I am really enjoying Rachel Harrison, and will be reading Black Sheep in October. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Fall Reading List 2023

This year, my reading list is comprised of many genres, rather than just the spooky reads I have focused on in years past.

On the list: cozy mysteries, middle grade fiction, fantasy, a bit of YA (even though I generally don’t like YA), horror, and some literary fiction. A touch of magic. A graphic novel. It’s quite the autumnal mish mash of reading goodness.

I’ll be updating my reads and reviews in my September – November blog posts and on Instagram!

Spooky Backlist Reading Recommendations

An evening chill is starting to creep into the air, leaves will soon be changing colors, and with Labor Day weekend behind us, I am firmly focused on fall.

I enjoy the occasional spooky book all year long, but in September and October they are the focus of my reading. I tend to gravitate towards haunted house stories, or variations within that theme.

Here’s a few of my favorite backlist selections for you to add to your Spooky Season TBR:

Dead Silence by S.A. Barnes

A repair crew is heading back to Earth when they pick up a distress signal coming from the Aurora, a luxury space-liner that disappeared on its maiden voyage of the solar system more than twenty years ago. When the crew begins to investigate the craft, it’s quickly apparent that things aren’t right: there’s whispers, words written in blood, and scenes of horrible deaths. What happened to the Aurora?

The isolation of space is terrifying enough. Factor in missing spacecraft, salvage crews, and lots of unexplained death? I am all in. If you’re a fan of films like Event Horizon, Sunshine, and Supernova this one will probably work for you.

Wylding House by Elizabeth Hand

Wanting to work on their next album, a band takes up residence at Wylding Hall, a large country house with many secrets. The lead singer disappears within the mansion, never to be seen again. The surviving musicians reunite at Wylding Hall years later with a documentary film maker, hoping to tell their story and uncover what happened to one of their band members.

This gave me “Daisy Jones & the Six but for Spooky Season” vibes.

The House Next Door by Anne Rivers Siddons

Colquitt is a proper society lady in 1970s Atlanta, so imagine her disgust when buyers purchase the beautiful vacant lot next to her home and build a modern monstrosity of a home there. The tragedies of three different homeowners are presented, and the dread that builds over the course of the novel is perfect for spooky season. There’s something just not right with the house next door.

More eerie than horror, this is a great gateway to the haunted house genre for those who just want some tension and unease. (Or some great storytelling from Anne Rivers Siddons, who is known for her southern fiction.)

The Caretaker of Lorne Field by Dave Zeltserman

Generations of the Durkin family have weeded Lorne Field for almost 300 years. It’s the most crucial job in the world, although the town scoffs at the family’s determination to tend the field. The Durkins know that if they don’t, a terrible monster will grow…or will it?

This story had me guessing until the very last page, and I loved every minute.

Penpal by Dathan Auerbach

A novel that was born from a series of posts in an online horror forum, Penpal tells the story of a man who reflects on the horrible and unsettling events throughout his childhood to try to understand what happened.

The building tension and eerie factor make this one a standout I won’t forget.

Burnt Offerings by Robert Marasco

Ben and Marian Rolfe are ready for a summer away from their steamy Brooklyn apartment, so when an offer to rent a mansion in upstate New York comes along at a low price, they quickly accept. The one catch? Resident Mrs. Allardyce lives in one of the wings of the house and the family must leave meals for her. Creepy and inexplicable events begin to plague the home and family, who soon realize that their summer rental comes with a higher cost than anticipated.

1970s vibes and a creepy mansion in the country are a great combination. Maybe my favorite combination?

How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix

Louise must return to her childhood home after the sudden death of her parents, and she isn’t looking forward to anything about that: dealing with the loss, leaving her young daughter behind, reacquainting herself with her brother, and handling the sale of the house, which happens to be stuffed with her mother’s beloved puppets and dolls. Some houses don’t want to be sold, however, and the nightmare truly comes alive in this fun horror story from master Grady Hendrix.

I have completely enjoyed everything I have read by Hendrix thus far.

Kill Creek by Scott Thomas

Four modern horror authors are invited to spend Halloween night at Finch House, an empty and overgrown dwelling at the end of an isolated country road. What starts as a publicity stunt becomes a fight for survival in this engrossing page-turner I read in almost one sitting.

This is probably my favorite haunted house story to date, but it definitely veers hard into horror. (Unlike some of the other titles mentioned here, which are much lighter.)

Into the Drowning Deep by Mira Grant

The Atargatis embarked on a voyage to the Mariana Trench to film a mockumentary about legendary ancient sea creatures, but the vessel and all crew were lost. Was it a tragedy or a hoax? No one could say for sure.

Years later, a new crew assembles to venture back to the Mariana Trench. And those legendary ancient sea creatures? The mermaids are very real, and not like the ones in cheerful musicals.

A one-day read for me, this blend of horror and a bit of sci-fi was perfection. Into the Drowning Deep remains one of my most recommended books of all time, and one of the most fun reading experiences I have had.

Have you read any of these? Which one would you choose first for Spooky Season?