#5OnMyTBR | Autumnal Reads – Chapter Malliumpkin

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Salutations Chapterlings! I have officially entered spooky mode! Yes, that magical time where my fall themes are everywhere. If you recently saw my IG stories, you know I recently hauled some spooky decorations and have officially decorated my reading space with them. But what about my reading? Oh don’t worry about that! I have a giant spooky season tbr… like usual! But those are details best reserved closer to October. However, among all those books, I have a few books prioritized. Please understand, I’m not much of a horror or thriller reader and mysteries aren’t my usual forte either. I do make exceptions at times, but it’s not often. Anyway, here are the top five prioritized on my spooky tbr that I’m really excited to get to!

🍁 Ninth House (Alex Stern #1) by Leigh Bardugo 🍁

“Galaxy “Alex” Stern is the most unlikely member of Yale’s freshman class. Raised in the Los Angeles hinterlands by a hippie mom, Alex dropped out of school early and into a world of shady drug dealer boyfriends, dead-end jobs, and much, much worse. By age twenty, in fact, she is the sole survivor of a horrific, unsolved multiple homicide. Some might say she’s thrown her life away. But at her hospital bed, Alex is offered a second chance: to attend one of the world’s most elite universities on a full ride. What’s the catch, and why her?”

This is at the top of my list for two reasons. For starters, my lovely friend Dani at My Heart Is Booked got me a signed copy and that means the whole world to me that she was able to do that for me. And the second reason, my wonderful friend Robin at Paperbacks and Planners has agreed to put off reading this until October to buddy read it with me! As you can see, this is a pretty special and important read for me this spooky season. I’ve heard a lot of mixed things, but I’m still eager to read this book and see where I fall for myself.

🍁 Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia 🍁

“After receiving a frantic letter from her newlywed cousin begging for someone to save her from a mysterious doom, Noemí Taboada heads to High Place, a distant house in the Mexican countryside. She’s not sure what she will find – her cousin’s husband, a handsome Englishman, is a stranger, and Noemí knows little about the region. Noemí is also an unlikely rescuer: She’s a glamorous debutante, and her chic gowns and perfect red lipstick are more suited for cocktail parties than amateur sleuthing. But she’s also tough and smart, with an indomitable will, and she is not afraid: not of her cousin’s new husband, who is both menacing and alluring; not of his father, the ancient patriarch who seems to be fascinated by Noemí; and not even of the house itself, which begins to invade Noemi’s dreams with visions of blood and doom.“

Okay… I know I said I wasn’t going to do any horror, thriller, or mystery… and I know I’ve said I’m not the biggest fan of historical themed books. But, this would be the exception. This is the Dragons & Tea Book Club October pick! I’ve also heard a lot of early praise (before it’s release) about this book and have been low key hyped about it. Plus, Latinx Heritage month is still continuing in October. If I remember correctly, it runs from September 15th – October 24th. So this is pretty high up on my ‘want to read asap’ list.

🍁 His Hideous Heart by Dahlia Adler 🍁

“Edgar Allan Poe may be a hundred and fifty years beyond this world, but the themes of his beloved works have much in common with modern young adult fiction. Whether the stories are familiar to readers or discovered for the first time, readers will revel in Edgar Allan Poe’s classic tales, and how they’ve been brought to life in 13 unique and unforgettable ways. Contributors include Kendare Blake (reimagining “Metzengerstein”), Rin Chupeco (“The Murders in the Rue Morge”), Lamar Giles (“The Oval Portrait”), Tessa Gratton (“Annabel Lee”), Tiffany D. Jackson (“The Cask of Amontillado”), Stephanie Kuehn (“The Tell-Tale Heart”), Emily Lloyd-Jones (“The Purloined Letter”), Hillary Monahan (“The Masque of the Red Death”), Marieke Nijkamp (“Hop-Frog”), Caleb Roehrig (“The Pit and the Pendulum”), and Fran Wilde (“The Fall of the House of Usher”).“

I don’t talk about it often, in fact it’s taken a bit of a back shelf, but I really loved Edgar Allan Poe’s work. Young Autumn is internally screeching at the highest volumes right now. I also don’t talk about how much I love anthologies, short stories, and novellas. I feel like I read them all the time, but don’t talk about them as much as I should. Anyway, I picked this up on one fall morning of a really rough day and I haven’t had a chance to sit down and read this. So I’m eager to finally take the time to prioritize it. You all know how much I love retellings!

🍁 Capturing the Devil (Stalking Jack the Ripper #4) by Kerri Maniscalco 🍁

“In the shocking finale to the bestselling series that began with Stalking Jack the Ripper, Audrey Rose and Thomas are on the hunt for the depraved, elusive killer known as the White City Devil. A deadly game of cat-and-mouse has them fighting to stay one step ahead of the brilliant serial killer—or see their fateful romance cut short by unspeakable tragedy.“

Can we just pretend like I didn’t just put this book on my spooky season reading list? It pains me, incredibly so, to admit I still haven’t read this finale in this quartet. I haven’t read the novella yet either, but this book… this glorious, beauty of a book has been sitting on my tbr for far too long. This is on my ‘top five to read before the end of 2020’ and it has my top priority. So, before I can even read Kerri’s newest book, Kingdom of the Wicked, I have to read and finish this book first. Fingers crossed I can get this read before October even ends!

🍁 Ghost Squad by Claribel A. Ortega 🍁

“Coco meets Stranger Things with a hint of Ghostbusters in this action-packed supernatural fantasy.
For Lucely Luna, ghosts are more than just the family business.
Shortly before Halloween, Lucely and her best friend, Syd, cast a spell that accidentally awakens malicious spirits, wreaking havoc throughout St. Augustine. Together, they must join forces with Syd’s witch grandmother, Babette, and her tubby tabby, Chunk, to fight the haunting head-on and reverse the curse to save the town and Lucely’s firefly spirits before it’s too late.
With the family dynamics of Coco and action-packed adventure of Ghostbusters, Claribel A. Ortega delivers both a thrillingly spooky and delightfully sweet debut novel.“

But that synopsis though! Seriously, the synopsis alone has my full attention. Ghostbusters? Coco? Mixed together in this middle grade paranormal fantasy read? Yes please! This sounds whimsical and just an all around fantastic read for spooky season. Plus, I want to know how the cat on the cover comes into play! It’s giving Scooby-Doo vibes! I’m really excited to pick this one up!

Alright, friends! That concludes my top five books for my spooky season reading. I truly hope I can read all of these and keep some of my other spooky season reading plans. But that’s a secret until October! What are some of the books you’re looking forward to reading this fall? Or perhaps you have one book you’re anticipating picking up immediately when October strikes? Let me know in the comments below! Until next time, I hope you’re staying safe, your home is bringing you all the fall vibes, and as always, I love you! 🧡