Monthly Book Recs | October 2024
What's your fall book vibe, spooky and supernatural or cute and cozy? I've got both.
It somehow didn’t hit me that my October reads were very, well, October until I sat down to write this post. We’ve got some (accidental) murder, vampires (and witches and portals), and a cozy lakeside setting. I’m not one to pick out my reads based on the season, but if you are, the below recs are either spooky, autumnal, or both.
I Did Something Bad by Pyae Moe Thet War
★★★★☆
October 8
I typically prefer my romances without dead bodies unless it’s specifically an action romance, and while I initially thought this was one, it’s surprisingly not. The murder had me scratching my head and I was questioning its purpose in the story, but everything made sense in due time, and I ended up really liking it! This story features a celebrity trope (one of my favorites!), plus the writing is really good. I hate to liken two minority authors, let alone two Asian authors, but the writing really reminded me of Yulin Kuang. I didn’t love the murder element, and think the story could have been just as strong with a different conflict, but I will admit that it brings a fresh twist.
In the story, a journalist is given a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to shadow one of Hollywood’s biggest actors for two months in order to write a feature about him for Vogue. Unfortunately, her first day on the job results in the two of them accidentally committing murder. Now, she has to somehow work with him to cover it up and get him to open up to her so she can write the revealing profile her editor is expecting — all while doing her best not to fall in love with him.
Fang Fiction by Kate Stayman-London
★★★★☆
October 1
While I haven’t yet broached the genre of romantasy (I know, I know), considering this is my third one this year, I’m a full convert when it comes to vampire romances. I was a little skeptical going in to this one since it didn’t have great advance reviews on Goodreads, but I was a fan of Kate’s first novel and to my surprise and delight, this one really hooked me; I finished it in two days! I will say the set-up and backstory do take awhile, more than what I typically prefer — the story doesn’t really truly begin until the heroine meets the hero around page 70. Nevertheless, it was a fun romp of a read, with some light action, magic, multiple romantic arcs, and plenty of pop culture references. A perfect Halloween read!
I went into the novel thinking I was getting a straightforward romance — girl meets vampire, goes on an adventure, and falls in love. In actuality, it is much more complex than that, with in-depth world-building and multiple POVs. A woman reeling from a traumatic incident is insulated in her small world: she goes to work and takes comfort in her favorite series of vampire novels. When a vampire — the real-life vampire that the character in her beloved books is based on, to be exact — tracks her down to convince her to embark on a rescue mission, everything she thought she knew is turned on its head.
P.S. If you’re looking for another vampire new release, I read My Vampire Plus-One by Jenna Levine last month. I gave it four stars on Goodreads, but it was more like 3.75. It’s a straightforward story if that’s more your vibe!
Catch and Keep by Erin Hahn
★★★★☆
October 15
This book is the definition of a cozy romance. Funnily enough, the title is pretty fitting — it lures you in with the idyllic small-town setting and then captures you with a sweet and steady romance. No high-stakes drama, no emotional rollercoaster, no third act breakup, even! It’s exactly the type of book you want to curl up with during a fall weekend. Technically, this book is the third spinoff in a series about three friends, but can be read as a standalone. This author is new to me so I considered adding the first two to my TBR list, but based on the reviews, I think this one might be the best.
After a proposal gone wrong, a woman flees her house, family, and job to escape to the one place she’s ever really felt at home: a lakeside resort in Wisconsin owned by her brother’s best friend’s family. There, she works to remodel the bait shop while giving fishing tours on the side to get by — a decision her brother is vocal about disapproving. Her brother’s best friend, however, seems to enjoy her company, and the two become intwined in each other’s lives.
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