Autumn is the perfect time of year to get cozy with a blanket and a cup of tea and read a book by candlelight. Spooky books that don’t pack a crazy scare factor are hard to come by for Halloween season. This list of recommendations will keep you spooked, but in the coziest way possible!
The Classics
The iconic beginnings of the science fiction genre, this book is a classic for a reason. First published in 1818, this novel is all about a mad scientist bringing a monster to life. Mary Shelley questions the consequences of knowledge and the problems with trying to play god. If you are feeling big-brained, this book is for you.
This book is a spookier option from the list; it is an early horror novel that explores the existence of vampires and Transylvania. This nightmarish world of Count Dracula and other vampires with have you perfectly in the mood for a haunting Halloween.
Modern Romances
A witchy read is always a perfect option for the month of October. Payback’s a Witch is the first novel in The Witches of Thistle Grove series, and it perfectly sets up a chilly fall vibe. Emmy Harlow grew up a witch, but gave up her powers years ago when she moved out of Thistle Grove. Now, several years later, she returns to help host a family tournament. This return to her old haunts brings up old feelings, reveals truths from past relationships, and digs up some new romantic interests.
The Pumpkin Spice Café has blown up on BookTok. The first book of the Dream Harbor series—a cozy series centered around holidays—follows Jeanie, after she comes into ownership of the Pumpkin Spice Café, and Logan, a local farmer who can’t help but be drawn to her. This one has grump-sunshine small-town vibes written all over it!
Cozy Vibes
For the cozy mystery lovers out there, The Thursday Murder Club is the first in the Thursday Murder Club series. At a retirement home, four friends get together to investigate unsolved murders. But one day, a murder takes place right under their noses. Will the Thursday Murder Club step up to the plate and catch the killer before it’s too late?
For fans of fantasy who want to avoid a high-stakes novel, Legends & Lattes is perfect and is the start of a series. This novel follows Viv, an orc, who hangs up her swords after a lifetime of battle. She finds solace in opening a coffee shop and developing an unlikely group of friends, and even a love interest. The cozy vibes make you want a fresh latte and a warm flaky pastry as you turn through these pages.
Middle-Grade, Easier Reads
This novel is hardly a childish read, but it is heartwarming and appropriate for all ages. The House in the Cerulean Sea follows a 40-year-old Linus Baker, a Case Worker at the Department in Charge of Magical Youth, after he gets sent to an orphanage on business. There are six highly dangerous magical children there, and their caretaker Arthur Parnassus. If you love a found family trope, this novel is for you!
Last, but not least, this middle-grade novel is a fast and sweet read. Charlie Greer is in a family full of supernatural, or Extranormal, adopted siblings. Even her mom is the most Extranormal of them all, working with Charlie’s father for the Division of Extranormal Investigations! Yet, Charlie Greer is perfectly normal. Now, for the first time in years, her parents decide to go on a vacation, leaving Charlie to take care of her siblings. Everything seems fine until her new neighbors arrive in town. The Weavers seem to be a nice, normal couple, yet there’s something bone-chilling behind those smiles that never fade. Determined, Charlie decides that it’s up to her to figure out what’s going on in the house across the street, all without disturbing her parent’s much-needed rest.
We hope that you found at least one novel from this list to take you through to the end of spooky season. October is the perfect time to get these reads in, and this list will surely not disappoint!
What's Your Reaction?
