I love reading in October. As silly as it might sound, it gives me a good excuse to read spooky and creepy books and I am entirely here for it. They’re not always ones that I will pick up in the rest of the year, but I definitely indulged this month! I have to admit that I wasn’t amazing at sticking to my TBR for the month but I did end up reading 20 books and finally breaking 200 books read this month!
1. No Exit by Taylor Adams
Rating: 5 stars
Format: Physical Copy
Review: This was one of those books that I just could not put down. I picked it up to read for a bit one evening and I just didn’t stop until it got to the end. I was so engaged with the story. It might not have been the best written thing I ever read, but it kept me guessing and I just had to know what was happening. Then just when I thought I had figured it out, it hit me in the face with another twist. I enjoy a really good contained mystery thriller.
2. Pumpkin Heads by Rainbow Rowell and Faith Erin Hicks
Rating: 5 stars
Format: Graphic Novel (Physical Copy)
Review: This was such a cute little story. Again, it wasn’t the most amazing thing ever, because it doesn’t have the most spectacular story, but after reading the chapter sampler through NetGalley, I knew I wanted to read the whole thing. I loved the romance in this graphic novel, and I loved the way hijinx kept happening. I also loved the goat. It was just a lovely fall read, and if you want something cute and easy, I recommend it.
3. Seraphina by Rachel Hartman
Rating: 4 stars
Format: Audiobook
Review: I didn’t have high expectations going into Seraphina. I was intrigued, but I had to admit it wasn’t high on my TBR when I came across the audiobook through my library. However, it definitely exceeded my expectations. I loved Seraphina as a character, and I loved watching her deal with the trials and tribulations of being a half dragon, and it was nice to watch her grow as a character. The intrigue was interesting, and I had fun listening. However, I just wasn’t as immersed in the story as other books, which is why it got a four.
4. House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig
Rating: 5 stars
Format: Physical Copy
Review: I loved the atmosphere of this story. It felt really original to me, and I was spooked and intrigued as the story grew and built. I loved the main character, and I empathised with her a lot as she tried to figure out what was happening to her sisters. It kept twisting and turning, and I kept guessing and being wrong. I loved it. The ending made me stupidly happy. I highly recommend this one.
5. Medicine Walk by Richard Wagamese
Rating: 3 stars
Format: Physical Copy
Review: I read this book for school as a potential novel study for one of my classes. It was a bit of an adjustment in how the story was written because the use of names was very minimal, which was strange. However, I was interested in what was happening and that is what motivated me to get through it. However, it was a slow read when I kind of wanted something a little bit more fast paced. I expected more from the stories from the dad, but the ones that we got was interesting. So ultimately, it averaged out to about a three.
6. The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell
Rating: 4 stars
Format: eBook
Review: I have a review of this one up on the blog. You can find it here.
7. Hamlet by William Shakespeare
Rating: 5 stars
Format: Physical Copy
Review: I have talked about Hamlet before, or at least I think I have. I always have fun reading it. I read it with students for my English 12 class. Some kids liked it, some kids didn’t, so I think it about evened out. I had fun though!
8. Haunted Canada by Joel A. Sutherland
Rating: 3 stars
Format: Physical Copy
Review: One of my favourite Halloween activities I have ever done was a ghost walk around Victoria. It was so spooky and I loved that it was a different kind of history included. That was what I was hoping to get out of this book. I sort of got it, but I also didn’t in a lot of places, so it got a three. However, I did enjoy the historical aspects.
9. When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon
Rating: 5 stars
Format: Audiobook
Review: This was an audiobook I had put on hold in hopes of reading it for a readathon over the summer. That never happened, but it came through this month and I’m so glad. It was such a cute little story. It wasn’t like any romance that I had read thus far, and I liked the push and pull between Dimple and Rishi. I don’t know a lot about coding, so I was okay that even though it was a coding camp that they didn’t overly focus on that. It was definitely a cute story.
10. Haunted Canada 3 by Joel A. Sutherland
Rating: 3 stars
Format: Physical Copy
Review: See above for the review for Haunted Canada above.
11. The Bone Houses by Emily Lloyd-Jones
Rating: 5 stars
Format: Physical Copy
Review: I picked this up on a whim because I was in a mood for a certain kind of YA read. The Bone Houses was just what I wanted. I loved the main female character and how her chosen passion was fairly unique. I also loved the main male character, because he was different than other male characters I had read recently. The adventure they went one was really unique, and I really enjoyed the world building. Also, zombie goat. What else could you want in the world?
12. Shadow Scale by Rachel Hartman
Rating: 5 stars
Format: Audiobook
Review: I have to admit that I liked the sequel of Seraphina even more than Seraphina. I liked how much bigger the world got, and I liked the villain. The whole concept of mind control and the invasion of your mind by someone else is a concept that totally freaks me out. I really liked the added cast of characters, and how the romance developed. I also liked a certain romantic twist that was included.
13. Neverworld Wake by Marisha Pessl
Rating: 4 stars
Format: Physical Copy
Review: Neverworld Wake was a super unique story. I found the premise of a pocket Groundhog Day-esque kind of world was really interesting. I wanted to know what was going to happen. The twists kept me guessing, and I really enjoyed learning more about the characters. The ways they interacted with each other felt realistic, and I enjoyed watching them cope and come to terms with what was happening to them.
14. Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
Rating: 2 stars
Format: Audiobook
Review: This was a re-read for me, and I have to admit it has been awhile. I loved it when I read it as a teenager, but I’ve since sort of grown to feel that the problematic aspects of the story make it less enjoyable. It still makes me really sad that the story focuses on Edward and Bella when all of the background characters are just so much more interesting.
15. Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare
Rating: 4 stars
Format: Physical Copy
Review: Another re-read for one of my classes. I always enjoy re-visiting Romeo and Juliet. It’s super dramatic, but that’s what makes it kind of fun.
16. The Waking Forest by Alyssa Wees
Rating: 3 stars
Format: Physical Copy
Review: This book was absolutely beautifully written. It had a really intriguing concept, and it kept me guessing, but the way the story built up and played out just wasn’t my favourite. I liked the dual points of view, but when they came together the story went downhill for me.
17. Godsgrave by Jay Kristoff
Rating: 5 stars
Format: Physical Copy
Review: I don’t want to spoil too much because this is a sequel, but I loved this book. It took me a bit to get into it, but the payoff is always awesome. Jay Kristoff is an excellent writer.
18. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Rating: 4 stars
Format: Physical Copy
Review: This was another re-read for school. I read it with one of my grade 9 English classes. I had fun, and I’m glad to have re-visited it.
19. The Thousand Dollar Tan Line by Rob Thomas
Rating: 5 stars
Format: Audiobook
Review: This was another re-read for me, but not for school. I just was craving some Veronica Mars and haven’t yet gotten to watching the new series yet so I thought the next best thing would be to listen to the audiobook. I loved it. It’s a fun read.
20. Her Pretty Face by Robyn Harding
Rating: 3 stars
Format: Audiobook
Review: This was an interesting thriller. It was definitely spooky, but in the end it was kind of forgettable. The different points of view were interesting. In the end it just wasn’t my favourite.
That is everything I read this month! What did you read? Let me know in the comments down below!
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