I’m so excited to share my October 2024 reading wrap-up because I set an ambitious goal of reading fourteen books this month. And while I didn’t stick strictly to my TBR I still accomplished my monthly reading goal which I’m so proud of. Plus I was able to increase my reading speed a little by setting challenging daily reading goals that I managed to hit. So all in all I had an excellent reading month and really enjoyed the spooky Halloween season. So, let’s dive in and discuss all the books I read this month and share my thoughts.
October 2024 Reading Wrap Up
L.A. Weather by María Amparo Escandón
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I started the month off by finishing off L.A. Weather which I started in September and carried over to October. In this story, we follow the Alvarado family as they face a year of trials and tribulations that threaten the very fabric of their family and personal relationships. Unfortunately, this book didn’t quite work for me. For starters, I couldn’t connect with or like the characters. Everyone was a hot mess express making it difficult for me to truly care for these characters and what happened to them. Plus, I didn’t really see any growth or changes in many of the characters which was disappointing. Lastly, it felt like every imaginable situation that could befall this family happened which was overwhelming and confusing to follow at times. It just didn’t work for me.
To learn my complete thoughts read my Book Review: LA Weather by María Amparo Escandón
Dracula by Bram Stoker
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With my next read, I finally kicked off the spooky reading season by finally reading Dracula by Bram Stoker. And it exceeded all my expectations. This epistolary novel begins with Jonathan Harker detailing his experience traveling to Transylvania to meet with the reclusive Count Dracula to finalize the purchase of his London property. While there he quickly realizes that he is being held prisoner and encounters horrifying revelations leading him to realize that Dracula has a sinister plan he’s enacting.
The gothic vibes of this story were immaculate full of dread and suspense which created the perfect spooky vibes. I enjoyed the characters and their love and devotion to each other. Perfect found family vibes. And Dracula was the perfect villain. Although he didn’t get much time on the page the suspense and mystery surrounding the strange circumstances directly related to him. For me it was enough to build tension and anxiety about events to come. Thoroughly enjoyed this book!
To learn my complete thoughts read my Book Review: Dracula by Bram Stoker
The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder by David Grann
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I polished off my first non-fiction read of the month and read my first David Grann book. I was nervous that the writing style would be stiff and clinical and I would struggle following the story. How wrong was I? Grann made these historical events captivating and a totally immersive experience. In addition to being an interesting historical event to learn about it also explored the darker elements of human nature during adverse situations where survival is essential. It explored the impact of empires and the questionable tactics utilized to advance and further political ambitions at the expense of their citizens. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys learning about various historical events.
To learn my complete thoughts read my Book Review: The Wager by David Grann
We Used To Live Here by Marcus Kliewer
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Next up was my most anticipated read of the month. And let me tell you this book exceeded every expectation I had. In this story we’re introduced to Eve as she’s waiting for her partner Charlie to return home to enjoy a quiet Friday evening in. That is until a mysterious family of four shows up at her front door with the father Thomas asking to tour the house since he used to live there and wanted to show his family his childhood home. Reluctantly, she lets them in, and after unsuccessfully struggling to get them to leave a series of wild events take place threatening all Eve holds dear.
This book started full of suspense and foreboding and didn’t let up until the frenetic finish. It was a chilling, wild ride and I was all about it. This is a book you want to go into blind to truly enjoy the suspenseful vibes and atmosphere of this book. I highly recommend it if you enjoy haunted house stories with an open ending.
To learn my complete thoughts read my Book Review: We Used To Live Here by Marcus Kliewer
Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez
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I took a little break from the spooky reads to enjoy a fun fluffy romance. This was my first book by Abby Jimenez after reading nothing but remarkable reviews, high ratings, and frequent recommendations to give her books a try I was eager to check out her work. Unfortunately, this book didn’t hit for me. In this story, we meet Brianna Ortiz as she’s processing her upcoming divorce after her husband’s infidelity with her best friend and helping her brother Benny as he’s struggling with kidney disease and waiting for a donor for a transplant. Meanwhile, Jacob is at a crossroads in his life after a failed relationship that led to his ex-girlfriend becoming engaged to his brother. These two clash after a disastrous first meeting but through letters, they develop a friendship. Eventually, she helps him out of a bind by fake dating him so he can save face in front of his family and a romance slowly builds.
This story had so much potential to be great. I really enjoyed the beginning with the letter writing and the fun way they grew into friends and started developing feelings for each other. However, once they started fake dating everything fell apart for me due to their continual miscommunication as it pertained to their feelings for each other. Throw in that I felt Briana wasn’t the right person for Jacob as I believed she offered very little to the relationship and he was groveling and begging her to be with him. Just didn’t seem like an ideal couple in my opinion.
To learn my complete thoughts read my Book Review: Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez
Things We Do In The Dark by Jennifer Hillier
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Hopping back into my more sinister, spooky reads I chose this one for its dark thriller vibes. And while I found the premise exciting it fell apart for me execution-wise. In this story, we follow Paris Peralta as she comes home from a yoga convention to find her celebrity husband Jimmy Peralta dead in his bathroom. She’s later arrested under suspicion of his murder and clamoring to clear her name. But as the story gains notoriety the demons from Paris’s past come back to haunt her threatening the stable life she’s built.
My main issue with this story was that I felt it lacked emotion and complexity. Multiple plot twists were revealed and delivered in such an anti-climatic way that you just breezed past them experiencing little emotional impact. I just found it difficult to become invested in this story and truly care about the characters and what happened to them.
To learn my complete thoughts read my Book Review: Things We Do In The Dark by Jennifer Hillier
Vampires of El Norte by Isabel Cañas
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My next spooky read delivered with the supernatural vibes interwoven with bits of history from the 1840s Texas-Mexico border and the dispute between the Anglo settlers and rancheros over land and territory. In Vampires of El Norte, we follow star-crossed lovers Nena and Nèstor as they confront the various challenges that tear them apart. All while preparing to battle the Anglo settlers and the increasing threat of vampires on their people.
This story was so beautifully written. The prose was delicious. The complexity and layers found in this story made it compelling and interesting capturing my attention at every turn. And the romance with the longing and angst was exquisite. I really enjoyed how all these elements came together to create a stunning masterpiece. I highly recommend this if you enjoy genre-bending stories with complex characters, steady pacing, and action-packed endings.
To learn my complete thoughts read my Book Review: Vampires of El Norte by Isabel Cañas
The Only One Left by Riley Sager
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I was excited to read this book by Sager as I’ve heard nothing but amazing reviews and feedback. And while he can be a hit-or-miss author for me this was a surefire winner. Sager weaves a story about Lenora Hope who in the 20’s was suspected of massacring her family one night. But due to inconclusive evidence, the was never charged with the crime. Flash forward to the 80’s and Lenora is in her seventies struggling with various health ailments that have left her mute and wheelchair bound. Enter Kit McDeere who’s a home health care aide who’s running from past transgressions at her job and is forced to take a position at the Hope Family Mansion caring for Lenora. Until one night Lenora types out a message on her typewriter stating “I want to tell you everything.” Interest piqued Kit falls down the rabbit hole of mystery and intrigue as she tries to unravel fact from fiction and piece together the truth.
This book was highly engaging and enjoyable. While Kit was a little dramatic and over the top for me sometimes I get that it’s often essential to have the protagonist be a little bit cuckoo to add some action and interest to the story. So, Kit definitely delivered in this aspect. Also the gothic vibes present in this story were incredible and the pacing perfection. I really appreciated the twisty ending which had my jaw on the floor. You should definitely give this a read if you enjoy twisty thrillers with gothic elements.
Hidden Pictures by Jason Rekulak
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Another book I was excited to check out was Hidden Pictures by Jason Rekulak. I know some people have their opinions about this one but I found it to be an entertaining and sinister read. We learn about Mallory who was recently released from rehab and eager to piece her life together and move forward. Upon her sponsor Russel’s recommendation she takes a job working with the Maxwells caring for their son Teddy. It isn’t long before she notices that Teddy’s artwork is dark and sinister as he depicts a woman being strangled and buried in a hole. Worried that he might be possessed by a spirit Mallory seeks the help of her neighbor Mitzi and landscaper Adrian to get to the bottom of what’s going on and save Teddy before it’s too late.
Similar to The Only One Left I found Mallory to be a little dramatic and irrational at times but enjoyed the story overall. While I had my suspicions about what was going on I wasn’t prepared for the ending and how everything played out. This was a solid story and perfect for the Halloween season.
The Guilt Trip by Sandie Jones
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When I saw this book I was in love with the cover and curious about the setup for this story. However, it was not what I expected at all and I didn’t enjoy this book at all. In this story, we meet Rachel and Jack and their close friends Noah and Paige. Due to Rachel and Noah’s long-standing friendship, they have formed a friend group that includes their spouses. They’re traveling to Portugal for Jake’s brother Will and Allie’s wedding. It’s there that secrets are revealed that threaten to tear these friends apart forever.
This book relies on false assumptions and beliefs which is the basis for the majority of the foundation of this story. And when I say this plot point was beat to death. Jones dragged this out for all it was worth and it became irritating. Like land the plane already. Then when we got to the conclusion it was a hodgepodge of events and reveals. At that point, I was just over it all. Not my cup of tea.
Killers of The Flower Moon by David Grann
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My second non-fiction of the month was also by David Grann and similar to The Wager he does an exceptional job of retelling historical events and capturing the emotions, tension, and climate of the time allowing you to truly connect and immerse yourself in the story. With this retelling, we learn about the Osage Indigenous people and how in the 20’s oil being discovered on their land in Oklahoma became the richest people per capita in the world. Then there were a string of mysterious deaths that began to occur amongst the Osage. And after a rough start to investigating the matter, the government stepped in leading to the formation of the FBI. And what they discovered was a diabolical plan to remove headrights and money from the Osage people.
This was a bit of a tough read for me since it dealt with a lot of bigoted racist attitudes and injustices towards the Osage Indigenous people. So, It was a little hard to stomach at times. However, it’s such an eye-opening and educational read about a part of our American history that’s not talked about or discussed. Again if you enjoy learning about history even the difficult parts of history you’ll enjoy Grann’s spectacular story-telling ability.
To learn my complete thoughts read my Book Review: Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann
The Hacienda by Isabel Cañas
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My second Isabel Cañas book this month was her debut novel The Hacienda. And wow was I impressed. In this chilling story we meet Beatriz newlywed to Don Rodolfo Solórzano she’s eager to let go of her past and secure a future for her and her Mama at San Isidro. That is until she discovers there’s an unsettling presence residing there. And after turning to her sister-in-law Juana and housemaid Ana Luisa for help and being rejected she finds that Padre Andrés is the only one who believes her and is willing to help. However, there are sinister secrets and games afoot and if Beatriz isn’t careful it could cost her her life.
Again Cañas crafts a beautifully written tale full of intrigue, foreboding, forbidden romance, and a spooky haunted hacienda. Yet again she weaves a fantastic tale immersing bits of Mexican history detailing the aftermath of the Mexican War of Independence. There are themes of colonization, classism, racism, and the thirst for power and the freedom it brings. Beatriz and Padre Andrés are complex and well-crafted characters full of emotion, longing, and angst. They are both lost souls trying to claim the brokenness that is San Isidro with its deadly secrets. This book sealed the deal and solidified Isabel Cañas as my favorite must-buy author. Looking forward to reading future works by her.
Home Before Dark by Riley Sager
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My final read was another Riley Sager book that featured the perfect haunted house elements which I couldn’t resist. We follow Maggie Holt who twenty-five years ago and her family moved into the infamous Baneberry Hall only to run away in the middle of the night after only residing there for twenty-one days. Her parents claimed it was due to the house being haunted and the horrors they witnessed. Her father Ewan released a tell-all called House of Horrors that detailed what happened during their brief stay there but Maggie holds fast to the belief that it’s all lies. As she’s settling her father’s affairs following his untimely passing she discovers that her father never sold Baneberry Hall and left it for her to inherit. Against both her parents’ wishes for her to never return there, she does just that desperate to get to the truth about what really happened the night they left.
This story was well executed. I loved the book within a book aspect and how it mirrored much of what Maggie was experiencing in the present timeline. This made the story feel cohesive and well put together. Additionally, I found Maggie to be a strong female character. She suffered no fools and was hell-bent on uncovering the truth that she knew resided in the firm foundation of reality and not some supernatural occurrences. The pacing was steady and true to Sager’s signature style was full of twists and turns. I really loved this ending it was superb. Another hit from Riley Sager.
To learn my complete thoughts read my Book Review: Home Before Dark by Riley Sager
Spooky Halloween Reading Wrap-Up
So, I added a couple of short stories to my October TBR and read two books to celebrate Halloween. I knew I had to add them because I had such a wonderful time reading these stories on Halloween. It definitely was the cherry on a perfectly spooky day.
Demon In The Wood by Leigh Bardugo & Dani Pendergast
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I’m a huge fan of the Grishaverse and the Darkling is one of my favorite villains. So, I felt what better time to read it than Halloween? And, I enjoyed it very much. I’ll be honest and admit I was hoping for more of an origin story containing specific events detailing the lead-up to his rise as the Dark General leader of the Grisha. However, the story that I got was well done and displayed the complex background and feelings that aided him in becoming who he is.
It made me feel even more conflicted about my feelings towards the Darkling. It humanized him that much more and allowed me to witness the factors and environment that cultivated his extreme hatred towards non-Grisha and his desire to create a community where Grisha was revered and safe and free to live and be who they are. Additionally, it showed how alienated he was and why he was so standoffish and rarely trusted others. It was really good. And if you love the Darkling and the Grishaverse as much as I do you’ll definitely want to add this to your collection.
Complete Tales & Poems Edgar Allan Poe
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You can’t truly enjoy a spooky season without a little Edgar Allan Poe! So you know I dove in and read some of my favorite tales and poems. And listen they did not disappoint when adding the chills, thrills, and delights.
The first short story I read was The Fall of The House of Usher and it was super gothic and atmospheric. One of my favorite aspects of this story is Poe’s ability to create fear and dread through the simple description of how the house looked. The tension throughout the story is palpable and leaves you waiting for the other shoe to drop. I loved every bit of it.
Next, I read The Tell-Tale Heart which is perhaps my favorite short story by Poe. It’s super sinister and is the perfect exploration of the more sadistic elements of human nature. And how the protagonist’s foolhardy arrogance led to his ultimate downfall.
Finally, I had to read my favorite poem The Raven, What a terrific way to close off the spooky season than with this gothic and creepy poem. I love the way it rhymes and the rhythm it follows. Then there’s the deeper themes of death, grief, and remembrance that can be gleaned from this poem. How in many ways we’re overcome by these emotions as we struggle with the loss of a loved one. It’s an excellent piece.
I highly recommend picking up a collection of Poe’s works so you can peruse and read at your leisure when you need a quick infusion of the macabre and gothic vibes.
Looking back I’d say that I had a terrific reading month. I met my reading goal, improved my reading speed, found two new favorite auto-buy authors, and had a total of eight five-star reads. Wow! That’s amazing. I’m looking forward to November and all that it will bring as I plan on reading as much as I possibly can. How about you and your reading goals in October? Was it a good reading month? Let me know in the comments below. Until next time happy reading friends!
Interested in seeing how my five-star predictions from my October TBR 2024: 5 Star Predictions went? Check it out and let me know!
