It’s already that time of year for pumpkin foods, jack-o-lanterns, horror movies, and all the best creepy books.
As such, Molly @ Silver Button Books is hosting Frightening Good Reads 2019, which focuses on reading all the best Halloweeny books during the season. Now that’s something I can totally get behind, which is why we’re here.
I’m 100% stealing the idea of a possibility pile from Dini @ DiniPandaReads, because being a dirty, nasty mood reader means that sometimes it’s near impossible to stick to a TBR.
Instead, we’ve got a possibility pile, which is a stack of books that I will hopefully choose from for this challenge, even though I likely won’t get to all of them. And now that that’s out of the way … let’s get to the spooooky reads! *insert ghost noises here*
In the Hall with the Knife (Goodreads)
A YA mystery based on the movie Clue. Obviously a book written just for me. I wanted to start this challenge off right, and what could be better than a murder mystery? Especially a funny one.
The Turn of the Key (Goodreads)
This has been recommended by many people as being a good read. Being found guilty of a crime I’m innocent of is a big fear of mine, so this seems like it’s going to be super creepy … and it sounds like there’s much more going on than just a dead child (as if that’s not enough) so sign me up!
A Lush and Seething Hell (Goodreads)
Psychological plus supernatural sounds like the perfect blend to me. The second story reminds me a bit of a darker version of “The Devil Went Down to Georgia,” and I love the idea. I’m actually really excited to pick this one up.
The Outsider (Goodreads)
What Halloween list would be complete without at least one Stephen King novel? I mean really. I’ve been interested in this since it came out, basically. It’s been awhile since I’ve read a King book, and I do believe it’s time. This summary instantly caught my attention.
A Monster Calls (Goodreads)
I have yet to read a Patrick Ness book, because I’m obviously silly. So this will be my first. It’s time. This seemed like a perfect introduction to him and also a great Halloween read.
City of Ghosts (Goodreads)
I bought this last year, because I was super excited to read it, and then I just … didn’t. Then I held off because it’s close to Halloween, and I wanted to wait. I’m glad I did, because now I’m all the more excited to read it, and I’m definitely in the mood. I’ve loved Schwab’s adult and YA books, so I’m curious to see how I do with her middle grade.
The Halloween Tree (Goodreads)
I bought this last year for a group read on Halloween, but I ended up being super busy with work and my kid, so I never got a chance to read it. So I’m hoping to rectify this year. Maybe not on Halloween, because wow, that was just such a bad plan that was always doomed to fail.
The Family Upstairs (Goodreads)
I’ve actually never read a Lisa Jewell book, despite hearing lots of good things about her work. So this’ll be my first. I was lucky enough to get a copy through NetGalley, and I thought it would fit perfectly this month. I’m definitely feeling this haunted/creepy house vibe that’s going on in this.
Before I Disappear (Goodreads)
This was sent to me by the lovely Leelynn @ Sometimes Leelynn Reads as a book she really enjoyed and highly recommended. I’ve been wanting to read it, so I’m excited. It sounds like the perfect addition to a spooky reading list!
The Library of the Unwritten (Goodreads)
I don’t think this is supposed to be a scary/creepy book, but let’s be real. It’s set in Hell, and the entire premise is an unhappy character comes to life to seek out its author. As a writer, if that’s not nightmare material, I don’t know what is.
Nothing Hidden Ever Stays (Goodreads)
Between this title and the bird on the cover, the atmosphere was giving me some hardcore Poe vibes, and I’m ready for that. Again, more haunted houses with eerie and mysterious backgrounds. Haunted buildings is one of my favorite tropes, and I’ll pretty much always show up for that.
Change is the Only Constant (Goodreads)
For those of you that have been to my blog before, this one will come as no surprise. To anyone who’s new … surprise! Math is my nemesis. I’ve had a deep-seated hatred for it pretty much since the day I learned it existed. But for some reason, life involves math, which is both terrifying and extremely inconvenient, so I try to give it its fair shake. I’ve heard good things about Ben Orlin and his ability to make math accessible, and despite my best efforts, I still remember an astounding amount of things from my Calculus class, which is the worst of all maths, if I do say so myself. But I’m ready for this. Mostly.
A Monster Calls is so good. But make sure you have tissues ready!
Awww, man. My scary stories aren’t supposed to make me cry. xD Duly noted, though.
Love your possibility list! I’ve got a Lush and Seething Hell on mine as well, and I hope we both read it so we can compare notes🦇
Yes! I can’t wait to see what you think of it. 😀 I’m really looking forward to it. Here’s to hoping we both love it!
Turn of the Key was such a highlight for me this year. It sucks you right in. I like a lot on this list though!
I’m so glad to hear that! I can’t wait to pick it up. 😀
This is such a fabulous list!!!! I call my TBR an idea-list because if I actually read it and didn’t succumb to my mood reading it would be ideal.
I have already ordered the Clue based book because….duh, Clue!
I hope you love City of Ghosts, I read it last year and I really enjoyed it. Happy reading!
Oh, I like “idea list,” too! I always succumb to my mood reading. I’m horribly squishy and fold like a piece of cheese haha.
Yes! I hope you love it. I can’t wait to get to it, but I did see that it’s supposed to be a SERIES! Which is even more exciting.
Um, *my* Halloween reading list is complete without any Stephen King. I have yet to be convinced that I can handle his scary books. 😉
But, that said, I am currently reading Bradbury’s Halloween Tree. I love his writing, it’s really descriptive and atmospheric. I hope you get to that one this year and enjoy it!
Well, you’re obviously a weirdo, sooo … 😉 But also, that’s fair. Some of his stuff is just really scary haha. I want to see the new Pet Sematary movie, but it looks too scary for me. xD
I’m glad to hear you like it! I’ve read some of Bradbury’s other work, and I enjoyed that, so I’m looking forward to this one. I’m going to make sure I get to it this year.
LOL, I’ll take “weirdo”. 😉 King’s work in the horror genre all looks too scary for me.
I hope you like The Halloween Tree when you get to it!
I’m too much of a wuss to read really scary books (or watch horror films) any more, Sammie. Most of my scares are on the cozy side this days. 😉
I hope you enjoy the frightfest.
Flora x
I totally hear you. I feel the same with a lot of things, too. xD I sometimes listen to No Sleep or Creepypasta, and then I creep myself out for a week haha. I tend to go for books that are more atmospheric/creepy than outright scary.
So many great titles! Both A Monster Calls and City Of Ghosts are brilliant, and I’m dying to read The Turn Of The Key, The Family Upstairs and The Outsider myself. I hope you will enjoy these! xx
Thanks! I can’t wait to get to A Monster Calls. :3 Lots of people have been saying it’s good. And I love Schwab’s other work, so I’m sure I’ll enjoy City of Ghosts, too.
what the hell I never even heard of frightening good reads
a lush and seething hell sounds good because I love the way the name rolls off the tongue lmaooo
Right? I love that title so much. You should totally join. It’s not too late. 😉
[…] Reads was hosted by Molly @ Silver Button Books. I posted my possibility pile for this read-a-thon here, and I knew I over-shot the number of books so that I’d have more to choose […]
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