Hello, February!
I can't believe we are already in the second month of 2021! Similar to 2020, the days and weeks seem to be blending together, so I'm thankful that we have another holiday around the corner to celebrate.
My style has certainly transitioned from more tailored and trendy pieces to comfortable lounge sets, but sometimes I still want to look a bit more dressed up and classy while still remaining comfortable. It is actually a lot easier than it may seem with all of the endless choices of loungewear and comfortable clothes available to us at the present. Lounge sets layered with a tailored coat and a fashionable handbag still manages to look classy and chic.
For my Valentine's Day Outfit I decided to stick with the classic Valentine's color scheme with a classic red sweater dress. This dress is so comfortable and I love the turtle neck and midi length to keep me warm. I added a waist belt to cinch in the waist and a pair of leather, knee-high boots to dress up the look.
Sweater Dress (available in 3 colors) // Black Leather Boots // Houndstooth Handbag // Waist Belt // Pearl Hoop Earrings
I hope you all have a wonderful and blessed Valentine's Day this year! Let me know in the comments if you plan on dressing up or wearing your favorite comfortable outfit.
xoxo,
Rachel
1 comment
The Christmas season is finally here! While this time of year brings joy and festivities, it can also bring stress. Trying to find the perfect gifts for loved ones while staying on budget can be a difficult task, so I created a couple of gift guides for both the men and women in your life with items from a variety of price points. A cable knit pom beanie ($12.99) is the perfect winter gift for her, or if you're looking for a luxury item, a Burberry check scarf is a classic and timeless pick she will love and use for years to come. For men, you cannot go wrong with a classic pair of Ray-Ban sunglasses (on sale) or a new sweater to take him through the winter season.
Cyber sales are still going on this week, so be sure to check out the coupon codes these websites are offering (they keep changing daily!) to make sure you are getting the best deals.
1. This polar bear sweater with fringe is too cute and perfect to wear for the entire winter season. You can currently get $60 off of $100 with code: YAY
2. I have these pearl hoop earrings and love them! I wore them on Thanksgiving and my mom asked if she could have a pair for a Christmas gift! They are currently only $14.50 (57% off!)
3. Who wouldn't want a pair of mules lined with fleece? 2020 has been the year of embracing the cozy life and I certainly plan to add these to my Christmas list! They also come in 3 colors. They are on sale and you can get an additional $15 off with code: HOLLYJOLLY
4. This body lotion is the only lotion that I have tried that genuinely makes a difference in my skin texture. I get little bumps on my arms and this lotion has diminished them and makes my skin so soft.
5. I love that this pink cable knit sweater (also available in white) has a fluffy finish. I purchased it during the Black Friday sales, and while they do not have a coupon code at the moment, H&M regularly has a coupon code available, so be sure to check back!
6. I purchased this cable knit pom beanie in red a couple of years ago and love wearing it during the Christmas season! They release it every year in different colors and while the red one I own isn't available, it is still available in 6 colors.
7. A mug that you can enjoy during the Christmas season and all winter long! I love the sweater print!
8. This cashmere blend coat is so timeless and comes in the loveliest pink color (also available in navy). If my husband is reading this, I wouldn't mind seeing this under the tree Christmas morning ;). It is currently on sale & you can get an additional 20% off with code: FESTIVE
9. Burberry scarves have stood the test of time and have proven to be timeless. If you are looking for a luxury gift to give the woman or man in your life, this is always a great option. My husband gave me one for Christmas last year and I love how it can complete a simple outfit. I also found a great dupe HERE if you are love the look, but cannot justify the price point.
10. I discovered this lip balm this year and fell in love! It makes my lips so soft and I love that the rose one has a pink tint to add a bit of color to your lips without the mess of a lipstick.
11. Who wouldn't love a pair of fuzzy slippers for Christmas? These come in 3 colors and have great reviews!
12. This soft, mock neck sweater is currently on sale and comes in 11 colors! Mock neck sweaters are so versatile and a must in your closet! Use code: FESTIVE for an additional 20% off
13. To embrace the year of cozy, this cable knit tunic sweater is perfect for wearing at home with leggings and slippers, or with a pair of jeans and boots! This is a timeless piece that she will wear year after year.
2. A classic pair of Ray-Ban sunglasses is always a great gift option & these are currently on sale!
3. For the man who has everything, this all in one flashlight tool kit is a unique gift that is also handy.
4. This sherpa lined jacket is both stylish and cozy and is currently on sale!
5. A perfect stocking stuffer for 2020! This neat little pouch attaches to your keys and stores your face mask.
6. A 10-in-1 cocktail tool is perfect for the man who prizes his bar cart.
7. A plaid flannel shirt is a great go-to for winter days and I love the colors of this one.
8. A pair of Ugg boots are perfect for the winter season and these are currently marked down!
9. For the man who likes to cook! This "spoonula" comes in multiple colors and has great reviews!
10. A 3-in-1 can cooler set is another great option for the man who has everything. It also comes in a few colors!
Faux Fur Jacket (sold out) - similar HERE & HERE // Buffalo Plaid Skirt (on sale!) // Black Over the Knee Boots - similar HERE & HERE
I hope these gift guides help you pick out or find inspiration for all of the lovely men and women in your life. Try your best not to stress this holiday season and remember that Christmas is not about the gifts. It's about a baby in a manger and sharing love and joy with your loved ones and everyone you meet!
Have a Merry Christmas!
xoxo,
Rachel
Happy Wednesday everyone! The season of changing leaves, crisp mornings, pumpkins, and all things cozy is finally here! With the arrival of the spooky season, there is nothing I love more than lighting a pumpkin candle and cozying up with a warm mug of apple cider and a good book.
I am without a doubt a mood reader, and I enjoy reading books set during the season I am reading them. There is nothing that gets me in the fall spirit more than reading a book with descriptive images of changing leaves, glowing jack-o'-lanterns and fall festivities. Therefore, I have spent far too much time doing a bit of research to come up with this list of books set during autumn or Halloween. I have divided the books into categories and I have also included a few new releases at the bottom of this post that may not be set during the fall, but are perfect reads for the spooky season. Without further ado, let's dive in to my cozy fall reading list!
Adult
Donna Kauffman, Kate Angell & Allyson Charles
Every autumn, Moonbright, Maine, is the picture of charm with its piles of crisp leaves, flickering jack-o’-lanterns … and a touch of the sweetest kind of enchantment.
Witches, goblins, the occasional ghost—they’re all sure to be spotted at the annual Halloween parade, where adults and children alike dress in costume to celebrate Moonbright’s favorite holiday. And no place has more seasonal spirit than Bellaluna’s Bakeshop, a family business steeped in traditional recipes, welcoming warmth—and, legend has it, truly spellbinding, heart-melting treats …
Between good-natured Halloween tricks, frothy pumpkin lattes, and some very special baked goods, for three Moonbright residents looking for love—whether they know it or not—the spookiest thing will be how magical romance can suddenly be …
Witches, goblins, the occasional ghost—they’re all sure to be spotted at the annual Halloween parade, where adults and children alike dress in costume to celebrate Moonbright’s favorite holiday. And no place has more seasonal spirit than Bellaluna’s Bakeshop, a family business steeped in traditional recipes, welcoming warmth—and, legend has it, truly spellbinding, heart-melting treats …
Between good-natured Halloween tricks, frothy pumpkin lattes, and some very special baked goods, for three Moonbright residents looking for love—whether they know it or not—the spookiest thing will be how magical romance can suddenly be …
If the title of this novel doesn't scream fall, then I don't know what does! I have no doubt that this book will get me in the fall spirit, so this one is at the top of my list!
Agatha Christie
At a Halloween party, Joyce, a hostile 13-year-old, boasts that she once witnessed a murder, Within hours her body is found, still in the house, drowned in an apple-bobbing tub. That night, Hercule Poirot is called in to find the evil presence. But first he must establish whether he is looking for a murderer or a double murderer.
The queen of mystery, Agatha Christie, created a murder mystery set at a Halloween party. I read one of her other works, The Murder on the Orient Express, during the spring and loved it, so I'm excited to dive into this one!
Sarah Addison Allen
It's October in Bascom, North Carolina, and autumn will not go quietly. As temperatures drop and leaves begin to turn, the Waverley women are made restless by the whims of their mischievous apple tree... and all the magic that swirls around it. But this year, first frost has much more in store.
Claire Waverley has started a successful new venture, Waverley's Candies. Though her handcrafted confections-rose to recall lost love, lavender to promote happiness and lemon verbena to soothe throats and minds-are singularly effective, the business of selling them is costing her the everyday joys of her family, and her belief in her own precious gifts.
Sydney Waverley, too, is losing her balance. With each passing day she longs more for a baby- a namesake for her wonderful Henry. Yet the longer she tries, the more her desire becomes an unquenchable thirst, stealing the pleasure out of the life she already has.
Sydney's daughter, Bay, has lost her heart to the boy she knows it belongs to...if only he could see it, too. But how can he, when he is so far outside her grasp that he appears to her as little more than a puff of smoke?
When a mysterious stranger shows up and challenges the very heart of their family, each of them must make choices they have never confronted before. And through it all, the Waverley sisters must search for a way to hold their family together through their troublesome season of change, waiting for that extraordinary event that is First Frost.
Claire Waverley has started a successful new venture, Waverley's Candies. Though her handcrafted confections-rose to recall lost love, lavender to promote happiness and lemon verbena to soothe throats and minds-are singularly effective, the business of selling them is costing her the everyday joys of her family, and her belief in her own precious gifts.
Sydney Waverley, too, is losing her balance. With each passing day she longs more for a baby- a namesake for her wonderful Henry. Yet the longer she tries, the more her desire becomes an unquenchable thirst, stealing the pleasure out of the life she already has.
Sydney's daughter, Bay, has lost her heart to the boy she knows it belongs to...if only he could see it, too. But how can he, when he is so far outside her grasp that he appears to her as little more than a puff of smoke?
When a mysterious stranger shows up and challenges the very heart of their family, each of them must make choices they have never confronted before. And through it all, the Waverley sisters must search for a way to hold their family together through their troublesome season of change, waiting for that extraordinary event that is First Frost.
Being a North Carolinian, I'm excited to read a novel set in North Carolina during the fall. With the addition of magic and mystery this one is sure to please.
Simone St. James
Vermont, 1950. There's a place for the girls whom no one wants—the troublemakers, the illegitimate, the ones too smart for their own good. It's called Idlewild Hall, and local legend says the boarding school is haunted. Four roommates bond over their whispered fears, their friendship blossoming—until one of them mysteriously disappears....
Vermont, 2014. Twenty years ago, journalist Fiona Sheridan's elder sister’s body was found in the overgrown fields near the ruins of Idlewild Hall. And although her sister’s boyfriend was tried and convicted of the murder, Fiona can’t stop revisiting the events, unable to shake the feeling that something was never right about the case.
When Fiona discovers that Idlewild Hall is being restored by an anonymous benefactor, she decides to write a story about it. But a shocking discovery during renovations links the loss of her sister to secrets that were meant to stay hidden in the past—and a voice that won’t be silenced....
Vermont, 2014. Twenty years ago, journalist Fiona Sheridan's elder sister’s body was found in the overgrown fields near the ruins of Idlewild Hall. And although her sister’s boyfriend was tried and convicted of the murder, Fiona can’t stop revisiting the events, unable to shake the feeling that something was never right about the case.
When Fiona discovers that Idlewild Hall is being restored by an anonymous benefactor, she decides to write a story about it. But a shocking discovery during renovations links the loss of her sister to secrets that were meant to stay hidden in the past—and a voice that won’t be silenced....
Vermont in autumn, a haunted boarding school and a mystery? Sign me up!
Devotions For The Fall
Thomas Nelson
The heat of the summer is fading away, and it's time to start looking forward to America's favorite season of all: fall. Fall means tailgating at football games, gathering pumpkins, wearing boots and scarves, and savoring the crisp sunny days, delightful scents, and delicious tastes of the season. The beautiful reds and golds of fall inspire us to thank God for His many blessings.
In Devotions for the Fall, you will find 40 devotions together with gorgeous photographs, prayers of thanksgiving, inspiring quotes, ideas for fun fall activities, and recipes to warm your heart. Relax by the fire, sip some apple cider, and enjoy the season to the fullest with Devotions for the Fall.
If you are looking for a new devotion book filled with beautiful autumnal imagery then you will be delighted by this new release!
Lisa Kleypas
Headstrong American heiress Lillian Bowman has come to England to find an aristocratic husband. Unfortunately, no man is strong enough to tame the stubborn beauty's fierce will. Except, perhaps, the powerful and arrogant Earl of Westcliff—a man Lillian despises more than anyone she's ever met.
Marcus, Lord Westcliff, is famous for his icy English reserve and his supreme self-control. But something about the audacious Lillian drives him mad. Whenever they're in the same room, they can't stop themselves from battling furiously to gain the upper hand.
Then one afternoon, a stunningly sensuous encounter changes everything . . . and Lillian discovers that beneath the earl's reserved façade, he is the passionate and tender lover of her dreams. What neither Westcliff nor Lillian suspect, however, is that a sinister conspiracy threatens to destroy any chance of happiness. After a shocking betrayal endangers Lillian's safety—and possibly her life—will Marcus be able to save her before it's too late?
This one is perfect for those who love historical fiction and romances, and the fall leaves on the color definitely gets me in the fall spirit!
Kathleen Suzette
“Hazel Martin is the meanest woman in all of Pumpkin Hollow,” I said. Everyone knew it. But I may have said it one time too many, because when she turned up dead, the police were looking at me. Mia Jordan has just moved home after being gone ten years, and when she discovers a neighbor has been murdered, it casts a shadow on the town's year-round Halloween theme. Can Mia find the killer and save the town's Halloween celebration before it's too late? Halloween is celebrated all year long in Pumpkin Hollow. There are no paranormal elements, just good clean fun! And a murder, of course.
For those of you who love a cozy mystery, Candy Coated Murder is for you! This is set in a town called Pumpkin Hollow, which celebrates Halloween all year long.
Leslie Meier, Lee Hollis & Barbara Ross
Tricks and treats keep the Halloween spirit alive in coastal Maine. But this year the haunted house theme is getting carried a little too far . . .
HAUNTED HOUSE MURDER by LESLIE MEIER
Newcomers to Tinker’s Cove, Ty and Heather Moon have moved into a dilapidated house reputed to be a haven for ghosts. Now strange noises and flickering lights erupt from the house at all hours and neighborly relations are on edge. And when a local boy goes missing near the house, it’s up to Lucy Stone to unravel the mystery of the eccentric couple and their increasingly frightful behavior.
DEATH BY HAUNTED HOUSE by LEE HOLLIS
For the past two years, the house next door to Hayley Powell has sat abandoned after the owner died under mysterious circumstances. The Salinger family has recently taken possession of the property, but the realtor behind the deal has vanished—after a very public and angry argument with Damien Salinger. If Bar Harbor’s newest neighbors are murderers, Hayley will haunt them until they confess.
HALLOWED OUT by BARBARA ROSS
With its history of hauntings and ghost sightings, Busman’s Harbor is the perfect setting for Halloween festivities. But when a reenactment of a Prohibition-era gangster’s murder ends with a literal bang and a dead actor from New Jersey, Julia Snowden must identify a killer before she ends up sleeping with the fishes.
HAUNTED HOUSE MURDER by LESLIE MEIER
Newcomers to Tinker’s Cove, Ty and Heather Moon have moved into a dilapidated house reputed to be a haven for ghosts. Now strange noises and flickering lights erupt from the house at all hours and neighborly relations are on edge. And when a local boy goes missing near the house, it’s up to Lucy Stone to unravel the mystery of the eccentric couple and their increasingly frightful behavior.
DEATH BY HAUNTED HOUSE by LEE HOLLIS
For the past two years, the house next door to Hayley Powell has sat abandoned after the owner died under mysterious circumstances. The Salinger family has recently taken possession of the property, but the realtor behind the deal has vanished—after a very public and angry argument with Damien Salinger. If Bar Harbor’s newest neighbors are murderers, Hayley will haunt them until they confess.
HALLOWED OUT by BARBARA ROSS
With its history of hauntings and ghost sightings, Busman’s Harbor is the perfect setting for Halloween festivities. But when a reenactment of a Prohibition-era gangster’s murder ends with a literal bang and a dead actor from New Jersey, Julia Snowden must identify a killer before she ends up sleeping with the fishes.
I recently finished this one and think it is perfect for those looking for a cute and lighthearted read! This book contains a set of three novellas by different authors containing a mystery set around a haunted house theme.
Practical Magic
Alice Hoffman
For more than two hundred years, the Owens women have been blamed for everything that has gone wrong in their Massachusetts town. Gillian and Sally have endured that fate as well: as children, the sisters were forever outsiders, taunted, talked about, pointed at. Their elderly aunts almost seemed to encourage the whispers of witchery, with their musty house and their exotic concoctions and their crowd of black cats. But all Gillian and Sally wanted was to escape. One will do so by marrying, the other by running away. But the bonds they share will bring them back—almost as if by magic...
You have seen the movie, and now it's time to dive into the book! I sadly didn't realize the movie was based off of a book until recently!
Donna Tartt
Donna Tartt, winner of the 2014 Pulitzer Prize for her most recent novel, The Goldfinch, established herself as a major talent with The Secret History, which has become a contemporary classic.
Under the influence of their charismatic classics professor, a group of clever, eccentric misfits at an elite New England college discover a way of thinking and living that is a world away from the humdrum existence of their contemporaries. But when they go beyond the boundaries of normal morality their lives are changed profoundly and forever, and they discover how hard it can be to truly live and how easy it is to kill.
Under the influence of their charismatic classics professor, a group of clever, eccentric misfits at an elite New England college discover a way of thinking and living that is a world away from the humdrum existence of their contemporaries. But when they go beyond the boundaries of normal morality their lives are changed profoundly and forever, and they discover how hard it can be to truly live and how easy it is to kill.
Are you ready to be transported back to school? This novel is set at an elite college in New England and I have heard nothing but great things about it. It sounds eerie and mysterious, which is perfect for the spooky season!
Young Adult & Middle Grade
Maureen Johnson
Ellingham Academy is a famous private school in Vermont for the brightest thinkers, inventors, and artists. It was founded by Albert Ellingham, an early twentieth century tycoon, who wanted to make a wonderful place full of riddles, twisting pathways, and gardens. “A place,” he said, “where learning is a game.”
Shortly after the school opened, his wife and daughter were kidnapped. The only real clue was a mocking riddle listing methods of murder, signed with the frightening pseudonym “Truly, Devious.” It became one of the great unsolved crimes of American history.
True-crime aficionado Stevie Bell is set to begin her first year at Ellingham Academy, and she has an ambitious plan: She will solve this cold case. That is, she will solve the case when she gets a grip on her demanding new school life and her housemates: the inventor, the novelist, the actor, the artist, and the jokester.
But something strange is happening. Truly Devious makes a surprise return, and death revisits Ellingham Academy. The past has crawled out of its grave. Someone has gotten away with murder.
The two interwoven mysteries of this first book in the Truly Devious series dovetail brilliantly, and Stevie Bell will continue her relentless quest for the murderers in books two and three.
I read Truly Devious a couple of years ago and absolutely loved it! This is the first in a trilogy and is set during the fall at a boarding school in Vermont for students with unique minds and talents. The main character, Stevie, is a detective expecting to solve an unresolved murder mystery that occurred at the school, but as another murder happens by one of her fellow classmates, she then has two mysteries to solve on her hands!
Kerri Maniscalco
Seventeen-year-old Audrey Rose Wadsworth was born a lord's daughter, with a life of wealth and privilege stretched out before her. But between the social teas and silk dress fittings, she leads a forbidden secret life. Against her stern father's wishes and society's expectations, Audrey often slips away to her uncle's laboratory to study the gruesome practice of forensic medicine.
When her work on a string of savagely killed corpses drags Audrey into the investigation of a serial murderer, her search for answers brings her close to her own sheltered world. The story's shocking twists and turns, augmented with real, sinister period photos, will make this dazzling, #1 New York Times bestselling debut from author Kerri Maniscalco impossible to forget.
When her work on a string of savagely killed corpses drags Audrey into the investigation of a serial murderer, her search for answers brings her close to her own sheltered world. The story's shocking twists and turns, augmented with real, sinister period photos, will make this dazzling, #1 New York Times bestselling debut from author Kerri Maniscalco impossible to forget.
Based on one of history's serial killers, a wealthy seventeen-year-old girl used to a life of luxury takes on the mystery of Jack the Ripper. This book has great reviews and I can hardly wait to read this one!
Katherine Arden
After suffering a tragic loss, eleven-year-old Ollie who only finds solace in books discovers a chilling ghost story about a girl named Beth, the two brothers who loved her, and a peculiar deal made with "the smiling man"--a sinister specter who grants your most tightly held wish, but only for the ultimate price.
Captivated by the tale, Ollie begins to wonder if the smiling man might be real when she stumbles upon the graves of the very people she's been reading about on a school trip to a nearby farm. Then, later, when her school bus breaks down on the ride home, the strange bus driver tells Ollie and her classmates: "Best get moving. At nightfall they'll come for the rest of you." Nightfall is, indeed, fast descending when Ollie's previously broken digital wristwatch begins a startling countdown and delivers a terrifying message: RUN.
Only Ollie and two of her classmates heed these warnings. As the trio head out into the woods--bordered by a field of scarecrows that seem to be watching them--the bus driver has just one final piece of advice for Ollie and her friends: "Avoid large places. Keep to small."
And with that, a deliciously creepy and hair-raising adventure begins.
Captivated by the tale, Ollie begins to wonder if the smiling man might be real when she stumbles upon the graves of the very people she's been reading about on a school trip to a nearby farm. Then, later, when her school bus breaks down on the ride home, the strange bus driver tells Ollie and her classmates: "Best get moving. At nightfall they'll come for the rest of you." Nightfall is, indeed, fast descending when Ollie's previously broken digital wristwatch begins a startling countdown and delivers a terrifying message: RUN.
Only Ollie and two of her classmates heed these warnings. As the trio head out into the woods--bordered by a field of scarecrows that seem to be watching them--the bus driver has just one final piece of advice for Ollie and her friends: "Avoid large places. Keep to small."
And with that, a deliciously creepy and hair-raising adventure begins.
I recently finished Small Spaces, and don't let the fact that it is a middle grade novel deter you. This book is creepy! If you are looking for an atmospheric and spooky read, this one is for you!
Michelle Harrison
All Betty Widdershins wants is an adventure—one that takes her far away from Crowstone, the gloomy island where she’s always lived. But instead of an adventure, Betty and her sisters, Fliss and Charlie, are given of a set of magical objects, each with its own powers: a scruffy carpet bag, a set of wooden nesting dolls, and a gilt-framed mirror. And these magical objects come with their own terrible secret: the sisters’ family is haunted by a generations-long curse that prevents them from ever leaving their island—at the cost of death.
The sisters set out to break the curse and free their family forever. But after stumbling upon a mysterious prisoner who claims to be able to help them, they find themselves in great danger. And in order to break the curse—and stay alive—they must unravel a mystery that goes back centuries, one that involves shipwrecks, smugglers, and sorcery of the most perilous kind.
The sisters set out to break the curse and free their family forever. But after stumbling upon a mysterious prisoner who claims to be able to help them, they find themselves in great danger. And in order to break the curse—and stay alive—they must unravel a mystery that goes back centuries, one that involves shipwrecks, smugglers, and sorcery of the most perilous kind.
I am currently reading this one, and so far I am loving it! Set during the fall on the island, Crowstone, three sisters learn of the magic and curse that has haunted their family for generations and are determined to break the curse. If this isn't perfect for autumn, I don't know what is!
Rainbow Rowell
Beloved #1 New York Times bestselling author Rainbow Rowell and Eisner Award–winning artist Faith Erin Hicks have teamed up to create this tender and hilarious story about two irresistible teens discovering what it means to leave behind a place―and a person―with no regrets.
Deja and Josiah are seasonal best friends.
Every autumn, all through high school, they’ve worked together at the best pumpkin patch in the whole wide world. (Not many people know that the best pumpkin patch in the whole wide world is in Omaha, Nebraska, but it definitely is.) They say good-bye every Halloween, and they’re reunited every September 1.
But this Halloween is different―Josiah and Deja are finally seniors, and this is their last season at the pumpkin patch. Their last shift together. Their last good-bye.
Josiah’s ready to spend the whole night feeling melancholy about it. Deja isn’t ready to let him. She’s got a plan: What if―instead of moping and the usual slinging lima beans down at the Succotash Hut―they went out with a bang? They could see all the sights! Taste all the snacks! And Josiah could finally talk to that cute girl he’s been mooning over for three years . . .
Deja and Josiah are seasonal best friends.
Every autumn, all through high school, they’ve worked together at the best pumpkin patch in the whole wide world. (Not many people know that the best pumpkin patch in the whole wide world is in Omaha, Nebraska, but it definitely is.) They say good-bye every Halloween, and they’re reunited every September 1.
But this Halloween is different―Josiah and Deja are finally seniors, and this is their last season at the pumpkin patch. Their last shift together. Their last good-bye.
Josiah’s ready to spend the whole night feeling melancholy about it. Deja isn’t ready to let him. She’s got a plan: What if―instead of moping and the usual slinging lima beans down at the Succotash Hut―they went out with a bang? They could see all the sights! Taste all the snacks! And Josiah could finally talk to that cute girl he’s been mooning over for three years . . .
If you are a lover of graphic novels and autumn, then you will love Pumpkinheads! The entire novel is set at a pumpkin patch in Omaha, Nebraska, and it just looks so cute!
J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter has never been the star of a Quidditch team, scoring points while riding a broom far above the ground. He knows no spells, has never helped to hatch a dragon, and has never worn a cloak of invisibility.
All he knows is a miserable life with the Dursleys, his horrible aunt and uncle, and their abominable son, Dudley -- a great big swollen spoiled bully. Harry's room is a tiny closet at the foot of the stairs, and he hasn't had a birthday party in eleven years.
But all that is about to change when a mysterious letter arrives by owl messenger: a letter with an invitation to an incredible place that Harry -- and anyone who reads about him -- will find unforgettable.
All he knows is a miserable life with the Dursleys, his horrible aunt and uncle, and their abominable son, Dudley -- a great big swollen spoiled bully. Harry's room is a tiny closet at the foot of the stairs, and he hasn't had a birthday party in eleven years.
But all that is about to change when a mysterious letter arrives by owl messenger: a letter with an invitation to an incredible place that Harry -- and anyone who reads about him -- will find unforgettable.
How could I not include a Harry Potter novel on my fall reading list? The Harry Potter series includes all of the seasons, but just does Halloween so well! I have been rereading the series with the illustrated editions, and just finished the third in the series, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, and loved it!
L.M. Montgomery
Eleven-year-old Anne Shirley has never known a real home. Since her parents' deaths, she's bounced around to foster homes and orphanages. When she is sent by mistake to live with Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert at the snug white farmhouse called Green Gables, she wants to stay forever. But Anne is not the sturdy boy Matthew and Marilla were expecting.
She's a mischievous, talkative redheaded girl with a fierce temper, who tumbles into one scrape after another. Anne is not like anybody else, the Cuthberts agree; she is special, a girl with an enormous imagination. All she's ever wanted is to belong somewhere. And the longer she stays at Green Gables, the harder it is for anyone to imagine life without her.
She's a mischievous, talkative redheaded girl with a fierce temper, who tumbles into one scrape after another. Anne is not like anybody else, the Cuthberts agree; she is special, a girl with an enormous imagination. All she's ever wanted is to belong somewhere. And the longer she stays at Green Gables, the harder it is for anyone to imagine life without her.
This classic novel is set during all of the seasons, so if you are looking for a book set specifically during autumn this one is not for you. However, the famous quote, "I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers", is from this book, so I had to include this one in my fall reading list!
Cinders and Sparrows (release date: October 13th, 2020)
Stefan Bachmann
A suspenseful tale of witches, family, and magic from internationally bestselling author Stefan Bachmann. When a twelve-year-old orphan unexpectedly becomes the mistress of a seemingly abandoned castle, she is thrust into a mysterious plot involving murderous spells, false identity, and a magical battle of wills between the living and the dead. Readers of Kate Milford's Greenglass House, Victoria Schwab's City of Ghosts, and Diana Wynne Jones will be riveted.
Twelve-year-old Zita, an orphan and a housemaid, has resigned herself to a life of drudgery when a strange letter arrives, naming her the only living heir to the Brydgeborn fortune. Now the mistress of the castle, Zita soon realizes foul play led to the death of her family. And as she is guided through lessons in the art of witchcraft by the somewhat mysterious Mrs. Cantanker, Zita begins to wonder who is friend and who is foe.
This middle grade novel will be released in mid-October and I can hardly wait! Filled with witches, magic, mystery (and a pumpkin on the cover), this book will be a perfect Halloween read.
New Releases
Stephanie Meyer
When Edward Cullen and Bella Swan met in Twilight, an iconic love story was born. But until now, fans have heard only Bella's side of the story. At last, readers can experience Edward's version in the long-awaited companion novel, Midnight Sun.
This unforgettable tale as told through Edward's eyes takes on a new and decidedly dark twist. Meeting Bella is both the most unnerving and intriguing event he has experienced in all his years as a vampire. As we learn more fascinating details about Edward's past and the complexity of his inner thoughts, we understand why this is the defining struggle of his life. How can he justify following his heart if it means leading Bella into danger?
In Midnight Sun, Stephenie Meyer transports us back to a world that has captivated millions of readers and brings us an epic novel about the profound pleasures and devastating consequences of immortal love.
Alright, Twilight fans - The long awaited release of Twilight from Edward Cullen's point of view is finally here! Filled with vampires, werewolves and forbidden love, this book is perfect for the spooky season!
Alix E. Harrow
In 1893, there's no such thing as witches. There used to be, in the wild, dark days before the burnings began, but now witching is nothing but tidy charms and nursery rhymes. If the modern woman wants any measure of power, she must find it at the ballot box.
But when the Eastwood sisters -- James Juniper, Agnes Amaranth, and Beatrice Belladonna -- join the suffragists of New Salem, they begin to pursue the forgotten words and ways that might turn the women's movement into the witch's movement. Stalked by shadows and sickness, hunted by forces who will not suffer a witch to vote -- and perhaps not even to live -- the sisters will need to delve into the oldest magics, draw new alliances, and heal the bond between them if they want to survive.
There's no such thing as witches. But there will be.
Witch suffragists in New Salem. Do I need to say more?
Naomi Novik
Learning has never been this deadly
A Deadly Education is set at Scholomance, a school for the magically gifted where failure means certain death (for real) — until one girl, El, begins to unlock its many secrets. There are no teachers, no holidays, and no friendships, save strategic ones. Survival is more important than any letter grade, for the school won’t allow its students to leave until they graduate… or die! The rules are deceptively simple: Don’t walk the halls alone. And beware of the monsters who lurk everywhere. El is uniquely prepared for the school’s dangers. She may be without allies, but she possesses a dark power strong enough to level mountains and wipe out millions. It would be easy enough for El to defeat the monsters that prowl the school. The problem? Her powerful dark magic might also kill all the other students.
There aren't even words to describe how excited I am to read this book. Eerie and chilling, A Deadly Education, is a perfect read for the spooky season.
TJ Klune
Linus Baker is a by-the-book case worker in the Department in Charge of Magical Youth. He's tasked with determining whether six dangerous magical children are likely to bring about the end of the world.
Arthur Parnassus is the master of the orphanage. He would do anything to keep the children safe, even if it means the world will burn. And his secrets will come to light.
The House in the Cerulean Sea is an enchanting love story, masterfully told, about the profound experience of discovering an unlikely family in an unexpected place—and realizing that family is yours.
Arthur Parnassus is the master of the orphanage. He would do anything to keep the children safe, even if it means the world will burn. And his secrets will come to light.
The House in the Cerulean Sea is an enchanting love story, masterfully told, about the profound experience of discovering an unlikely family in an unexpected place—and realizing that family is yours.
I have heard nothing but great things about this book! A novel set at an orphanage for magical children, this is a perfect heart warming read for those chilly nights.
Ashley Poston
Rosie Thorne is feeling stuck—on her college application essays, in her small town, and on that mysterious General Sond cosplayer she met at ExcelsiCon. Most of all, she’s stuck in her grief over her mother’s death. Her only solace was her late mother’s library of rare Starfield novels, but even that disappeared when they sold it to pay off hospital bills.
On the other hand, Vance Reigns has been Hollywood royalty for as long as he can remember—with all the privilege and scrutiny that entails. When a tabloid scandal catches up to him, he's forced to hide out somewhere the paparazzi would never expect to find him: Small Town USA. At least there’s a library in the house. Too bad he doesn’t read.
When Rosie and Vance’s paths collide and a rare book is accidentally destroyed, Rosie finds herself working to repay the debt. And while most Starfield superfans would jump at the chance to work in close proximity to the Vance Reigns, Rosie has discovered something about Vance: he’s a jerk, and she can’t stand him. The feeling is mutual.
But as Vance and Rosie begrudgingly get to know each other, their careful masks come off—and they may just find that there’s more risk in shutting each other out than in opening their hearts.
On the other hand, Vance Reigns has been Hollywood royalty for as long as he can remember—with all the privilege and scrutiny that entails. When a tabloid scandal catches up to him, he's forced to hide out somewhere the paparazzi would never expect to find him: Small Town USA. At least there’s a library in the house. Too bad he doesn’t read.
When Rosie and Vance’s paths collide and a rare book is accidentally destroyed, Rosie finds herself working to repay the debt. And while most Starfield superfans would jump at the chance to work in close proximity to the Vance Reigns, Rosie has discovered something about Vance: he’s a jerk, and she can’t stand him. The feeling is mutual.
But as Vance and Rosie begrudgingly get to know each other, their careful masks come off—and they may just find that there’s more risk in shutting each other out than in opening their hearts.
I have this one on my shelf and can't wait to pick it up! Bookish and the Beast isn't the one for those searching for a book filled with witches and warlocks, but if you are looking for a fun, contemporary romance to read on a cozy evening with a warm cup of tea, be sure to check this out!
Alright friends! We have made it to end of my lengthy fall reading list! Let me know what books you are planning on reading during the spooky season, and leave a comment down below letting me know your favorite books set during autumn or Halloween.
It's time to light a pumpkin, put on a cozy sweater and dive into another world! Happy reading!
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xoxo,
Rachel
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