Autumn Reading

There are some of my favourite reads from the autumn season:

1. The Lost Bookshop by Evie Woods (Kindle) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
   
   I really enjoyed loved The Lost Bookshop. Set in Dublin, a mysterious, hidden bookshop seems to appear out of nowhere. This isn’t just any shop, though; it’s a place where secrets are kept, and it has the power to reveal new paths for those who wander inside. This novel is a gem, one of those rare finds that feels like it was written just for anyone who loves books, magic, and stories of self-discovery.


2. The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson (Kindle) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
   
   I finally read it! And it did not disappoint! So atmospheric, creepy and unnerving, Jackson’s writing is so fantastic. A woman goes to an abandoned house after receiving an invitation to assist in an investigation from a renowned paranormal investigator. The house is not happy they are there.


3. The Pumpkin Spice Cafe by Laurie Gilmore (Kindle) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
   
   A fun and romantic story which perfectly suits the season. A little bit of 🌶️ but also quite a bit of heart. I will definitely be reading the rest of Gilmore’s Dream Harbor series. A woman takes over her aunt’s cafe in a charming town and meets a grumpy (handsome) farmer.


4. October, October by Katya Balen (Paperback) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (yes 6 out of 5!)
   
   I have already written about this. My favourite book of 2024 (so far but I don’t see it being beaten). I am now reading it to Austin because I want him to experience this wonderful writing and I want to read it again!


5. Rewitched by Lucy Jane Wood (Hardback) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
   
   So charming and cosy. The characters are fantastic, the descriptions are vivid and engaging. The witchy read is so good for this time of year and I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I can see myself re-reading this in future autumns. A witch who has barely used her magic finds out on her 30th birthday that she has to pass a trial in order to keep her powers.


6. The Woman who Lied by Claire Douglas (Kindle) ⭐️⭐️⭐️
   
   A thriller about a crime writer who finds herself living something from one of her novel. Generally enjoyable but I always find it frustrating when people keep secrets for the sake of the plot when in reality, they would share with their partner or loved ones if they really think that lives are at stake. A decent twist in the tale, though, made this a solid thriller read.

Currently reading to finish before December:

• The Ex Hex by Erin Stirling (Kindle) – I am struggling a little with this contemporary fantasy romance. The modernity of the writing feels at odds with the magical aspects. It is too much of a contemporary romance and not atmospheric enough. I will most likely crack on and read it though as I am somewhat invested in the outcome.
• The Last One to See Me by M. Dressler (Paperback) – a beautiful literary ghost story which is gorgeously written and utterly compelling. I just need to find time to read this as it is a paperback which I do not read at bedtime (my eyesight prefers Kindles!).
• Weyward by Emily Hart (Audible) – three stories are interwoven, read by three voice actors which helps to keep track, about the Weyward family from different time periods. in 2019, Kate flees an abusive relationship to stay in the cottage she inherited from her great aunt, Violet. In 1617, Altha is accused of witchcraft. In 1942, Violet starts to discover secrets about her late mother.

I would also like to reread Regeneration by Pat Barker as this is a fictional telling of the friendship between Wilfred Owen and Siegfried Sassoon while they were at Craiglockhart Hospital during World War I as it explores the trauma experienced during that war. I read this before I became a teacher as it was suggested reading for my course but now that I know more about these poets and their powerful, important poetry, I want to read it again and then read the rest of the series.