The Perfect September Read

if you're into cozy-ish horror

I have made it a mission to get back into reading novels this fall. It’s been the year of non-fiction, and I’m ready to return to my reader roots. So a few days ago, I picked up a book that’s been on my shelf for a literal year, and I had the pleasure of getting completely lost in the story and binge-reading it over a few days.

I did triple threat reading (I’m not sure if that’s a thing. I made up the term.) I own the hardcover but checked out the ebook and the audiobook from the library as well, so that wherever I was (driving, doing dishes, in a dark room), I could read. Yay for libraries! (And my apologies to anyone in my area who wanted to read this book last week, lol. I promptly returned the copies as soon as I was done.)

The Title Made Me Do It

The September House by Carissa Orlando

(Bookshop.org | Libro.fm | Amazon)*

How could I not read a book called The September House at the start of September? I love a seasonal read, and I feel like September gets a little bit ignored (it’s my birthday month, so I’m biased.) Fall reading seems all about the October/November vibes, but meteorological fall starts September 1 (different than the equinox start), and inevitably, even though it’s still hot here in Dallas, I get in the mood for some spooky reads.

The concept of this book was what caught my eye originally. What if someone moves into their dream house, discovers it’s haunted by some not-all-friendly ghosts, but decides to stay anyway because, dammit, it’s their dream house and they can work around anything?

As someone who has moved many times and gone through the house-hunting process, you know, I kind of get it. Like, hey, we did a helluva lot to get here, if I have to occasionally call the priest over for an exorcism or the walls bleed every September, so be it. :)

Here’s the back cover summary:

A woman is determined to stay in her dream home even after it becomes a haunted nightmare in this compulsively readable, twisty, and layered debut novel.

When Margaret and her husband Hal bought the large Victorian house on Hawthorn Street—for sale at a surprisingly reasonable price—they couldn’t believe they finally had a home of their own. Then they discovered the hauntings. Every September, the walls drip blood. The ghosts of former inhabitants appear, and all of them are terrified of something that lurks in the basement. Most people would flee.

Margaret is not most people.

Margaret is staying. It’s her house. But after four years, Hal can’t take it anymore, and he leaves abruptly. Now, he’s not returning calls, and their daughter Katherine—who knows nothing about the hauntings—arrives, intent on looking for her missing father. To make things worse, September has just begun, and with every attempt Margaret and Katherine make at finding Hal, the hauntings grow more harrowing, because there are some secrets the house needs to keep.

My thoughts:

I’m calling this cozy-ish horror because I didn’t find it scary, but there is legitimate gore and such, so it may depend on your feelings about horror. I loved the combo of humor, family drama, and some really troublesome (and one nice!) ghosts.

Margaret is a fun character to follow, and her whole “keep calm and carry on” vibe is both endearing and maddening (especially to her grown daughter who can’t figure out what’s going on.) There were some genuine twists that I didn’t see coming, and I appreciated the metaphor about the house and abusive relationships that was worked into the book.

I found this to be a page-turner and a great way to kick off the spooky season. Since I tried it in all three formats, I can confidently recommend it both in print and in audio. Both experiences were enjoyable.

So, if you want some spookiness without absolute terror, this is a great one to reach for!

I kept imagining the HGTV House Hunters episode for this. “Well, there’s one ghost that bites and the walls bleed in September, but that’s only one month of the year, and look at this beautiful wraparound porch and genuine hardwood floors!”

---

What are you reading this week? Have you shifted into fall reading or are you riding out the end of summer with beach reads?

*All book links are affiliate links