Thank you Net Galley for the advance copy of this wonderful book. I read the first sentence and was hooked. Even though I have a pile of other books to read, I couldn’t stop reading this one, and the pages flew. This was such an original book, I have not read a similar one. The author is brilliant at building tension and suspense, and gradually revealing the story - the characters pasts as well as what is currently happening around them. I questioned what was real and what wasn’t several times in this book. Maggie and her husband of 30 years move into a dream house that turns out to be full of ghosts and other disturbing things, which greatly worsen every September. However, Maggie is able to endure and even be happy in horrible circumstances, because she has learned that everything will be okay if she just follows the rules. The way the story unfolds and is revealed from Maggie’s point of view really makes you feel a little nuts. It is the first horror novel I can remember reading from a feminist perspective and I Loved it. The women in this book go through horrific things but survive and support each other, even beyond “until death do us part”. One of my favorite books this year.

Prior to starting the September House, I had heard it was an unconventional haunted house story, but I was still flummoxed when the MC's very first statement mentioned bleeding walls in the most nonchalant manner. Margaret had not only become accustomed to living in a haunted house but had befriended some of its nonliving inhabitants.

September House was not exactly the jump scare haunted house story most of us have become accustomed to. For the majority of the book, the narration was a slow burn. Since I had read other reviews that mentioned the bulk of the action occurs later on, it wasn't completely unexpected. However, even with that prior knowledge, the unevenness of the pacing was still distracting.

The ending didn't quite deliver as I had anticipated. I was underwhelmed, and it was mostly due to the action happening very, very late, as in the last thirty pages late. I wouldn't have minded a quieter ending that matched the pace of the rest of the novel, but the 180 switch from slow burn to an 11th hour climax didn't quite work for me.

I would still recommend the September House for spooky season as it's still an entertaining read that just fell a bit short for me. Aside from the hauntings, which were mostly benign, the novel has some heavier topics such as generational trauma, domestic abuse, and mental illness.

Thank you to @netgalley and @berkleypub for my e-arc in exchange for my honest review and thank you to @letstalkbookspromo for coordinating it all!

Review:
There will be minor spoilers in this review so proceed with caution.

First off this book is 100% perfect for September and the coming spooky months. As the title suggests this book is about a Haunted House and mainly takes place in September. I have read a handful of haunted house books and they all have their own unique charms just like houses do.

What I liked the most about the September House is that the majority of the paranormal activity happens only in September which I thought was different and interesting. I also really like how the main character, Margaret is very resilient and adaptable. If I was in her situation there is no way I could have handled all of those kid ghosts, a maid ghost, a dead mom ghost, random adult ghosts, and the big old bad ghost in the basement like she did. I do think that Margaret was able to handle the situation so well because of her family history of mental illness and the abuse that she withstood from her husband Hal over the years. Both of these things let Margaret survive in an otherwise unsurvivable situation.

I really throughly enjoyed this book but not enough to give it 5 stars. It was a great read and didn’t take me long to finish at all.

Rating: 4 stars

I recommend to readers who love ghost stories, houses with a creepy past, small town with a secret, haunted houses, mother/daughter relationships

TW: Gore, Domestic Abuse, Alcoholism, Child Abuse, Death, Violence

Unfortunately this book wasn't for me. I didn't find myself rooting for any of the characters, and the main character was a bit too frustrating to me to enjoy. However, I know that a ton of people are going to love and rave about this book especially during this fall season! I absolutely will still be recommending this book and looking forward to hearing feedback from those I recommend it to for a good discussion!

This was a really creative take on the haunted house genre and was much gorier than I anticipated...that's a great thing! The only reason this is not a 5 star review from me is that I think the author needed to trust her readers a little bot more and not explain so much toward the ending twist.

Editor's note: The following summary review appears in Alabama, N.C. and Miss. papers; magazines Cullman Magazine and Athens Senior Scene

By Tom Mayer

Between 500,000 and 1 million books are published each year (a number that spikes to as much as 4 million when self-published titles are factored in) — and, with no disrespect to Egon Spengler as played by the great Harold Ramis, the majority of those are of the paper variety: Print is far from dead.

Printed books continue to grow as the dominant publishing platform with a reported 789 million paper books sold in 2022 in the United States alone.

But, say that you — a “constant reader” as the king of horror has dubbed us all — just want a good read? With numbers such as that, who has the time to churn through even a fraction of that voluminous literary category?
Well, nobody actually, and that includes the droves of book reviewers who periodically chime in with erudite recommendations panning or promoting in a line or two a body of work that likely took a writer months, if not years, to produce.

But this is the system with have and, barring an AI infiltration of robots scanning, reading and recommending books on their own, what you have below is a curated list of 11 of the best books I’ve come across in the past three months — and a baker’s dozen more that I’m working on for late fall.

And, because we all know that children’s publishing is an exploding force of its own (a $3.3 billion marketing impact in the US in 2022), I’ve added a separate list of children’s titles worthy of trading screen time for book time across a range of ages.

As for the adult titles, a few of these will have breakout, more full reviews — Robert McCammon, Robert Dugoni, John Grisham and Rick DeStefanis among those — as we move deeper into fall, but for everything on this list now, my typical disclaimer: Each of these books was read as an advanced reading copy (ARC), digital or print, and vetted against a final, printed copy except in cases where the publication time of this review didn’t allow for a final copy production, and those are noted as below, “books to watch for.”

The best of the best … for now

“The Better Half” by Alli Frank and Asha Youmans (Mindy’s Book Studio, 326 pages, $28.99): With an introduction from Mindy Kaling, literary soulmates Frank and Youmans take a comedic look at the second half of Nina Morgan Clarke’s life. When the first-generation, Black female head of the storied Royal-Hawkins School joins forces with a best friend to celebrate her second act, ethical dilemmas and a slippery slope from the pinnacle of her life ensue.

“The Beast You Are” by Paul Tremblay (William Morrow, 356 pages, $30): Paul Tremblay’s stories never fail to infiltrate our dreams, and this volume gives us that times 15. Only the title story is original to the collection, but having these polished gems in one place makes the whole thing shine. Extensive notes on story origins are a bonus — and a peek into the master’s mind.

“The Weaver and the Witch Queen” by Genevieve Gornichec (Ace, 432 pages, $27): A heart-wrenching tale about two women who are irrevocably drawn together by the bonds of sword sisterhood and twists of fate, this fantastical novel is a sumptuous blend of Norse mythology and Viking history. Fans of Neil Gaiman’s “Norse Mythology” will rejoice at having a companion piece.

“The Hunt” by Kelly J. Ford (Thomas & Mercer, 353 pages, $16.99): Serial murders or simply unfortunate accidents? The town of Presley, Ark., is divided on the issue and has been for 17 years. Nell Holcomb, the sister of the man she considers “the Hunter’s” first kill, faces her past, and escalating danger, to find the true answer.
“The Truth About Sex Trafficking” by Melanie Patterson (Forged in Words Books, 200 pages, $14.99): An honest, unsentimental and horrific depiction of sex trafficking telling the true story of Angela, a victim who endured unimaginable abuse as a child as a teen. The story comes from a Cullman County native and former Alabama journalist with two decades of research and writing experience.

"Broadway Butterfly" by Sara Divello (Thomas & Mercer, 432 pages, $28.99): The city is Manhattan, the year is 1923. The story: one of the most notorious unsolved murders of the era. When flapper Dot King is found dead in her Midtown apartment, a phalanx of lovers, parasites and justice seekers descend on the city.

“Rawlins: The Road to Yellowstone (The Rawlins Saga Book 4)” by Rick DeStefanis (247 pages, $24.95): I’ve said it before (well, actually three times before), but Rick DeStefanis is one our most least-sung Western writers. Though the stories are set in the 19th century, the themes echo today. “The Road to Yellowstone” is another example where Rawlins once more slings on his guns to fight for justice — now joined by his son-in-law — against a group of “businessmen” trafficking women for their saloons and bordellos.

“Malibu Burning (Sharpe & Walker Book 1)” by Lee Goldberg (Thomas & Mercer, 286 pages, $28.99): A master thief with a conscience? Only from the pen of Lee Goldberg, a virtuoso of crime fiction who knows how to keep the pages turning. This fiery tale of revenge against powerful Malibu homeowners is the background of what, if it’s successful, will be the biggest heist in U.S. history.

“The Girl from the Red Rose Motel” by Susan Zurenda (Mercer University Press, 291 pages, $27): An unprocessed take on “Romeo and Juliet,” this achingly beautifully written novel explores the complicated bonds between teenagers and adults. Strongly drawn, confident teenagers are a refreshing departure from the wooden cutouts so prevalent (and scarily popular) in contemporary fiction. This novel comes with high praise from the likes of Ron Rash (“Serena,” “The Caretaker”). Meet the author Nov. 9 in Tuscaloosa and Talladega, Ala. Visit susanzurenda.com/events for details on these and other dates.

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“The September House” by Carissa Orlando (Berkley, 352 pages, $27): A woman is determined to stay in her own house even after it becomes haunted. Sounds like you’ve heard it before? Erase those preconceptions and be prepared for dark, funny, fresh tale of secrets and haunted matrimony.

“The Taken Ones: A Novel (Steinbeck and Reed Book 1)" by Jess Lourey (Thomas & Mercer, 331 pages, $16.99): In 1980, despite warnings and urban legends, three girls enter a Minnesota forest. Only one comes out, and she’s alone with her memory erased. The local superstition of the Bendy Man who haunts the woods earns nationwide attention. The year 2022: cold case detective Van Reed and forensic scientist Harry Steinbeck investigate the murder of a woman buried alive — clutching a heart charm necklace that belonged to one of the girls. The search for a killer is now a race against time.

Books to watch for

I’ll expand in future reviews on these titles publishing in October and November, but here’s a head’s up for what I’m reading now.

“One Last Kill: Tracy Crosswhite 10” (Thomas & Mercer) by Robert Dugoni.
“Let Us Descend” (Scribner) by Jesmyn Ward.
“Murder on the Christmas Express” (Poison Press) by Alexandra Benedict.
“Long Past Due” (Berkley) by James J. Butcher (with “Dead Man’s Hand,” first in series).
“The Exchange” (Doubleday) by John Grisham.
“The Spy Coast” (Thomas & Mercer) by Tess Gerritsen.
“The Life and Times of Hannah Craft” (Harper Collins) by Greg Hecimovich.
“American Girl” (Blackstone Publishing) by Wendy Walker.
“The Aeronaut’s Windlass” (Ace) by Jim Butcher.
“The Last Applicant” (Lake Union) by Rebecca Hanover.
“Resurrection Walk” (Little Brown) by Michael Connelly.
“The Olympian Affair” (Roc) by Jim Butcher.
“Good Girls Don’t Die” (Berkley) by Christina Henry.

Childrens’ titles … with strong recommendations

“Clara Poole and the Long Way Round” (Pixel Ink for ages 8-12) by Taylor Tying.
"Buddy and Bea Not Really Buddies" and “Tiny Tornadoes” (both Peachtree, for ages 5-8) by Jan Carr and Kris Mukai .
“The Curious League of Detectives and Thieves: S.O.S.” (Peachtree) by Tom Phillips.
“Forget me not blue” (Holiday House) by Sharelle Byars Moranville.
“In the Tunnel” (Holiday House, for ages 8-12) by Julie Lee.
“The Girl Who Lost a Leopard” (Peachtree, for ages 8-12) by Nizrana Farook.”
“Team Trash: A time Traveler’s Guide to Sustainability” (Holiday House, for ages10-14) by Kate Wheeler and Trent Huntington.
“Bizard, the bear wizard” (Margaret Ferguson Books, for ages 8-10) by Chrissie Krebs.
“The Sinister Secrets of Singe” (Pixel Ink, for ages 10 and older) by Sean Ferrell, illustrated by Graham Carter.

This book was everything I loved about the OG Amityville Horror movie, with a fun/slightly different twist.

I devoured this book. It kept me on the edge of my seat, mostly because I couldn’t quite put my finger on what the twist was going to be. I was not disappointed, let me tell you. This is probably my favorite thriller/horror of the year so far. It had just the right amount of everything for me.

I recommend this book for anyone who enjoys horror, mystery, supernatural or psychological thrillers.

Thank you to @prhaudio @berkleypub for the #gifted copy of the book.

"The walls of the house were bleeding again. This sort of thing could be expected; it was after all, September. The bleeding wouldn't have been so bad if it hadn't been accompanied by nightly moaning that escalated into screaming by the end of the month like clockwork."

What a debut!! A perfect story to kick off the fall season. It’s a September Haunt! This book had a bit of everything mystery, suspense, supernatural thrill and horror all mixed in.

Margaret and her husband Hal, purchase an old Victorian home. Margaret is determined to stay in her dream home even after odd things start to happen. The walls are seeping blood. Things are moving out of place. There are constant screams. Birds are flying into windows. Hal is at his wits end. It only happens in September.

When their daughter Katherine comes to visit, Margaret must face the truth about Hal's disappearance and she had to visit in September!

You definitely don't want to miss this book!

Oh man, this is easily one of my favorite books of the year. Absolutely gobsmackingly good from start to finish, I am going to be recommending this one to _everybody_. It's like a gorier, much more horrific, BBC Ghosts, which is e x a c t l y the kind of book I've been looking for. The levels of horror! The dark humor! Fredricka and her tea! I haven't not been saying "needs must when the devil drives" to myself now!
Just, absolutely stunning, I am so happy I read this book.

Bravo! This is one of my new favorite spooky house novels. The setting, plot, characters, and just the feeling it gives you overall. Perfection! Definitely one I will be rereading when it's the perfect autumn/spooky season!

When Margaret and Hal buy their dream home, a large Victorian style house, they are thrilled. Not long after, they discover they are not the only ones inhabiting the house. As they struggle to live amongst otherworldly beings, Hal disappears. Soon after that their daughter, Katherine arrives and she is determined to find out what is going on with her father.

The rest of the book is a mixture of suspense, horror, dark humor, and gore. An edge-of-your-seat horror story!

Thank you to Carissa Orlando, Berkley Publishing Group, and NetGalley for an advanced eBook in exchange for my honest review.

Such an amazing book! A new twist on the haunted house in the best way! Fun and scary, I will definitely be recommending this to my friends!

Carissa Orlando’s debut was so much more than I expected. She is the author to keep an eye out for, for sure! The beginning of the book had me hooked, and I couldn’t put it down once I started. The synopsis tells us there are ghosts, and sign me up because I love a good haunted house story.

There are three characters in this book that I loved. Two because I loved their friendship, Margaret and Fredricka, and the third is the house. I honestly felt for Margaret because it was her dream house. Oh the turret! What the heck is a turret? Damned if I know, but Margaret
sold me on it!

I digress, this book was written so well. Bleeding walls, creepy ghosts (I weirdly loved Elias), and an unreliable yet lovable narrator are everything I want in a horror novel. Throw in the creepiest house of all time (a house Grady Hendrix wouldn’t want to sell), and you had me sold!

I am trying to sell this book without saying much. It’s better going in blind. All I will say is listen to the audiobook. If there is a narrator perfect for a book, it’s Kimberly Farr for this one! She made me love Margaret more than I loved a character in a long time.

Read this if you love:
- horror
- ghosts
- gore
- unexpected friendships
- creepy kids
- haunted houses

I couldn’t be more thankful to Berkley Publishing, PRH Audio, and NetGalley for sending me advanced copies in exchange for my honest review.

I literally picked up this book because it's September and I thought "why not?" I definitely got some Grady Hendrix vibes with this book. I was both horrified and amused by the situation the main character found herself in. I appreciated the time taken to develop the main character and lay the groundwork for the tension between her and her daughter. I thought I had the ending figured out but I was wrong! This is a great book for people who appreciate horror with a lighter side.

4 stars rounded up to 4.5 stars. And to think I almost wrote this book off as a DNF for being “too out there,” which it definitely was, but it was also really well written, as well as original, twisty, dark and extremely entertaining. I figured out what happened to Hal, or at least where he was, pretty early on, but that didn’t spoil anything. The ending was a wild ride for sure. I don’t recommend eating while reading this book because it gets grossly descriptive at times, especially at the end! This is a solid debut for sure.

This book was a disappointment for me. I was super excited to read about a haunted house, and immediately I was hooked. It is different from any other haunted house story I’ve ever read. BUT, it quickly got old. I felt like the pacing was very off in this book. It is veryyyyyyy slow for the majority of the book. Then, as it starts to pick up, we get random flashbacks and they just felt oddly placed and it broke up the story too much for me. Then the final 20% of the book was crazy and fast and didn’t mesh with the rest of the story well.

I did appreciate the dark humor in the beginning, but it’s novelty wore off for me and then I just got annoyed. There were too many ghosts and because Margaret was so used to them, they didn’t ever feel scary or creepy to me? I think that’s what I was missing, any sense of suspense or unease. The main “villain” fell flat for me as well. There is also a twist that I’m not sure was even supposed to be a twist? It’s revealed at the end (I don’t want to spoil it), but it was glaringly obvious for most of the book to me. Now, if the author’s intention wasn’t to make that a twist, then fine. But to me, it felt like I was supposed to be surprised and I just wasn’t.

Overall, I feel very meh about this book. I liked parts of it, but as a whole, it wasn’t worth the read for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC copy!

This was a bizarre book. The story begins with a house that initially is made to look like the Murder House from the first season of American Horror Story: for some reason which we don't know in the beginning, the paranormal events that happen in the house on a regular basis are exacerbated every September. The walls bleed, thumping and moaning noises haunt the nights and apparitions become a daily event.
The story is narrated by the main character, a housewife who narrates these phenomena in a very casual and tongue-in-cheek way.
She even befriends one of the ghosts, a housekeeper who was murdered by her former employer 200 years ago. She makes tea and cooks dinner. But while the wife casually looks at these things as annoyances, her husband is very freaked out, and rightly so.
We find out that the husband has disappeared, but we don't know where, why or how. As the truth starts to come out and the main character's daughter, who has no idea what is happening in the house, stops by for a visit, everything becomes even more scrambled.
Orlando paints an unusual ghost story here, but it lacks a certain dark humor to make it truly work. some of the interactions are downright ridiculous and don't make much sense. To the point where we almost wonder the about the sanity, or lack thereof of the main character.
If he were indeed insane, it would be an interesting route for Orlando to go by. But the problem is that the writing and the story becomes too disjointed to even attempt further exploration of character.

Margaret has lived in a haunted house for four years. She and her husband, Hal, found the house for an unbelievable price and took it. Empty nesters, her daughter, Katherine, has never seen the house until Hal disappears. Katherine arrives to solve the mystery of her missing father, but Margaret is left with trying to get the house to calm down: after all, Katherine doesn't know the rules. The September House is at once savagely funny and bone-chilling; Margaret's life reveals through the story leave readers wondering which end is up, and the final reveals will keep you reading all night. Put this one at the top of your readers advisory lists.

What did I just read (and I mean that in the best way possible)? This book was unbelievably unexpected and wholly original! I was drawn to it because of its haunted house theme and the fantastic cover. As I read, it became clear that this story was way more nuanced than I initially thought, with metaphors for generational trauma and abuse.

My feelings towards the main character, Margaret, went through a rollercoaster of emotions— from entertained to annoyance to impressed. Carissa Orlando has a doctorate in clinical–community psychology, and it's evident from her characterization of Margaret.

The pacing was a bit off in the first half, with a slow build-up of suspense, but the last 25% made up for it. And let me tell you, the ending was absolutely unhinged! I mean, it was a deliciously gory bloodbath! The September House is one of the best horror novels I’ve read in a long time!

Read this if you want a book to climb under your skin and live there for a while. It’s genuinely creepy, intelligent, dark, and twisted.

This book have all the perfect horror and scary vibes and was PERFECT for spooky season! I mean, a haunted house?! Hell yes.

I got completely pulled into this book by page 1 and couldn’t put it down. I loved the story line and the build up and the end.

If you’re looking for a fast paced and creepy read this fall, this one is it.