We had two weekends of back to back family weddings so this is coming out a little later! One more stride towards getting back to a more regular posting schedule.

So many spooky reads this month! Some favorites:

Pumpkin Spice & Poltergeist (ARC) by Ali K. Mulford and K. Elle Morrison
I saw a comment from another reviewer that said this is like Gilmore Girls and Halloweentown wrapped into one, and YES, I wholeheartedly agree! I am curious though as to why Willow is so quick to anger? I know Harlowe messes up, but, ???? I do hope we get a story about her and about her and Wyatt. This was so fricken adorable, I was kicking my feet with glee while reading, and I hope this is not the last we see of these two as collaborators.

Haunted Ever After by Jen DeLuca
I made this one a priority, because I have been dying to read the latest from Jen. I was a little worried because this is a change from the books I fell in love with Jen for, the Well Met series, and would I like it?? Well, reader, yes, yes, I did. It was funny and light and has that signature wit in writing I’ve long associated with Jen DeLuca. The way the ghosts communicate, via text, via magnets, directly into their heads was genius. This was one slow burn that made me giggle as the ghosts keep c*ckblocking Nick and Cassie. I also really enjoyed the mystery aspect of the story and the callouts of how women are often erased in history, even if it’s their own home. I look forward to visiting Boneyard Key again very soon!

Better than the Movies by Lynn Painter
This one, y’all, changed my daughter’s life. I had recommended that she read The Do-Over months ago, and then came home with Better than the Movies from her school library! She loved the book. First, she showed me the book, and I was like, “Oh, Lynn Painter! I love her books!” She was gobsmacked because she did not remember that I had recommended another of her books to her.

Then one day she came home and said “I’m mad at my book. I don’t want to finish it.” To which I said, “Oh, really? Why is th- oh, you’re about 3/4 of the way through aren’t you?” Eventually she confirmed that and I had to convince her it would be worth finishing. So she took the book upstairs, and about and hour or so later she comes THUNDERING down the stairs and throws the book at me, yelling that I need to read it so we can talk about it. So I did, and I also sent her the links to the novellas, helped her check out Betting on You, and got her on the wait list for Nothing But the Movies which comes out October 1st.

It helped a lot getting her into those because she was LIVID that the next book didn’t come out until October. She wanted to go to 2 Dandelions IMMEDIATELY to buy it. Much grousing ensued, such that I texted BB Stephanie.

Which, accurate. She has been successfully distracted, though I’m looking forward to us reading Nothing Like the Movies and discussing it together!

Series

Fix It Witches by Ann Aguirre
I really enjoyed books 2 and 3 in this series. Book four was kind of a spin off of the original? And I wasn’t enjoying that as much, so I DNFd to try another time.

The Witches of Thistle Grove by Lana Harper
I stumbled upon this series via In Charm’s Way and once I discovered it was a part of a series, I immediately put the rest on hold. I did start from the beginning, and I love the inclusivity of the series. It’s also a really unique spin on a witchy town. I am in love with so many of the characters, as well as the tropes Harper uses. Top notch. I can’t wait to read Rise and Divine which is the 5th book in the series, and just became available to me in Libby. It’s literally the next book I’m reading!

Glimmer Falls by Sarah Hawley
The third book in this series just came out and I have thoroughly enjoyed romping around Glimmer Falls. This series gives me serious Mead Mishaps by Kimberly Lemming vibes and I am here for it. Light, playful, romantic and adventurous. The 3rd book is my next read after my library books!

Some other notes:
Shortest Way Home by Pete Buttigieg – amazing. It made me love him so much more. He is committed to public service and communicating it in plain English. 10/10 will read or reference again.

The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix – I got this for like $3 at Schulers and I am so glad I didn’t spend more. Using SA to create drama is just gross. No thank you.

In the next little bit here I’ll be writing up the first few reads of October! Trying out a new way to post to see if it feels more manageable to me this way.

Happy Reading Frans!