Spooky Season 2023 TBR

Hey all, Sam here.

All right…second and final post for today. Since my August TBR didn’t go so well, I’m trying things a little bit differently right now, and we’ll see how that works out. I already posted my September NetGalley TBR, and those are books releasing in the month of September that I’ve been approved for by the publisher on NetGalley. I’d really like to get those books read and reviewed this month.

But though I sometimes do well with creating TBRs and following them, I am also a pretty big mood reader, and right now I am craving books that help usher in the Spooky Season.

I went into my library—speaking of, I do have a library tour video on TikTok (@SamRushingBooks), so you can check that out—and started pulling books off the shelf that felt like the vibe I wanted.

Obviously there is some variation. I have some books that seem a little more light and fun, and others that are more serious and historical, as well as plenty of books with magic. But I’ve also picked books that I hope will have a magical, mythical atmosphere to them. And okay, some of them might even be eerie and monstrous.

Since this is a “seasonal” TBR and not just for one month, these are books I’m hoping to read over the next couple months or so…I’d say basically September through November. Fall vibes for me definitely go through Thanksgiving, and then it’s time for chilly winter reads.

Anyway, let’s get started. And I should note that these books are in no particular order; it’s just the order I had them set on the floor for my Spooky Season TBR photo I made for my Instagram (@SamRushingBooks).

Small Town, Big Magic by Hazel Beck, Duel with the Vampire Lord by Elise Kova, Threadneedle by Cari Thomas, Raising the Horseman by Serena Valentino

Witches and magic and vampires and a twist on the Headless Horseman tale? Yep, seems like the right way to start this list.

Dial A for Aunties by Jesse Q. Sutanto, Half Sick of Shadows by Laura Sebastian, The Witch and the Tsar by Olesya Salnikova Gilmore, The Witch’s Heart by Genevieve Gornichec

I’m actually currently reading Sutanto’s book, and I’m not usually a mystery reader…but a mystery rom-com? Well, that sounds interesting, and I did buy it when Book Twitter and Bookstagram went wild for this one a couple years ago. Then there’s witches and myth and lore with these other picks.

One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig, A River Enchanted by Rebecca Ross, The Wolf and the Woodsman by Ava Reid, Our Lady of Mysterious Ailments by T.L. Huchu

Monsters, ghosts, an enchanting lyrical tale, books inspired by history and mythology…I’m definitely excited about finally getting around to these.

Small Favors by Erin A Craig, The Bone Orchard by Sara A Mueller, The Bone Houses by Emily Lloyd-Jones, The Nature of Witches by Rachel Griffin

Craig’s book feels like a late summer read to me, so I’m hopefully reading it soon, and then there’s books with skeletons and death and a bit of mystery, and of course magic and witches.

Cackle by Rachel Harrison, The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna, The Manningtree Witches by A.K. Blakemore, Beyond the Black Door by A.M. Strickland

Magic and found family and romance, and witch hunts, and soul-walking in dreams with mystery…there are so many options for fun Spooky Season reads.

Her Majesty’s Royal Coven by Juno Dawson, The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling, The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels by India Holton, Payback’s a Witch by Lana Harper

Witches, witches, and more witches…I have romances, I have alternate histories, I’m just ready to have a witchy readathon.

Thistlefoot by GennaRose Nethercott, Only a Monster by Vanessa Len, The Witch is Back by Sophie H. Morgan, The Wild Hunt by Emma Seckel

And to finish off this list, I have more reads centered around myths and monsters.

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Whew…what a list. I’m honestly really excited about this whole TBR, and just looking at all the books I’ve selected, I’m filled with this giddiness, so hopefully I’ll have some nice reading updates for you all over the next couple months.

All right, that is all from me for today. Thank you so much for stopping by, and I’ll be back soon with more geeky content.