Where Did September Go? A Reading Recap and a Glimpse of Spooky Season

Is it just me, or did September vanish in a puff of smoke? I can't believe we're already at September 30th. It feels like just yesterday I was writing my "end of August" post, full of plans for a month of productive reading and enjoying the first hints of autumn. And yet, here we are, on the cusp of October, with Halloween decorations already popping up in stores and on my neighbors' lawns.

The end of the month always feels like a time for reflection, not just on the days that flew by, but on the books I managed (or didn't manage) to read. This month was a bit of a mixed bag. The first half was a whirlwind of social events, work deadlines, and general life chaos that left little time for getting lost in a good book. But the last couple of weeks? Pure reading bliss.

I finally finished a book that had been on my "in-progress" list for what felt like an eternity: a sweeping historical fiction that was beautifully written but required a significant time commitment. Finishing it felt like a triumph! And as soon as I turned that last page, I dove headfirst into something completely different.

I'm currently midway through a delightful cozy mystery series. Think small town, quirky characters, and a charming protagonist who always seems to stumble upon a crime. It's the perfect palate cleanser after a heavy, emotional read. The chapters are short, the plot is engaging, and I find myself reaching for it every spare moment I have.

But as much as I'm enjoying my current read, my mind is already starting to drift towards the spooky season. October is my favorite month for reading. The air gets a little crisper, the days get shorter, and there's nothing I love more than curling up on the couch with a good thriller, a classic Gothic novel, or even a ghost story.

My "To Be Read" (TBR) pile for October is already getting a little out of control. I've got a new Stephen King release, a highly-recommended haunted house novel, and a collection of short horror stories that I've been saving for this very moment. I'm also hoping to revisit a few of my favorites, like Shirley Jackson's The Haunting of Hill House.

There's something about the atmosphere of Halloween that makes me crave these kinds of books. It’s not about being terrified, but about a sense of unease, a shiver down the spine, and a world where the strange and supernatural feel just a little bit closer.

So, as we say goodbye to September and welcome October with open arms, I'm making a new reading goal. Less historical fiction, more... well, more of what goes bump in the night.

What about you? What are you reading to get into the Halloween spirit? And what book helped you get through the blur that was September? Let me know in the comments below! Here's to a month of spooky reads and pumpkin spice everything.