Did you ever plan a reading month and then watch it spiral gloriously out of control? That was my October. I'd set out to read a few spooky titles—because, hello, Halloween—but somewhere between a haunted dollhouse and a post-apocalyptic feminist dystopia, I stumbled through fourteen wildly different books that left me simultaneously exhausted and exhilarated.
October gave me literary whiplash in the best possible way. One day I'm trapped underground with forty imprisoned women in Jacqueline Harpman's devastating I Who Have Never Known Men, the next I'm navigating family trauma and possessed puppets in Grady Hendrix's How to Sell a Haunted House. I went from Holly Gibney tracking a vengeful killer in Stephen King's Never Flinch to crying over Michelle Zauner's grief-soaked memoir Crying in H Mart. And just when I thought I'd caught my breath, Isabel Allende swept me into The Wind Knows My Name while Kiran Desai's epic The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny made me reconsider everything I thought I knew about loneliness and belonging.
Was there a theme? Not really, unless you count "books that will mess you up emotionally" as a legitimate genre. I read about tuberculosis as a human choice (thanks, John Green), a Hungarian man's haunting journey through decades of shame and desire (David Szalay's Flesh), and two completely different Jodi Picoult novels that reminded me why she's impossible to put down. I even squeezed in a penguin memoir by Tom Michell, because apparently penguins are the palate cleanser we all need after reading about vigilantes and stalkers.
The truth? This wasn't the curated, Instagram-worthy reading month I'd envisioned. It was messy, emotional, and completely unhinged—exactly like October should be.
Here is what I read in October:
Never Flinch (2025) by Stephen King
Genre: Horror, Mystery
Never Flinch masterfully braids together a chilling revenge plot and a high-stakes bodyguard mission, featuring the beloved, socially awkward detective Holly Gibney who navigates murder, activism, and suspense with unflinching resolve. If you have followed King's previous novels featuring Holly Gibney, you will appreciate the relatable quirks of her character, the reflections on aging and resilience, and King’s deft blend of wry humor, tension, and emotional intelligence that makes for a thrilling and page-turning experience. With layered storylines, compelling villains, and keen observations on courage and individuality, this latest King novel is a feast for savvy readers seeking a smart, atmospheric crime story.
Buckeye (2025) by Patrick Ryan
Genre: Fiction, Historical Fiction
Buckeye is a moving, character-driven saga set across five decades in Midwest America, exploring love, family secrets, and the hidden strengths found in everyday life—perfect for mature book club readers who relish emotional depth and historical resonance. Its richly drawn characters and themes of grief, forgiveness, and resilience will spark thoughtful discussion among those who appreciate stories that linger long after the last page. With nuanced storytelling and the warmth of lived experience, Buckeye delivers wisdom and wit ideal for readers with wrinkles seeking both authenticity and inspiration.See the full review here.
By Any Other Name (2024) by Jodi Picoult
Genre: Contemporary Fiction, Historical Fiction
Picoult dives into the question of Shakespeare's authorship through dual timelines—one following Emilia Bassano, a real Renaissance woman who may have written the plays, and a modern playwright dealing with plagiarism accusations. The historical research is meticulous, the feminist angle compelling, and the courtroom drama as gripping as anything Picoult has written. Whether or not you believe the Shakespearean conspiracy theory, you'll be captivated by this woman who history almost forgot. See the full review here.
Don't Let Him In (2025) by Lisa Jewell
Genre: Psychological Thriller, Fiction
Don't Let Him In is a twisty psychological thriller that follows three women over fifty as they navigate the aftermath of betrayal and the seductive dangers of a charming conman who insinuates himself into their lives, with heart-pounding suspense and jaw-dropping reveals that will keep mature readers hooked until the final page. Readers will appreciate the richly developed characters, relatable life experiences, and themes of resilience and wisdom that resonate with anyone who's lived through emotional storms and learned to trust their instincts. Jewell crafts her story with short, addictive chapters and a clever narrative that makes you want to warn the heroines—because if something (or someone) seems too good to be true, it probably is.
Flesh (2025) by David Szalay
Genre: Literary Fiction
Readers will be drawn to David Szalay’s Flesh for its stripped-back, quietly powerful exploration of a Hungarian man’s journey across the decades, as he navigates the persistent shadows of trauma and the unpredictability of fate. The novel’s episodic, time-leaping structure, paired with Szalay’s nuanced yet unvarnished prose, evokes empathy for a protagonist whose life is shaped more by circumstance than by personal agency—a perspective resonant with those who appreciate the complexities of aging and the impact of past choices. With echoes of classics like Stoner, Flesh is a moving meditation on resilience, memory, and the invisible contours of ordinary lives, making it a standout choice for thoughtful discussion and deeper reflection.
A Guardian and a Thief (2025) by Megha Majumdar
Genre: Fiction, Sci-Fi, Dystopian
Majumdar returns with this sharp, satirical look at contemporary India through the eyes of three characters whose lives intersect in unexpected ways—a guardian desperate to protect his family, a thief who steals more than just possessions, and the systems that fail them both. Her prose is lean and observant, finding both absurdity and tenderness in the chaos of modern life. It's social commentary that never feels preachy, just painfully, perfectly true.
Crying at H Mart (2021) by Michelle Zauner
Genre: Non-Fiction, Memoir
Zauner's memoir about losing her mother to cancer and reconnecting with her Korean heritage through food is absolutely devastating and somehow still life-affirming. The way she describes grief—its weight, its strange intimacy, how it transforms ordinary moments into something unbearable—will wreck you, but so will her love for her mother and the culture she's reclaiming. Keep tissues handy; this one earns every tear.
How to Sell a Haunted House (2023) by Grady Hendrix
Genre: Fiction, Mystery, Horror
Hendrix delivers his signature blend of genuine scares and dark humor as siblings Louise and Mark return to their childhood home to settle their parents' estate—only to discover the house is very much occupied. What follows is part family drama, part supernatural horror, with creepy puppets and a biting commentary on inheritance, resentment, and the ghosts we carry from childhood. You'll laugh, you'll shudder, and you'll never look at your old toys the same way again.
I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman
Genre: Fiction, Sci-Fi, Dystopian
This haunting dystopian novel follows forty women imprisoned in an underground bunker, guarded by silent men, for reasons that are never explained. When the guards suddenly flee, the youngest woman—who has no memory of life outside the cage—must lead the others into an abandoned world while grappling with questions about identity, memory, and what makes us human. It's sparse, philosophical, and deeply unsettling in the best possible way. See full review here.
The Penguin Lessons (2015) by Tom Michell
Genre: NonFiction, Memoir, Travel
Michell's charming memoir recounts how an oil-soaked penguin he rescued in Uruguay ended up living with him in his boarding school apartment in Argentina—and stole the hearts of everyone who met him. It's a gentle, often funny story about unexpected friendship, the healing power of animals, and finding purpose in caring for another creature. Pure warmth and delight, perfect for when you need to remember that life can still surprise you with joy. Read my full review here.
Plain Truth (2000) by Jodi Picoult
Genre: Fiction
Picoult takes us deep into Amish country where attorney Ellie Hathaway defends a young Amish woman accused of murdering her newborn baby. The clash between modern justice and traditional faith creates riveting courtroom drama, but it's Picoult's exploration of choice, community, and the price of belonging that gives this story its emotional weight. You'll finish questioning everything you thought you knew about guilt, innocence, and the different ways people seek truth.
The Lonliness of Sonia & Sunny (2025) by Kiran Desai
Genre: Fiction
The Loneliness of Sonia and Sonny is a sweeping, multi-generational novel that journeys between India, the U.S., and Mexico, exploring the emotional terrain of loneliness, identity, and the search for belonging through two vividly-drawn protagonists. Seasoned readers will appreciate the book’s nuanced portrayal of family ties, cultural divides, and the bittersweet realities of growing older, all wrapped in lush, sophisticated prose with both wit and poignancy. With its reflections on cross-cultural life, intergenerational longing, and the resilience required to navigate love and disappointment, this novel invites readers to find themselves within its pages.
Everything is Tuberculosis (2025) by John Green
Genre: NonFiction, Part Memoir, Part Biography
Green blends gripping storytelling with global health insight, following young Henry’s harrowing journey from misdiagnosis to recovery in Sierra Leone and exposing how tuberculosis thrives not due to medical mystery, but because of ongoing injustice and lack of access to care. Readers with Wrinkles followers will appreciate Green’s trademark humor and empathy, his unflinching look at vulnerability and resilience, and the book’s passionate call for social change. It’s a must-read for thoughtful book lovers, especially those interested in compelling true stories, the realities of aging and illness, and the fight for greater compassion in medicine. Read my full review here.
The Wind Knows My Name (2023) by Isabel Allende
Genre: Literary Fiction
Allende weaves together two stories separated by decades—a Jewish boy fleeing Nazi-occupied Austria in 1938 and a young girl escaping violence in El Salvador in 2019—connected by themes of displacement, resilience, and the redemptive power of love. Her lyrical prose transforms what could have been heavy subject matter into something luminous and hopeful without ever feeling saccharine. It's a testament to how storytelling can bridge time and trauma to remind us of our shared humanity. Read my full review here.
And just like that, October tiptoed offstage, leaving behind a trail of sticky Kit-Kats and a lineup of eclectic books.
And now, as the candy corn migrates to that weird holiday tin nobody ever seems to open, November arrives with its own promise of cozy chaos. The days are getting shorter, which means more hours for blankets, binge-reading, and that annual debate: cursed holiday romance or snow-drenched survival tale? I’m stacking my shelves with tales of family drama, heartwarming miracles, and perhaps more ghosts who refuse to respect my reading schedule. Holiday reads? Oh, they’re coming in hot like mulled wine at 5 PM—or peppermint sticks at midnight. Stay tuned, friends, because this book girl’s sleigh is loaded for a festive ride—starting with new stories that warm even the frostiest November night. Ready to jingle your way through bookish merriment and a few holiday surprises? I sure hope so.
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