Fall fever has swept over Davis High School as October brings cold winds, colorful mountains, and the official arrival of sweater weather. Everyone celebrates in some way, whether it’s throwing Halloween parties or just curling up with a cup of hot cocoa. For some people, the only way to get in the fall spirit is scary movies and stories. Here’s a list of October titles that you’ll definitely want to read, whether you’re looking for a heartwarming fall love story or a bone chilling horror novel.

The October Country

The famous and recently deceased author Ray Bradbury takes his readers through a series of short stories in this unsettling and thought provoking book. While his stories aren’t terrifying, there’s a certain aspect of creepy that draws you in and doesn’t let go until the final page. Each short story possesses a new setting and interesting plot. Perfect to read as the trees start to go bare and Halloween approaches.

It

Stephen King is the most famous horror writer in modern history. He’s known for fantastic movie adaptations of his works, and perhaps his most famed story is It. The book is terrifying, but also a lesson in pop culture. King is well-known for a reason and his power with words is almost unrivaled. Some other titles of his to read this season include Carrie, Pet Sematary, Cujo (Don’t read if you own a dog. Just don’t), and Firestarter.

13 Treasures

For all fans of high fantasy, this trilogy by Michelle Harrison is the perfect blend of children’s fiction and spooky folklore. The main character Tanya has the ability to see mystical creatures. However, the fae aren’t friendly. She’s plunged headfirst into a world of magic as she tries to solve the mysterious disappearance of a girl named Morwenna Bloom from years ago. The only thing Tanya knows for sure is that her village is hiding a dark secret. This book will have you knocking on wood for a while.

A Monster Calls

This book won’t scare you, but it will make you sob. It tells the story of a young boy whose mother is undergoing cancer treatments, and the monster that visits him every night. The original author, Siobhan Dowd, was terminally ill when she began to write it, and passed away before she could finish. Patrick Ness took the original text and finished it up, published it, and won the Carnegie and Greenaway medal with it. It is amazingly well written, and perhaps scary in the raw truth it presents. It’s well suited for the season.

Night Film

This unique murder mystery thriller by Marisha Pessl is very different from other novels. The pages contain many images of websites, photos of crime scenes, or any other documents that the main character is looking at. There’s also an app, called Night Film Decoder that can scan images on the pages and unlock additional clues and videos so that the reader can participate more fully in the mystery.

The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein

This book is a new release and has been reaping in good reviews. Author Kiersten White spins a complicated and dark retelling of the famed Frankenstein story. It’s told from the point of view of Elizabeth Frankenstein as she navigates her way through an abusive relationship in the Victorian Era. Make sure to read this one before it gets too popular and library holds build up!

To all the Boys I’ve Loved Before

This book by Jenny Han blew up when Netflix produced the film, but the story began as a novel. There are no spooky themes in this contemporary romance, but part of the story does take place around Halloween and hiding under warm covers with this book would be perfect for autumn. Lara Jean’s life gets complicated when five love letters she wrote to her various crushes throughout the year are accidentally mailed. Anyone in the mood for an adorable and heart-warming romance this fall should consider reading this book.

The Accident Season

The story is creepy, but the very idea of this life is terrifying. The main character in Moira Fowley-Doyle’s The Accident Season  Cara has always lived with her family’s mysterious curse. Towards the end of October every year, every member of her family becomes horrifyingly accident-prone. The effects range from paper-cuts to gory deaths. Cara must not only try to survive this year’s accident season, but she also begins to unravel the mystery surrounding the curse. Very creepy, dark, and perfect for October.

Nothing sets the mood for Fall like a good book and warm drink. Don’t miss out, and have a wonderful, spooky Autumn!

Image credit to weheartit.com