The Book Bit: October 2019 Ed.

I absolutely love October. Have I ever mentioned that? Not only is my birthday and anniversary in October, but I love the weather. Or the hypothetical fall weather. I live in the Midwest, we had our first snow a few days ago. And then about three inches last night. It's Halloween! We're not supposed to have snow for Halloween! Anyway, another reason I love October is I read all horror books this month. And I managed to read five books. Five! I can hardly believe it myself. My average is three. Let's dive into these spooky reads.


"Come Closer"- Sara Gram

This book was definitely high on the creep factor. Amanda, who by all appearances is very normal, begins to experience some very not normal things in her life. First, it's the noises in the house. Everyday, the noises. Scratching. Clicking. She can't seem to pinpoint where they are coming from and she seems to be the only person who can hear it. Then the dreams that quickly turn to nightmares. And the lapses of time she cannot remember. But when Amanda finally reaches out for help, she discovers she's past the point of no return. She's possessed.

While I love paranormal fiction, this book didn't hit all the marks for me. It was more of a step-by-step journey into possession. A very good read and it did have it's moments, but it wasn't quite what I was expecting. Still, good one to read if you like possession.


"Bird Box"- Josh Malerman

This has been on my list to read ever since the film came out on Netflix. You all know I love comparing books to their film adaptations and I was psyched to see this one finally available at my library! I watched Bird Box when it came out on Netflix (just like everyone in the entire world) and as soon as it was over, I looked at my husband and said, "I don't ever need to see that again." Don't get me wrong, I didn't hate it, but it messed with me. Bad. But I decided to read the book, even though the film was most likely a one-time experience. This book was amazing. Think about all the things you never understood about our main character, Malorie, as different. The way Malerman portrays her in the book is one million times more relatable than the film version.

The world is coming to an end, but that's not the way it sounds on the news. It sounds like people are seeing things and creating mass amounts of violence for no good reason. People start boarding their windows, avoid going outside, cling to the radio in hopes that good news will eventually come. When Malorie finds herself alone with a baby on the way, she knows she can't survive by herself. She braves a journey to a safe house listed in the paper and is received with a mixed welcome. As time passes, a new life begins. A life with covered windows, no sunshine, trips outside filled with fear, recognizing sounds at a minute level. Eventually, with her two children, Malorie must make the hardest decision she's ever faced. She must leave her place of solitude in the hopes of reaching a new salvation. But can the three of them make the perilous journey without looking, even for a second?

This book had it's scary moments. In fact, if I hadn't seen the film and knew what was coming, this book wouldn't scared the crap out of me. Malerman did an amazing job with this book. Read it.


"The Cabin at the End of the World"- Paul Tremblay

I have been in love with Tremblay since "Head Full of Ghosts" and every year I get one of his books. While this one was a different side of horror, it was creepy.

Eric and Andrew decide to take their adoptive daughter, Wen, on a little getaway in the woods. They rent a nice cabin on the lake and spend their days watching grasshoppers and forgetting the stress of their everyday lives. Not long into their stay, Wen is approached by a stranger. A man and three of his friends carrying strange weapons appear at the cabin's front door demanding to be let in. Eric and Andrew are quickly restrained and told there must be a sacrifice. The fate of the world depends on the three of them.

By a different kind of horror, I mean semi-apocalyptic, meets kidnapping, meets paranormal. It's almost like those horror films where people break into a house and torture the family for no reason. It's scary because it might happen to you. And that's the level of scary this book has. I'm still coming around on the ending. Honestly, when I finished it I thought the ending sucked, but after sitting on it a few days it's growing on me. I can't recommend Tremblay enough, and he proves his talent in this novel.


"The Broken Girls"- Simone St. James

Idlewild Hall 1950. A place where troublemakers, illegitimates, and forgotten girls end up. No wants to be there, but they have no where else to go. We follow a tight knit group of friends as they navigate through Idlewild life, including visits from the local ghost Mary Hand. What will she show you? What will she feed on? And when one of the girls goes missing, there's only a guess as to what exactly happened.

Idlewild Hall 2014. Fiona can't quit coming back to the scene of the crime. The place where her older sister's body was found twenty years prior. Yes, the man responsible is in prison, though he never confessed, but still she feels as if something is wrong. Something was missed. Why did the killer always maintain his innocence? Why are there still pieces of the crime that don't add up? When Idlewild Hall gets purchased and renovations begin, strange things begin to happen on the land where her sister was found. Can she find out what really happened that night? And possibly figure out what happened to the missing girl all those years ago?

This had the potential to be terrifically scary. I was so excited about this book, but it fell short for me. I think there were two many things happening and St. James needed to go one direction with the book. Either make it a murder mystery/thriller or a paranormal horror read. But she mixed a little of both in there and it just fell flat for me. Interesting story, but not my favorite.


"My Best Friend's Exorcism"- Grady Hendrix

Oh man, this one was awesome. Go back in time to 1988 when everything seemed right in the world. No cell phones, no internet, just good old fashioned trouble making and good times. Gretchen and Abby were BFF's and nothing was going to ruin their junior year. Just as school was starting, Abby and Gretchen and their two friends spend the weekend at the lake house, hanging out and having fun. Until Gretchen disappears. For hours the three girls search the woods for her, hoping they don't need to call the police. Maybe she's just passed out or hiding? In the final hours, Gretchen appears seemingly fine. But after that night, nothing was ever the same again. Gretchen complains of nightmares, unexplained noises, a presence. Abby worries for her friend, especially when she stops taking care of herself and looks more like a zombie instead of her best friend. And then, as quickly as it all began, it suddenly ended. Gretchen becomes a new person. One that lies, backstabs, and gets Abby into trouble. And that's when Abby finally understands. Her best friend needs an exorcism.

This book got me in all the feels. It felt extremely nostalgic while being creepy and edgy at the same time. I don't know how Hendrix managed it, but he did an amazing job. Pick this one up at your library, you won't regret it.


Well, that's all I have this month! What a haul, I can't believe I managed to read all five of these amazing books. I hope everyone has a safe Halloween and remember to let me know what you've been reading! See you next month, book nerds.