strange and random happenstance

Platform Decay by Martha Wells
Published by: Tor Books
Publication Date: May 5th, 2026
Format: Hardcover, 256 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"A most-anticipated title from USA Today, Goodreads, BookPage, BookRiot, Seattle Times, and The Nerd Daily!

Everyone's favorite lethal SecUnit is back in the next installment of Martha Wells' bestselling and award-winning Murderbot Diaries series.

Having someone else support your bad decision feels kind of good.

After volunteering to run a rescue mission, Murderbot realizes that it will have to spend significant time with a bunch of humans it doesn't know.

Including human children. Ugh.

This may well call for... eye contact!

(Emotion check: Oh, for f—)"

I love Murderbot. Murderbot is me.

A Long and Speaking Silence by Nghi Vo
Published by: Tordotcom
Publication Date: May 5th, 2026
Format: Hardcover, 144 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"From USA Today bestselling author Nghi Vo comes a beautiful new tale in the Hugo Award-winning Singing Hills Cycle, drawn from the earliest days of Chih's career as a wandering cleric.

Every story begins somewhere.

On the banks of the Ya-lé River, the town of Luntien gathers to celebrate the start of the rainy season, but the celebration is marred by the arrival of refugees from the sea. Everyone has a story about the foreigners newly in their midst - lazy, violent, unwanted - while the refugees themselves grieve the loss of the home they loved.

Cleric Chih, very recently still Novice Chih, is also a stranger in Luntien. A moment of carelessness and bad luck leaves them waiting tables as they struggle to establish themself as a real cleric. A cleric's job is to listen and record, but the stories emerging in Luntien are ugly and violent, as hard to predict as the river itself. With their hoopoe companion Almost Brilliant by their side, Chih must help the refugees while also unraveling a mystery that may have roots in their own faraway home in the abbey of Singing Hills.

In the seventh entry of the award-winning Singing Hills series, we meet Chih and Almost Brilliant just beginning their journey together as Chih assumes their place on the road and in the world.

The novellas of the Singing Hills series are standalone stories linked by the Cleric Chih, and may be read in any order."

As I'll say time and again, fantasy is gives us the truest stories of humanity. 

The Girl with a Thousand Faces by Sunyi Dean
Published by: Tor Books
Publication Date: May 5th, 2026
Format: Hardcover, 320 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"From the USA Today bestselling author of The Book Eaters comes The Girl with a Thousand Faces, a stunning Gothic tale set in a historical Hong Kong that meshes ancient myths and local legends into a haunting story of ghosts, grief, and women who will not forgive.

When Mercy Chan washes up on the shores of Hong Kong with no family, no money, and no memories, the only refuge she finds is the infamous, ghost-infested slum of Kowloon Walled City. Since then, she has rebuilt her life, working for the local triad as a ghost talker and dealing with the angry and bitter spirits who haunt the district. The filthy gutters and cramped alleyways of Kowloon have become her home.

But the past Mercy can't remember isn't done with her. An unusually powerful ghost has infested Kowloon's waterways, drowning innocents and threatening the district. It claims to know Mercy - and secrets from her past that are best left forgotten.

As Mercy is drawn into a deadly cat-and-mouse game with this malignant spirit, she begins to realize that the monster she fights within these walls may well be one of her own making."

Always here for the ghosts.

Clara and the Devil, Volume 1 by Olivie Blake and Little Chmura
Published by: 23rd St.
Publication Date: May 5th, 2026
Format: Paperback, 176 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"The devil has come to town. And he wants a library card. Star author Olivie Blake and artist Little Chmura kick off a deliciously dark graphic novel romance series with Clara and the Devil, Volume 1.

Clara has the rest of her life figured out. She'll graduate college with the support of her best friend, Jonah; marry her adoring boyfriend; take a full-time job at her local library; and settle down in her small seaside hometown. But when an unusual tourist - tall, dark, and infernal - comes to town, Clara's careful plans quickly start to unravel.

And even while the stranger, who openly calls himself the devil, strikes up a situationship with Jonah, he continues to tempt Clara with reckless talk of power, ambition, and lust. Over the course of one sultry summer, tensions between Clara, Jonah, and the devil mount to an intolerable degree, and Clara is forced to confront the desires she's kept secret her whole life, even from herself.

This deliciously dark tale of Faustian bargains and seduction from New York Times-bestselling author Olivie Blake and fan-favorite artist Little Chmura kicks off a series that explores artistry and power through the temptation of the seven deadly sins."

I twist on the old saying of God laughing when you make plans.

Agatha Harkness: Fall of the Coven by Sara Shepard
Published by: Random House/Marvel
Publication Date: May 5th, 2026
Format: Hardcover, 352 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"When Agatha Harkness finds herself yanked out of her mysterious past and plopped in a modern-day high school, the race is on to find the key to saving her coven while discovering first love and battling an ancient foe.

Agatha Harkness is a powerful witch stuck living amongst an untalented group of witches in 1690s Salem, Massachusetts. That's all right - the dreary coven meetings and fake herbal potions will all be worth it once she finally gets her hands on one of the most magical artifacts in existence: the Darkhold, a book of extraordinary power. But just as it's within her grasp, disaster strikes the coven!

Agatha is about to reluctantly save the day when she is rebuffed by the nosy, stuck-up Martha. Now, thanks to the interference, Martha, Agatha, and the Darkhold have been unceremoniously dropped in one of the most terrifying locations a witch has ever encountered - modern-day high school.

Armed with just her smarts and her spells, Agatha embarks on a quest to recover the Darkhold and an incognito Martha. Along the way, she encounters a meddlesome crow, a potential first crush, and a new coven. She almost starts to feel like she's found her home, until Martha returns from the shadows - this time with dire consequences."

Agatha with a big dollop of Sabrina.

Out Law by Jim Butcher
Published by: Podium Publishing
Publication Date: May 5th, 2026
Format: Paperback, 208 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"The past comes back in a big way for Chicago's only professional wizard in this action-packed novella from the #1 New York Times-bestselling Dresden Files.

In a city that's just beginning to recover from the devastation caused by the Battle of Chicago, Harry Dresden is finally pulling himself together as well. He's ensconced in his own personal castle, healing his various wounds, and training an eager new apprentice. The last thing he wants is any trouble. But, as history has consistently - and quite annoyingly - shown, what Harry wants is rarely what Harry gets.

It starts with a visit from Harry's most powerful frenemy, Gentleman John Marcone, Baron of Chicago. He needs Harry to assist in the redemption of an underling who's looking to go straight. And since Harry does kinda sorta owe Marcone for saving his life once (stupid honorable debt!), it's not a request he can refuse. He'll just wish he had.

Because this little favor is going to drag Harry into a fight he doesn't want on behalf of a lowlife he doesn't trust against an enemy more powerful and pestilent than he ever could've expected: an insatiable, demonic foe whom Harry himself may have created when he wiped out the vampires of the Red Court so long ago.

Before, all it wanted was blood. Now it wants the entire world..."

Damn honorable Dresden!

For Better or Murder by Simon R. Green
Published by: Severn House
Publication Date: May 5th, 2026
Format: Hardcover, 192 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"It's wedding season with a spooky twist! The Holy Terrors are trying to tie the knot while solving a ghostly murder in the latest witty, creeptastic paranormal mystery from New York Times bestselling British fantasy author Simon R. Green.

There are those who say seagulls cry over the sins of mankind. And that if we could only get our act together, they could stop crying...

Holy Terrors dream team - actress Diana Hunt and her partner in crime (solving) young bishop Alistair Kincaid - are getting married! The plan is to hold a small ceremony with just some family and friends at a charming and secluded hotel in Cornwall. But in true Holy Terrors fashion, the Pale Rider hotel carries the legend of a killer ghost rider and his skeleton horse, which sets the perfect tone for a cheerful occasion!

Trying to make the best out of the stormy weekend and seemingly haunted place, spirits fall even lower when one of the guests is found murdered in the hallway. Did the legendary pale rider strike again or is there something more sinister going on - and will Diana and Alistair finally have the chance to say yes?

The 'hugely entertaining' (Booklist) Holy Terrors Mysteries are perfect for fans of Simon R. Green's urban fantasy novels, authors Jim Butcher, Terry Pratchett and Ben Aaronovitch, as well as those who enjoy American Horror Story, The X-Files and murder mysteries with a supernatural twist."

I mean, there are some people who should just elope. 

Body Count by Codie Crowley
Published by: Disney Hyperion
Publication Date: May 5th, 2026
Format: Hardcover, 304 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Three wishes. One prom queen celebrating at the Jersey Shore. And one monster who will keep killing until her wishes are paid for.

From the virally popular author of Here Lies a Vengeful Bitch, a queer feminist YA horror/slasher novel perfect for fans of You're Not Supposed to Die Tonight.

Seven years ago, Sundae Valentine made a deal with a monster she met at the bottom of a motel pool. She didn't know the wishes he offered had a price - or that the third wish, the one she still hasn't made, will cost her life.

Back then, she barely escaped Wildwood alive. Now, the cheerleaders and football players are headed to the Jersey Shore for prom weekend - leaving Sundae no choice but to return to the scene of her sun-bleached nightmares.

Sundae tries to forget, throwing herself into the rides on the pier, the tequila-fueled dance parties, and the guitar-strumming girl she can't quite look away from. She hopes the beast has forgotten, too.

But there are eyes like silver coins watching from the shadows, and teeth like a rusty saw glinting in the light of the boardwalk. Because Sundae still owes a debt. And whatever it takes, whoever he has to kill, this time the monster's determined to collect."

It's always dangerous to make a deal with a monster. It's more dangerous when he decides your time is up.

I Know a Place: Rest Stop and Other Dark Detours by Nat Cassidy
Published by: Shortwave
Publication Date: May 5th, 2026
Format: Paperback, 504 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"The first collection from USA Today bestselling author Nat Cassidy, featuring his unique blend of gleefully terrifying short fiction.

There are locations in this world where the light doesn't seem to reach. Where, no matter how illuminated the place might be, shadows creep in too strongly to fight back.

A suspiciously empty gas station rest stop in the middle of the night, littered with googley eyes... A doctor's office, where a bottle of booze and a tear-stained folder wait on the desk... A tech millionaire's haunted kitchen... A Bible-quoting ventriloquist's dingy apartment... A yoga retreat in the middle of the desert, silent except for the screaming...

These locations and more are your destination and bestselling author Nat Cassidy will be your guide. Featuring the Bram Stoker Award-nominated, critically acclaimed novella Rest Stop (one of Esquire's Best Horror Books of 2024), along with a number of other original short stories, some which have never been published before, I Know A Place: Rest Stop and Other Dark Detours is a travelogue down twisting side streets and through alleyways where the darkness has eyes... and teeth.

Let's hope you make it home in one piece."

My book club recently read Cassidy's When the Wolf Comes Home and I couldn't help but love its vibe, akin to The Twilight Zone. In fact I thought if it was shorter it would have been fantastic. Which is why I'm so looking forward to reading Nat Cassidy's shorter work. Which is something I rarely say.

She Waits Where Shadows Gather by Michelle Tang
Published by: Poisoned Pen Press
Publication Date: May 5th, 2026
Format: Paperback, 304 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Parents should pass down stories, not spirits...

Avery and Carlos Tam have built their lives on logic, not legends. Carlos, the host of a hit reality show that exposes paranormal hoaxes, has made a name disproving the supernatural.

But when they travel to his ancestral home in the Philippines, darkness clings to every corner. The mirrors are shrouded. The housekeeper won't stay in the house alone. And no one will speak of the tragedies the family has seen.

Then a brutal car crash leaves Carlos trapped in his own body - silent, helpless, and utterly vulnerable. As Avery tends to him, the house begins to stir. It watches. It listens. And it speaks - in a voice only Carlos can hear - offering a twisted kind of comfort.

And as the lies buried by Carlos and his family begin to surface, Avery must confront the truth: if the past won't rest, their future may never begin.

Some inherit memories. Others inherit monsters."

Monsters are the worst inheritance.

That Which Feeds Us by Keala Kendall
Published by: Random House Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: May 5th, 2026
Format: Hardcover, 352 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"A native Hawaiian teen travels to a luxury island resort in search of her missing twin and uncovers the dark side of paradise, in this YA supernatural thriller that's Mexican Gothic meets She is a Haunting.

For the world's wealthiest, Kōpa'a Island Resort is more than a destination. It's the ultimate escape. With no cell service or Wi-Fi, the Hawaiian island is a coveted wellness retreat renowned for its persimmon orchard and promises of rejuvenation.

But their dream vacation is Lehua's nightmare. When her twin sister, Ohia, goes missing, Lehua follows her trail to Kōpa'a to find her. Instead, Lehua is cut off from civilization - and help - after the island's boat leaves without her, stranding her with the resort's lavish guests and enigmatic staff.

As Lehua investigates Ohia's disappearance, she discovers her missing sister isn't the island's only mystery. Kōpa'a's rich exterior and sweet persimmons hide its dark plantation past. And Lehua can't ignore the dreams haunting her each night - nor the warning telling her to leave the island at once. To uncover what happened to Ohia, Lehua will have to unearth the island's bloody history and face the horrors that lurk within its sugarcane fields - or risk being consumed by them.

Sharply observed and gorgeously written, That Which Feeds Us explores the true cost of paradise as Lehua must fight to reclaim the land, the stories, and the very souls of her people."

Hokuloa Road meets The White Lotus.

Accumulation by Aimee Pokwatka
Published by: G.P. Putnam's Sons
Publication Date: May 5th, 2026
Format: Hardcover, 336Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"A twisty, searing, conversation-starting novel about a filmmaker-turned-housewife who moves into her dream house and is forced to consider whether it's the house or herself that is haunted.

When documentary filmmaker turned stay-at-home mom Tennessee Cherish moves into the the dream house her husband bought for her, a brighter future seems to be on the horizon. Even if her husband is frustratingly absent due to his new high-paying job. Even if their two young children begin acting out in strange ways. Even if she feels lonelier than ever.

Distracted by the endless details that come with moving into a new town, a new house, and new schools, Tenn doesn't notice when odd things begin happening at home. The faucet that runs at all hours. The creepy doll that seems to show up in every room. The human tooth they found in the floorboards.

As the kids' outbursts and the strange events start to escalate, the family finds themselves increasingly caught in loops, repeating everyday actions with dangerous - and then devastating - effects. Tenn realizes she must find the source of what is haunting her family, before it kills them all.

Taut and twisty, scary and searing, Aimee Pokwatka's Accumulation lays bare the high price women pay for the promises of domesticity and motherhood, and the many ways in which families can be haunted."

Hauntings take many forms. Sometimes you become your own ghost.

Spider, Spider by L.C. Winter
Published by: September Publishing
Publication Date: May 5th, 2026
Format: Hardcover, 288 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Vengeance is theirs and theirs alone. But who will deal the fatal blow?

Young Nancy Ratcliffe is on the run. Her father had sought refuge for his family with the Brethren, led by the charismatic but dangerous Prophet. But now her father is gravely ill, and even the sooty streets of Victorian London hold less terror for Nancy than the brutality of Brethren Hall.

Meanwhile, Spider is biding her time. Wrapped in dreams and visions, she paces the dark corridors and hidden staircases of the crumbling house she grew up in. The man who murdered a part of her disappeared many years ago, but still she hopes for revenge.

Jet-black and thrilling, Spider, Spider is an unforgettable tale of a woman who has lost herself in the poison of vengeance, and the knife-sharp girl who might just bring her back."

Victorian and creepy, AKA just my vibe.

Ghoul by Kasey Iris
Published by: Top Shelf Productions
Publication Date: May 5th, 2026
Format: Paperback, 292 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Be careful what you wish for! This graphic novel about a lonely Filipino American teen and her ghoulish companion puts a spooky twist on the imaginary friend.

When they were little, Lyn and Meg promised to be friends forever. but now Meg is dead, and Lyn is 15 and miserable. Moving into a new condo with her family doesn't help, especially given the gossipy neighbors. But just when Lyn needs a friend the most, a monstrous cartoon ghoul climbs out of the pages of a comic book and into her life! The bizarre duo will soon discover just how many secrets lie within the walls of Forest Court Apartments."

I pretty certain my childhood invisible friend was actually a ghost.

As I Dream of You by Jennifer Lee and LeUyen Pham
Published by: First Second
Publication Date: May 5th, 2026
Format: Hardcover, 352 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Franny and Sam are each other's entire world. So what do you do when your world ends? Frozen's Jennifer Lee and Lunar New Year Love Story's LeUyen Pham deliver a tour de force young adult romance with a supernatural twist.

Falling in love is supposed to hurt. That's what Franny and Sam, two cynical teenagers raised on tales of heartbreak and loss, have come to understand. Yet when they fall for each other, they find the reality of love is something else entirely: it's electrifying, all-encompassing, and easy. Theirs is a love that can conquer anything... perhaps even death.

But Franny and Sam's quest to stay together - no matter the cost - soon blurs the line between reality and fantasy, and their shared dream threatens to turn into a nightmare."

Dreams can turn nasty so quickly.

Change of Plans by Sarah Dessen
Published by: Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: May 5th, 2026
Format: Hardcover, 368 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"From acclaimed and #1 New York Times bestselling author Sarah Dessen comes a "sweet, nuanced, and reflective coming-of-age love story" (Kirkus Reviews, starred review) about an unassuming girl who learns to stand on her own while falling in love during a life-changing summer.

Finley has always felt most comfortable in someone else's shadow. Fortunately, she's got Colin, her magnetic boyfriend, who sweeps her along for activities, friendships, and future plans. Then she goes on a last-minute trip with her distant mom to a family vacation house that Finley didn't know existed and is now about to be sold.

Her mom was estranged from her own parents and siblings since leaving home for college, and it's a novelty for Finley to see her aunts and cousins. There's also the handful of teens who work at the Egg, her aunt's diner, and make up a found family of their own - including undeniably handsome guitarist Ben.

Then her relationship with Colin goes into freefall, and Finley's roadmap for life after high school is gone. She has no choice but to live, for the first time, without plans. The longer Finley stays, the closer she gets to the truth about why her mother stayed away - and why she's brought Finley here now.

And the closer she grows to new friends at the Egg, the more she starts to fall for charmingly awkward, soulful Ben and to realize how much of herself she's been missing. By the end of the summer, nothing will be the same - for this community or for Finley herself."

When you are that young sometimes it's best to live without a roadmap. 

The Miseducation of Caroline Bingley by Lindz McLeod
Published by: Carina Adores
Publication Date: May 5th, 2026
Format: Paperback, 384 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Pride, prejudice, and... lessons in love?

Jane Austen meets My Fair Lady in this joyful, clever opposites-attract Sapphic romance featuring Caroline Bingley and Darcy's younger sister, Georgiana.

Being snubbed by Mr Darcy - passed over for Elizabeth Bennet, no less - is humiliating.

Being told she's arrogant and unkind, and that if she doesn't mend her ways, she might never find love... that's simply preposterous. Isn't it?

Feeling the sting of Darcy's rejection, Caroline Bingley does what any self-respecting woman of means would do: she hatches a plan. Get Georgiana Darcy, the epitome of grace and sweetness, to teach Caroline how to be perfect like her.

But Caroline's transformation from status-hungry socialite to proper marriage material won't be easy. She must be charming, and even worse... she must be kind. And Georgiana herself isn't so sure about playing fairy godmother. Beneath Miss Darcy's polished facade lies an entirely different set of struggles.

As the two grow closer, Caroline discovers she's less interested in securing a man, and more intrigued by the woman helping her to reform her character. Before long, their lessons in finding love and acceptance blossom into something completely unexpected..."

I mean, it's always nice to assume that Caroline Bingley wasn't totally destroyed by rejection because she's a lover of women...

Austenland by Shannon Hale
Published by: Bloomsbury Publishing
Publication Date: May 5th, 2026
Format: Paperback, 336 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"New York Times bestselling author Shannon Hale invites readers to Austenland, an utterly delightful, romantic escape.

Newly updated edition with brand new content, including a "behind the scenes" look at the making of Austenland the movie!

Preorder the third book in the series, Christmas in Austenland, coming in September 2026!

Jane Hayes is what some might call a hopeless romantic. Normal life (and men) continuously disappoint her. Why can't she find anyone remotely like literary heartthrob, Mr. Darcy? Why can't real life feel like a novel?

When a wealthy relative bequeaths Jane a trip to an English resort for Austen superfans, Jane's fantasies become realer than she ever could have dreamed. Dressed in empire waist gowns and torn between a charming gardener and an actor playing the brooding Mr. Darcy role, Jane attempts to master the Regency-era etiquette and the flirtatious games. But when it's time to bid Austenland farewell, will she be able to leave her sincerest fantasies - and the men who helped bring them to life - behind for good?

The first book in this utterly delightful series gives readers the chance to relish all the fun of Regency romance, from the comfort of their modern lives."

I'm all here for this series by the talented Shannon Hale to continue and grow. But I'm always here for the movie. It's one of my favorite movies. Ever.

Rolls and Rivalry by Kristy Boyce
Published by: Delacorte Romance
Publication Date: May 5th, 2026
Format: Paperback, 384 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Roll the dice, strike up the band, and get ready for a swoon-worthy summer! A charming gaming romance that blends the magic of D and D with the camaraderie of band camp - from the bestselling author of Dating and Dragons!

Questing for love...

Hazel Buchanan has her senior year mapped out: Win respect as color guard captain, kick off her first D and D campaign, and steer clear of distractions. But her plan takes a critical hit when Max - her former best friend and longtime crush - returns to town with drumsticks in hand and an unexplained chip on his shoulder.

Hazel and Max can't help bickering every time they're together, and thanks to meddling parents, he's invading her D and D game too. As Dungeon Master, she's ready to shut him down, but D and D has a way of bringing people together like nothing else. Is this rivalry masking something more? With dice rolling and emotions spinning, Hazel might be in for more than she planned..."

I feel like this series going to band camp is a natural progression. 

Lindsey Cheng Dates a White Boy!!! by Asia Miller
Published by: Andrews McMeel Publishing
Publication Date: May 5th, 2026
Format: Paperback, 208 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"The rock-steady bond of college bandmates is tested by a new boyfriend in this hotly anticipated graphic rom-com by cartoonist and viral animator Asia Miller, perfect for fans of Bryan Lee O'Malley and Mariko Tamaki!

Lindsey Cheng is a college freshman figuring herself out. She's got a band with her best friends, an overprotective Chinese mom, and a date with a super cool indie rocker boy named Jason. Good luck, Lindsey!

It's the anticipated graphic debut by CalArts Alum and viral YouTube animator Asia Miller, expanded and in full color! An indie rock rom-com of liberating self-discovery, Lindsey practices juggling love, friendship, and family - ultimately learning to choose herself."

I have so been waiting for this!

Saturn Returning by Kim Narby
Published by: Bindery Books
Publication Date: May 5th, 2026
Format: Paperback, 320 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"A smoldering, soul-splitting debut that tracks three friends through the celestial chaos of adulthood, love, and queer identity.

Jordan Caleb is a freshman at McCallen College when she meets Trace. From the moment the confident, tattooed Trace compliments Jordan's Alanis Morissette T-shirt, their friendship feels fated and electrically charged. When the two friends meet mercurial transfer student Silvia, she catches Trace's eye. Their instant attraction eclipses the nascent pull between Jordan and Trace, forming a messy constellation among the three women.

Over the course of a decade, their orbits send them to opposite coasts: Jordan builds a life in New York City, while Trace and Silvia get engaged in Seattle, yet the three remain linked by the gravitational pull of the past. As they approach thirty and the apogee of their Saturn return, their bond splinters when Trace calls Jordan with a shocking revelation, exposing a web of heartache, secrets, and unspoken desires.

Saturn Returning charts the complex paths of human connection and queer friendship, questioning how we define ourselves against the relationships that have shaped our lives."

Oh yes, here for the mess.

Hollow Inside by Asako Otani
Published by: Pushkin Press
Publication Date: May 5th, 2026
Format: Paperback, 112 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"A witty, deadpan novel about modern relationships, pets, and living as a single woman; for fans of Sayaka Murata, offbeat humor, and sharp social observation.

In this skewed, mordantly funny Japanese novel, two women navigate aging and relationships in divergent ways.

Hirai, 38, has recently started living with her colleague Suganuma, 42. Both women are single and feel ambivalent at best about the prospect of marriage. Stuck in bland jobs that don't pay enough for them to afford one-bedroom apartments in the city, they defy social expectation and create their own domestic routines, allowing space for Suganuma's side-hustle - 3D-printing figurines of beloved dead pets for their grieving owners.

Though initially united by their resistance to romantic love, the pair begin tentative forays toward partnership. Suganuma strikes up a secret affair, which shocks Hirai into action and back into the world of dating apps. As she drifts through painfully adequate dates and endures intrusive questions at office socials, Hirai frets over whether she really needs to freeze her eggs again. In a dating world sapped of genuine connection, where can she turn to feel less hollow?

The debut novel by a bright new voice in Japanese fiction, Hollow Inside won the prestigious Subaru Prize. With a dark, deadpan tone and sharply witty observation, Asako Otani satirizes the myths and pressures of contemporary romantic love, as Hirai and Suganuma try to chart their own paths in a precarious world."

Here for the snark, but I also kind of want a 3-D printed figurine of my beloved Spotty.

A Zoom with a View by Jess Cannon
Published by: Dutton
Publication Date: May 5th, 2026
Format: Hardcover, 384 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"A cozy murder mystery filled with hometown drama, social media influencers, an over-the-top mother, and two very attractive local men, A Zoom with a View will make you want to move to Blue Oak - if only the Fourth of July festivities didn't end with a dead body.

Leo can't believe she's back in Blue Oak. Her small, quirky Texas hometown feels suffocating after trying to make it big as an English professor in New York - especially due to her strained relationship with her overly hair-sprayed mother, Karina. But with Leo's career in academia in shambles, at least she's able to work as a photographer for her godmother's real estate business. And her best friend, Emily, is around to help her navigate through the mess - and maybe force her to reconnect with her old high school boyfriend, Mack.

But while at work, Leo makes a grisly discovery at one of her godmother's properties: the dead body of rival real estate agent and social media influencer Chaz. Even worse, Leo and Emily have been secretly running a snarky Reddit page making fun of Chaz's cringe-inducing advice and duck-faced selfies. When someone she loves is accused of the murder, Leo finds herself flung headfirst into a dangerous investigation, teaming up with a local detective who is a lot more attractive than she remembered when they were both teenagers. Meanwhile, Karina has been acting stranger and stranger, as if all her hair hides a big secret....

A bold and hilarious introduction to a new sleuth who is looking to get her life back on track, but finds a man with his skull bashed in instead."

I really wonder if people associate "zoom" with photography anymore...

False Relation by Veronica Heley
Published by: Severn House
Publication Date: May 5th, 2026
Format: Hardcover, 224 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Secrets are never safe in a small village.

Julian Marston-Lang calls Bea Abbot in a panic - his glamorous step-cousin Mona has been murdered!

Mona's body was discovered in the garden of the house where she was living with her husband, Marcus. Once a billionaire businessman, Marcus's reversal of fortunes and inability to maintain his wife's lavish lifestyle was the source of heated rows. Did they reach breaking point?

While it seems an open-and-shut case, Marcus has mysteriously vanished. And Bea is sure there's something Julian isn't telling her.... As she travels down to Marston Hall, Bea is determined to solve the mystery. But she's about to discover that there's more to Mona's death than meets the eye...

Fans of Richard Osman, M.C. Beaton and Agatha Christie will love this page-turning mystery."

Marston Hall you say? I'm always done for a Hall with a capital "H!"

The Inklings by John R. Kelly
Published by: WaterBrook
Publication Date: May 5th, 2026
Format: Paperback, 352 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Agatha Christie, and other literary legends join forces to unravel a deadly conspiracy in this gripping mystery that sweeps from the halls of Oxford to the streets of London and the shores of Loch Ness.

In the shadowy streets of 1936 Oxford, England, members of a secret society keep turning up dead. When J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and their fellow literary masterminds, known as the Inklings, are called upon to catch a killer, they trade their pens for magnifying glasses. With time running out, they get a helping hand from mystery writers Agatha Christie and Dorothy Sayers to unravel a sinister web of secrets.

Packed with historical details, intrigue, and a thrilling whodunit, this novel is a masterful blend of high-stakes drama. Dive into a world where the creators of fantasy and mystery confront a real-life menace in a race against the clock. Will dark forces prevail, or will these literary giants crack the case before the murderer strikes again?"

Did they really need Dorothy Sayers if they have Agatha Christie?

The Great Houses of Pill Hill by Diane Josefowicz
Published by: Soho Crime
Publication Date: May 5th, 2026
Format: Hardcover, 368 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"A scintillating, wickedly intricate locked-room mystery following an unconventional woman who makes miniatures of murder scenes and finds herself entangled in a real one when the client of her dream job turns up dead.

Hannah "Cookie" Cooke, an interior decorator with a sideline making miniature reproductions of crime scenes for the local police department, lands her dream job when New Preston's wealthiest couple hires her to renovate their historic New England home. But things go spectacularly wrong when her client Chuck - with whom she is having an affair - is murdered at the housewarming party.

The detective on the case commissions one of Cookie's miniatures to help solve the baffling murder. While grappling with her own complicated role in Chuck's life - and the thorny layers of her own envies, resentments, and ambitions - Cookie delves into the strange details of his death, including his overly involved therapist, his wife's nebulous textile empire, and a room decorated in nineteenth-century Egyptian kitsch hidden on the premises. In untangling the mystery, Cookie reveals an ugly truth about New Preston's elite that might prove deadly.

At once an irreverent interpretation of the hard-boiled genre and a skewering of traditional domesticity, this show-stopping work of crime fiction is crackling with narrative voice, resulting in a read that is equally engrossing and electrifying."

Oh, this has to be inspired by Frances Glessner Lee!

The Library After Dark by Ande Pliego
Published by: Bantam
Publication Date: May 5th, 2026
Format: Hardcover, 368 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"A bookseller must escape the infamously haunted library that holds her darkest secrets, but with a murderer in her tour group, escaping alive is not as simple as it seems, in this twisty locked-room thriller from bestselling author of You Are Fatally Invited.

Not all fairytales were meant for children.

Aria Stokes is finally feeling settled - she lives in a tiny New York apartment, works as a bookseller at a local shop, and has even taken a leap of faith in love by indulging her attraction to bookstore regular Jasper. And he seems to already know her so well.

As a Valentine's Day surprise, Jasper gets the two of them tickets to an exclusive, after-dark tour of the Daedalus Library - the grandiose establishment famed for its immersive genre-based reading rooms and, more notoriously, its rumored hauntings. While Aria normally loves all things ghastly, this place holds more dark secrets than she'd prefer Jasper to know. Like that the last time she was here, she left a body behind.

But when the automatic-door entry malfunctions and Aria, Jasper, and the five other people in their tour group become trapped in the library, they are forced to venture through the storied rooms and hidden passageways of the Daedalus in search of escape... and Aria quite literally has nowhere to hide from the shadows of her past. Then the group learns there's a murderer in their midst.

Now, as she tries to break out of the library's intricate reading rooms, Aria has to decide who she can trust - and what secrets are best kept buried - if she wants to make it out alive."

They all aren't getting out of this maze alive.

26 Beauties by James Patterson
Published by: Little Brown and Company
Publication Date: May 5th, 2026
Format: Hardcover, 352 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"From the world's #1 bestselling author, the Women's Murder Club goes searching for 26 Beauties - young women missing in San Francisco.

SFPD's Sergeant Lindsay Boxer's best friend, Claire Washburn, is named medical examiner of the year. But an uninvited guest crashes the Women's Murder Club's party: a concerned father seeking investigative reporter Cindy Thomas's help in locating his missing daughter. And she's not the only one. Lindsay's been investigating the deaths of a Jane Doe washed up on a nearby beach, and a young woman found in Golden Gate Park.

What if all these cases are connected?

The answers lie with the 26 Beauties on the run and in the wind."

Always here for the Women's Murder Club!

The Masked Truth by Kelley Armstrong
Published by: Tundra Books
Publication Date: May 5th, 2026
Format: Paperback, 352 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Now in paperback with a brand-new cover comes the heart-stopping suspense thriller for teens from #1 New York Times bestselling author Kelley Armstrong.

Filled with suspense and unexpected twists, The Masked Truth will have you on the edge of your seat.

Riley Vasquez is haunted by the brutal murder of the couple she was babysitting for. Max Cross is suffering under the shadow of a life-altering diagnosis he doesn't dare reveal. When they're forced by their families to spend a weekend away at a therapy camp for teens with "issues," neither of them think things can get any worse... until three masked men take them hostage.

Now, with no way to escape and their captors on a killing spree, Riley and Max must rely on their wits and courage to survive. As they navigate this dangerous situation, they uncover dark secrets that shake them to their core. Will they find a way out before it's too late? Kelley Armstrong delivers a gripping thriller that delves deep into themes of survival and trust... and that escape doesn't equal freedom."

What if the three masked men are like the platinum package at the camp? That would be wicked. And a wicked good read.

This Dark Night by Deborah Lutz
Published by: W. W. Norton and Company
Publication Date: May 5th, 2026
Format: Hardcover, 352 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Emily Brontë (1818-1848) was only twenty-seven-years old when she began work on one of the most important novels in the English language. Two years later in 1847, she completed Wuthering Heights. It took the world almost a century to catch up to Brontë's masterpiece, and it has taken even longer to know Brontë - an elusive figure, with a ghostly legacy provoked by her early death and the loss (and likely destruction) of almost all her personal papers.

Drawing on formerly inaccessible notebooks and manuscripts, This Dark Night constructs a portrait of Brontë, her famous writing sisters Charlotte and Anne, and the effect of their sisters' and mother's tragic deaths. In the first full-length biography in over twenty years, renowned scholar Deborah Lutz sketches the days of a woman crafting otherworldly fiction while running her father's parsonage: writing interweaving with household work, daydreaming, and exploring the rough-hewn outdoors.

As she traces the influence of Brontë's life and work, Lutz follows how Brontë's fantastical early poems of the night sky, women rulers, and outsiders and rebels grew into the stormy, transcendent Wuthering Heights. Lutz also illuminates the overlooked ways that the legendary writer addressed debates of her time that still resonate today, including questions of gender and sexuality, race and class, and rapid industrialization set against the natural world.

From her menagerie of dogs and birds to the beloved moors that Brontë wandered and later emblazoned in her novel, Lutz depicts the passions of an author at odds with convention. Uniting the domestic and the cosmic, This Dark Night plumbs the life and writing of this idiosyncratic woman, dark soul, and monumental genius."

Might I suggest reading this book instead of watching a certain new film?

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: Ande Pliego, Diane Josefowicz, Emily Brontë, James Patterson, Jess Cannon, Jim Butcher, John R. Kelly, Kelley Armstrong, LeUyen Pham, Martha Wells, Nat Cassidy, Nghi Vo, Olivie Blake, Shannon Hale.Kristy Boyce, Veronica Heley

Mockingbird Court by Juneau Black
Published by: Vintage
Publication Date: October 7th, 2025
Format: Paperback, 272 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"In the latest installment in the beloved Shady Hollow series, everyone's favorite vulpine investigator Vera Vixen must contend with a cold-hearted killer - and the ghost of her own past.

It's a crisp, cool autumn in Shady Hollow, and preparations are underway for the annual Harvest Festival. Creatures have flocked from far and wide to partake in the seasonal festivities, from pumpkin carving to pie tasting to soup throwing. With all these new faces around town, it's the perfect time for someone to slip in unnoticed.

Unless that someone is Bradley Marvel, the most famous author - and most noticeable personality - in any woodland warren. It seems the wolf is on the lam. Back in the city, a body was found in his penthouse apartment at Mockingbird Court, and Marvel skipped town before the questioning could commence.

Marvel claims to be innocent, and it's up to Vera and her friends to piece together what might have happened that fateful night so many miles away in the beating heart of the big city. But things get complicated when Vera learns that she also knows the victim...and might even be implicated herself."

Not just the latest, but sadly the LAST Shadow Hollow book. I don't know how I'm going to handle this. Especially as I finally got my book club to read the first volume. 

Murder at Holly House by Denzil Meyrick
Published by: Poisoned Pen Press
Publication Date: October 7th, 2025
Format: Paperback, 416 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"A festive mystery perfect for fans of Murder on the Christmas Express and Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot's Christmas.

A village of secrets.

Yorkshire, 1952. Christmas is fast approaching when a dead stranger is found lodged up the chimney of Holly House in the snow-covered village of Elderby. Is he a simple thief, or a would-be killer?

A mystery that can't be solved.

Inspector Frank Grasby is ordered to investigate. But as is often the way for him, things don't go according to plan.

A Christmas to remember.

When the local doctor's husband is murdered, Grasby begins to realize that everyone in Elderby is hiding something.

And if he can't uncover the truth soon, the whole country will pay a dreadful price..."

Um, did whomever write this review actually read Murder on the Christmas Express, because I really can't think of a book further from anything Agatha Christie... 

Miss Winter in the Library with a Knife by Martin Edwards
Published by: Poisoned Pen Press
Publication Date: October 7th, 2025
Format: Hardcover, 432 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Six down-on-their-luck people with links to the world of crime writing have been invited to play a game this Christmas by the mysterious Midwinter Trust. The challenge seems simple but exciting: Solve the murder of a fictional crime writer in a remote but wonderfully atmospheric village in north Yorkshire to win a prize that will change your fortunes for good.

Six members of staff from the shadowy Trust are there to make sure everyone plays fair. The contestants have been meticulously vetted but you can never be too careful. And with the village about to be cut off by a snow storm, everyone needs to be extra vigilant. Midwinter can play tricks on people's minds.

The game is set - but playing fair isn't on everyone's Christmas list."

Yes, I am using this to plan my holiday reading, and this is at the top of the list.

Murder Most Haunted by Emma Mason
Published by: William Morrow Paperbacks
Publication Date: October 7th, 2025
Format: Paperback, 320 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"An unforgettable heroine is faced with an unbelievable crime in this snarky, charming locked-room mystery that asks: would you rather be snowed-in with a ghost, or a murderer?

A grand country estate.
On her last day as a detective, Midge McGowan is given the retirement present from hell: a ticket to a haunted house tour. She'll have to spend a weekend ghost-hunting in an isolated mansion with a group of misfits, including a know-it-all paranormal investigator and a has-been pop star.

A puzzle that can't be solved.
The guests soon realize that the house has a mind of its own...and that they might not be the only ones there. An eerie figure appears on the property, and then the unthinkable happens: someone is murdered in a room that's been locked from the inside.

A ghostly weekend they might not survive.
When a blizzard cuts the group off from help, the house's own dark secrets begin to surface, and Midge can't shake the creeping sense that they are walking into a nightmare. Could a ghost really be responsible? Or is the culprit one the guests, who have somehow, impossibly, endeared themselves to Midge?"

I know it's a mystery trope, but retiring detectives do not actually have to use their retirement presents. Midge could, I don't know, NOT go to the scary house in the middle of nowhere. But then that wouldn't be as fun to read now would it? Oh, unless it was written like she has to investigate after the fact and she's all, now that was a close call....

12 Ways to Kill Your Family at Christmas by Natasha Bache
Published by: One More Chapter
Publication Date: October 7th, 2025
Format: Kindle, 326 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Perfect for fans of The White Lotus, Knives Out and anyone who's ever wanted to strangle someone over Christmas lunch.

All Olivia wanted was one last miserable Christmas with her husband's awful family before moving to Australia. She didn't expect a murder.

Now the snow has cut them off and she's stuck in a stately country house, with her increasingly deranged relatives and the rising suspicion that someone is picking them off one by one.

As the bodies pile up and the festive façade starts to crack, Olivia must survive the season, or, at the very least, get through lunch without anyone else choking on a sprout.

Sharp, smart and deliciously twisted, this is Christmas with all the trimmings: cold cuts, warm lies and at least one suspicious pudding."

This is why I read murder mysteries over the holidays, so I don't strangle someone over Christmas lunch.

What a Way to Go by Bella Mackie
Published by: Harper Perennial
Publication Date: October 7th, 2025
Format: Paperback, 384 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"With the bite of The White Lotus and the family dynamics of Succession, What a Way to Go is an uproarious and satirical whodunnit about people behaving badly - and perhaps finally getting their just deserts - from the author of the mega-bestseller How to Kill Your Family.

When Anthony Wistern died, he expected his family to make a bit more of a fuss about it. Especially after he'd died in such dramatic fashion: skewered by an exorbitantly expensive party decoration in the private lake of his Cotswold's manor house at his sixtieth birthday party, surrounded by the people for whom he most loved flaunting his wealth. And now even death has disappointed him; instead of Heaven or Hell or an empty void, Anthony's soul is stuck in a strange kind of purgatory while he tries to figure out who killed him - before he is finally released from this interminably exasperating waiting room.

Olivia Wistern knows she should probably try to appear at least a little upset about her husband's death, but she honestly can't be bothered. As usual, he's left behind an unbelievable mess - financially, socially, personally - that she's going to have to clean up. Their four grown children will be of absolutely no help; she shouldn't have let them become so hopelessly spoiled. And is it just her, or are the police and their "murder investigation" intentionally getting underfoot? There's no shortage of people who hated Anthony, so can't they look for a killer somewhere other than her house?

While the Wisterns are more concerned about the fate of their money than the fate of their patriarch, one internet sleuth is highly interested in Anthony Wistern's death. She isn't about to let the opportunity to create a sure-to-be smash true crime podcast pass by, not when the murder was committed mere yards away, and not when she has her own history with the victim. She'll make her name and her own fortune off Anthony's death one way or another, whatever it takes...."

It's really the podcast combined with a dramatic death that has me sitting up and taking notice. 

Sisters Before Misters by Amelia Diane Coombs
Published by: Thomas and Mercer
Publication Date: October 7th, 2025
Format: Hardcover, 287 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"A missing husband, a sister acting sus, and a tantalizing tangle of lies - well, there goes Remi's plan for a chill Halloween.

Remi and her sisters, Maeve and Eliana, have a knack for stumbling into murder mysteries. And after a killer family camping trip last year, they're back together for a Halloween they'll never forget.

Remi is living her best life in Seattle until Eliana's husband, Chad, who refused to sign their divorce papers, disappears on the spookiest night of the year. Eliana swears she has no idea where he is, though her obvious motive and weird behavior don't really weigh in her favor. Nor does the severed finger they find in his house...

Torn between loyalty to her sister and mounting suspicions she can't ignore, Remi and her boyfriend, Leo, embark on a manhunt to find Chad - or the rest of him. But the further Remi digs into Chad's movements on Halloween, the more trouble she finds. With a ruthless detective on their tail, threatening texts, a mysterious flash drive, and dubious legal advice from a kooky aunt, the Finch sisters are in over their head. But Remi is determined to prove her sister's innocent, even though the bloody evidence points right at her."

Does the severed finger point right at her? I'm sorry. I couldn't help myself. 

Death of the Eleven-Toed Man by Gaynor Torrance
Published by: Joffe Books
Publication Date: October 7th, 2025
Format: Kindle, 267 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"They say curiosity killed the cat, but in the sleepy village of Monksworthy, it's about to unearth a body.

When local aristocrat Sir Barnaby Cavendish-Mortimer joins the village detectorists, he's expecting old Roman coins and a Saturday morning stroll - not a dead body buried on his estate.

A body with eleven toes.

Naturally, the villagers do what they do best: jump to conclusions. And all fingers - and toes, it seems - point to Sir Barnaby as the killer.

As full-time busybodies and part-time sleuths, Sylvie, Liz and Harriet can't just sit back while their friend's reputation crumbles.

With a little snooping, a lot of eavesdropping and more pastries than strictly necessary, the trio are determined to clear Sir Barnaby's name.

But while the gossip swirls and suspicions mount, another body is discovered. And this time, Sylvie, Liz and Harriet know the victim.

This isn't just a case of whodunit - it's a question of who's next.

Can the three amateur sleuths crack the case before the killer strikes again - or will one of them be next to end up six feet under...?

Perfect for fans of Faith Martin, the Reverend Richard Coles, Kristen Perrin, Veronica Heley or Fiona Leitch."

Two, Ten, Eleven. Eyes, fingers, toes. If you know what that's from you're my new best friend. 

The Little Black Book Killer by Fiona Walker
Published by: Boldwood Books Ltd
Publication Date: October 7th, 2025
Format: Paperback, 314 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"The third in the charming, page-turning cosy mystery series from million-copy bestseller Fiona Walker matchmaking has never been so murderous...

Juno is feeling ready - at last - to start dating again, after losing her husband some years ago. She is sure she can make time from being a Village Detective, indeed it might help distract her from her crush on hunky (but far-too-young!) pub landlord - Mil.

So she's signed up to an exclusive new dating app and cannot wait. But when one of the founding investors in that same dating app drops dead in front of fellow Village Detective Phoebe in a nearby hotel - and then a second investor is found hanging in the local cricket pavilion just days later - Juno knows she'll have to put her love life on hold.

Teaming up once more with Phoebe, Felix and Mil...the Village Detectives are back. And this time Juno - who'd thought she was getting under the covers with a new lover - is going undercover to catch a killer...

Wickedly funny cozy crime, from million-copy bestselling author Fiona Walker. Fans of Richard Osman, Janet Evanovich and Rev. Richard Coles will love the Village Detectives!"

I mean, isn't the founding investor of a dating app dropping dead in front of you a sign that you should be investigating murders and not dating?

The Peculiar Incident at Thistlewick House by Jenni Keer
Published by: Boldwood Books
Publication Date: October 7th, 2025
Format: eBook, 368 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"As the bones start to fall, the spirits will rise...

Norfolk, England, 1895: When renowned spiritualist Edward Blackmore receives a desperate message from his cousin Barnabas, begging him to come to the coastal village of Thistlewick Tye, his first thought is to ignore the request. Despite his cousin's insistence that his wife is possessed by a malevolent spirit, Edward has no time for the man who stole his inheritance.

Lured by the promise of money, along with a genuine concern for Barnabas's wife - who he'd once loved - he reluctantly travels to at Thistlewick House, only to arrive too late. Emma is dead.

Barnabas suspects there are supernatural forces at play. But Edward is convinced murder is afoot. As he begins to investigate, he finds himself drawn into the lives of those in this isolated and unnerving village, especially the beguiling woman who gathers up the human bones falling from the rapidly eroding cliffs.

Then he discovers that a travelling circus completely disappeared in the area forty years previously and no one is willing to talk about it. Perhaps not everything at Thistlewick Tye is quite what it seems...

A totally gripping and unmissable historical novel, perfect for reading groups and fans of Louise Douglas, Sarah Waters and Erin Morgenstern, from the bestselling author of No. 23, Burlington Square."

There's a spiritualist, I'm in.

Mirage City by Lev A.C. Rosen
Published by: Minotaur Books
Publication Date: October 7th, 2025
Format: Hardcover, 272 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Lev A.C. Rosen delivers a new and captivating 1950s mystery in this dazzling, award-winning series.

Private Investigator Evander "Andy" Mills' next case takes him out of his comfort zone in San Francisco - and much to his dismay, back home to Los Angeles. After a secretive queer rights organization called the Mattachine Society enlists Andy to find some missing members, he must dodge not only motorcycle gangs and mysterious forces, but his own mother, too.

Avoiding her proves to be a challenge when the case leads Andy to the psychiatric clinic she works at. Worlds collide, buried secrets are dug up, and Andy realizes he's going to have to make some hard choices. With secrets, drugs, and doctors swirling around him, time is running out for Andy to locate the missing and get them to safety. And for him to make it back to San Francisco in one piece."

Oh please, I hope he does get those people to safety because I can guess what the doctors are up to...

All of Us Murderers by KJ Charles
Published by: Poisoned Pen Press
Publication Date: October 7th, 2025
Format: Paperback, 352 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"The lush Gothic drama of Crimson Peak meets the murderous intrigue of Knives Out with an LGBTQIA+ love story to die for from award-winning author KJ Charles.

WHO WILL SURVIVE LACKADAY HOUSE?

When Zeb Wyckham is summoned to a wealthy relative's remote Gothic manor, he is horrified to find all the people he least wants to see in the world: his estranged brother, his sneering cousin, and his bitter ex-lover Gideon Grey. Things couldn't possibly get worse.

Then the master of the house announces the true purpose of the gathering: he intends to leave the vast family fortune to whoever marries his young ward, setting off a violent scramble for her hand. Zeb wants no part of his greedy family - but when he tries to leave, the way is barred. The walls of Lackaday House are high, and the gates firmly locked. As the Dartmoor mists roll in, there's no way out. And something unnatural may be watching them from the house's shadowy depths...

Fear and paranoia ramping ever-higher, Zeb has nowhere to turn but to the man who once held his heart. As the gaslight flickers and terror takes hold, can two warring lovers reunite, uncover the murderous mysteries of Lackaday House - and live to tell the tale?"

Yeah, I'd leave once I saw the guest list.

The Hong Kong Widow by Kristen Loesch
Published by: Berkley
Publication Date: October 7th, 2025
Format: Hardcover, 368 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Hong Kong, 1953: In a remote mansion, witnesses insist a massacre took place. The police see nothing but pristine rooms and declare it a collective hallucination. Until decades later, when one witness returns…from the Edgar®-nominated author of The Last Russian Doll.

In 1950s Hong Kong, Mei is a young refugee of the Chinese Communist revolution struggling to put her past in Shanghai behind her. When she receives a shocking invitation - to take part in a competition in one of the city's most notorious haunted houses, pitting six spirit mediums against one another in a series of six séances over six nights, until a single winner emerges - she has every reason to refuse.

Except that the hostess, a former Shanghainese silent film star, is none other than the wife of the man who once destroyed Mei's entire life.

It is promised the winner will receive a fortune, but there is only one prize Mei wants: revenge.

Decades later, the final night of that competition has become an infamous urban legend: The police were called to the scene of a brutal massacre but found no evidence, dismissing it as a collective hallucination. Mei knows what she saw, but now someone else is convinced they know what she did. She must uncover the truth about the last night she ever spent in that house - even if the ghosts of her past are waiting for her there...."

Has even such a fascinating blurb had such a lackluster cover?

How to Fake a Haunting by Christa Carmen
Published by: Thomas and Mercer
Publication Date: October 7th, 2025
Format: Paperback, 349 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"A desperate woman's plot to frighten her husband out of her life takes a nightmarish turn in a chilling novel of modern horror by a Bram Stoker Award-winning author.

Lainey Taylor is being pushed to the brink by her alcoholic husband, Callum. Prone to hallucinations and erratic behavior, it's only a matter of time before he puts Lainey's life - and that of their daughter, Beatrix - in jeopardy. A divorce and full custody is out of the question. In Callum's words: Over my dead body.

Lainey's sympathetic friend Adelaide has a wild solution. They'll stage a haunting so convincing it will drive Callum out of Lainey's life for good. Nothing too over the top: strange smells, noises in the walls, and flies unleashed along the windowsills. It could work. Considering Callum's alcohol-induced night terrors, he's already close to broken. With each new scare, Lainey is closer to seeing the haunting through to its bitter, freeing end.

But in a house filled with so much rage, resentment, and fear, is it any wonder that Lainey and Adelaide's plan goes horribly wrong? As their fake haunting spirals into something no one can control, Lainey discovers that the only way out of this frightening trap is to join forces with Callum, or die trying."

No, don't join forces with the enemy, run for you life and leave him behind!

Atlas of Unknowable Things by McCormick Templeman
Published by: St. Martin's Press
Publication Date: October 7th, 2025
Format: Hardcover, 320 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Perfect for fans of The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, with a modern gothic twist.

High in the Rocky Mountains on a secluded campus, sits Hildegard College, a celebrated institution known for its scientific innovation and its sprawling, botanical gardens. Historian Robin Quain has been awarded a residency to examine Hildegard's impressive collection of ancient manuscripts, but she has a secret. She's actually on the hunt for an artifact - one she must find before her former best friend turned professional rival gets his hands on it first.

But Hildegard has secrets of its own. Strange sounds echo across the alpine lake, lights flicker through the pines, and the faculty seem more like Jazz-age glitterati than academics. And then there's the professor who holds the key to Robin's research. She vanished suddenly last spring. What exactly did she do at the college, and why does no one want to talk about her?

As Robin searches for answers, an unknown source sends her a series of cryptic messages that makes her question whether she's the one doing the hunting, or whether someone is hunting her. Drawing on historical, botanical, and occult research, and steeped in the gothic tradition, Atlas of Unknowable Things considers what it means to search for meaning in the scientific, only to come face to face with the sublime."

And the supernatural. Never discount the supernatural.

The Glass Slide World by Carrie Vaughn
Published by: 47north
Publication Date: October 7th, 2025
Format: Paperback, 284 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Award-winning author Carrie Vaughn's sequel to The Naturalist Society follows a young scientist unlocking her magical abilities amid a high-seas adventure filled with international intrigue.

The year is 1902, and the world is changing with the new century. Twenty-one-year-old Ava Stanley, the daughter of two celebrated Arcane Taxonomists, has much to live up to - however scarce her magical abilities may be.

While her parents draw power from spectacular birds and megafauna, Ava's connection to the natural world is much smaller, stemming from the microscopic. This is useful in her quest to become a doctor, as she studies the burgeoning links between bacteria and disease, but it means Ava's power itself is also smaller. Even so, she plans to make the most of it when she boards a ship to Nassau, where she'll continue her research.

But those plans change when pirates take over the ship, bringing with them danger, mystery, and the stirrings of war. Amid the chaos, Ava forges connections with her fellow travelers. And in them, she begins to find that every tiny piece of the world has the power to strengthen it...or shatter it completely."

First mention of Nassau I was hoping for pirates. This book did not disappoint. 

The Resurrectionist by Kathleen S. Allen
Published by: Roaring Brook Press
Publication Date: October 7th, 2025
Format: Hardcover, 336 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"A young Victorian woman unwittingly unleashes a monster into being in this gothic tale of medical mystery and sinister suspense, perfect for fans of Don't Let the Forest In and Belladonna.

Death is just the beginning.

When seventeen-year-old Dilly Rothbart finds her recently deceased father's hidden journal, her entire world is upended - for what she finds within are the steps to bring a dead soul back to life.

Intent on finishing her father's work and establishing herself as the greatest scientist in history, Dilly plunges into a medical underworld of corpse-stealing, grave-robbing, and even murder. And when her twin sister steps in the way of her studies, she'll do whatever is necessary to secure the recognition she deserves.

This twisty, atmospheric, Frankensteinian tale is about a group of ambitious young scientists who descend into corruption when a breakthrough discovery grants them the power of gods."

Here's hoping this takes place before the Anatomy Act of 1832 otherwise you're going to hear a lot of grumbling from me.

The Essential Horror by Joe R. Lansdale
Published by: Tachyon Publications
Publication Date: October 7th, 2025
Format: Paperback, 332 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"In this career horror retrospective, World Horror Grandmaster Joe R. Lansdale (Bubba Ho-tep; Hap and Leonard) tackles racism and human cruelty as deftly as he conjures demon nuns and Elder Gods. Featuring an original introduction from Joe Hill, this much-anticipated volume showcases the best of Lansdale's terrifying short stories - menacing, astute, and wildly inappropriate.

Bestselling author Joe R. Lansdale is known for his gritty mysteries and his eccentric horror. As an eleven-time Bram Stoker Award winner, Joe Lansdale cooks up an inimitable recipe of Southern Gothic and Southern fried chicken that continues to delight his many fans and influence generations of horror legends.

Lansdale mashes up crime, Gothic, mystery, fantasy, and science-fiction, filtered through a raw, violent world of dark humor and unique characters. Lansdale is one of the early American horror writers to portray racism not as abstract but as realistic, intimate, and impossible to ignore.

In Lansdale's nightmarish visions, you'll discover psychotic demon nuns, a psychopathic preacher, cannibals, 80-year-old Elvis, undead strippers, flying ghost fish, Elder Gods, possessed cars, and the worst evil of all: mankind.

Table of contents:
Introduction by Joe Hill
"The Folding Man"
"Hoodoo Man and the Midnight Train"
"God of the Razor"
"My Dead Dog Bobby"
"Tight Little Stitches in a Deadman's Back"
"By Bizarre Hands"
On the Far Side of the Cadillac Desert with Dead Folk
"Love Doll: A Fable"
"Mister Weed-Eater"
"The Bleeding Shadow"
"Not From Detroit"
"The Hungry Snow"
"Dog, Cat, and Baby"
Bubba Ho-tep
"Fish Night"
"Night They Missed the Horror Show""

Here for it all but really here for Bubba Ho-tep! 

The Salvage by Anbara Salam
Published by: Tin House Books
Publication Date: October 7th, 2025
Format: Paperback, 368 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"It is 1962, and Marta Khoury, a trailblazing marine archaeologist, has been called to Cairnroch, a small island off the east coast of Scotland. A Victorian shipwreck, dragged from arctic waters, holds the remains of a celebrated explorer and the treasures of his final expedition. But on her first dive down to the ship, Marta becomes convinced she has seen a dark figure lurking amid the wreckage.

When the Cuban Missile Crisis and the deep chill of a record-breaking winter keeps Marta stranded on Cairnroch, she forms a relationship with Elsie, a local woman working in the island's only hotel. When the ship's artefacts inexplicably disappear, Marta and Elsie have to brave the freezing conditions to search for the missing objects before anyone else catches on. As something eerie seems to follow her at every step, Marta must confront if the haunting is a figment of her imagination, the repercussions from a terrible mistake from her past, or if something more sinister is at play that will trap her and everyone on the island - and their secrets - in an icy wilderness."

I'm always here for the more sinister option! 

Secrets of the Snakestone by Piu Dasgupta
Published by: Nosy Crow
Publication Date: October 7th, 2025
Format: Hardcover, 288 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"A remarkable middle-grade debut that takes readers on a thrillingly fast-paced race through the murky and magical underbelly of 19th-century Paris.

Zélie is often accused of being a witch, but she doesn't believe in magic. That is until Jules climbs up from the reeking Parisian sewer and hands her the gold locket he found there. Zélie recognizes it immediately - it belongs to her missing father, who is supposed to be back in India, and it once held the magical Snakestone. If Zélie can find the stone, she might also find her father.

But a sinister secret society is equally desperate to get their hands on the Snakestone and its terrible powers. Zélie and Jules must beat them to it, risking their lives in the dark tunnels twisting beneath the city streets..."

Giving be Theodosia Throckmorton vibes. And yes, that's a very very good thing.

Hole in the Sky by Daniel H. Wilson
Published by: Doubleday
Publication Date: October 7th, 2025
Format: Hardcover, 288 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"A Native American first contact story and gripping thriller from the New York Times bestselling author of Robopocalypse.

On the Great Plains of Oklahoma, in the heart of the Cherokee Nation, a strange atmospheric disturbance is noticed by Jim Hardgray, a down-on-his-luck single father trying to reconnect with his teenage daughter, Tawny. At NASA's headquarters in Houston, Texas, astrophysicist Dr. Mikayla Johnson observes an interaction with the Voyager 1 spacecraft on the far side of the solar system, and she concludes that something enormous and unidentified is heading directly for Earth. And in an undisclosed bunker somewhere in the United States, an American threat forecaster known only as the Man Downstairs intercepts a cryptic communication and sends a message directly to the president and highest-ranking military brass: "First contact imminent."

Daniel H. Wilson's Hole in the Sky is a riveting thriller in the most creative tradition of extraterrestrial fiction. Drawing on Wilson's unique background as both a threat forecaster for the United States Air Force and a Cherokee Nation citizen, this propulsive novel asks probing questions about nonhuman intelligence, the Western mindset, and humans' understanding of reality."

So much sci-fi yes here!

The Door on the Sea by Caskey Russell
Published by: Solaris
Publication Date: October 7th, 2025
Format: Hardcover, 400 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"An epic quest fantasy debut that is the Tlingit indigenous response to The Lord of the Rings.

When Elān trapped a salmon-stealing raven in his cupboard, he never expected it would hold the key to saving his people from the shapeshifting Koosh invaders plaguing their shores. In exchange for its freedom, the raven offers a secret that can save Elān's home: the Koosh have lost one of their most powerful weapons, and only the raven knows where it is.

Elān is tasked with captaining a canoe crewed by an unlikely team including a human bear-cousin, a massive wolf, and the endlessly vulgar raven. To retrieve the weapon, they will face stormy seas, cannibal giants and a changing world. But Elān is a storyteller, not a warrior.

As their world continues to fall to the Koosh, and alliances are challenged and broken, Elān must choose his role in his own epic story."

Do the human-bear cousin and the massive wolf cub demand second breakfast?

A Mouthful of Dust by Nghi Vo
Published by: Tordotcom
Publication Date: October 7th, 2025
Format: Hardcover, 112 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Hunger makes monsters in this dark new tale in Nghi Vo's Hugo Award-winning Singing Hills Cycle.

Wandering Cleric Chih of Singing Hills and their hoopoe companion Almost Brilliant come to the river town of Baolin chasing stories of a legendary famine. Amid tales of dishes served to royalty and desserts made of dust, they discover the secrets of what happens when hunger stalks the land and what the powerful will do to hide their crimes.

Trapped in the mansion of a sinister magistrate, Chih and Almost Brilliant must learn what happened in Baolin when the famine came to call, and they must do so quickly...because the things in the shadows are only growing hungrier.

The Singing Hills Cycle has been shortlisted for the Lambda Literary Award, the Locus Award, and the Ignyte Award, and has won the Crawford Award and the Hugo Award.

The novellas are standalone stories linked by the Cleric Chih, and may be read in any order."

What happens when there's famine is a true horror story.

Queen Demon by Martha Wells
Published by: Tor Books
Publication Date: October 7th, 2025
Format: Hardcover, 400 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"From the breakout SFF superstar author of Murderbot comes the remarkable sequel to the USA Today and Sunday Times bestselling novel, Witch King. A fantasy of epic scope, Queen Demon is a story of power and friendship, of trust and betrayal, and of the families we choose.

Dahin, a beloved member of the Witch King's coterie, believes he has clues to the location of the Hierarchs' Well, and the Witch King Kai, along with his companions Ziede and Tahren, knowing there's something he isn't telling them, travel with him to the rebuilt university of Ancartre, which may be dangerously close to finding the Well itself.

Can Kai stop the rise of a new Hierarch?

And can he trust his companions to do what's right?

Follow Kai to the end of the world in this thrilling sequel to the USA Today-bestselling Witch King."

Because everyone should be reading Martha Wells right now. EVERYONE!

The Women of Wild Hill by Kirsten Miller
Published by: William Morrow
Publication Date: October 7th, 2025
Format: Hardcover, 368 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"A witty, spectacular, and timely tale of modern-day witches waging war on the patriarchy, from fan favorite Kirsten Miller, the author of The Change and Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books.

There are places on earth where nature's powers gather. Girls raised there are bequeathed strange gifts. A few have powers so dark that they fear to use them. Such a place is Wild Hill, on the tip of Long Island. For centuries, the ghost of a witch murdered by colonists claimed the beautiful and fertile Wild Hill…until a young Scottish woman with strange gifts arrived. Sadie Duncan was allowed to stay.

Five generations of Sadie's descendants called Wild Hill home, each generation more powerful than the last. Then, in the aftermath of a terrible tragedy, the last of the Duncans, once prophesized to be the most powerful of their kind, abandoned their ancestral home.

One of them, Brigid Laguerre moved to California and turned her dark gift into fame and fortune. Her sister, Phoebe, settled on a ranch in Texas, where women visit in secret for her tonics and cures. Phoebe's daughter, Sybil, has become a famous chef. Seemingly powerless, Sibyl has never been told of the Duncan bloodline.

Now Brigid, Phoebe, and Sibyl have been brought to Wild Hill to discover their family legacy. The Old One, furious at the path mankind has taken, has chosen three powerful witches to turn the tide. The Duncans will fulfill their destinies - but only if they can set aside their grievances and come together as a family."

I mean, if they called me up I'm all for coming together to wreck some havoc. All in a good cause of course.

The Hearth Witch's Guide to Magic and Murder by Kiri Callaghan
Published by: Poisoned Pen Press
Publication Date: October 7th, 2025
Format: Paperback, 448 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
""For all intents and purposes, we are still blissfully separated from the mortals, but there have been...complications."

When a rise in London's supernatural crime puts Fey society at risk of discovery, the Winter Council turns to an unlikely solution: Avery Hemlock, the changeling they sentenced to 500 Years of Nightmares. Inherently lacking social grace and missing approximately two centuries of world knowledge, Avery must find a way to acclimate and solve the case or lose her probationary freedom.

After being left at the altar and dropping out of medical school, Saga Trygg attempts to rekindle her faith in life, humanity, and witchcraft. But when her new neighbor, Avery, accidentally reveals the Fey that have been living among humanity all along, Saga realizes magic is far more than prayers, intention, and candles.

Each faced with navigating an unfamiliar world, the two form an unexpected partnership - but shortly into Avery's investigation, they discover the threat might be closer to Saga than either of them imagined, and Avery will do anything to protect the first friend she's had in more than two hundred years."

Found family can stand against any threat!

The Witching Moon Manor by Stacy Sivinski
Published by: Atria Books
Publication Date: October 7th, 2025
Format: Paperback, 336 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"The magical Quigley sisters return to bargain with fate once more in this follow-up to the "charming, uplifting, and utterly enchanting" (Lana Harper, New York Times bestselling author) national bestseller The Crescent Moon Tearoom.

The Crescent Moon is thriving after a much-needed expansion, with the ladies who step through its doors continuing to seek comfort in the glimpses of their futures found in the swirls at the bottom of their teacups. Anne is leading the city's witches as Chicago's Diviner, Beatrix is swept away on a book tour across the country, and Violet has found her place with her feet swinging through the air above the circus crowds. That is, until the Quigley sisters find themselves stumbling on their chosen paths, and they are drawn back home in search of refuge in each other's company.

As Anne struggles to balance her growing responsibilities, Beatrix fears she has lost her gift for storytelling, and Violet is shaken after an accident at the circus, the future the sisters had drawn for themselves feels murkier than ever. And, when the threads of fate begin to unravel, Anne must lean on her sisters and team up with a mysterious - and oddly infuriating - necromancer to save the city from an uncertain destiny and help old friends find a happy end.

With all three Quigleys back in the warm comfort of the Crescent Moon, they set out to bargain with Fate once more. But will the sisters find the courage to embrace who they have become while returning to what they left behind, or will the future unfold in a way that even a Quigley couldn't have predicted?"

It's nice to have a soft place to land.

Cinder House by Freya Marske
Published by: Tordotcom
Publication Date: October 7th, 2025
Format: Hardcover, 144 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Sparks fly and lovers dance in this gorgeous, yearning Cinderella retelling from bestselling author Freya Marske - a queer Gothic romance perfect for fans of Naomi Novik and T. Kingfisher.

Ella is a haunting.

Murdered at sixteen, her ghost is furiously trapped in her father's house, invisible to everyone except her stepmother and stepsisters.

Even when she discovers how to untether herself from her prison, there are limits. She cannot be seen or heard by the living people who surround her. Her family must never learn she is able to leave. And at the stroke of every midnight, she finds herself back on the staircase where she died.

Until she forges a wary friendship with a fairy charm-seller, and makes a bargain for three nights of almost-living freedom. Freedom that means she can finally be seen. Danced with. Touched.

You think you know Ella's story: the ball, the magical shoes, the handsome prince.

You're halfway right, and all-the-way wrong."

Totally here for this dark take on Cinderella. 

The Finest Edge of Twilight by R.A. Salvatore
Published by: Random House Worlds
Publication Date: October 7th, 2025
Format: Hardcover, 400 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"The daughter of legendary Dungeons and Dragons adventurers Drizzt Do'Urden and Catti-brie fights to build her own legacy in a brand-new series from R. A. Salvatore.

My name is not "Drizzt's daughter."

Breezy Do'Urden is more than just the heir of legendary heroes. For the past decade, she has dedicated herself to the study of combat, magic, and more recently, to the elusive Way of Shadow, honing her body and mind into a keen and singular weapon. But even after years of effort, her parents, Drizzt and Cattie-brie, struggle to see Breezy as more than just their little girl. Determined to prove them wrong, Breezy takes on the most intense challenge she can: to fight her way to becoming a Master of Dragons at the renowned Monastery of the Yellow Rose.

Meanwhile, in the shadows of Westbridge, Dahlia Sin'felle plots her rise to power. Once a broken soul, Dahlia has few friends and fewer options to make her way through the world. But Dahlia believes she has discovered a new path to restored glory: the transformative charm and cunning of a vampire. With every step toward immortality, she consolidates her influence, building an empire from the darkness, even as she contends with her own monstrous instincts - and her complicated past with Breezy's family.

As Breezy fights her way through the shadows, and Dahlia follows her dark ambitions, both seek to find their place in a world that can be both brutal and beautiful. No matter the challenges, their divergent paths are forged by the same choice: their fates will be theirs and theirs alone."

Score, I can add this to my vampire shelf. And yes. Of course I have a vampire shelf. Or should I say shelves...

The Crimson Throne by Sara Raasch and Beth Revis
Published by: Sourcebooks Fire
Publication Date: October 7th, 2025
Format: Hardcover, 368 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Powerless meets Reign in this new historical romantasy from the New York Times bestselling authors of Night of the Witch.

Samson Calthorpe's curse has isolated him from everyone he has ever cared about. So, when the opportunity arises to break the curse, he grabs it. All he has to do for his freedom is risk his life and become a royal spy, using every bit of the skills and resolve he's picked up on the streets of London to infiltrate the court of the Scottish Queen and uncover a plot to assassinate Queen Elizabeth.

For years, Alyth Graham has been protecting Mary Queen of Scots from threats both physical and magical, including the Queen's own husband, Lord Darnley. Alyth is more than meets the eye though, the child of a fae prince and a human mother, she is among the most powerful protectors in Scotland: guardians sworn to defend against the Red Caps, a bloodthirsty fae clan...that Lord Darnley is in league with to overtake Scotland.

As Alyth and Samson circle each other in the volatile and glamorous Scottish court, both seek to uncover threats to their own countries. They have one unifying link: their shared hatred and suspicion of Lord Darnley...and their undeniable pull towards each other. Using secret codes, hidden messages, and a little bit of magic, Alyth and Samson unravel a plot centuries in the making. Lord Darnley is only a pawn, and in this game, the queen takes all."

I mean, Lord Darnley could only hope to be a pawn. And yes, I have Lord Darnley issues. But he got what he deserved...

Witchkillers by Ashlee Latimer
Published by: Scholastic Press
Publication Date: October 7th, 2025
Format: Hardcover, 336 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Gretel had no choice.

Her brother Hansel was in danger, and she had to kill the witch. Five months later, she is still ripped from her dreams and awoken by the noise of her sword tearing into the witch's flesh. Her waking hours are no better. Hansel has grown more and more like their monstrous father by the day. The society she now inhabits has trapped her in an endless cycle of balls with nobles who sneer at her family's new money. And worst of all, her greedy father has issued his newest ploy to increase his wealth. Gretel must marry, and soon.

Devastated at the prospect of a lifetime with an old, decrepit husband, she flees a ball...and runs right into Prince Wilfried. When Gretel divulges the reality of her situation, Wilfried comes up with a solution. He is also being pressured to find a suitable future queen - they can both delay the inevitable by faking an engagement. Gretel agrees, and what starts as a ruse quickly deepens as she finds herself falling for the handsome prince.

But in the quiet of night, still trapped in her castle with her memories, Gretel feels the walls closing in and ventures into the neighboring woods. There, she meets Katharina, a beautiful witch who introduces her to the witch community. But these women aren't evil  - they're healers, and Gretel is drawn to them.

When information comes to light implicating her family's involvement in a traitorous plot and endangering the lives of herself and those she's grown to care about, Gretel must ask herself - did the wrong person die in that cottage? And can the Witchkiller become a witch?"

Go Gretel! Join the witches, kill your brother!

The Mermaid's Bubble Lounge by Seana Kelly
Published by: NYLA
Publication Date: October 7th, 2025
Format: Kindle, 293 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"The vampire Guild is in shambles. My husband Clive and I might have given more than a few Masters their final deaths - allegedly - so it's fallen on us to fix the problem. Mostly on Clive, that is, as he's the Master vampire. I'm Sam Quinn, werewolf book nerd and owner of The Slaughtered Lamb Bookstore and Bar.

Vlad (yes, that one) and Cadmael are the houseguests no one would want, but we're trying to grin and bear it because the Guild must be rebuilt, and we must make haste as rogue vamps are becoming a big bloody problem.

Finvarra, the fae king who had it out for me even before I helped cause his brother's death, is coming to do what none of his assassins have managed: end me in as painful a manner as possible.

In other news, Stheno and Vlad have been hooking up and we're all a little afraid of those two together."

SO here for Stehno and Vlad!

Her Wicked Roots by Tanya Pell
Published by: Gallery Books
Publication Date: October 7th, 2025
Format: Hardcover, 352 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"In this queer retelling of Nathaniel Hawthorne classic gothic story, Rappaccini's Daughter, a young woman is lured to a lush estate owned by a botanist who might be hiding dark secrets.

Cordelia Beecher is on the run. In search of her missing brother Edward, she has fled the oppressive charity school she was raised in, desperate to find the only family she knows. Using clues from his past letters, she sets off for the sleepy town of Farrow but everyone there claims to have never heard of Edward - not even the man he was supposedly working for as an apprentice.

With nowhere to go, Cordi turns to Lady Evangeline, a local botanist who owns the magnificent Edenfield estate. The benevolent lady of the manor has made it her mission to take young, often traumatized, women into her employ and protect them from man's world of wicked desires and deceits. Hired as a maid and companion to her enigmatic daughters, Prim and Briar, Cordi quickly settles into Edenfield. Even as her relationship with Briar blossoms, Cordi can't help but suspect that there are secrets in the estate…and when she stumbles across evidence that Edward was once there, she's determined to find answers."

This just sounds like a fascinating retelling that I don't want to put down.

The Sacred and the Divine by Kate Christensen and Melissa Henderson
Published by: Melissa de la Cruz Studio
Publication Date: October 7th, 2025
Format: Hardcover, 336 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"History, romance, and the occult come together in a mesmerizing tale of sisterhood, fate, and the darkness lurking in our world.

Past, Present, Future. What do the cards say? Only the Wolfson sisters know.

The year is 1848, and Daisy, Morrigan, and Avery Wolfson are skilled in the supernatural, particularly tarot readings. Daisy has insights about the future, Morrigan has ties to the past, and Avery has a special connection to the present. Although Massachusetts is known for its hostility to such talents, the village of Redcliffe is eager to use the sisters' abilities for its own gain.

Then Daisy meets Harvard medical student and occult skeptic Jasper Fitzwilliam, as well as handsome newcomer Nate Winthrop, whose fiery nature might just rival Daisy's. Caught up in the throes of first love, Daisy grows distracted, which is only further muddled by a mysterious feud between the girls' mother and their spiritual tutor.

But when the sisters accidentally unleash a bloodthirsty demon on their sleepy town, the lines between friend and enemy get blurred. Will Daisy, Morrigan, and Avery escape unscathed, or is an unfortunate fate written in the stars?"

The cards say that this book is in your future.

Savage Blooms by S.T. Gibson
Published by: Redhook
Publication Date: October 7th, 2025
Format: Hardcover, 464 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"S.T. Gibson, the queen of erotic fantasy romance, returns with this ravishingly dark trilogy of gothic manors, faery magic, and forbidden desires set in the foreboding Highlands of Scotland.

For as long as Adam can remember, the legends passed down from his world-traveling grandfather have called him to a crumbling manor in the Highlands. His closest friend Nicola longs for the same adventure, as well as for Adam himself. She'll follow him just about anywhere - even to the remote wilds of Scotland - if it pushes the pair to surrender to their shared attraction.

But when a storm strikes and strands them unexpectedly, Adam and Nicola find themselves at the mercy of the eccentric owner of the infamous house, Eileen, as well as her brooding groundskeeper, Finley.

Trapped by the weather, and bound by ancient faery magic, Nicola and Adam get more than they bargained for as they become entangled in Eileen and Finley's world of mind games, deceit and forbidden desire. As ancestral sins are unearthed, Adam and Nicola will have to reckon with the spell Eileen and Finley have cast over them - and whether or not they even want to be free."

I am so drawn in by that lascivious cover.

The Dark Cove Theatre Society by Sierra Marilyn Riley
Published by: Annick Press
Publication Date: October 7th, 2025
Format: Hardcover, 280 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"An aspiring young actor must find her place at a cutthroat arts boarding school in this gothic YA debut for fans of Ace of Spades and If We Were Villains.

Violet Costantino knows she is already on thin ice this school year: her scholarship has taken a significant hit due to her panic attack during her final performance in acting class last semester - which simultaneously shattered her dreams of becoming a leading lady. This year, she is determined to keep her head down and just get through unscathed. But the school seems to have other plans for Violet: to her extreme foreboding, she is cast as one of the leads in the annual Halloween play. What's worse, the beautiful, infuriatingly talented Frankie Lin and Violet's ex-crush, Hunter Kinsey, are both cast as her love interests. Despite her initial reluctance, Violet is drawn in by the glamor of the Dark Cove Theatre Society, and she cautiously starts believing that maybe she is cut out for this after all. But lurking in the shadows of Violet's fragile self-confidence is the rumor of the Society curse, which is said to cause one cast member to drop out before opening night every year, mysteriously and without reason.

In this captivating YA debut, The Dark Cove Theatre Society illustrates both the intoxicating and insidious nature of success and the price we are often forced to pay for it. Passages of found text - glimpses of the school's handbook, secret letters, and other peeks into life at the Academy - seamlessly woven into the plot will immerse readers even further into the lush, magnetic world of Dark Cove."

Drop out or are taken out? Just saying, dark academia has it's price...

Sister Creatures by Laura Venita Green
Published by: Unnamed Press
Publication Date: October 7th, 2025
Format: Hardcover, 236 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"In the muggy, insect-ridden town of Pinecreek, Louisiana, college dropout Tess Lavigne is watching two bickering siblings while their parents are away. Her listless day drinking is interrupted when someone emerges from the woods behind the house. Filthy and feral, the daughter of religious fundamentalists, the girl known in town as Sister Gail convinces Tess to take her in for the night. The strange events of that evening will set the course for Tess's future, and Sister Gail's ultimate fate.

Meanwhile, other residents of Pinecreek try to cobble together a future from what little they have, their lives intersecting in small and not-so-small ways. Sisters fight to define independence for themselves (and from each other), while two young women on a bicycling trip wonder what their relationship promises, or threatens. Throughout, a deeply unsettling presence connects the characters to the buried secrets of Pinecreek: the ominous Thea, a malevolent shape-shifting entity whose rage and despair stems from a tragic history of misogyny, maternal loss, and stolen ambitions.

As time marches forward, so does Tess, creating a new path for herself while accepting what can never be entirely left behind. At times atmospheric and eerie, and at others all too real, Sister Creatures is about manufacturing resilience from nothing but the bonds that tie us together."

And the secrets we leave behind. 

Alchemy of Secrets by Stephanie Garber
Published by: Flatiron Books
Publication Date: October 7th, 2025
Format: Hardcover, 336 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"The hotly anticipated adult debut novel by the beloved, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Caraval and Once Upon a Broken Heart series: a contemporary fantasy kicking off a brand new series! 

It starts with a class in an old movie theater.

Folklore 517: Local Legends and Urban Myths, taught by a woman called the Professor. Most students believe the Professor's stories are just fiction, but Holland St. James has always been convinced that magic is real. When she tracks down a local legend named the Watch Man, who can supposedly tell you when you'll die, the world finally makes sense. Except that the Watch Man tells her she will die at midnight tomorrow unless she finds an ancient object called the Alchemical Heart.

With the clock ticking, Holland is pulled deeper into this magical world in the heart of Los Angeles - and into the path of a magnetic stranger. Everything about him feels like a bad idea, but he promises Holland that her sister sent him to protect her. As they chase clues and stories that take them closer to the Alchemical Heart, Holland realizes everyone in this intoxicating new world is lying to her, even this stranger. And if she can't figure out whom to trust, not even the Alchemical Heart will save her."

I would have so signed up for Folklore 517.

Overdue by Stephanie Perkins
Published by: Saturday Books
Publication Date: October 7th, 2025
Format: Hardcover, 416 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Is it time to renew love or start a new chapter?

Ingrid Dahl, a cheerful twenty-nine-year-old librarian in the cozy mountain town of Ridgetop, North Carolina, has been happily dating her college boyfriend, Cory, for eleven years without ever discussing marriage. But when Ingrid's sister announces her engagement to a woman she's only been dating for two years, Ingrid and Cory feel pressured to consider their future. Neither has ever been with anybody else, so they make an unconventional decision. They'll take a one-month break to date other people, then they'll reunite and move toward marriage. Ingrid even has someone in mind: her charmingly grumpy coworker, Macon Nowakowski, on whom she's secretly crushed for years. But plans go awry, and when the month ends, Ingrid and Cory realize they're not ready to resume their relationship - and Ingrid's harmless crush on Macon has turned into something much more complicated.

Overdue is a beautiful, slow-burn romance full of lust and longing about new beginnings and finding your way."

Gauging your life by another's isn't wise. But taking the time to reevaluate your life is never not worth it.

A Merry Little Lie by Sarah Morgan
Published by: Canary Street Press
Publication Date: October 7th, 2025
Format: Hardcover, 368 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"This Christmas, the Balfour family will have more secrets to unwrap than presents...

Becky is stranded at the airport, so when she bumps into her brother's best friend, Will, and he suggests they drive home together, Becky reluctantly agrees. For the first time, Becky is dreading Christmas, and only Will knows why. Can she trust him to keep her secret?

Her twin sister, Rosie, married Declan after a whirlwind romance, and now the cracks are starting to appear. Rosie and Declan have agreed to hide their problems from her family, but Rosie's insecurities are growing. Will this Christmas bring them closer or drive them apart?

Hayley can't wait for her first Balfour family Christmas with Jamie. The Balfour Christmas traditions sound wonderful, but she's worried about her place in this close-knit family. Will there be room for her too? And how will they react to the secret she and Jamie have been keeping?

Despite everyone's best intentions, all the chaos and confusion could derail their normally happy holidays. Can they tell each other the truth in time to enjoy a perfect family Christmas?"

Family Christmas chaos without the chainsaws. 

Useless Etymology by Jess Zafarris
Published by: Chambers
Publication Date: October 7th, 2025
Format: Hardcover, 336 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Did you know that an "astronaut" is literally a "star sailor," that a thesaurus is, in fact, a "treasure trove" of words, and that someone who is "sinister" is actually just "left-handed"?

Have you ever wondered why English isn't considered a Romance language if 60% of our words are Latin-derived?

Did Shakespeare really invent 1,700 words, and if not, why the heck do we say that he did?

Why is the English language stuffed with so many synonyms?

Let's be real: English can seem pretty bonkers. And, well, sometimes it is. But through thorough thought and a pinch of curiosity, method can be found within the madness of our modern tongue-even within the disparate pronunciation of the words "through," "thorough," and "thought."

Derived from Germanic, Romance, Hellenic, Semitic, African and Native American languages, English contains multitudes. It has been (and continues to be) transformed by war and conquest, art and literature, science and technology, love and hate, wit and whim.

Useless Etymology takes readers on a time-traveling adventure to unlock the beauty, wonder, and absurdity within our everyday words, how they came to be, and the unexpected ways their origins weave a global, cross-cultural labyrinth of meaning.

Filled with fun facts and delightful discoveries, this is an enlightening read for anyone who wants to know more about why the English language works the way that it does."

The perfect gift for your wordy friend who likes to wear a t-shirt purchased from PBS about how English can be understood "Through Tough Thorough Thought Though."

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

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