strange and random happenstance

The Witches of Cambridge by Alice Hoffman
Published by: Scribner
Publication Date: September 8th, 2026
Format: Hardcover, 416 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"The brand-new series from the bestselling author of Practical Magic, following two brilliant young women in 1950s Cambridge, Massachusetts, as they become immersed in a mysterious secret group of witches at Radcliffe known as the Lilith Society.

Once upon a time, women were drowned in the river and the only witnesses were the crows in the trees. The Puritans blamed Eve for the sins of the world. That was when we began to meet in the name of Lilith, Adam's first wife - banished for refusing to do as she was told.

We Fly Together...

By the 1950s, Cambridge, Massachusetts feels far removed from the legendary witch trials that marked its early days as a colony. Ava, a bright young woman from a small town in Maine, arrives for her first year at Radcliffe College. There, she meets Lauren, her opposite in every way - the wild and brazen daughter of a wealthy and well-established Cambridge family. But the two have more in common than they think. Both are recruited by the Lilith Society, a secret organization of witches at Radcliffe dating back to colonial times. As they learn more about their legacy, Ava and Lauren form a close bond that is put to the test as they learn to navigate their new power, friendship, and love.

While Radcliffe seems like a safe haven, the shadow of McCarthyism looms large, an ever-present threat to the flourishing creative and intellectual life in Cambridge. And as girls from the Lilith Society begin to go missing, Ava and Lauren realize the witch trials of the past may not be as deeply buried as they once believed."

If you need something to tide you over until Practical Magic 2 later this week.

Darling by Mercedes M. Yardley
Published by: Ruadan Books
Publication Date: September 8th, 2026
Format: Paperback, 592 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"This Southern Gothic cautionary tale captures the small-town suspense of Ashley Winstead's Midnight is the Darkest Hour and the frightening homecoming of T. Kingfisher's A House with Good Bones in a domestic thriller where magic surrealism meets haunted house, proving that some pasts are best left behind you.

Darling has its demons.

Cherry LaRouche escaped the claws of Darling, Louisiana at sixteen. When she returns after her mother's death, Cherry and her children are forced into a nightmare where evil spreads like infection and the house itself demands her bones.

While Cherry tries to separate fact from fantasy, the locals discover the bodies of several murdered children. When Cherry's own daughter goes missing, she's forced to face everything she had fled from and confront the true monsters of Darling.

From Mercedes M. Yardley, three-time Bram Stoker Award winner for Little Dead Red, Love is a Crematorium, and "Fracture," comes a stunning revised edition of Darling. This Southern Gothic tour de force is the first novel in the interconnected world of The Hunger Garden, where demons and delights both await you."

Magic surrealism meets haunted house!?! Sign me up. 

She's a Doll by Barbara Truelove
Published by: Bindery Books
Publication Date: September 8th, 2026
Format: Paperback, 336 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Lucy isn't a normal girl. Ghost. Victim. Killer. She's a doll on a mission - to find the man who killed her and return the favor.

Lucy McQuinn has been murdered, but she's not about to go quietly.

If she doesn't get to keep breathing, then neither does Kyle, her killer. Possessing the body of an antique doll, she sets out on a quest for revenge. But it's hard when you're eighteen inches tall and made of porcelain.

For help, she turns to Nicola, a human and fellow outsider with her own reasons to hate Kyle. But in their small idyllic town, no one wants to hear the truth, especially not about such a promising young man. If they can't expose his crimes, Lucy will have to roll up her lacy little sleeves and teach him a lesson the old-fashioned way - as slowly and painfully as possible.

From LA Times bestselling author Barbara Truelove, She's a Doll is a ghoulish and gleeful tribute to the unstoppable power of female rage and a love letter to the friends who have our back - in this life and the next."

Here's to female rage and vengeance!

Wildwood by Ashley Woo
Published by: Harper Perennial
Publication Date: September 8th, 2026
Format: Paperback, 352 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"A chilling debut gothic mystery in the vein of Jason Rekulak and Stacy Willingham about a house with dark secrets beneath its floorboards.

It seems like divine intervention when newly pregnant and freshly unemployed Elinor unexpectedly inherits Wildwood, her family's estate. She convinces her husband to move to the sprawling wilderness of rural Vermont to make a home and raise their baby.

Estranged from her extended family since childhood, Wildwood is a mystery to Elinor - she's an outsider to the townsfolk and to the prominent Brook family who control the town and its history. Knowing little of the house or its past, save for snapshots of childhood memories, she becomes entranced by an eerie nineteenth-century mural in the primary bedroom she calls "the Forest of the Dead."

But instead of growing more settled in her new home, Elinor feels increasingly isolated and uneasy. She begins to have dreams that feel like memories, phantasmagorical visions of something terrible that happened long ago. Haunted by the mystery of why her family fell apart, she's determined to uncover the secrets of her ancestry buried deep in the past and even deeper in the woods...secrets kept by powerful forces within the house and within the town.

Obsessed with finding the truth, Elinor knows she must answer when "the Forest of the Dead" calls her. Someone wants her to know they were there first, and someone else is trying to get in. As the nightmares creep into her waking hours, Elinor embarks on a journey that takes her back and forth in time, to the dark recesses of memories, to the streets of modern Salem, and to the haunted corners of this otherworldy house.

The Forest of the Dead is calling. Can you hear the whispers?"

Creepy murals in bedrooms are always just the beginning of the nightmare.

Little Red Death by Alexandra Benedict
Published by: Poisoned Pen Press
Publication Date: September 8th, 2026
Format: Hardcover, 320 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"In this eerie crime thriller from USA Today bestselling author Alexandra Benedict, one woman is tasked with investigating a series of disturbing deaths that resemble classic fairytales, only to find out that the killings have much more to do with the facts of her own past than with fiction...

This is once upon a time, like you've never read it before.

For twenty-five years, DI Lyla Rondell has lived with one unsolved case: her best friend's disappearance. The only clue - a poisoned apple - earned it the nickname "Snow White." It's haunted her ever since.

Now, when a woman is taken in a crime that has striking similarities to the story of Cinderella, Lyla is charged with investigating. And as more murders take place, each one based on a different classic fairytale, Lyla is determined to finally uncover the truth.

But these deaths are far from the stuff of bedtime stories. And worse, it becomes increasingly clear that these killings, and the messages left within them, are addressed directly to Lyla.

As the murders get more gruesome, Lyla becomes entangled in a web of crime and storytelling that goes far deeper than she ever could have imagined. Because someone out there is pulling her strings, and to turn the final page on the killings, Lyla will have to take a little creative license of her own."

You think Alexandra Benedict made you paranoid about Christmas? Wait until you see what she does with Fairy Tales!

All Hallows Eve edited by Ellen Datlow
Published by: Titan Books
Publication Date: September 8th, 2026
Format: Hardcover, 336 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"A chilling horror anthology of 19 original short stories from a world-class line-up of the masters of horror, delving into the histories and traditions of the spookiest season of the year. Presented by Hugo Award winning editor and horror legend Ellen Datlow, and featuring stories by Josh Malerman, Stephen Graham Jones, Garth Nix as well as many more.

Halloween, Samhain, Día de los Muertos - festivals across the world where we can commune with those we have lost, when spirits can cross over, and when the boundary between the living and the dead is far, far too thin.

A young boy encounters a woman with an ancient and terrifying link to the holiday, a group of college students attend a Halloween party to die for, and a troubled girl exploits a local urban legend to try and turn her life around.

From America to New Zealand via the rural Romanian wilderness, this anthology explores our worldwide obsession with the spookiest season of the year, when the veil is lifted and the spirits come alive. Featuring 19 original stories from bestselling and award-winning masters of the genre, and from Hugo, World Fantasy, Locus, Bram Stoker and Shirley Jackson award-winning editor and horror legend Ellen Datlow, this anthology invites you to carve a pumpkin, light the lanterns and welcome in trick or treaters from across the world.

With stories by:
Josh Malerman
Lee Murray
Rich Larson
Clay McLeod Chapman
Livia Llewellyn
Michael Marshall Smith
Stephen Graham Jones
Linda D. Addison
Christopher Golden
Alma Katsu
Brian Evenson
Siobhan Carroll
Chịkọdịlị Emelụmadụ
Theresa DeLucci
Garth Nix
Jeffrey Ford
Richard Kadrey
Nathan Ballingrud
John Langan"

It has Christopher Golden, so I'm in.

The Alchemist of All Hallows Eve by Gigi Pandian
Published by: Gargoyle Girl Productions
Publication Date: September 8th, 2026
Format: Paperback, 292 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"An eternally young alchemist. A gargoyle who fancies himself Poirot. A Murder House for sale the week before Halloween.

Zoe Faust has run from her past for centuries. She didn't plan on settling down. She didn't plan on falling for a mortal man. She certainly didn't plan on the gargoyle.

Now Zoe, her fiancé, and her French chef gargoyle best friend Dorian have found an enchanting home with a hidden cottage for Dorian. It's perfect for their little family. Except for one thing. Forty years ago, the night before Halloween, a woman was murdered in their dream house. Or was she?

When an enigmatic stranger arrives and insists that a mythological Irish witch holds the secret to the unsolved crime, Halloween turns deadly once more. Refusing to let Zoe lose the home she's waited centuries for, Dorian the gargoyle sets out to crack the case.

Can an alchemist, a gargoyle, and a teashop-owning detective solve two Halloween murders before an innocent man takes the fall and their perfect home slips away?

The Alchemist of All Hallows Eve is the whimsical tenth book in USA Today bestselling author Gigi Pandian's Anthony Award-winning Accidental Alchemist mystery series. If you love cozy fantasy, Agatha Christie-style whodunits, and found family, you'll adore this charming Halloween mystery, complete with Irish fortune-telling recipes.

Buy The Alchemist of All Hallows Eve to brew up a bewitching Halloween today!"

I mean, I'm all here for a gargoyle for fancies himself Poirot. In fact, would it be weird that that might be my ideal man?

The Unusuals by Gail Carson Levine
Published by: Quill Tree Books
Publication Date: September 8th, 2026
Format: Hardcover, 336 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Newbery Honor-winning author Gail Carson Levine shares a story of family, prejudice, faith, and unlikely friendship in medieval England, for every child who is more perceptive than they seem, and braver than they know.

Chera, Lummie, and Joan are unusual in medieval Winchester, England. Two girls and a boy, and two Jews and a Christian are not supposed to be friends. Most days, after their studies with Rabbi Baruch, they enjoy scaring themselves in the greatly feared nearby forest, home to ne'er-do-wells and sprites, where they make another unusual friend, a starving outlaw.

But the trio's fun is shattered when Chera's grandmother, a wealthy widow, and Joan's mother, her maid, are murdered. Jurors name a suspect, who flees the city, and he may not have killed them anyway. Almost anyone could have, so just investigating isn't enough. What's more, the Unusuals are sure Lummie's grandmother will be the next to die.

They concoct a perilous plan, which needs allies to succeed, but everyone else thinks their idea is dizzy - crazy. With lives in the balance, this trio of friends must band together against the odds and call on their unusual bonds to help seek justice."

When you don't have access to Brother Cadfael you have to find other means. 

The Raven by Susan McCauley
Published by: Celtic Sea, LLC
Publication Date: September 8th, 2026
Format: Kindle, 183 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"As illness tightens its grip, something darker begins to stir.

England, 1665. As plague ravages London and fear spreads north to York, Martin Blake, a humble cobbler, struggles to protect his family through a bitter, death-shadowed winter. When the parish rector, his wife's domineering uncle, forces orphaned children from London into their already meager home, Martin's fragile world begins to unravel.

Grief, illness, and the weight of buried sins close in. Ravens gather. Martin's reason begins to slip. Whispers spread - of misused alms, of spirits that roam at night, of faith twisted into something monstrous. As snow blankets the land and the dead lie unburied, Martin must confront a chilling truth: is he haunted by guilt, or by something far more sinister?

A gothic tale of illness, obsession, and the perilous border between loyalty and madness."

Oh, he's haunted by something far more sinister. I can feel it.

We Turn Gruesome at Night by Eric LaRocca
Published by: Titan Books
Publication Date: September 8th, 2026
Format: Hardcover, 304 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"The nightmarish second installment of a new trilogy of provocative, disruptive and brutally poetic queer horror set in a small New England town.

From the Bram Stoker Award® finalist and Splatterpunk Award-winning author of Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke, an intense, claustrophobic literary horror that is perfect for fans of Agustina Bazterrica, Mariana Enriquez and Paul Tremblay.

Ten years after the devastating massacre that occurred on Christmas morning in 2003 and the community of Burnt Sparrow, NH struggles to move forward. Meanwhile, Rupert Cromwell and Gladys Esherwood find themselves trapped in End House and suffering unbearable monotony day in and day out. When a town courier named Pierce arrives at End House and introduces Rupert to a secret organization known as The Perdido Society, Rupert discovers a deeply intricate and intensely sinister web of secrets spreading through the town. It isn't long before more blood is spilled, shameful transgressions are revealed, and temptations are finally satisfied.

Captivating and profoundly unnerving, this is the story of two lost souls who are sent on an odyssey into the depths of depravity only for them to discover that it's quite easy to turn monstrous, to become the thing you once despised. Lyrical, nihilistic and brutally poetic, this is shocking, unflinching, must-read horror from an author at the top of his game."

Turning to brutality is easier than staying on the path of humanity. 

Christmas Mysteries at the Mysterious Bookshop edited by Otto Penzler
Published by: The Mysterious Press
Publication Date: September 8th, 2026
Format: Hardcover, 408 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Eighteen puzzling Christmas tales set in New York City's beloved mystery bookstore.

In 1993, The Mysterious Bookshop - the oldest mystery specialty bookstore in the world - began an annual tradition by inviting bestselling author Donald E. Westlake to write an original short story set in the bookshop during the holiday season. Each year since then, The Mysterious Bookshop commissions a new short story from a leading author to give out as a holiday gift for its customers.

The prompt for the story requires three elements: that it be set at Christmastime, that it involve a crime of some kind, or the suspicion of one, and that it be set at least partially in the bookstore. Beyond these guidelines, authors had free rein to take the story in whatever direction they chose. This volume collects the first eighteen stories commissioned by the bookshop from 1993 to 2010.

Included are tales by Megan Abbott, Rupert Holmes, Mary Higgins Clark, Andrew Klavan, and Ed McBain, plus an updated introduction by Mysterious Bookshop proprietor Otto Penzler. Some of the stories are humorous, others thrilling, and still others are tales of pure detection. But all are guaranteed to put you in the holiday spirit.

Originally published as Christmas at the Mysterious Bookshop."

Last year I was so excited to get their newest story. Now to catch up on the past ones!

In the Midnight Hour by Darcy Burke
Published by: Oliver-Heber Books
Publication Date: September 8th, 2026
Format: Paperback, 314 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"In the Midnight Hour.

An inquisitive bachelor. A mysterious widow. A dangerous partnership in Regency London. Idle heir to an earldom, Viscount Northwood drifts through life with little purpose - until a shocking murder shatters the calm of his quiet London square. His prime suspect? The beautiful but enigmatic widow across the way. Determined to uncover her secrets, North calls upon the investigative tricks he's learned from his Bow Street Runner twin. Except anonymous broadsheets are circulating, exposing every lurid detail of the crime and bringing a crowd of intrusive onlookers into the square, complicating North's investigation. When he discovers the author of the scandalous publication is none other than the suspicious widow and that she is also apparently trying to solve the murder, they reluctantly join forces. Their uneasy alliance is soon tested when the killer sets his sights on them. Can they trust each other in the face of danger, or will the murderer claim two more victims?"

A second son choosing the career of a copper!?! Now I'd read about that too.

Three Fold Death by Victoria Dowd
Published by: Datura Books
Publication Date: September 8th, 2026
Format: Paperback, 400 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Charlotte Blood is about to discover the dark side of obsession in this gripping mystery. Perfect for fans of Lucy Foley.

A team of archaeologists claim to have found the tomb of the original warrior Queen of the Britons - Boudica. It's the story of the century and investigative journalist Charlotte Blood wants nothing more than to get the inside scoop.

But Charlotte is not the only one hunting for the truth. Other journalists are also eager to find out if this is, in fact, the legendary queen's final resting place.

Instead of a find of great historical significance, they discover something far more disturbing and horrifying waiting inside the two-thousand-year-old tomb.

Charlotte is faced with unravelling the mystery of the Threefold Death, a unique sacrificial killing involving murder by drowning, stabbing and hanging.

As she grows closer to discovering the killer, perhaps the question she should be asking is whether she will be the third victim...

Filled with history, mystery, and a daring main character, Threefold Death will appeal to both history buffs and crime aficionados."

You know, the Rasputin approach to death.

The Pirate Queen by Ariel Lawhon
Published by: Doubleday
Publication Date: September 8th, 2026
Format: Hardcover, 528 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"A sweeping historical adventure inspired by the life of Grace O'Malley, the legendary Irish folk heroine who risked everything to defend her people. Venture onto the high seas with the thrilling latest from the New York Times bestselling author of The Frozen River and I Was Anastasia.

Grace O'Malley was born to be a sea captain. But despite her natural skill on the water, Grace learns early that her dreams of a life at the helm are not compatible with the expectations of her noble family. As the only daughter of a powerful chieftain, her role is to secure a strong alliance and bear children. But when she's sent to foster with a nearby clan, Grace falls for a clever and open-minded second son - a man she cannot have.

Married off against her will to a brutal warrior, Grace performs her duty, all the while gathering followers loyal to her, and consolidating her husband's power, only to be ousted from his lands. But this betrayal offers Grace the opportunity to return to sea, finally leading clan O'Malley's mighty fleet. Just as she finds true independence, Queen Elizabeth's incursions into Ireland grow bolder and Grace must fight to defend her land, her ships, and the people she loves most against the cruel and power-hungry English deputies, who will stop at nothing to check her influence.

Keenly observed and fiercely written, Ariel Lawhon's new action-packed novel channels the untamed beauty and harsh realities of sixteenth-century Ireland, as seen through the eyes of an unforgettable heroine who rightly became "the Pirate Queen of Ireland.""

I might be a tad Grace O'Malley obsessed because one of my friends is her descendant. 

The Enigmatic Madam Ingram by Meihan Boey
Published by: Harper Perennial
Publication Date: September 8th, 2026
Format: Paperback, 512 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Miss Cassidy returns to nineteenth-century Singapore to help solve another dazzling supernatural mystery in this follow-up to the award-winning novel that The Guardian called a "classic-in-waiting."

When Letty Ingram arrives in Singapore in 1906, she is an enigma even unto herself. To the residents of the small Scottish village where she lives, she is a wealthy, half-Malay recluse who emerges from her home only for walks with her great beast of a hound. To Letty, she is a woman trying to lift a curse that causes her to lose consciousness and wake up in strange places - sometimes, with blood on her hands - and no memory of what occurred.

Letty has traveled across the world in hopes that the renowned medium Madam Kay can help her break the curse, but Letty is a mystery of tangled magics the likes of which Madam Kay and the rest of her supernaturally gifted family have never seen. Fortunately, the Kays know an expert with even more insight into otherworldly matters than they do: the formidable Miss Leda Cassidy.

But even Miss Cassidy finds Letty to be a puzzle, one that pulls a fog over her memories as well. As she dives deeper into Letty's past and finds it unexpectedly intertwined with her own, Miss Cassidy begins to realize that if she's going to free Letty from her curse, she's going to have to take on an ancient foe: the terrifying jungle spirit known as the Bungadarah."

Always here for ANY book with a medium, renowned or just nowned.  

The Mystic and the Missing Girl by Vikki VanSickler
Published by: Minotaur Books
Publication Date: September 8th, 2026
Format: Hardcover, 336 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Small town secrets, a reluctant psychic, and a cold case that could expose them all.

Drew Benson can read tarot cards and get impressions from objects - she just never expected to use her gifts to investigate an infamous cold case.

Drew Benson has a secret. She gets visions, something she hasn't tapped into since she was a teenager, when her late aunt, a TV psychic known as Hannah Mystic, became the scapegoat in the unsolved disappearance of a local teenager. Twenty years later, Drew is happy to ignore her gift, focusing instead on keeping the metaphysical shop she inherited from Hannah afloat, wrangling her sole, astrology-obsessed employee, and dodging local rake Foster Banks in her picturesque lakeside hometown.

But when Drew's arch-nemesis from high school, now a big city reporter, decides to investigate the cold case from all those years ago, it's Drew's ability that could finally make a break in the decades old mystery. With bills piling up, a disapproving mother laying on the guilt, and a local vandal who wants Drew and her witchy store gone, Drew has a lot to lose. But what she stands to gain - finding out what happened to the missing teen, clearing her aunt's name, and a second chance at belonging - could change everything.

In The Mystic and the Missing Girl, Vikki VanSickle seamlessly draws readers into an utterly charming world in this unputdownable, small town mystery."

I mean, what does she have to lose really!?! Maybe her life...

We Already Dug the Grave by Emma C. Wells
Published by: Poisoned Pen Press
Publication Date: September 8th, 2026
Format: Hardcover, 416 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"From the USA Today bestselling author of This Girl's a Killer, comes a southern gothic thriller with the bite of Sharp Objects and a dash of Practical Magic, following two estranged sisters who will do anything to protect each other - even murder. Again.

Milly can't divine the future anymore, and maybe that's a good thing. Lately, her life has been bleak enough, she doesn't need the now-silent tea leaves to tell her. Meanwhile, her estranged younger sister thrives miles away in a shiny new life with a shiny new marriage. Milly doesn't blame Francis for wanting nothing to do with her. Not after what happened in that Tennessee meadow a decade before.

But when Francis shows up on Milly's doorstep with a black eye and a plea for help - Milly can't say no. Especially when the tea leaves are finally crystal clear: if the sisters don't kill Francis's husband, he'll kill her.

And if they're going to plot a murder, the sisters have no choice but to return to the one place they'd left behind. A place where another body - and a multitude of secrets - were buried. Because this isn't the first time the sisters have needed to dispose of a bad man. In fact, they might be pretty good at it."

Personally I'm all for getting ride of the bad men.

A Beautiful Lie by Tanya Grant
Published by: Berkley
Publication Date: September 8th, 2026
Format: Paperback, 368 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"In this juicy psychological thriller, home organizer Emily is invited to vacation at her beautiful and wealthy new client's summer home - but once inside, Emily doesn't want to leave.

Every one of my home organizing clients is a fabulous liar.

They tell themselves they need to keep clutter in their lives for rainy days or just-in-cases. They hold onto things too tightly. Most people don't know how to cut to the heart of what's important and purge everything that's not.

That's where I come in. I can look into my client's lives and see exactly what's weighing them down, and I get rid of it for them.

It sounds easy, but I'll let you in on a secret: I have trouble letting go of things, too.

When Cap slides into my life with her neon signs and velvet hair bows and magnetic energy, I know I can't just let her walk away. Because one of the first rules of home organizing is that like belongs with like. And Cap and me? We're destined to be together.

She may not know it yet, but that's okay. I'd be lying if I didn't say the challenge is part of the thrill. And luckily for Cap, I'm not afraid of a little hard work."

A true thriller.

Pictures of You by Josh Malerman
Published by: Del Rey
Publication Date: September 8th, 2026
Format: Hardcover, 288 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"A woman becomes the unknowing subject of an artist's dangerous work in this intense Hitchcockian thriller from the New York Times bestselling author of Incidents Around the House.

After a magical night out on the town with her boyfriend Jack, Emily wakes alone in a huge bed in a beautiful, well-lit room. But the pink ceiling, the mauve walls, and the deep, dark corners are nothing like the hotel she and Jack rented.

More worrisome yet: Emily has no memory of this place from the night before.

Where is she?

A woman's voice directs her to remain in bed.

Just so...

And beyond the end of the bed, a picture frame upon an easel - a frame with no canvas, no painting, no art.

Only...there is the silhouette of a person Emily does not recognize. A person emanating demand, danger, evil. And the way the woman talks...and the things she says...She's acting as if Emily herself is the painting. The still life. The art.

Emily is as scared as she is confused. But it's immediately clear Jack's life is on the line with her own. And if she attempts to escape the bed and the wood frame of this nightmare masterwork, neither will survive the experience.

Emily is fierce, independent, brilliant, but to get out of this, she'll have to think like an artist herself.

The clock is ticking.

For Emily.

For Jack.

For being forever trapped.

Josh Malerman's unforgettable and terrifying Incidents Around the House became an instant classic of horror - and now Malerman has done it again. Pictures of You is a tale of thrilling terror that will chill you until the last page - and have you thinking of the heroine's search for love and the meaning of art long after."

Here for the art. No matter how depraved. 

Murder on the Upper East Side by Gigi Waldorf
Published by: Atria/Emily Bestler Books
Publication Date: September 8th, 2026
Format: Paperback, 336 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Scandal never graduates in this glossy thriller set in the world of New York's ultra-elite, perfect for fans of Gossip Girl and Holly Jackson.

Gossip on the Upper East Side isn't just vicious...it's deadly. -XOXO

2016: Hannah Miller has begun her senior year at the Prescott Academy of New York alongside the rich and famous of the Upper East Side. Or, at least, their children.

Amid the trust funds and penthouse parties, there's one rule for survival: staying out of the way of Queen Bees Madison DuPont and Elle Harrington.

Being a scholarship student makes Hannah feel invisible. But no one escapes the watchful eye of notorious gossip account called the Upper Edge.

2026: The academy's alumni have gathered for a glittering charity gala. Only Madison DuPont could host an event this grand.

But what starts as a champagne-fueled party soon descends into chaos when Madison is found dead moments after her speech. It doesn't take long for fingers to point at Hannah - everyone saw her talking to Madison only moments before the murder. She shouldn't even be at the gala. She's not really one of them.

The truth is that everyone had a reason to want Madison dead. From Madison's best friend to her former devotees to the targets of her bullying, it seems like the whole student body had a complicated history with the Queen Bee of Park Avenue. To clear her name, Hannah must unearth the secrets that this crowd would kill to keep buried."

Gossip Girl goes murderous. Which is only the natural progression of things.

First Chance by Kasey Lansdale
Published by: Blackstone Publishing
Publication Date: September 8th, 2026
Format: Hardcover, 288 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"First Chance is a suspenseful thriller that readers won't be able to put down - perfect for fans of Sue Grafton and Michael Connelly.

Chance Kirby isn't new to detective work, but starting over in Hopeful, Texas, is a big step. Determined to leave behind her father and stepmother's shadow and carve out a future of her own, she opens a small PI agency, expecting missing heirlooms and marital disputes. But when the cold case of a murdered teenage girl is dropped on her doorstep, Chance finds herself in the middle of an investigation with no leads.

With her adopted sister Tia, her loyal dog Sissy, and the town's newly arrived police chief Isabella Lopez at her side, Chance soon begins to suspect this murder may be only one piece of a much bigger, and more disturbing, pattern.

To stop a predator who, it seems, has managed to evade authorities for decades, Chance must stay one step ahead...or risk becoming the next target."

The hero who rides into town to save it.

The Dating Game by Ally Zetterberg
Published by: Berkley
Publication Date: September 8th, 2026
Format: Hardcover, 304 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"In this clever and surprising thriller about the perils of modern dating and the female rage it sometimes inspires, a board game designer starts playing by her own rules, and losers won't be tolerated.

The friendship game. The dating game. The end game. For board game designer Tilda Smith they're all necessary steps on the path to finding happiness. And by structuring her life according to a set of rules, just like in the games that she loves to create at her job, Tilda can finally win.

The only problem? The other players don't know they're playing by Tilda's rules. She's fair. Very fair, in fact. But then one night her date pushes her too far and she gets just a bit carried away. Any player who disappoints must face consequences, right? But as Tilda finds herself transporting a body in a laundry bag, she has to question how to make the punishment fit the crime.

And now someone is watching Tilda and playing a game of their own. Will they turn the tables on her, or can she figure out a way to best them? The game is never really over until she says it is.

Game on."

Daddy's Home!

Receipts from the Bookshop by Katie Clapham
Published by: William Morrow
Publication Date: September 8th, 2026
Format: Hardcover, 304 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"One summer not long ago, bookseller Katie Clapham began chronicling life at the small independent bookstore she runs with her mother in the English seaside town of Lytham St Annes. Her cozy bookshop diaries detail the romance and frustration of running your own bookstore - from the loyal customers to the feisty passers-by, and the deliveries filled with tempting new stock to the never-ending aftermath of cardboard boxes. Katie faithfully records the change of seasons from sad January to exhausting December, punctuated with visits from inquisitive dogs, adorable children, and people just looking for a good place to get an omelette around here.

Tender, funny, and thoughtful, Receipts from the Bookshop is a love letter to everything we hold dear: small towns, family, book chat, hot cups of tea, and just the right snack at 11 AM....

-A valentine for book lovers everywhere.
-Cozy armchair travel for anyone who loves England.
-Reminds readers why bookstores are our happy place.
-The perfect story of a small family business built on love and commitment.
-A warm, funny look at community in a small seaside town."

Bookstores are my happy place. Though I've never asked where I can get a good omelette nearby...

Level Up For Love by Lenora Woods
Published by: Dell
Publication Date: September 8th, 2026
Format: Paperback, 368 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Sparks fly as two former college rivals are forced together for a new D and D campaign - clashing both in and out of the game - in this fusion of contemporary second-chance romance and fantasy from the author of Roll for Romance.

In college, Reagan Riley and Wesley Locke were constantly at each other's throats, competing to be the best in their video game design program - until Wesley ghosts her after their unexpected hookup, severing their ties for good.

Six years later, Reagan has set aside her game design dreams, opting instead to stay close to her family in Connecticut and channel her creative energy into D and D. When her longstanding group falls apart, she and her sister join their local game store's new advanced campaign - only to find the demanding Dungeon Master at the helm is none other than Wesley. In the game, he is Vadrien, a merciless, power-hungry vampire lord, and Reagan is Sindra, the sword-wielding lady knight who will stop at nothing to cut him down.

When a game design opportunity opens up in the real world, Reagan and Wesley find themselves doubly pitted against each other. But as their buried spark reignites and Reagan starts to question why Wesley left all those years ago, can they find a way to play nice - and are they playing for more than just to win?"

If they were in school together it would take a lot to ghost her...

With All My Haunted Heart by Isabel Sterling
Published by: Berkley
Publication Date: September 8th, 2026
Format: Paperback, 384 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"A witch hired to ethically haunt a small-town B and B instead finds herself spellbound by her non-magical client in this cozy and enchanting sapphic romance.

Steadily losing clients to the new DIY-magic shop on the other side of town, Pippa Ainsley is getting desperate. Instead of paying the witch to correct their magical maladies, local mundanes have been taking their chances with the cheaper - and unpredictable - crystals and herbal blends. So when Pippa's best friend hires her to inspect his newly acquired bed-and-breakfast for ghosts, she doesn't think twice about it.

That is, until she learns that his unfairly attractive co-owner, Elle Thompson, doesn't want Pippa to rid their business of spirits. She wants Pippa to give them an edge over the competition by haunting their B and B.

It's the perfect challenge for Pippa's experimental magic, but just because she could figure it out, doesn't mean it's a smart or safe idea. But Elle is persistent, and the financial boost could save her own business if Pippa succeeds. Soon, Pippa finds herself testing the limits of her magic...and her ability to stop the growing attraction she feels toward Elle, a woman with a painful secret of her own."

Just invite the cast of Ghosts over!

Meet Cute Magic by Morgan Elizabeth
Published by: Union Square and Co.
Publication Date: September 8th, 2026
Format: Paperback, 400 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"A cozy cute enemies-to-lovers witchy fantasy for readers of Sydney J. Shields' The Honey Witch and Sarah Beth Durst's The Spellshop.

She's a witch who can't fall in love without getting her heart broken. He holds a grudge like no other.

Bookstore owner Rosie Mayfield wants a love of her own, but it's not meant to be - because of her family's curse. To break it, she conjures a ghost who will break her curse, but for a cost - she has to brew a potion to help him transition to the other side. The problem? There's only one person who hates Rosie in all of Heartwood Hollow, and she needs his help to complete the required task.

Jack Haggerty, the ghost's grandson, has lamented about Rosie for years - she's a disaster and she's forbidden from visiting his gaming shop. He doesn't believe in ghosts, so he's stunned when his beloved grandfather makes an appearance. While he loves his family and will do anything to help his grandpa, he fights against the chemistry brewing between him and Rosie until he can't anymore. But he doesn't know how to tell her he no longer wants to go through with the plan, and she won't admit that she's falling for him because they're doomed from the start."

Doomed or destined?

Disenchanted by Lucy Jane Wood
Published by: Ace
Publication Date: September 8th, 2026
Format: Paperback, 400 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"A reluctant witch must confront the magic she's always denied after accidentally triggering a curse in this delightfully cozy fantasy from the author of Rewitched and Uncharmed.

Sage Hemlock has no interest in embracing her witchy side. Magic has betrayed her before, bringing nothing but heartache, and she will not let something so foolish happen again.

Instead, Sage has thrown herself into her work and studies, running the local museum and largely preferring the company of her library and her cat to other humans. Her one goal is to fly under the coven's radar so that she can finally shed her blasted powers forever.

But when a strange historical book accidentally sets off a curse, Sage's quiet small-town life is suddenly overrun and magic is running rife. A beanstalk grows in her garden, and her friend and coworker Casimir starts to look an awful lot like a handsome prince. Fairy tales are coming true....

Now, with the threat of the coven on her tail, Sage must confront the magic she's always denied to solve the mysteries of the book and save everyone she's come to love from being lost to a fairy tale forever. The question is, can she finally learn to be her own happily ever after?"

Never deny who you are, it's dangerous.

Twig's Traveling Tomes by Gryffin Murphy
Published by: Bindery Books
Publication Date: September 8th, 2026
Format: Paperback, 280 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"A love letter to all things bookish, Twig's Traveling Tomes is a cozy romantasy perfect for fans of Howl's Moving Castle, The Spellshop, and The League of Gentlewomen Witches.

A plot is brewing between the adventure and romance aisles.

When visiting Twig's Traveling Tomes, customers will get the exact book they need, even if it isn't the one they want. As for the proprietor and renowned Book Witch, Louella Twig lives her life sequestered with her stories, just as she likes it.

When devilishly handsome rogue Everett Sharp stumbles in looking to remove some handcuffs - closely followed by Louella's former tutor, whose prized grimoire has been stolen - her literary sanctuary is fully upended. Only Louella's magic can locate the grimoire, and teaming up with Everett is her best chance at retrieving it...but how can she trust that the man behind the wolfish grin isn't interested in stealing the book for himself?

With a host of friends old and new, Louella sets off on an adventure she never thought she'd take - and starts to realize that, just like her books, what matters most has always been what's under the surface."

Never judge a book by it's cover! Though this book does have a mighty adorable one.

Morfran, Dark Lord Reformed by S.B. West
Published by: Ace
Publication Date: September 8th, 2026
Format: Hardcover, 368 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Abandoning his days of beheading to live out an undercover retirement as a goat farmer, Morfran finds himself accidentally leading a rebellion against the kingdom's Dark Lord, who, inconveniently, is him.

Morfran the Beheader is done being the Dark Lord™ of the kingdom of Ruthven. He's tired of managing minions, and his wife, Queen Ravana, has officially exceeded his personal comfort level of evil. Yet when he books it for the hills with the hopes to live out his days disguised as a goat farmer, his aspirations are tragically cut short when Morfran's former soldiers catch up with plans to behead him.

Morfran's only chance at safety is to seek refuge within a tiny forest dwelling where no one recognizes him. But he quickly learns the village is the base for a brewing rebellion against his rule. And after he reluctantly saves said village from an attack, he's voted the one to lead the charge. Against himself.

Morfran helps the rebels while planning to desert them at the soonest moment. But as he fights by their side, he discovers that they're actually quite pleasant - especially the lovely assassin who has been out for his blood for a decade. Too bad Ravana has sent Morfran's best men to nip the revolt in the bud, and too bad his unlikely allies would burn him alive if they learned he's no hero, but actually their Dark Lord™ in disguise. Because even Morfran knows that only a hero would stand up to Ravana and fight for friends, and he's certainly no hero.

Right?"

A lot of evil villains lately have been retiring to raise goats. Is it the satanic angle?

The Dark Lord's Guide to Honeymooning (and Other Acts of Tyranny) by Tiffany Hunt
Published by: Scarlett Press
Publication Date: September 8th, 2026
Format: Hardcover, 688 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Kazimir and Arabella embark on a honeymoon where the only thing more dangerous than their enemies are their growing feelings for each other in this deliciously wicked and riotously funny second book in the Guides to Villainy and Love romantasy series that's Assistant to the Villain meets Dreadful.

Step Four: Take her on a honeymoon.
Step Five: Learn to co-villain effectively.
Step Six: Try not to get possessed by ancient evil.

Now bound by marriage and the formidable power of the Heirloom, Dark Lord Kazimir Blackrose and his Dark Lady Arabella are the realm's most feared and chaotic power couple. And after years of scheming, Kazimir is poised to conquer Solandris. But when the Alchemist calls in a debt, Kaz is forced to postpone his reign of terror or face consequences even he can't escape.

Arabella declares it the perfect opportunity for the honeymoon she was never promised. But their villainous getaway soon devolves into mayhem involving mass kidnappings, uncomfortable truths about Kazimir's demonic past, and a talented pastry chef with heroic blood who won't stop baking scones.

As if that weren't enough, Kazimir's mind is also filling with whispers not his own, while Arabella secretly tries to recover her stolen memories. But the greatest threat may be those three dangerous little words that could shatter their carefully constructed walls…and unleash an evil that destroys them all.

This sexy and side-splittingly funny fantasy romance is perfect for readers who love: villains who stay deliciously wicked (but are catastrophically in love); a powerful heroine carving out her place in the world; touch them and die; plotting world domination; sizzling spice and wickedly amusing banter; dark humor; found family of villains; and a honeymoon phase with assassination attempts."

I mean, unlimited scones? What's not to love?

Wickhills by Premee Mohamed
Published by: Tor Books
Publication Date: September 8th, 2026
Format: Hardcover, 320 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"In the dangerous magical city of Wickhills, a streetwise secret agent is tasked with protecting a foreign defector from his pursuers...even at the threat of war.

Looking after a defecting scientist should have been Vycol Ferec's easiest mission. But now he's on the run from the intelligence agency he works for, dodging a handler who might have gone rogue and relying on a secret patchwork of illicit resources and dodgy contacts. Turns out his defector might be carrying an apocalypse-level magical weapon - and protecting it requires Ferec and his team to go underground, literally. Down here, the rules are very different...and the tense peace between every city in the world will shatter unless Ferec can drag their darkest secrets into the light."

I will read anything Premee Mohamed writes. 

A Snake Among Swans by Hannah Kaner
Published by: Harper Voyager
Publication Date: September 8th, 2026
Format: Hardcover, 464 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"The #1 internationally bestselling author of Godkiller begins a bold new fantasy trilogy - a dark, atmospheric tale of warring kingdoms, wild magic, female rage, and the choice between love and power in a world ruled by conquest.

"Death is come to take you home, death of blood and thorn and bone..."

Tilde has always heard the whispers of the kithwood, the voices of her ancestors speaking through the mysterious forest of her homeland. But now both the kithwood and her kingdom are in danger, for Tilde is the only surviving heir of a conquered land. To stop the bloodshed, she must marry the aging Swan King, Liran, and bear him a son.

But the king's court is dangerous. Liran's older sons will do whatever it takes to remove Tilde. And her presence stirs conflict in the heart of Liran's daughter, the princess Elise, who has only ever known loyalty to her family.

Yet none of them know that Tilde is a snake in their midst, with allies on her side and dark, forbidden power of her own. She wants her kingdom back, and she will sacrifice everything to claim it. For the queen to rise, the swans must fall."

I mean, why name your character after a literal character on the keyboard?

Kick-Ass Compendium by Mark Millar and John Romita Jr. 
Published by: Image Comics
Publication Date: September 8th, 2026
Format: Paperback, 720 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"The New York Times bestseller and worldwide phenomenon is back in an all-new compendium! Relive what happens when Dave Lizewski asks himself, "How come nobody's ever become a superhero before?" and makes his teenage superhero daydreams an ass-kicking reality.

Dave Lizewski is an ordinary New York City teenager obsessed with superheroes. But one day, he takes the plunge, dons a costume, and begins prowling the streets of his city to protect the innocent. He soon realizes, however, that the danger is far more real than what he reads about in comics...

This is the complete collection of all four volumes of the original series, Kick-Ass: The Dave Lizewski Years, by Mark Millar (Civil War, Kingsman) and John Romita Jr. (Spider-Man, Captain America).

Collects Kick Ass, Vol. 1 #1-8, Kick Ass, Vol. 2 #1-5, Kick Ass, Vol. 3 #1-6, and Kick Ass, Vol. 4 #1-8."

COMPLETE! COLLECTION!

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: Alexandra Benedict, Alice Hoffman, Ariel Lawhon, Ellen Datlow, Gail Carson Levine, Gigi Pandian, Gigi Waldorf, Gryffin Murphy, Hannah Kaner, Josh Malerman, Kick-Ass, Lucy Jane Wood, Premee Mohamed, S.B. West, Tiffany Hunt

E Is for Edward by Gregory Hischak
Published by: Black Dog and Leventhal Publishers
Publication Date: September 30th, 2025
Format: Hardcover, 384 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"A sweeping, gorgeously produced celebration of beloved American writer, artist, and illustrator Edward Gorey on his 100th birthday. Issued by the Edward Gorey Charitable Trust and produced in creative partnership with The Edward Gorey House.

For more than seven decades, Edward Gorey's work has delighted fans of all ages and inspired artists across multiple disciplines. His collection of self-authored books, which comprises more than 100 volumes including The Gashlycrumb Tinies and The Doubtful Guest, remains a profoundly radical and uncompromised body of work. Viewed either separately or in their entirety, these works represent one of the most unique voices in American arts and letters.

E Is for Edward celebrates Edward Gorey as author, illustrator, humorist, playwright, printmaker, fabric artist, and stage designer, showcasing the vast array of material he created between 1953 and his death in 2000. Curated by Gregory Hischak, Director of The Edward Gorey House, the book is organized by major themes and topics that characterize Gorey's work including hapless children, mutant menageries, the murder mystery, the ballet, sartorial elegance, stylized decor, and the many recurring motifs and latent symbolism that underlie these subjects. In addition, Hischak offers a look into the pages of the dozens of rarely-viewed notebooks kept by Gorey throughout his lifetime.

Illustrated with hundreds of original pieces of art and archival material, E Is for Edward is a must-have for every fan and the most comprehensive, in-depth exploration of Gorey's art in more than a decade."

Must have!

Rocky Horror by Mick Rock
Published by: HarperPop
Publication Date: September 30th, 2025
Format: Hardcover, 256 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Step behind the curtain of The Rocky Horror Picture Show with photographer Mick Rock in this one-of-a-kind slipcased collection of rarely seen photographs and behind-the-scenes anecdotes.

Known as "the man who shot the seventies," Mick Rock had exclusive access to the set during the original filming of the now-iconic 1975 movie - and now, in honor of its 50th anniversary, his personal archive is wide open.

This stunning volume captures the raw, behind-the-scenes magic of a film that would go on to become a cultural phenomenon. From candid moments with Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon, and Richard O'Brien to intimate shots of the cast between takes, every page offers a glimpse into the bold, bizarre, and beautiful world of Rocky Horror as it was being brought to life.

Featuring a foreword by creator Richard O'Brien and hundreds of rare photographs, this stunning gift book is a visual love letter to the wild energy, fearless creativity, and sheer chaos that turned a low-budget musical into a beloved masterpiece. Alongside these vivid behind-the-scenes snapshots and anecdotes, readers also gain VIP access to interviews with members of the original cast and crew, as well as famous performers and creatives who are among the film's most fervent fans, including Joan Jett, Billy Corgan, Courtney Love, Juliette Lewis, Jinkx Monsoon, Duff McKagan, Anna Sui, Karen O, Trixie Mattel, Peaches, Norman Reedus, Cassandra Peterson (aka Elvira, Mistress of the Dark), and many, many more.

Whether you're a devoted fan or just discovering the Time Warp, Mick Rock’s Rocky Horror is dripping with the glam, grit, and rebellious spirit that made the movie a revolution in platform heels. Don't just shiver with antici-pation; dive into this timeless tribute and celebrate the global phenomenon that continues to resonate with audiences, generation after generation."

Teenage me is freaking out about this book. Adult me is freaking out for some many different reasons, mainly my love of Mick Rock, most famous for photographing David Bowie.  

After Midnight by Daphne du Maurier
Published by: Scribner
Publication Date: September 30th, 2025
Format: Hardcover, 528 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"From Daphne du Maurier, "a writer of fearless originality" (The Guardian), comes a collection of her thirteen most mesmerizing tales - including iconic stories such as "The Birds" and "Don't Look Now" - with an introduction by Stephen King.

Daphne du Maurier is best known for Rebecca, "one of the most influential novels of the 20th century" (Sarah Waters) and basis for Alfred Hitchcock's iconic film adaptation. More than thirty-five years after her death, du Maurier is celebrated for her gothic genius and stunning psychological insight by authors such as Ottessa Moshfegh, Maggie O'Farrell, Lucy Foley, Gillian Flynn, Jennifer Egan, and countless others, including Stephen King and Joe Hill.

After Midnight brings together some of du Maurier's darkest, most haunting stories, ranging from sophisticated literary thriller to twisted love story. Alongside classics such as "The Birds" and "Don't Look Now," - both of which inspired unforgettable films - are gems such as "Monte Verità," a masterpiece about obsession, mysticism, and tragic love, and "The Alibi," a chilling tale of an ordinary man's descent into lies, manipulation, and sinister fantasies that edge dangerously close to reality. In "The Blue Lenses," a woman recovering from eye surgery finds she now perceives those around her as having animal heads corresponding to their true natures. "Not After Midnight" follows a schoolteacher on holiday in Crete who finds a foreboding message from the chalet's previous occupant who drowned while swimming at night. In "The Breakthrough," a scientist conducts experiments to harness the power of death, blurring the line between genius and madness.

Each story in this collection exemplifies du Maurier's exquisite writing and singular insight into human frailty, jealousy, and the macabre. She "makes worlds in which people and even houses are mysterious and mutable; haunted rooms in which disembodied spirits dance at absolute liberty" (Olivia Laing, author of Crudo). Daphne du Maurier is mistress of the sleight of hand and slow-burning menace, often imitated and rarely surpassed.

Stories include:
-"The Blue Lenses"
-"Don't Look Now"
-"The Alibi"
-"The Apple Tree"
-"The Birds"
-"Monte Verita"
-"The Pool"
-"The Doll"
-"Ganymede"
-"Leading Lady"
-"Not After Midnight"
-"Split Second"
-"The Breakthrough""

What's interesting about this collection is that it includes the "Don't Look Now" which is rarely included in short story collections because of it's length and "The Doll" which was recently rediscovered and I don't know if it's been available stateside until now.

The Wax Child by Olga Ravn
Published by: New Directions Publishing Corporation
Publication Date: September 30th, 2025
Format: Paperback, 176 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"In seventeenth-century Denmark, Christenze Kruckow, an unmarried noblewoman, is accused of witchcraft. She and several other women are rumored to be possessed by the Devil, who has come to them in the form of a tall headless man who gives them dark powers: they can steal people's happiness, they have performed unchristian acts, and they can cause pestilence or death. They are all in danger of the stake.

The Wax Child, narrated by a wax doll created by Christenze Kruckow, is an unsettling horror story about brutality and power, nature and witchcraft, set in the fragile communities of premodern Europe.

Deeply researched and steeped in visceral, atmospheric detail, The Wax Child is based on a series of real witchcraft trials that took place in Northern Jutland in the seventeenth century. Full of lush storytelling and alarmingly rich imagination, Olga Ravn also weaves in quotes from original sources such as letters, magical spells and manuals, court documents, and Scandinavian grimoires."

I've only started to recently become obsessed with witch trails in Europe and this seems like a good book to continue this new obsession. 

The Witch of Willow Sound by Vanessa F. Penney
Published by: ECW Press
Publication Date: September 30th, 2025
Format: Paperback, 288 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"For readers of Our Wives Under the Sea and The Once and Future Witches comes a feminist gothic tale with a tough-as-nails female protagonist who must find her elderly aunt, long suspected of being a witch.

A spooky, atmospheric, and fast-paced feminist tale about women called witches and the parts of our history we'd rather forget.

Madeline is missing. Ordered to find her, Madeline's estranged niece, Fade, must return to the lonely forest of Willow Sound, Nova Scotia. There, Fade discovers her aunt's once-cozy cottage empty and rotting. The ominous smell of something burnt hangs in the air.

In her search for answers, Fade clashes with the people of Grand Tea, a nearby village struggling under the shadow of a massive, looming rock that could tip and crush them all at any time. For generations, they've invented bizarre lore about Madeline, calling her a witch and blaming her for their misfortunes. They've had more misfortunes than ever lately. And a hurricane is coming.

Inspired by real East Coast traditions and witch lore, The Witch of Willow Sound is a modern gothic tale that explores family lost and found and throws firelight on dark truths about what societies do with the people, and the past, they don't want."

So this is what I should have been doing that one time I went to Nova Scotia... Looking into their traditions and witch lore instead of being bored and binging miniseries in a tiny upstairs room on an old VHS player. 

America's Most Gothic by Leanna Renee Hieber and Andrea Janes
Published by: Citadel
Publication Date: September 30th, 2025
Format: Hardcover, 416 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"From the Bram Stoker nominated author team who penned A Haunted History of Invisible Women, the first book of its kind to investigate gothic tropes that define American lore. Here is the hidden, dark history of what frightens us - and why.

The Gothic. Brooding, atmospheric, chilling, and not always the outpouring of a feverish imagination. Reality can be even stranger as borne out in this lush and ghostly look at real people who lived - and died - amidst the trappings of the Gothic.

Fog clinging to an isolated mansion. A dangerous patriarch or an overbearing matron. Locked doors and forbidden rooms. Whispers of murder and madness. And a woman shadowed by omnipresent threats. You've guessed it. You've stumbled into a Gothic tale, and it will haunt you like a ghost.

We often think of the enduring tropes of the Gothic in terms of fiction and film - breath-catching escapes that tap into our fears, anxieties, forbidden desires, and unsettling dreams. But what if some of these chilly vibes are rooted in the experiences of real and tragic people who danced a macabre waltz with love and death? That's why we're here. Take the case of teenage Mercy Brown, victim - or was it predator? - of Rhode Island's vampire hysteria of the 1890s. Marguerite de la Roque, a French noblewoman condemned for "sexual crimes" to Canada's long-lost Isle of Demons. What happened to her and the barren landscape itself is the stuff of legend. And "Mad Lucy" Ludwell, the decidedly peculiar eighteenth-century high-society hauteur driven mad in the Virginia estate she prowls to this day. President Helen Peabody's spirit still stringently watches over her Women's College, now part of Ohio's Miami University. Ghosts of workers lost in horrific conditions while building the Hoosac Tunnel warn of imminent danger. Settle in. There are more.

Welcome to the phantom ships, haunted academic halls, menacing landscapes, and family curses of America's Most Gothic - a tour of true spectral sightings and disordered minds. But beware: it's sure to get under your skin. The haunted - and haunting - figures herein want it that way."

New life goal, live a life that will become a Gothic trope.

The First Thousand Trees by Premee Mohamed
Published by: ECW Press
Publication Date: September 30th, 2025
Format: Paperback, 136 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Henryk Mandrusiak, finding nothing left for him in his community following his best friend Reid's departure, travels through the devastated land in search of a new place to call home.

After making a grievous mistake that ended in death, Henryk Mandrusiak feels increasingly ostracized within his own community, and after the passing on of his parents and the departure of his best friend, Reid, there is little left to tie him to the place he calls home. Henryk does something he never expected: he sets out into the harsh wilds alone, in search of far-flung family. He finds his uncle's village, but making a life for himself in this unfriendly new place - rougher and more impoverished than the campus where he grew up - isn't easy. Henryk strives to carve out a place of his own but learns that some corners of his broken world are darker than he could have imagined.

This stunning novella concludes the story Mohamed started in The Annual Migration of Clouds and continued in We Speak Through the Mountain, bleaker than ever but still in search of a spark of hope in the climate apocalypse."

I am obsessed with the work of Premee Mohamed. 

The Moss by Lisa Lueddecke
Published by: Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: September 30th, 2025
Format: Hardcover, 304 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"A girl returns to her hometown and the sinister bogland surrounding it in search of her missing sister in this harrowing, atmospheric young adult horror perfect for fans of Shea Ernshaw and The Haunting of Hill House.

I know how to find her. Don't follow me. I mean it. It will break Dad if you do. I love you, Em.

P.S. Stay away from the Sedge Man. He won't stop, like a hunter, until there's nothing left of you.

A year after her sister Eve's sudden disappearance, Emma returns to the small town of Scarrow in northern Maine. The police have no leads, the neighbors spread rumors about her father's involvement, and the vast bogland known as the Moss lies in wait beside the house like a hungry beast.

Darkly familiar shadows and specters fill her dreams and the quiet spaces between her thoughts. Something is following her, pulling her to the Moss, and it's growing stronger by the day. Could it be what called to her sister? Or even to their mother, when Emma was only a child?

Haunted by the ghosts of the past, Emma knows she is the only one who can uncover the truth and save her sister…unless she gets lost herself."

Nope. I'm staying away from the moss and the Sedge Man. 

Ghost of a Chance by Katherine Garbera
Published by: Afterglow Books by Harlequin
Publication Date: September 30th, 2025
Format: Paperback, 288 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"It's a cozy, spicy, spooky season treat in this opposites-attract romance between a mystery writer who pretends to talk to ghosts and the one-night stand who might actually be haunted...

Kirsty Henson is an expert at one thing: faking it. A mystery writer with a hit series, she knows her success relies on pretending she can talk to ghosts. It's all fun and games until a steamy casual encounter sends Jasper Cotton careening into her life.

Jasper is haunted...literally. His college roommate's spirit is trapped in an old physics book - and has a weird obsession with Judge Judy. Desperate for a solution, Jasper turns to Kirsty for help. But when they investigate, neither can deny the supernatural or romantic sparks!

Between a ghost who won't quit, Kirsty's big secret and a mystery tied to Jasper's past, they're in for more than otherworldly flirtation. With a little help from beyond, Kirsty and Jasper are about to discover the only thing stronger than life or death might just be love.

From showing up to glowing up, the characters in Afterglow Books are on the path to leading their best lives and finding sizzling romance along the way."

I think worse than being haunted is being haunted by a ghost obsessed with Judge Judy. The horror!

The Underachiever's Guide to Love and Saving the World by Sloane Brooks
Published by: Atria Books
Publication Date: September 30th, 2025
Format: Paperback, 384 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"The Hating Game meets Legends and Lattes in this captivating and hilarious fantasy rom-com with a twist about two enemies who must work together to return to their reality.

Courtney's only goal in life is to have no goals. A reformed overachiever, she's content with her dead-end job and simple existence. And her "feud" with her neighbor Bryce brings her immense joy. Everything is perfect.

Until Courtney and Bryce are pulled through a portal and flung into a fantasy world where they are met by a prophecy-obsessed sage who claims one of them must be the Chosen One destined to save them all from an unknown Evil One. Neither of them wants the job but also refuse to let the other have the glory. Unfortunately, in their efforts to save the world, they unleash more chaos by accidentally freeing a dragon, summoning an undead army, and almost poisoning their mentor with peanut butter.

To return to their world, Courtney and Bryce - a snarky underachiever and a grumpy hermit - must charm and endear themselves to the people of this fantasy world (or each other) to be able to use magic. With time running out and the threat of the Evil One looming, they must work together to become worthy heroes if they ever want to make it home again. Or else be doomed to eternity in a universe without running water - and with each other - forever."

There's something about this cover that just speaks to me. They feel relatable yet interesting.

Silver and Lead by Seanan McGuire
Published by: Tor Books
Publication Date: September 30th, 2025
Format: Hardcover, 400 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Seanan McGuire's New York Times bestselling and Hugo Award-nominated October Daye series continues as Toby Daye is thrust once again into danger... and this time she has more than ever to protect.

Something is rotten in Faerie. In the aftermath of Titania's reality-warping enchantment, things are returning to what passes for normal in the Kingdom in the Mists - until it's discovered that the royal vaults have been looted, and several powerful magical artifacts are missing. None are things that can be safely left unsecured, and some have the potential to do almost as much damage as Titania did, and having them in the wrong hands could prove just as disastrous.

At least the theft means that Sir October "Toby" Daye, Knight errant and Hero of the Realm, finally has an excuse to get out of the house. Sure, she's eight and a half months pregnant, but that doesn't mean she can't take care of herself. But with the sea witch offering to stand godmother to Toby's child, maybe there are greater dangers ahead for Toby and her family than it appears....

Old enemies will resurface, new enemies will disguise themselves as friends, and Queen Windermere must try to keep her Hero on the case without getting herself gutted by the increasingly irritated local King of Cats. Sometimes, what's been lost can be the most dangerous threat of all."

I like that usually in a series when the lead gets pregnant that's the death knell. Here it's just a fact of life and a heist is a good excuse to leave her house and get out of her confinement. 

The Sleepless by Jen Williams
Published by: Wednesday Books
Publication Date: September 30th, 2025
Format: Hardcover, 336 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Godkiller meets Powerless in this epic gods-and-monsters romantic fantasy from British Fantasy Award-winning author Jen Williams. 

Welcome to a world where gods and monsters roam the earth...

Elver is the guardian of the wild and dangerous monster forest. Saved from the brink of death by a god, her skin will poison anyone she touches.

Artair is on a mission - one that takes him face-to-face with Elver at her most ruthless. But her defenses are useless when she discovers he's the only human impervious to her deadly gift. For Artair isn't human: he's one of the Sleepless, cursed to share his body with an evil spirit.

Lucian inhabits their body while Artair sleeps, and he is hell-bent on manipulating Elver for his dark purposes. But Elver is harbouring secrets too, and she has her own reasons for feigning an alliance with these two souls.

Caught in the crossfire of gods, monsters, and a dangerous magic they can barely understand, it is only a matter of time before the paths the three of them choose to take will set alight the very foundations of their world.

With a love triangle like you've never seen it, incredible world-building, brilliant writing, and a dangerous quest, The Sleepless will have you spellbound."

It is handy though when I love triangle only involves two bodies...

How to Defeat a Demon King in Ten Easy Steps by Andrew Rowe
Published by: S and S/Saga Press
Publication Date: September 30th, 2025
Format: Hardcover, 240 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"The LitRPG bestseller releasing in a stunning new deluxe hardcover edition, now with a new Afterword.

For thousands of years, there has been a cycle: a Demon King rises and conquers, and a Hero is reborn a hundred years later to defeat him. Each time, civilizations are ground to dust beneath the Demon King's hordes, but humanity has remained secure in the belief that a Hero of legend will always save them. There's just one slight problem. It's only been twenty-three years since the Demon King's latest rise, and this time, he's already conquered more than half the world. If humanity simply waits for the Hero's return, there may be no world left for him to save.

And so, Yui Shaw sets out with an ambitious plan. A ten-step plan.

She'll find a way to obtain the Hero's legendary sword. She'll earn obscure classes, gain levels, and increase her skills. She'll travel to the meticulously-crafted dungeons that seem designed for one specific Hero to complete. And, if she's truly (un)fortunate, she might even find a fairy."

I mean, giving evil a hundred year head start does seem a little unfair. 

Witch and the Wolves by Kaylee Archer
Published by: St. Martin's Griffin
Publication Date: September 30th, 2025
Format: Paperback, 368 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Caught between spells and savage beasts, Cordelia Levine must unravel the secrets of her dual heritage - half witch, half werewolf - and face her desire for the one creature who holds her future in his hands.

Cordelia Levine, a twenty-three-year-old witch hidden in the human world, leads a quiet life in London with her aunt, managing an apothecary for the supernatural. But her life is upended when a brooding and handsome werewolf, Bishop Danvers, kidnaps her on her estranged father's orders - the Alpha of the Albion Pack.

It is at Trevelyan, her father's estate, that Cordelia learns she comes from a long line of witches with secondary werewolf traits - a powerful and unique bloodline that must be protected from foreign packs.

Not everyone in the pack is happy about Cordelia's arrival, and as danger closes in, she wonders if the man who ripped her from her life could be the one to save it."

Oh, it's like Buffy fanfic where Oz and Willow had a kid! 

A Ghost Hunter's Guide to Solving a Murder by F.H. Petford
Published by: Hodder and Stoughton
Publication Date: September 30th, 2025
Format: Paperback, 304 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Meet Alma Timperley. She can:
- Run a hotel
- Solve a mystery
- Talk to ghosts...?

December, 1914: After the death of her aunt, Alma Timperley is surprised when she suddenly finds herself the heiress to the Timperley Spiritualist Hotel in a pretty coastal town in Cornwall.

But not everything is as it seems... the hotel offers guests a very special service: the chance to communicate with the dead.

When the body of one of the hotel's maids is found, it is considered a tragic wartime accident. But the more Alma and the local police try to fathom what happened, the more they begin to realise this is much more than just a death - there might be a German spy in Falmouth.

With the stakes higher than ever, Alma must grapple with her own extraordinary secret if she is going to have more than a ghost of a chance of solving the mystery.

Being able to talk with the dead is one thing; solving their murder is positively ghoulish..."

Why is it people who talk to ghosts and hotels go so well together?

Murder at Somerset House by Andrea Penrose
Published by: Kensington
Publication Date: September 30th, 2025
Format: Hardcover, 368 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Beyond the gilded ballrooms and salons of Regency London lurks a sinister web of intrigue and deception, and when a murder occurs within the scientific community, Lord Wrexford and Charlotte are the perfect pair to unravel it in USA Today bestselling author Andrea Penrose's latest masterfully plotted mystery for readers of Charles Dodd, C.S. Harris, and Deanna Raybourn.

A welcome interlude of calm has descended on Wrexford and Charlotte, though with three lively young boys in their care and an unconventional circle of friends and allies, quiet rarely lasts long. And sure enough, in the dead of night, an old acquaintance appears and asks for help. His brother-in-law has been accused of murdering a fellow member of the prestigious Royal Society at their London headquarters, Somerset House.

Wrexford agrees to investigate, and with a little unexpected help from their young charges, discovers that what seemed a simple case may be part of a darker, more dangerous plot, where science, money, and politics collide. A mysterious new technical innovation threatens to ignite a crisis throughout Europe, with frightening consequences for London's financial world.

There is also personal upheaval for Wrexford and Charlotte, when a shocking secret from the past brings a profound change to their family, testing the bonds of loyalty and trust as never before..."

Oh, I'm here for whatever mystery Wrexford and Charlotte have to face, but I'm on the edge of my seat to know what the shocking secret from the past is! Andrea Penrose never fails to deliver!

Miss Morton and the Missing Heir by Catherine Lloyd
Published by: Kensington
Publication Date: September 30th, 2025
Format: Hardcover, 272 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Society in England is most unforgiving of a reversal of fortune, as Miss Caroline Morton, left penniless after her father's suspicious death, knows all too well. Once a lady, now a lady's companion, she is still enmeshed in the settling of the earl's estate - and soon murder as well - in this "charming cross between a Regency romance and a well-constructed detective story" (Kirkus Reviews) for fans of Victoria Thompson, C.S. Harris, and Deanna Raybourn.

Distraught over her younger sister Susan's decision to leave for America and weary of shepherding her employer Mrs. Frogerton's daughter in her relentless pursuit of marrying a peer, Caroline is dealt another blow when her family solicitors indicate they may have found the lost heir to the Morton earldom.

Possible heir Thomas, his mother Mrs. Scutton, and her widowed daughter Mary all descend on Mrs. Frogerton's home on Half Moon Street. The air inside the house is soon thick with family tension and the near palpable presence of avarice. But things go from tense to tragic following the appearance of Mary's dead husband - very much alive and recently released from debtors' prison. Unseen by Caroline and Mrs. Frogerton, a fight breaks out upstairs, leaving Mary fatally stabbed and her mother wounded.

The manhunt is on for Mary's husband, led by Inspector Ross. But both Caroline and Mrs. Frogerton begin to suspect that all is not as it seems. The Scuttons have brought more than trouble into the home - they may be harboring secrets that could put Caroline and Mrs. Frogerton's very lives at risk..."

A murderous missing heir!?! 

As Long as You're Mine by Nekesa Afia
Published by: Lake Union Publishing
Publication Date: September 30th, 2025
Format: Paperback, 299 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Beneath the glitter of 1930s Hollywood, dangerous secrets connect two generations of women in this atmospheric dual-timeline mystery about identity, sacrifice, and survival.

Professional ballerina Thea Ross's world shatters when her screen-legend father commits suicide, leaving behind a shocking confession to a decades-old murder. Determined to uncover the truth, Thea teams up with a relentless journalist, following a trail of clues that leads her back to the glittering yet treacherous world of 1930s Hollywood.

There, she discovers the story of Lorelei Davies, a struggling actress willing to endure anything for her family's sake. As Thea peels back the layers of Lorelei's life - her dreams, fears, and dangerous secrets - the connection between Lorelei's past and Thea's present challenges everything she believes about her family history. But as she untangles all the lies, she comes to know herself more truly than ever before.

As Thea navigates the glamorous facade of Old Hollywood, she must decide whether uncovering the truth about her father is worth sacrificing the life she planned - and whether some secrets are better left buried in Hollywood's golden age."

Oh no, exhume those ghosts! I have a shovel. Are we going to Hollywood Forever Cemetery?

The Killing Stones by Ann Cleeves
Published by: Minotaur Books
Publication Date: September 30th, 2025
Format: Hardcover, 384 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"The Killing Stones marks the eagerly awaited return of Ann Cleeves' beloved detective Jimmy Perez from the Shetland series, and a gripping new investigation with a stunning new setting.

It's been several years since Detective Jimmy Perez left Shetland. He has settled into his new home in Orkney, the group of islands, off the northern coast of Scotland, with his partner Willow Reeve and their growing family. One stormy winter night, his oldest and closest friend, Archie Stout, goes missing. Ever the detective, Perez catches a boat to the island of Westray, where Archie worked as a farmer and lived with his wife and children.

But when he arrives he finds a shocking scene: Archie's body, on an archaeological dig site and an ancient Westray story stone with precise spirals carved into it beside him, the clear murder weapon. The artifact, taken from a nearby museum, seems to suggest a premediated murder.

But Perez is so close to the case that he struggles to maintain an objective distance from the potential suspects. He finds it difficult to question Archie's wife, whom he's known for years. Rumors swirl about the dead man's relationship with a young woman new to the island, an artist. With each new lead, the case becomes more twisted and Perez wonders if he will ever find out what happened in his friend's final days."

I smell a spinoff from Shetland! Orkney anyone? 

The Librarians by Sherry Thomas
Published by: Berkley
Publication Date: September 30th, 2025
Format: Hardcover, 368 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Murder disrupts four quirky librarians' lives when they try to hide among books to keep their secrets.

Sometimes a workplace isn't just a workplace but a place of safety, understanding, and acceptance. And sometimes murder threatens the sanctity of that beloved refuge....

In the leafy suburbs of Austin, Texas, a small branch library welcomes the public every day of the week. But the patrons who love the helpful, unobtrusive staff and leave rave reviews on Yelp don't always realize that their librarians are human, too.

Hazel flees halfway across the world for what she hopes will be a new beginning. Jonathan, a six-foot-four former college football player, has never fit in anywhere else. Astrid tries to forget her heartbreak by immersing herself in work, but the man who ghosted her six months ago is back, promising trouble. And Sophie, who has the most to lose, maintains a careful and respectful distance from her coworkers, but soon that won't be enough anymore.

When two patrons turn up dead after the library's inaugural murder mystery–themed game night, the librarians' quiet routines come crashing down. Something sinister has stirred, something that threatens every single one of them. And the only way the librarians can save the library - and themselves - is to let go of their secrets, trust one another, and band together....

All in a day's work."

If you have deadly secrets maybe don't hold an event that is murderous in intent? 

The Impossible Fortune by Richard Osman
Published by: Pamela Dorman Books
Publication Date: September 30th, 2025
Format: Hardcover, 368 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"The unmissable new mystery in the Thursday Murder Club series from #1 New York Times bestselling author Richard Osman.

Who's got time to think about murder when there's a wedding to plan?

It's been a quiet year for the Thursday Murder Club. Joyce is busy with table plans and first dances. Elizabeth is grieving. Ron is dealing with family troubles, and Ibrahim is still providing therapy to his favorite criminal.

But when Elizabeth meets Nick, a wedding guest asking for her help, she finds the thrill of the chase is ignited once again. And when Nick disappears without a trace, his cagey business partner becomes the gang's next stop. It seems the duo have something valuable - something worth killing for.

Joyce's daughter, Joanna, jumps into the fray to help the gang as they seek answers: Has someone kidnapped Nick? And what's this uncrackable code they keep hearing about? Plunged back into action once more, can the four friends solve the puzzle and a murder in time?"

The fox kit on the cover has be transfixed. Sure way to make me buy a book, even if I'm not already a fan, put a fox on it. 

In the Time of Five Pumpkins by Alexander McCall Smith
Published by: Pantheon
Publication Date: September 30th, 2025
Format: Hardcover, 224 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"In this newest installment of Alexander McCall Smith's beloved No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series, Mma Ramotswe takes on a number of perplexing situations, and while she tries to maintain her usual impartiality, it's difficult when one of the cases involves someone so close to her heart.

Mma Ramotswe can sense the rain long before it comes. It's been a long, dry summer, but the first downpour of the season tends to bring with it new growth. In this case, it also brings a new client, who suspects his wife of having an affair. Mma Ramotswe is on the case, and she decides to bring Charlie along. But as they look further into the matter, they begin to suspect their client may not have been entirely truthful in explaining his predicament.

Meanwhile, Mr. J.L.B.'s Matekoni has struck up a new friendship with a man named Mr. Mogorosi, a prominent figure in the motor trade business. Mma Ramotswe is concerned that Mr. Mogorosi may have ulterior motives for his attentions. When the two go on a fishing trip in waters teeming with dangerous crocodiles, she begins to worry for Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni's safety.

And though Mma Ramotswe has never quite perfected Mma Potokwane's delicious fruit cake recipe, she can always rely on her old friend for a steaming cup of red bush tea, some wise counsel, and a generous slice of cake. As welcome storms roll in to the little city of Gaborone, the pumpkins in Mma Potokwane's garden flourish, as do her keen insights. These will prove invaluable to Mma Ramotswe as she navigates these sensitive matters with her usual good humor and compassion."

The pumpkins have sure been flourishing with the rains here this year. 

The Lost Story of Eva Fuentes by Chanel Cleeton
Published by: Berkley
Publication Date: September 30th, 2025
Format: Hardcover, 352 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"A mysterious book with a legacy spanning from the beginning of the twentieth century to the present day unites three women - and their secrets - in this unforgettable novel from New York Times bestselling author Chanel Cleeton.

London, 2024: American expat Margo Reynolds is renowned for her talent at sourcing rare antiques for her clients, but she's never had a request quite like this one. She's been hired to find a mysterious book published over a century ago. With a single copy left in existence, it has a storied past shrouded in secrecy - and her client isn't the only person determined to procure it at any cost.

Havana, 1966: Librarian Pilar Castillo has devoted her life to books, and in the chaotic days following her husband's unjust imprisonment by Fidel Castro, reading is her only source of solace. So when a neighbor fleeing Cuba asks her to return a valuable book to its rightful owner, Pilar will risk everything to protect the literary work entrusted to her care. It's a dangerous mission that reveals to her the power of one book to change a life.

Boston, 1900: For Cuban school teacher and aspiring author Eva Fuentes, traveling from Havana to Harvard to study for the summer is the opportunity of a lifetime. It's a whirlwind adventure that leaves her little time to write, but a moonlit encounter with an enigmatic stranger changes everything. The story that pours out of her is one of forbidden love, secrets, and lies...and though Eva cannot yet see it, the book will be a danger and salvation for the lives it touches."

A book can totally change a life.

Soul Searching by Lyla Sage
Published by: Dial Press Trade Paperback
Publication Date: September 30th, 2025
Format: Paperback, 368 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Home is where the heart is - and this one is haunted.

The #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Rebel Blue Ranch series returns with a brand-new story, featuring a small-town upholsterer in need of a fresh start, a photographer whose life has come to a screeching halt...and the supernatural forces that bring them together.

Collins Cartwright does not want to go home. Sweetwater Peak, Wyoming, was supposed to be in her rearview mirror, but when she finds out a developer is trying to buy her parents' antiques shop out from under them, she doesn't have a choice - at least, that's what she tells her family. They don't need to know she's lost her job and is out of money. Or that the ghosts who have always been her companions have recently gone silent.

But just because she's returned home doesn't mean she has to stay with her parents or crash on her twin sister's couch. Lucky for her, the new-to-town upholsterer has a room for rent above his store. Unluckily, it is absolutely crawling with more ghosts who are freezing her out. And Collins hates being ignored.

Brady Cooper is absolutely and totally fine. Seriously, there's no secret reason why he decided to uproot his life and suddenly move to Sweetwater Peak. He just needed a change of pace. At least that's what he tells himself. And everyone else.

When he agrees to let the elusive Collins Cartwright stay in his spare room, he doesn't know that she's absolutely bonkers - constantly talking to herself and having conversations with no one - or that she looked like that. But as they begin to get closer, the lines between them start to blur, leaving both of them - and the ghosts who have been pushing them together - wondering whether their temporary arrangement could be something more permanent."

Wait, are the ghosts playing matchmaker?

Kitty St. Clair's Last Dance by Kate Robb
Published by: Dial Press Trade Paperback
Publication Date: September 30th, 2025
Format: Paperback, 368 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"When a young woman is bequeathed a shuttered dance hall, she begins to dream of its heyday - and learns to see her present-day entanglements in a new light.

Jules is stunned when eccentric and glamorous retiree Kitty St. Clair passes away and leaves her a dilapidated dance hall in their quaint lakeside community.

That is until Reeve, a charming, successful developer, returns to town, looking for the new owner of the dance hall, intent on turning it into luxury vacation condos. Suddenly Jules has a way to make her lifelong dream of going to medical school a reality. But selling the dance hall will only add to the steadily rising real estate prices, making it harder for the residents of her tiny vacation town to live there, not to mention Reeve also happens to be the man who Jules shared a magical night with two summers ago - and never heard from again.

Reeve wants a second chance with Jules and is determined to earn back her trust. But can she let herself fall for him again? Does he want her, or a guaranteed sale?

Jules wishes she could talk to Kitty, who always seemed to have the best advice, so she turns to the diary she left her. But as Jules falls asleep reading, she wakes up in the world of the diary, fifty years ago, accompanying a young Kitty to the dance hall in all its glory. Her dream visits to Kitty's past begin to parallel the questions plaguing her in her own world. Will Kitty's past hold the keys to unlocking Jules's future?"

Of COURSE they hold the key!

It's Different This Time by Joss Richard
Published by: Dell
Publication Date: September 30th, 2025
Format: Paperback, 332 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"In this sweeping, second-chance romance, a twist of fate forces two former roommates back into their beloved New York City brownstone where they must confront the events that led to their estrangement - and the unresolved feelings lingering between them.

Reeling from the cancellation of her hit TV show, June Wood has nothing left to lose when a mysterious email lures her back to the New York City brownstone she once called home before she moved to Los Angeles. Thanks to a clause in the former owner's will, she and her old roommate, Adam Harper, now own the multimillion-dollar property - or at least they will in a month, once all the paperwork is signed.

Four weeks, then June can return to her life in LA and forget about New York City and everything she left behind. Sure, the fact that June and Adam are estranged and haven't even spoken in five years, and that their friendship didn't exactly end on good terms might complicate matters, but this is an opportunity of a lifetime.

As the autumn leaves fall around them, through shared meals and late-night conversations, old wounds and long-buried sparks resurface, and it becomes strikingly clear: June and Adam have unfinished business. Confronted with the consequences of their choices years before, they must now navigate the minefield of their past the best way they know how: together. Second chances are always a risk, but maybe, if they get it right and are finally honest with each other and with themselves, it could be different this time."

There's something about the cover that is so nostalgic to me that I just want to enter the pages of this book and never leave. 

All the Way Around the Sun by Xixi Tian
Published by: Quill Tree Books
Publication Date: September 30th, 2025
Format: Hardcover, 304 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"From the acclaimed author of This Place Is Still Beautiful comes an evocative, achingly romantic road-trip story about grief, diasporic identities, and the deep-buried secrets that haunt us, perfect for fans of Past Lives and The Farewell.

Stella Chen's life ground to a halt when her brother unexpectedly passed away a year ago. Raised together by their grandmother for years in the Chinese countryside before rejoining their parents in the United States, his absence destroys the connective tissue in her family. With another jarring move her senior year, from rural Illinois to unfamiliar surroundings in San Diego, she is left alone and adrift in her family's suffocating silence and the void of unanswered questions her brother left behind.

So when Stella's parents force her to join her estranged childhood friend Alan Zhao for a college tour all over California, Stella dreads it. Alan is a reminder of everything Stella wishes she could be - popular, gregarious, unburdened - and a reminder of how lost she is.

As this road trip takes Stella and Alan down beautiful coastlines and through fraught family dynamics, Stella can't help but feel the spark of why she and Alan were once so close. Before long, they find themselves pulled into each other's orbits, forcing unspoken feelings and long-hidden truths into the light."

A cover I would literally hang on my wall the art is so gorgeous. 

Dinner at the Night Library by Hika Harada
Published by: Hanover Square Press
Publication Date: September 30th, 2025
Format: Hardcover, 320 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"The Night Library is no ordinary library.

Within it are found the rarest and most unusual collections - the books of deceased famous writers:

the books they wrote;
the books that inspired them;
the books they loved.

All Otaha Higuchi wants to do is work with books. However, the exhausting nature of her work at a chain bookstore, combined with her paltry salary and irritating manager quickly bring reality crashing down around her. She is on the verge of quitting when she receives a message from somebody anonymous, inviting her to apply for a job at '"The Night Library." The hours are from seven o'clock to midnight. The library exclusively stores books by deceased authors, and none of them can be checked out - instead, they're put on public display to be revered and celebrated by the library's visitors, making it akin to a book museum.

There, Otoha meets the other staff, a group of likeminded literary misfits, including a legendary chef who prepares incredible meals for the library's employees at the end of each day. Night after night, she bonds with her colleagues over meals in the café, each of which are inspired by the literature on the shelves.

But as strange occurrences start happening around the library that may bring the threat of its closure, Otaha and her friends fear that the peace they have found there will forever be lost to them. Will their faith in the value of books strong enough to save it? And what will remain if it isn't?"

So library is kind of a misnomer...

Holly by Adalyn Grace
Published by: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: September 30th, 2025
Format: Hardcover, 384 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"From #1 New York Times bestselling author Adalyn Grace comes a mysterious and magical holiday novella set in the romantic, Gothic-infused world of Belladonna - printed in a festive colored ink, with gorgeous interior illustrations by LotusBubble!

Something strange is happening at Wisteria Gardens, the manor that Blythe and Aris call home. All they want is a peaceful holiday season with their family, but a group of restless spirits is determined to threaten their festivities. With a new mystery to solve, Signa, Death, Blythe, and Fate must uncover what happened to Wisteria's ghostly inhabitants and help the spirits move on...before it's too late."

Holiday novella! YAS!

Secrets of the Purple Pearl by Kate McKinnon
Published by: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: September 30th, 2025
Format: Hardcover, 256 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"The greatest adventures start with secrets.

The Porch Sisters are in trouble.

It's summertime in Antiquarium, and everyone has flocked to the majestic lakeside Purple Pearl Hotel, including the Krenetics Research Association, a nefarious group of mad scientists. They haven't given up on resurrecting their fearsome leader, Talon Sharktūth, and now they're hot on the trail of the legendary Purple Pearl, a source of power that is rumored to be lost at the bottom of Lake Kagloopy.

But Gertrude, Eugenia, and Dee-Dee are on to them, plus their mentor, Millicent Quibb, has a plan! Is it a good plan? Hard to say! But it does involve finding a mysterious creature called a Shrimpmaid, boiling the lake (and everything inside it), and retrieving the pearl before the KRA gets its evil hands on it!

While Millicent and the gang work together to prevent the second coming of Talon Sharktūth, the sisters discover more secrets than they bargained for - including where they came from and who they truly are...

This is one mad-science summer vacation they'll never forget!"

This really fills the void left by the conclusion of A Series of Unfortunate Events. But with Kate McKinnon's unique sense of humor. She does love how crinoline sounds. 

The Nanny's Handbook to Magic and Managing Difficult Dukes by Amy Rose Bennett
Published by: Kensington
Publication Date: September 30th, 2025
Format: Paperback, 400 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Mary Poppins meets Bridgerton in a feel-good blend of cozy fantasy magic, historical romance, humor, and Victorian era charm, as a recent graduate of the Parasol Academy for Exceptional Nannies and Governesses finds her supernatural abilities are little help when it comes to falling for the shy, mysterious inventor who happens to be her employer...

For readers of Heather Fawcett, Allison Saft, Katherine Arden, Freya Marske, and Olivia Atwater's Regency Faerie Tales series.

Emmeline Chase, 25-year-old widow and new alumna, may be more high-spirited than the Academy would like. Few graduates, however, could turn a mismanaged teleportation onto a duke's rooftop into an offer of employment. But Emmeline's circumstances, along with her desperation to support her bankrupt, incarcerated father, have made her dauntless. Which seems the primary qualification to work for expert horologist Xavier Mason, Duke of St. Lawrence, and manage his three rambunctious wards. Yet Emmeline soon discovers that the nobleman's heart-melting voice and captivating mind present an entirely different sort of trouble. She cannot risk losing her license by fraternizing with her employer...

Xavier's wards have sent two nannies packing in a month thanks to frogs, firecrackers, and general mayhem. In addition, Xavier's professional reputation is on the line. He's already considered odd, with his talking raven companion and his fascination with timekeeping instead of pleasure-chasing with his peers. Charming, vivacious Emmeline seems intrigued with his quirks - but Xavier must have absolute peace to design London's "King of Clocks" for Westminster Palace before the competition closes. Emmeline can no doubt restore order. As long as he doesn't fall under her spell...

Yet, with a possible saboteur in their midst, and the attraction flaring between them threatening to become a deliciously disastrous distraction, a touch of magic may be required..."

This is the kind of cozy comfort read we all dream of. Nostalgic and magical.

The Shocking Experiments of Miss Mary Bennet by Melinda Taub
Published by: Grand Central Publishing
Publication Date: September 30th, 2025
Format: Hardcover, 320 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"An utterly fantastical and undeniably queer melding of Pride and Prejudice and Frankenstein that recasts Mary Bennet as an insatiable scientist, one who creates a monster in an attempt to save herself from spinsterdom. Awkward, plain, and overlooked, Mary Bennet has long been out of favor not only with her own family but with generations of readers of Pride and Prejudice. But what was this peculiar girl really doing while her sisters were falling in love?

As, one by one, Mary's sisters get married, she hatches a plan. If the world won't give this fierce, lonely girl a place, she'll carve one out herself. In a desperate bid to avoid becoming a burden on her family or, worse, married to a controlling man, Mary does what any bright, intrepid girl would do. She takes to the attic and teaches herself to reanimate the dead. If finding acceptance requires a husband, she'll get one...even if she has to make him herself.

However, Mary's genius and determination aren't enough to control the malevolent force that she unwittingly unleashes. Soon, her attempts to rein in the destruction wreaked by her creations leads her to forge a perhaps unlikely friendship with another brilliant young woman unlike any she's ever known. As that friendship blossoms into something passionate and all-consuming, Mary begins to realize that she may have to choose between the acceptance she's always fought for and true happiness."

Oh my, a monstrous new take on Regency Magic! 

Pocket Portraits: Jane Austen by Janet Lewis Saidi
Published by: Adams Media
Publication Date: September 30th, 2025
Format: Hardcover, 240 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Take a trip back in time to the Regency-era life of Jane Austen, one of literature's most beloved novelists, with this captivating exploration of her works and the timeless themes of romance, family, and society.

Pocket Portraits: Jane Austen takes you through the moments of Jane Austen's life - some well-known and some which may be unexpected. These are the moments that shaped her six published novels, which draw deeply on themes of family, agency, philosophy, and love. From excerpts of her swoon-worthy tales like Pride and Prejudice and Emma to insight into Austen's social commentary and why her works still leave their mark on contemporary pop culture, this book paints a vivid portrait of the complicated woman behind the quill.

This beautifully curated book is both an inspiring biography and a celebration of literary brilliance. Whether you're a longtime admirer of Austen or just beginning your literary adventure, Pocket Portraits: Jane Austen will leave you fascinated, inspired, and longing for more."

Damn, I'm always longing for more Austen. Time for another re-read. 

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

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