Hello everyone!
October is almost upon us, which means one important thing – it’s almost Halloween. I’m not one for dressing up, but I do love some good scary movies and books, so I’m planning to read quite a few thrillers in October to hopefully get a good scare.
Considering how bad I am at sticking to to-read lists, this one is a bit short, especially because I have some rereads planned for October too.
★ True Crime Story ★
Author: Joseph Nox
Genre: Thriller
Release date: 6 June 2021
Brief synopsis: In December 2011, Zoe Nolan, a 19-year-old Manchester University student, walked out of a party and was never seen again. Seven years after her disappearance, struggling writer Evelyn Mitchell finds herself drawn into the mystery. Through interviews with Zoe’s closest friends and family, she begins piecing together what really happened in 2011, but when things don’t add up, she begins to wonder if there’s something, or someone, much larger at hand.
My lovely friend Quinn recommended this because she read and loved it (from what I recall, she said it kept her up at night) and of course I have to check it out.
From what I’m aware, the novel also is told in interview excerpts and emails, and I always love mixed media books! I also bought the audiobook for this so I’m ready for some scary ambience.
★ Down Comes The Night ★
Author: Allison Saft
Genre: Gothic Fantasy, Thriller
Release date: March 2nd 2021
Brief synopsis: When Wren reckless use of magic has her dismissed from the Queen’s Guard and separated from the girl she loves, she seizes her next chance to redeem herself – by accepting the invitation to Colwick Hall where she has been asked to help cure a lord’s servant from a mysterious illness.
Unfortunately for Wren, the servant is really Hal Cavendish, her kingdom’s sworn enemy. Hal also came to Colwick Hall for redemption, but the secrets in the estate may lead to both of their deaths. But, when they both realise that there are sinister forces at work, Wren and Hal realize they’ll have to join together if they have any hope of saving their kingdoms.
This book has been on my tbr since…. well, since even before it’s official release, because my friends received advanced copies for this and absolutely adored it.
I dnf’ed this a few months ago because I just wasn’t in the mood for a fantasy, but now I really want to give it a go again. Reading the summary again, I can’t believe I put a book like that on pause? It sounds right up my alley – gothic and magic and reluctant allies to lovers!
★ The Taking Of Jake Livingston ★
Author: Ryan Douglass
Genre: Thriller, Dark Academia, LGBT+
Release date: July 13 2021
Brief synopsis: Jake Livingston is one of the only Black kids at St. Clair Prep. It’s hard enough fitting in but to make matters more complicated, Jake can see the dead. Most are harmless – until he meets Sawyer, a troubled teen who shot and killed six kids at a local high school last year before taking his own life. Now a powerful, vengeful ghost, he has plans for his afterlife–plans that include Jake. Suddenly, everything Jake knows about ghosts and the rules to life itself go out the window as Sawyer begins haunting him and bodies turn up in his neighborhood. High school soon becomes a survival game–one Jake is not sure he’s going to win.
I preordered this and read the first chapter and then just never continued for some reason? It sounds so interesting, and that cover is just SO gorgeous, that I have to read it.
Not to mention, I literally had a dream about this book despite only having read a few pages, and if that’s not a sign I should pick up the book again then I don’t know what is.
★ A Lesson in Vengeance ★
Author: Victoria Lee
Genre: Mystery, Dark Academia, LGBT+
Release date: August 3 2021
Brief synopsis: Felicity Morrow is back at Dalloway School, a year after the tragic death of her girlfriend. She’s moved back into Godwin House, the dormitory rumoured to be haunted by the spirits of five Dalloway students—girls rumoured to be witches, who all died mysterious. While other students secretly convene, Felicity is determined to keep her head down and graduate – but it’s hard when new girl Ellis Haley asks Felicity for help researching the Dalloway Five. And when history begins to repeat itself, Felicity will have to face the darkness in Dalloway–and in herself.
This was one of my anticipated releases of 2021, and I still have not gotten around to reading it yet.
It has so many elements that I adore in books – mystery, dark academia, possible magic, and it’s sapphic !!! so I have super high hopes for it and I really hope it doesn’t disappoint. I’ve had a couple of people recommend this to me as well, so I have a feeling I will enjoy it.
★ Out ★
Author: Natsuo Kirino
Genre: Horror, Crime thriller
Release date: July 1997
Brief synopsis: In the Tokyo suburbs, four women work the graveyard shift, and secretly dream of a way out of their dead-end lives. A young mother among them finally cracks and strangles her deadbeat husband then confesses her crime to her colleague Masako. Masako and their other co-workers work to dismember and dispose of the body. The body parts are discovered, the police start asking questions, but the women have far more dangerous enemies -a yakuza connected loan shark who discovers their secret and has a business proposition, and a ruthless nightclub owner the police are convinced is guilty of the murder. He has lost everything as a result of their crime and he is out for revenge.
This is another one I was recommended by a friend, and I almost immediately went out and bought it.
I don’t typically read Adult thrillers, but this one sounds so interesting, and I’ve head Natsuo Kirino is a fantastic author. Plus, I can’t remember the last time I read a translated work (this is originally in Japanese) so it’s a good time as any to start.
It’s a hefty book, with a lot of heavy trigger warnings, so I don’t expect myself to get through it this in this month alone. I am however excited to jump into it, I feel like it would be great to read late at night (though I guess I may regret it, but that is a problem for future me!).
★ Re-reads – The Raven Cycle ★
I’ll also be rereading some of The Raven Cycle books with my friends! We’re currently rereading The Raven Boys right now, so in October we’ll be rereading The Dream Thieves, Blue Lily Lily Blue, and The Raven King. I’ll also be reading the short stories/novellas for the first time – which includes 300 fox way holiday piece, A Minor Raven Boys Holiday Drabble, and Opal.






As you can see, this is somewhat of a hefty tbr for October (at least for me!), and I doubt I’ll be able to get through all of these. I do hope I’m able to get through my reread at the very least, and also to check off at least one of the thrillers I mentioned above.
And of course, if I don’t manage to finish these books in October doesn’t mean that’s going to stop me from reading thrillers all around the clock.
Thank you all for reading! What books are you planning to read in October?

I hope you’ll end up really liking The Taking of Jake Livingston. I basically flew through the book once I had the time to really sit down and dig in! It was pretty fast-paced and I enjoyed it a lot. It might have made me cry at a certain point.
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I’m so excited to dive into it!! and gosh, it made you cry at one point? I’m even more intrigued now
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ooh, down comes the night was one of my favorite reads of last year!! and out is on my tbr as well, i cannot wait to see your thoughts on! good luck with your tbr💜
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ahh I saw you put DCTN in your post about standalones and it reminded me that I just *have* to read it! I’ll let you know my thoughts on Out, and thank you so much ❤
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The Taking Of Jake Livingston and A Lesson in Vengeance have been on my TBR for a while, hope we both enjoy them!
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Good luck with these! I hope you like the raven cycle
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thanks!! I loved it when I read it years ago so I hope I still enjoy it the second time around!
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oo good luck, these all look like amazing reads! i hadn’t heard of True Crime Story before but now that you mention it, i’m adding to my tbr 👀
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thank you aarushi! it sounds so good right?
wishing you a lovely october!
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Oh my gosh, I really need to read the Raven Cycle!!! Some of these other books also look so good too (down comes the night and a lesson in vengeance!!! i really want to read them)! Good luck with all these books and hope you enjoy them!
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I absolutely love The Raven Cycle so much so I do recommend it!! 💛 And thank you, hope you have a lovely October!
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I haven’t heard of True Crime Story but I’m adding it to my TBR! I’m thinking of going towards more cozy mystery rather than horror for October, but who knows maybe I’ll suddenly in the mood for it 😀
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It sounds so interesting I’m not sure why it’s not more popular! I hope you enjoy if you decide to read it, and wishing you a lovely cozy October! ❤
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I hope you enjoy your October reading. I also have A Lesson in Vengeance on my TBR since I’m very much in a dark academia mood after reading The Devil Makes Three a few weeks ago.
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The Devil Makes Three totally put me in the mood to read some more dark academia too! have a lovely october x
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i’ve heard so much about a lesson in vengeance, i hope you like it! also, i see so many of my friends on twitter always talking about the raven cycle lol, so i feel like i’ll have to check that out soon. hope u have a great reading month!!
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I just simply adore the raven cycle so much, I do recommend it but I know a 4 book series is pretty long haha. hope you have a great reading month too!!
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I want to read Lesson in Vengeance too! The fact that it has a stunning cover is a bonus!😁 But I have a WHOLE bunch of books I have already planned to read this month so LIV has to wait a while longer! Haha 😂 But I do hope you have a great time reading these books!☺️🧡
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haha same, I have so many books I want to get through before A Lesson in Vengeance. Hope you have a lovely reading month! ❤
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Thank you so much!☺️🧡
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I love seeing so many spooky TBRs for this October, I’ve already planned mine and I couldn’t be more excited! 😊 I’ll also be reading The Taking Of Jake Livingston, so I hope we both enjoy it.
Have an amazing month! ❤️❤️
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Aaah that’s another book I really want to try out! So many books so little time. Seriously!😂 Have a great reading month Sofi!☺️🧡
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