just for fun

My Must-Watch List For October

October 15, 2026 — Leave a comment

As I have stated numerous times, spooky season is my favorite time of the year. However, I don’t limit my spooky vibes to October – I watch horror movies and read scary books and indulge in chills and thrills 24/7/365.

With that said, there are certain movies that I watch every year around Halloween, typically with my mom. I’d be interested to see your list as well, so if you’re reading this, drop a couple of movies that you feel get you into the spirit!

  • Scream [1996]: Iconic. My favorite slasher flick, period.
  • Coraline: One of my favorite movies, ever. And don’t tell me it’s not horror…
  • Trick ‘r Treat: Love, love, LOVE! And Sam is so cute.
  • Halloween [1978]: No time for remakes in this house. A classic. I’ve loved this movie from a young age, thanks to Mom.
  • Halloween II [1981]: This has to be one of the most solid sequels of all-time.
  • Fright Night [1985]: Because Chris Sarandon makes a sexy vampire.
  • The Nightmare Before Christmas: I feel like this one’s self-explanatory.
  • Corpse Bride: I do adore this film, but we mostly watch it because of Mom.
  • Hocus Pocus: It’s not Halloween until Winifred Sanderson says “Oh look, another glorious morning. Makes me SICK!”
  • Urban Legend: This movie was so slept on. While I will forever be a Ghostface girly, I actually thought the plot and the murder methods were better in this one.
  • Cry Wolf: Another underrated gem. I will never skip it.
  • House of 1000 Corpses: The only Rob Zombie film I actually enjoy.

I could have included Terrifier and the original IT, but I don’t always seek them out. I do watch them every time they’re on or suggested by someone else, though.

Goodreads Reading Challenge 2026 [September]

October 1, 2026 — Leave a comment

My pace slowed a little in September, but I’m still five books ahead of schedule! I actually did choose specific reads for October rather than picking at random as I usually do. I’ll share those in a separate post.

Here are the books I finished – with my ratings – this month.

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Deeply Odd (Dean Koontz)

Rating: 4/5

Everything I Never Told You (Celeste Ng)

Rating: 3/5

Summerween in Hollowmere – Witchy Tales for the Longest Days (Juniper Vale)

Rating: 4/5

Maniac Mall (Christopher Robertson)

Rating: 3.5/5

Dead Girls Don’t Burn (Zia Rayyan)

Rating: 4/5

***

I am currently reading American Demon (Kim Harrison) and Saint Odd (Dean Koontz).

Progress: 63/80

My October TBR

September 30, 2026 — Leave a comment

I don’t usually plan out my monthly reads. When I’m seeking out a new book, I intend to find something that’s already on my (lengthy) to-be-read list. However, I often stumble across a recommendation, on Facebook or Amazon, and indulge in that instead.

This October, I have decided on four specific books that I feel fit the whole vibe of this particular month. Admittedly, they are not a far cry from what I read year-round, but still…

  1. Something Wicked This Way Comes [Ray Bradbury]
  2. Brother [Ania Ahlborn]
  3. Halloween Fiend [C.V. Hunt]
  4. A House With Good Bones [T. Kingfisher]

It is highly likely there will be a few autumn- and Halloween-themed cozy mysteries sprinkled among these main four, and I have already been enjoying bits and pieces of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone with my morning coffee.

I love the autumn months!

If you have any October-y recommendations for me, please leave them in the comments!

Goodreads Reading Challenge 2026 [August]

September 1, 2026 — Leave a comment

I finished eleven books in August! That’s quite a feat considering how busy I’ve been. I’ve already jumped into some fall-themed cozy mysteries in preparation for the ‘ber months, and I think I am going to create a reading list specifically for October. I’ll post that later, though.

Here are the books I read in August, along with my rating of each.

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1. Let’s Split Up (Bill Wood)

Rating: 3/5

2. Little Eve (Catriona Ward)

Rating: 4/5

3. A Hollowmere Autumn Mystery: The Lantern Man of Hollowmere (Willow Wisp)

Rating: 2.5/5

4. Exquisite Corpse (Poppy Z. Brite)

Rating: 3/5

5. Where You End (Abbott Kahler)

Rating: 3/5

6. The Bachelorette Party (Camilla Sten)

Rating: 3.5/5

7. The Housemaid’s Secret (Freida McFadden)

Rating: 3/5

8. Murder With a Hint of Pumpkin Spice (Laura M. Drake)

Rating: 2.5/5

9. I’m Thinking of Ending Things (Iain Reid)

Rating: 3/5

10. Don’t You Cry (Mary Kubica)

Rating: 3.5/5

11. What Stalks the Deep (T. Kingfisher)

Rating: 4/5

***

I am currently reading Deeply Odd (Dean Koontz) and Everything I Never Told You (Celeste Ng).

Progress: 58/80

Goodreads Reading Challenge 2026 [July]

August 1, 2026 — Leave a comment

In July, I knocked out my last couple of summer themed cozy mysteries, and I’m ready to dive into the ones set in autumn. I think I’m actually going to make a TBR just for October (starting with Ray Bradbury’s Something Wicked This Way Comes). But that’s neither here nor there at the moment…

Anyway, here are the books I finished this month!

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The Resting Place (Camilla Sten)

Rating: 4/5

Beth is Dead (Katie Bernet)

Rating: 4/5

The Starless Sea (Erin Morgenstern)

Rating: 5/5

A Killer Cupcake (Fiona Grace)

Rating: 2/5

The Midnight Feast (Lucy Foley)

Rating: 4/5

A Berry Flavored Obituary (Rosie A. Point)

Rating: 2/5

American Psycho (Bret Easton Ellis)

Rating: 3/5

***

I am currently reading Little Eve (Catriona Ward) and Let’s Split Up (Bill Wood).

Progress: 47/80

Goodreads Reading Challenge 2026 [June]

July 2, 2026 — Leave a comment

I’m a bit late with this post, but I’ve been busy with band interviews and preparing to share my most recent one with Little Evil!

I read seven books in June. It was too hot to leave my house (except to work), so I curled up in the A/C and lost myself in someone else’s imagination. Here are the novels I finished with my ratings.

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1. It’s Not Her (Mary Kubica)

Rating: 4/5

2. Incidents Around the House (Josh Malerman)

Rating: 1/5

3. The Lying Game (Ruth Ware)

Rating: 3/5

4. Malice House (Megan Shepherd)

Rating: 4/5

5. What Feasts at Night (T. Kingfisher)

Rating: 4/5

6. The Silent Patient (Alex Michaelides)

Rating: 4/5

7. Penpal (Dathan Auerbach)

Rating: 3.5/5

***

I am currently reading The Starless Sea (Erin Morgenstern) and The Resting Place (Camilla Sten).

Progress: 40/80

Goodreads Reading Challenge 2026 [May]

May 31, 2026 — Leave a comment

I read eight books this month! I’m getting back up to my usual speed, which is pretty amazing considering how busy I’ve been.

I’m still on track to finish the challenge, but I don’t know if I’ll be increasing my goal like I had to last year. If things stay this hectic (in a good way this time), then I’ll barely reach 80.

Anyway, here are the books I finished in May, with my ratings.

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1. The Island (Natasha Preston)

Rating: 2.5/5

2. Odd Hours (Dean Koontz)

Rating: 3/5

3. What Moves the Dead (T. Kingfisher)

Rating: 4/5

4. Dead Girls First (Zia Rayyan)

Rating: 3.5/5

5. The Queen (Nick Cutter)

Rating: 4/5

6. The Ghostly Grounds: Murder and Breakfast (Sophie Love)

Rating: 3/5

7. Odd Apocalypse (Dean Koontz)

Rating: 2.5/5

8. The Night Circus (Erin Morgenstern)

Rating: 5/5

***

I am currently reading What Feasts at Night (T. Kingfisher) and The Lying Game (Ruth Ware).

Progress: 33/80

Goodreads Reading Challenge 2026 [April]

April 30, 2026 — Leave a comment

I only completed six books in April, but I’m still on track to hit 80 by the end of the year! Here is what I read this month, with my ratings.

1. Stay in the Light (A.M. Shine)

Rating: 4/5

2. Brother Odd (Dean Koontz)

Rating: 2/5

3. Heads Will Roll (Josh Winning)

Rating: 3/5

4. My Husband’s Wife (Alice Feeney)

Rating: 3.5/5

5. The Dead Girls Book Club (Zia Rayyan)

Rating: 4/5

6. Arson, Old Lace, and Murder (Michele Pariza Wacek)

Rating: 3/5

***

I am currently reading The Island (Natasha Preston) and Odd Hours (Dean Koontz).

Progress: 25/80

Goodreads Reading Challenge 2026 [March]

March 31, 2026 — Leave a comment

I read eight books this month! I feel pretty proud of myself, ha ha. Oh, and after re-reading Odd Thomas because of my coworker, I am now going to finish the entire series because she insisted I should. It’s fine, as long as they aren’t all as heartbreaking as the first one…

Anyway, here are my reads and ratings for March!

1. An Unwanted Guest (Shari Lapena)

Rating: 3/5

2. The Homewreckers (Mary Kay Andrews)

Rating: 3/5

3. We Have Always Lived in the Castle (Shirley Jackson)

Rating: 4/5

4. The October Society: Season Three (Christopher Robertson)

Rating: 5/5

5. The Good Girl (Mary Kubica)

Rating: 4.5/5

6. Sleep Tight (J.H. Markert)

Rating: 4/5

7. The Lost Village (Camilla Sten)

Rating: 5/5

8. Forever Odd (Dean Koontz)

Rating: 4/5

***

I am currently reading Brother Odd (Dean Koontz) and Stay in the Light (A.M. Shine).

Progress: 19/80

Goodreads Reading Challenge 2026 [February]

February 28, 2026 — Leave a comment

February was a slow month for me. I only read four books. Well, five, actually, if you count re-reading Odd Thomas. (I was showing solidarity to a coworker who was reading it for the first time but knew it would break her heart because she’d seen the movie.)

Anyway, here are the books I completed! I’ve gotta get back on track in March.

1. Society of Lies (Lauren Ling Brown)

Rating: 3.5/5

2. Local Woman Missing (Mary Kubica)

Rating: 3.5/5

3. Neverwhere (Neil Gaiman)

Rating: 4.5/5

4. People We Meet on Vacation (Emily Henry)

Rating: 3.5/5

***

I am currently reading The Homewreckers (Mary Kay Andrews) and An Unwanted Guest (Shari Lapena).

Progress: 11/80