Friday, October 31, 2025

This Is Halloween... Everybody Make A Scene! | October 2025 Monthly Favorites

Hey, all! This has been a bit of a challenging month for me mentally, physically, and emotionally. But there were some good moments scattered into the month- having a good doctors' appointment, my mom and sister reading plus it being a good reading month as well. All things aside, I'm going to share my monthly favorites with you all because that's what we are here for am I right?

October 2025 Favorites Featured!


Favorite Music (had a good mix of all types of rock this month):


Favorite Coffee and / or Tea:


Favorite Workout Videos:


Favorite Book(s) I've Read and / or listened to as an audiobook via Spotify:

  • The Only One Left by Riley Sager: This wasn't my first rodeo with Mr. Sager and this one of his blew me away! The gothic atmospheric vibes, the plot twists (I mean plot twists!) and the mysteries' within the story were all good! I'll link it: https://www.target.com/p/the-only-one-left-by-riley-sager/-/A-91341242?preselect=91000737#lnk=sametab

  • A Good House for Children by Kate Collins: This book was the most interesting thing I've ever read and I don't mean that in a bad way. It gave dark, gothic, atmospheric vibes and even left me a bit unsettled in some scenes, too. A solid mystery-thriller from a new to me author! I'll link it: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-good-house-for-children-kate-collins/1142412627?ean=9780063291027

  • Dracula by Bram Stoker: This was a well-solid (written even) classic vampiric story- however, the main big thing is I felt no points (answers really) came across clearly. Still liked the book though! I'll link it: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dracula-bram-stoker/1116610564?ean=9780593203385

  • Frankenstein by Mary Shelley: A wonderfully, written story told about a monsterous creature that wasn't as appreciated by others. He, Frankenstein, was created and wreaked havoc upon others. It took me a minute for the build up of the premise of the story (only slight thing I nitpicked at) but still a good classic to read during spooky season- not too scary for my friends that were asking. I'll link it: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/frankenstein-mary-shelley/1116608310?ean=9780593203392

  • Hallowe'en Party (inspired A Haunting in Venice film) by Agatha Christie: Another solid murder mystery book from the OG murder mystery queen herself- loved the aspect it being set around the time of Halloween, too. And yet again, I get the culprit(s) wrong- not the first time this lady has stumped me! I'll link it: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/halloween-party-agatha-christie/1100050678?ean=9780062573285

  • Daisy Darker by Alice Feeney (library pick): This was my 2nd read of Feeney's and this didn't disappoint! It began with our seemingly unreliable narrator named Daisy Darker and she's telling this story. Her Nana is celebrating 80 years of age (inviting the whole Darker family- this is one family reunion I didn't want to be invited to) and by the end of the night, Nana is found murdered. The pattern continues... of sorts. Each person of the family that dies has a morbidly dark written poem about them and these are ones you don't want to read out loud in class. Anyways, we find out who are culprits are (that genuinely surprised me), who the father is of Trixie (Daisy's sister's daughter) and the big plot twist about Daisy (enjoyed the lead up to what happened to her). Love the atmospheric & murder mystery vibes of this one! I'll link it: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/daisy-darker-alice-feeney/1140777506?ean=9781250843937

  • The Haunting of Paynes Hollow by Kelley Armstrong (October 2025 BOTM Pick): This book was so good! It told us a tale of Sam Payne, of who is set to inherit her family cottage for 10 million- there is always a catch with this- but has to stay for the whole summer in order to earn it. Her aunt comes along for the month-long visit, and she goes missing. Sam starts noticing strange things happening (some I cannot even describe to you it was that much) and it gets all connected and answered by the end of the book. Such good plot twists in this- some of them made my jaw drop! This book does have some connections to The Legend of Sleepy Hollow (which I bought the book and read beforehand and helped immensely)- so it's helpful if you the same thing I did before you read this one. Enjoyed it very much! I'll link it: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-haunting-of-paynes-hollow-kelley-armstrong/1146657236?ean=9781250360564

  • Verity by Colleen Hoover (library read): My first read of Hoover's and it didn't disappoint! I enjoyed the balance of thriller (psychological- which are my favorite to read) and romance (a bit spicy at times for my friends that were curious on that). The letter in the book? Made my jaw drop! And that ending? Need to say no more! It did feel a bit creepy and unsettling at times while I was reading (not in a bad way by any means). I'll link it: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/verity-colleen-hoover/1130171830?ean=9781538724736

  • A Quiet Retreat by Kiersten Modglin (library read): This was my first read of Modglin's and I liked it! The whole murder mystery writer retreat concept was well done- even if the suspenseful bulidup took a bit of time (only slight thing I nitpicked at). I'll link it: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-quiet-retreat-kiersten-modglin/1142552044?ean=9781956538328

  • How to Survive a Horror Story by Mallory Arnold: This was such a morbidly, dark, fun (yes I said that) read. Loved the whole twist on the locked-room murder mystery- riddles? House that literally eats you alive? Sign me up! The characters' got a bit annoying at times and the ending left me a bit confused but a solid read! I'll link it: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/how-to-survive-a-horror-story-mallory-arnold/1146335581?ean=9781464227400

  • William by Mason Coile (library pick): This book was so different of a concept than I've ever read before! We meet Henry of who created this character named William. He is holed up in his attic working on this project- hence his agoraphobia- and his pregnant wife, Lily and her work friends want to meet William but that presents consequences. It took me on so many turns (some those of the being a bit creepy and unsettling) and some of the twists in this book I didn't see coming either. I had more questions to this book (only the one big thing I nitpicked at) but overall really was surprised by how much I liked it! I'll link it: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/william-mason-coile/1144445954?ean=9780593719602

  • Make Me a Monster by Kalynn Bayron (library pick): My first read of Bayron's and I enjoyed it very much! Our female main character, Meka, is now a mortician's assistant at the funeral home her parents' run. She has a wonderful, sweet relationship with a boy named Noah within the book. However, the book takes a turn with strange occurrences going on- ravens circling, figures following Meka, etc. Meka learns about the truth about her mom plus how her dad (and Meka's boyfriend, Noah) is connected in all of this (hence the strange people following him). When I learned about that, I was left speechless. And this is where Frankenstein comes into play for the story (the monster being reborn into the lab by a mad scientist in case you weren't familiar with the premise of that story)- it did help I read it this month (there were some mentions of the film but I haven't seen it). There were a few scenes depicting some body parts being taken apart- if you are squeamish, skip over those scenes (but it didn't bother me surprisingly). The writing in this for being a young adult book (forgot to clarify this part) was well done too! I'll link it: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/make-me-a-monster-kalynn-bayron/1146657095?ean=9781547615865

  • Hollow by Taylor Grothe (library pick): This was a new-to-me author and their debut novel was well done! It followed our female main character, Cassie, of who was recently diagnosed with autism after a breakdown she had at her previous school in New York. She moves back to a town she wasn't sure if she wanted to back to at all. Her friends “ghosted” her of sorts- most of them weren't aware of her diagnosis except her friend, Jac (the other two “friends” of hers didn't seem to care about it at all- such friends, am I right?). Anyways, Cassie agrees to go with her “friends” to Hollow Ridge to go hiking but the legend is people go missing out there and never return (Cassie's mom made her aware of this prior to the trip from a video her mom showed her online). But a spat breaks out between them one evening and when Cassie wakes up, everyone is gone. She is taken in by Kaleb (he's seemingly nice at first) and his “family” of sorts at this place called the Roost. But Cassie isn't so sure if this is a good idea being here and she's trying to find her “friends” if you will. It takes such a creepy, unsettling turn when we realize what the Roost is and who are the people behind it (this all surprised me for sure). This was wonderfully written and all of the representation (especially with the autism depicted and someone that has had since she was 3 years old- for those that didn't know that before) was well done. Cassie & Jac got their happy ending by the end of the book- that ending? Come on! I'll link it: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/hollow-taylor-grothe/1146800836?ean=9781682637777

  • The Widow of Pale Harbor by Hester Fox (library pick): This was my first read of Fox’s and I wasn’t disappointed! It was so interesting to have the Poe connections in the story as someone that enjoys his morbidly dark pieces. There was intrigue, suspense, mystery, romance- yes even that, plus a dark & gothic atmosphere anybody in this genre would love. It had a good buildup around chapter 11 and it kept giving it in between chapters until we got to the twists and turns- which kept coming! I didn’t see the true killer of the Poe related crimes coming at all. When that all connected- it blew my mind! Who knew a genre I don’t read a lot of would surprise me? I'll link it: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-widow-of-pale-harbor-hester-fox/1129908344?ean=9781525834264

  • House of Thorns by Isabel Strychacz (library pick): This was another solid YA Horror read (it's not too heavy on the horror- it's pretty easy to digest). Anyways, we meet Lia Peartree of who witnessed with her troubled sister Ali their other sister going missing five years ago. It also became the subject of headlines in the media and true-crime podcast junkies' (making the family themselves not so well liked). The place they think everything happened at was known as Brier Hall, we get a few brief pieces of the history of the house within the book too. It it is set off the Northern California cliffside coast- so immersively atmospheric while reading. Lia confides in her friend Rafferty of who she has had a crush on for years and he isn't so sure about this idea of going back to Brier Hall with Lia. The buildup slowly keeps building from there and it does get spooky and unsettling at times (but not to the point of where you want to sleep with the lights on). The writing in this was well done! I did nitpick at only one thing with this read- some plot holes within the story I felt were just left hanging and we didn't get anymore by the time our story was done. I'll link it: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/house-of-thorns-isabel-strychacz/1144226920?ean=9781665942591

Favorite TV Show, Documentary and / or Movie(s) I've Either Watched or Streamed:


That's all for this month, friends! I hope you all have a safe Halloween (if you do celebrate) and a wonderful day! See you next month!

-Lauren-
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