Japanese Ghost Stories

Stars 5/5

Japanese Ghost Stories by Lafcadio Hearn

WoW! I really enjoyed this book. The forward talks about the life of Lafcadio Hearn and what I loved is how he made is name in Cincinnati, Ohio which is near me and how he went on to Japan and wrote this book sharing the stories told to him by his wife and how they created their own. This is a short story collection of many different tales about ghosts and I just loved it. Some stories, of course, are better than others but as a whole the collection is brilliant. I highly recommend this book especially during the Autumn/Halloween season.

1980s - A Decade Of Serial Killers

Stars 5/5

1980s - A Decade Of Serial Killers by Jack Smith

This is a short book about the serial killers of the 80s. I did enjoy this book as it gives the reader a brief overview of the killers, their crimes and the victims. I definitely recommend it.

1970s - A Decade Of Serial Killers

Stars 5/5

1970s - A Decade Of Serial Killers by Jack Smith

I really enjoyed this book about serial killers of the 70's. The book is a brief overview of the different serial killers and their victims during that decade. It is a short book but I found that it is informational and a very easy read. I definitely recommend it to anyone who wants a peek into true crime.

The Institute

Stars 4/5

The Institute by Stephen King

I am going to be honest and say that the kid torture made me a bit ill. The book is really well written and it is a very distorted coming of age story but it is kinda disturbing. The story follows Luke, a twelve year old boy that is not only genius level IQ but is also telekinetic. One night, people break into his home, kill his parents and kidnap him. He wakes up at The Institute, which is a place for kids with telekinetic and telepathic gifts, and they put the kids through torturous tests. I don't want to go more into the story as to not spoil it but be warned that there are some graphic violence aimed towards children.

Wasteland (Surviving The Evacuation #2)

Stars 5/5

Wasteland (Surviving The Evacuation #2) by Frank Tayell

This is the second book in the series and it continues to follow Bill as he has made it out of his apartment and has found other survivors but is that really a good thing? Bill doesn't feel comfortable with some of his new found friends and doesn't trust them. Kim is the only one Bill really trusts. I don't want to go into the story more as to not spoil it but I highly recommend this book as well as the series. I do plan to continue on.

London (Surviving The Evacuation #1)

Stars 5/5

London (Surviving The Evacuation #1) by Frank Tayell

I really enjoyed this book and can not wait to read on in the series! The story follows Bill, a man suffering a broken leg in London, as he watches everything unfold from his apartment window. He was part of the evacuation program and they did send a car for him but the driver was munched on by the zombies. Bill is surviving on what he has and what he can salvage from other apartments  he can get to with a broken leg. I highly recommend this book and can't wait to read on.

Zombies vs The Living Dead (Surviving The Evacuation 0.5)

Stars 5/5

Zombies vs The Living Dead (Surviving The Evacuation 0.5) by Frank Tayell

I have been looking for a zombie series and after reading this prequel short story, I can't wait to read on in this series. The story follows George, an elderly man in a nursing home in England. He is aware of this virus that is turning people into zombies and he is ready to protect the woman he loves who is bedridden at the nursing home. I don't want to go into the story more as to not spoil it but I can't wait to read on in this series. I just love zombies!

The Bone Houses

Stars 5/5

The Bone Houses by Emily Lloyd-Jones

Wow! What a unique and creative story line. I just loved it. The book follows Ryn, a young girl that was brought up in a small village where her father was the grave digger. As a child, she and her siblings were never allowed into the forest until one day her curiosity won out and that is when she saw the bone houses or walking dead. Her father raised her to take over the care of the graveyard when he was gone and one day he did not return from a mission to the mines. I do not want to go into the story more as to not spoil it but I highly recommend it.

The Tenth Girl

Stars 3/5

The Tenth Girl by Sara Faring

Very atmospheric and creative! This book follows Mavi, a young woman fleeing her life to go and teach at a mysterious and haunted finishing school. They say the land is cursed and that everyone gets the fever and dies. Mavi finds that one girl is missing from her class, the tenth girl, and soon other girls are getting sick. I don't want to go into this story more as to not spoil it. I do recommend it. 

The Babysitters Coven

Stars 5/5

The Babysitters Coven by Kate Williams

WoW! What a fun book to read. I really loved it. The story follows Esme, a young girl who runs a babysitting club. Cassandra, the new girl in town is on a mission to find the babysitters due to a message left to her from her mother that passed away. Esme and Cassandra have more in common than they first believe and the Gym Coach is there to guide them. I don't want to go into the story more as to not spoil it but I highly recommend it. I plan to continue on with this series.

NOS4A2

Stars 4/5

NOS4A2 by Joe Hill

(I read this book for the #Spookathon 2019)

What a creepy story! I am so glad I read this during the Halloween season instead of Christmas time! The book follows Victoria, a young girl that is the only child that escaped Charles Manx, the man who kidnaps and terrorizes children. Now an adult Vic, finds her old bike hidden in the basement, the one that took her to Christmasland and she decides to find Charles. Charles has never forgotten Vic and he is searching for her as well. Very creepy read. I definitely recommend it.

Heart-Shaped Box

Stars 4/5

Heart-Shaped Box by Joe Hill

(I read this book for the #Spookathon 2019)

Wow! Very creative and unique story! The book follows an aging rock star named Judas who not only liked his women young but collected items of the macabre which is why he found himself buying a haunted men's suit online. The suit was indeed haunted. Haunted by a father of one of Judas' old girlfriends that committed suicide because Judas left her. I don't want to go into the story more as to not spoil it but I do recommend it for a spooky read.

Misery

Stars 5/5

Misery by Stephen King

(this book was read for the #Spookathon 2019)

I saw this film long ago but I have to say that the book is far more gruesome. The story follows Paul, a novelist, that was in a car accident and was rescued by Annie, his number one fan. Annie becomes enraged when she reads the next book in the Misery series while Paul is recovering and she decides she must kidnap him and force him to change the ending. I don't want to go into the story more as to not spoil it but I have to say that this book has lots of torture scenes. I highly recommend it to all horror lovers.

The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon

Stars 5/5

The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon by Stephen King

(read this book for the #Spookathon 2019)

Such an amazing book that pulls at your deepest fear of getting lost. The story follows nine year old, Trisha, as she gets lost from her mom and brother during their hike on the Appalachian Trail. She is forced to survive off the land and the only thing keeping her sane is her walkman and listening to the baseball game each night. I don't want to go into the story more as to not spoil it but I will say that this is a creepy "what goes bump in the night" read. I highly recommend it. 

IT

Stars 5/5

IT by Stephen King

(read for #SpookAThon 2019)

OMG! What a creepy adventure. I really loved it. I have to admit I was a bit hesitant to read this book because I had seen the film long ago but I am so glad I read the book because it is so much more! The story follows seven kids that witness evil and try to kill it. Thinking that one day the It may return, they made a blood vow that they would come back and kill it again. There is so much to this book. The story not only shows their fears, struggles, abusive home lives, bullies, pain and even death but it also shows coming of age, friendships, working together and conquering evil. This is a Stephen King book so expect it to be off the wall horror. I highly recommend "IT"!

Spellbook Of The Lost And Found

Stars 4/5

Spellbook Of The Lost And Found by Moira Fowley-Doyle

Very creative and unique story line. I really enjoyed this book. The story begins in a small town in Ireland when things start to go missing. It starts out with little things but soon the lost things becomes critical. Six teenagers come across a spell book that can retrieve back missing things but it comes with a huge price. I don't want to go into the story more as to not spoil it but I definitely recommend it especially during the Autumn/Halloween season.

Wayward Son (Simon Snow #2)

Stars 5/5

Wayward Son (Simon Snow #2) by Rainbow Rowell

(note... This book made it to my 2019 Favorites List)

OMG! The Ending! I can't wait for the next book YAY! I just love this world and I am hoping for maybe a second book to Fangirl! The book follows Simon and Baz as they travel to America with their friend Penny. Penny finds that her long distance romance might not be what she hoped for and Baz finds other vampires and is intrigued about their lives. I don't want to go into the story more as to not spoil it but there is lots of action and adventure. I highly recommend this book as well as the series. This book definitely made it to my 2019 Favorites List!

Imaginary Friend

Stars 5/5

Imaginary Friend by Stephen Chbosky

(note... This book made it to my 2019 Favorites List)

What an amazing story! So unique and creative. I really loved this book. The story follows Christopher, a young boy that was on the run with his mother away from an abusive boyfriend. The settled in a small town and that is when Christopher mysteriously went missing into the woods for six days. Before he went missing, Christopher was having problems in school with reading and math but when he came out of the woods he was intelligent and was on a mission to build a tree house before Christmas or everyone will die. I don't want to go into this story more as to not spoil it but I highly recommend it. So much thought and world building went into this book - 2019 Favorites List.

Then She Was Gone

Stars 5/5

Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell

WOW! What a twisty mystery! I never seen it coming! I really enjoyed this story! The book follows Laurel, a wife and mother of a daughter that went missing. Laurel's daughter Ellie was walking to the library when she vanished and Laurel never gave up in finding her daughter even when it caused her life to fall apart. Laurel meets Floyd and they begin a relationship. Floyd's daughter, Poppy, is the spitting image of Ellie. I don't want to go into the story more as to not spoil it but I highly recommend it.

The Unbecoming Of Mara Dyer

Stars 5/5

The Unbecoming Of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

WoW! What a unique and creative story line. I will definitely be going on with this series to find out what happens next with our two main characters, Mara and Noah. Mara is a young girl that wakes up in a hospital after a tragic accident that left her friends dead. Mara is suffering from PTSD and can not return to school so her family moves and gives her a fresh start. Mara meets Noah, a very handsome guy at her new school and they become friends. I don't want to go into the story more as to not spoil it but I highly recommend it and can't wait to read the next book.

Mary Poppins

Stars 5/5

Mary Poppins by P. L. Travers

I read this book as a buddy read and of course this is not the first time I have read this story but I love to revisit this magical world from time to time. The story follows Mary Poppins as she arrives on Cherry Lane to take the job of nanny until the wind blows her away to a new location. I really can't recommend this story enough. It is great for kids of all ages.

An Anonymous Girl

Stars 5/5

An Anonymous Girl by Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen

What an amazing book! The story line is so unique and creative! I just loved it. The story follows Jessica, a woman that works hard to help support her family and her younger sister that suffered a brain injury. Jessica signs up for a research study that promises five hundred dollars and that is when the story starts it's twisty mystery as the therapist starts requiring more from her with promises of more money. I highly recommend this book!

Kill Creek

Stars 5/5

Kill Creek by Scott Thomas

Warning: Do not read this close to bedtime! Really creepy and spooky! I just loved it. The book follows four horror/thriller writers as they are invited to a two day interview that requires them to spend a night in Finch House, a haunted house. This is when the twist to the story happens and they leave the house but can't get the experience out of their heads and it starts to drive them mad so they all go back to the house and that is all I am going to say about that. This book is really scary and I highly recommend it.

Heartstopper: Volume Two

Stars 5/5

Heartstopper: Volume Two by Alice Oseman

Oh So Sweet! I love this story and the illustrations! The story continues to follow Charlie and Nick as they figure out their relationship and Nick coming to understand his feelings and his new thoughts. I can not wait for the next issue. I highly recommend it.

Heartstopper: Volume One

Stars 5/5

Heartstopper: Volume One by Alice Oseman

Oh so cute! I just loved this graphic novel. The story was so sweet and the illustrations just brilliant. The book follows Charlie, a 10th year student at Truham School for Boys, and Nick, an 11th year student. Charlie and Nick meet and become best friends. Charlie wants more but believes Nick is heterosexual but is he? I don't want to go into the story more as to not spoil it but I highly recommend it and OMG what an ending! 

The October Country

Stars 5/5

The October Country by Ray Bradbury

This is not my first time reading this book but it has been years so I thought I would re-visit this book of short stories. This book is one of the best books to read during the fall. All the stories work well with the fall days. Of course, I loved some stories more than others but this is definitely a five star collection that I highly recommend.

Bunny

Stars 4/5

Bunny by Mona Awad

Wow! What a crazy roller coaster ride this book was. The story follows Samantha who is a scholarship student at Warren University and has a class with school's Bunny girls. The Bunnies are a cliche of rich girls that call each other Bunny and never interact with anyone until one day they invited Samantha to a party at their smut salon. Samantha is welcomed into their group and is somehow brainwashed to forget her other friends and her life. The Bunny girls have ritualistic practices in which they create disfigured men out of bunnies. I don't want to go into the story more as to not spoil it but I do recommend it.

Pumpkinheads

Stars 5/5

Pumpkinheads by Rainbow Rowell

Illustrated by Faith Erin Hicks

(note... This book made it to my 2019 Favorites List)

YAY! This was one of my most anticipated books for this year and I just knew I would love it. This graphic novel is perfect for the Autumn/Halloween season. The story follows two Fall friends, Deja and Josiah. This will be their last day working at the pumpkin patch due them going off to college the following year and Josiah has had a crush on the Fudge Shop girl for years. Tonight after all the years never talking to the girl, Deja takes Josiah on a pumpkin patch adventure to find her so Josiah can finally talk to her. I just loved the illustrations and the story is so cute that I highly recommend it to everyone. This is not a spoiler but I hope that what Deja and Josiah talk about at the end of the book comes to fruition. I would love see a holiday book with these characters.

Emma In The Night

Stars 4/5

Emma In The Night by Wendy Walker

This is such a twisty mystery! I really enjoyed it. The story begins with the return of Cass, one of the sisters that went missing three years ago. Her and her sister, Emma, mysteriously vanished on night and now the youngest sister has returned to tell her story. Forensic psychiatrist Dr. Abby Winter has been on the case for these three years trying to figure out what happened to the two girls. She always believed the narcissistic mother was behind it all but maybe she was wrong and something is telling her that Cass's story doesn't sound right either. I don't want to go into the story more but I highly recommend it.