Fall Book Haul
#FallBookHall
Jeepers! I spent a lot of money on books this month! Do I feel guilty? No…..but my TBR shelf is giving me side-eyes and if I stack anything else on it the whole thing will topple. Fewer books or more shelves? That’s tricky 😉
I mean…I DIDN’T mean to buy this many, it started out with just a few, 
then snowballed into…well…29!?!
Here is what I bought this fall so far and I am going to try my hardest to get through at least a third of these before buying more. Fingers crossed.
I bought the entire Cormoran Strike series by Robert Galbraith (aka J.K. Rowling):
I love this series so much I had to own them all! I’ve already read books 1-4 which were either lent to me by my sister or borrowed from the library. I had preordered Troubled Blood on Amazon (released 9/15/2020 in the US) and I bought the 1st four in the series (The Cuckoo’s Calling, The Silkworm, Career of Evil & Lethal White) on Half Priced Books’ website. I love a good private detective story especially when the PI is a retired cop (in this case ex-military police) and flawed or damaged in some way, but still likable, which is sometimes hard to pull off. This series doesn’t disappoint. I love the dynamic of the two main characters Cormoran Strike and his assistant/later partner Robin Ellacott. I also like that this tension carries throughout the novels and does not get wrapped up neatly at the end of book one or two. Robin Ellacott is a strong female character, which is also one of the reasons I love this series. Can’t wait to see what’s in store for these two in book 5. I only have 2 more JK Rowling books to purchase (screenplays for both Fantastic Beast movies) and then my collection will be complete 😀
The next several I got for Spooky Book Season.
They are: Toil & Trouble Edited by Jessica Spotwood & Tess Sharpe
The House That Death Built by Mel Stone
Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman (Currently Reading)
Roald Dahl’s Book of Ghost Stories collected by Roald Dahl
Home Before Dark by Riley Sager
Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia (probably reading next)
Kill Creek by Scott Thomas
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving
Enola Holmes and the Case of the Missing Marquess by Nancy Springer — The Netflix movie based on this series was adorable, so of course I had to buy the 1st in the book series and probably the rest, too. 😉
The Eight Detective: A Novel by Alex Pavesi — I’ve heard so many Bookstagrammers and BookTubers recommend this book that I’m convinced. Plus, the premise of this book has a similar feel to me as The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield and I absolutely loved that book. Can’t wait.
The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern– I already own Erin Morgenstern’s The Night Circus and I’ve been meaning to get to it for what seems like forever. I’m sure it will be as excellent as I’ve heard it is and The Starless Sea looks like my cup of tea for sure. There’s a mysterious book, an underground world, and possibly pirates. Yep, my cup of tea.
My October selections from Book of the Month: Magic Lessons by Alice Hoffman This the 2nd prequel to her 1995 Practical Magic that goes further back in the Owens women’s past (there is another prequel called The Rules of Magic that I’ve yet to buy and I believe is the Aunts’ story) & The Girl in the Mirror by Rose Carlyle-This one has such a unique premise about a pair of identical “mirror-twin” sisters. I can’t wait to read this one. I just place my November BOM order and can’t wait to get those, as well.
Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier–I loved Hitchcock’s movie portrayal and in honor of the new movie that just came out from Netflix, I really want to read this book for myself. I skimmed through it already and absolutely love the opening line: “Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again.” Which, if I remember correctly Hitchcock used in his movie adaptation, too. My edition has a beautiful embroidered looking “R” on the cover and I got it from Amazon UK, but I think Book Depository has it too.
Jamaica Inn by Daphne Du Maurier- This one is listed on the cover as Romantic Suspense, which sounds awesome and can’t wait to read this one, too
I’ve purchased some audiobooks this fall, too. (Google Play Books) I love to listen to audiobooks on my commute and as I’m working. It makes the day go by so quickly and helps me focus.
The Cottingley Secret by Hazel Gaynor — I bought this audiobook because it reminded me of a beloved movie that I used to watch with my daughter when she was little, called FairyTale: A True Story (1997). It turns out that The Cottingley Secret is loosely based on those same true events. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was a part of both stories and true events. Fairies and Conan Doyle? What more could I ask for?
When No One is Watching by Alyssa Cole — This one is a gentrification thriller and it looks really GOOD. I haven’t read anything else by her, but I know she usually write romance and that this is her first thriller. I’m intrigued!
Turn of the Key by Ruth Ware (also bought this in paperback)- Kind of a gothic thriller. Love Ruth Ware, so I’m sure it won’t disappoint. Plus, this one is narrated by Imogen Church and she is an excellent narrator.
The Institute by Steven King — I haven’t read Steven King in a while, but I do love his work. This one reminds me of one of his earlier works, The Fire Starter.
The Cursed by Thomas Wheeler–I watched a couple of episodes of the Netflix show and I was hooked within 2 episodes! I wanted to read the book before I continued with the show. I really enjoy King Arthur/Excalibur/Merlin/Fey stories this rendition seems like a unique perspective. The audiobook is narrated by Katherine Lanford who is the star of the Netflix series and its so well done. I bought an illustrated edition that is absolutely stunning and I will share pics when I post my review.
The Wallflower Wager by Tessa Dare- (Girl Meets Duke Series) — This one has a menagerie of unlikely pets, including an otter, a hedgehog, dozens of kittens, a darling pregnant goat, and a foul-mouthed parrot. The two main characters are darling, too, as well as being an unlikely match.
When a Scot Ties the Knot by Tessa Dare- (Castles Ever After Series)– To avoid getting married, a socially awkward Englishwoman makes up an unlikely fiancé, a fictional Scottish Captain who she says dies in the war. What happens when her captain turns out to be a a real person and shows up on her door one day? 🙂
Any Duchess Will Do by Tessa Dare- (Spindle Cove Series)– This one is about a womanizing Duke and an unlikely Duchess-to-be. What starts out as a farce meant to teach his meddling mother a lesson, turns into so much more.
The Duchess Deal by Tessa Dare- (Girl Meets Duke)–When a seamstress shows up on an ill-tempered scarred up Duke’s doorstep wearing his ex-fiancées wedding dress and demanding to be paid for her work, they instantly match wits and chemistry. He makes her a deal she can’t refuse. What could go possibly go wrong? Plus there’s a cat 🙂
I loved all 4 of these Tessa Dare books and they were my 1st by her. I love her style of writing and historicals in general, are my weakness. She does historical fiction so well, plus her characters are loveable, funny, witty, and the plots move along so beautifully. I know these are all part of 3 different series’ and that I read them out of order. But, it was fine, I didn’t have any trouble following along and in my opinion, these four at least can be read as stand-alones.
It’s official! I have a book buying problem for sure and I’m not upset about it. How about you? What books have you bought this fall? How high is your TBR?
Side note: I’ve read or listened to many of these already and I’m in the process of reviewing them. Comment below if you would like a separate post of reviews on the ones I’ve read so far, like a “Recent Reads & Reviews” type of post or should I just link each review separately within this post? I appreciate your feedback 🙂
Cocoa, gallons of hot pots of tea, and hot apple cider all seem fitting companions to any fall reading session. A cat on your lap? Even better. Happy Reading! ~Renee
