Every year, spooky season gives me the perfect excuse to dive into scary stories, unsettling mysteries, and books that make me question whether I should be reading with the lights on. This year, I had a reading list ready to go, a seasonal mood to match, and every intention of making it through all my picks before Halloween.
Every year, spooky season gives me the perfect excuse to dive into scary stories, unsettling mysteries, and books that make me question whether I should be reading with the lights on. This year, I had a reading list ready to go, a seasonal mood to match, and every intention of making it through all my picks before Halloween.
I still have a week left in spooky season, but with all the seasonal events and activities going on, I'm realizing that finishing my original reading list before Halloween may not happen after all!
And then there's the other little problem: my book recommendations keep tempting me with more horror and scary story anthologies. You know how it goes. You find one book that catches your attention, then another appears that looks even better. Suddenly, your carefully planned reading list has a few new additions, and your TBR (to-be-read) pile is growing faster than you can turn the pages.
Naturally, I made a few more purchases. How could I resist the promise of more chilling tales, disturbing twists, and stories that might linger in my thoughts long after I've finished reading?
The result? I finished the Halloween season with more books than I originally planned and a reading list that is officially carrying over into November.
And honestly, I’m perfectly fine with that!
From Spooky Season to the Thankful Season
Rather than rushing through my remaining books just to say I finished them by Halloween, I’ve decided to extend my personal reading challenge through Thanksgiving.
After all, who says scary stories have to end when the jack-o’-lanterns come down? November can bring its own kind of atmosphere: cooler evenings, longer nights, a cozy blanket, and a good book that makes you wonder what that noise was in the next room.
Here are the six books from my original spooky season reading list that I still plan to finish during the thankful season:
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The Third Skull — Andrew Stafford
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Thriller: Stories to Keep You Up All Night — International Thrillers Inc.
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Seven Reasons to Murder Your Dinner Guest — K. J. Whittle
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A Sincere Warning About the Entity in Your Home — Jason Arnoop
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The Exorcist’s House: Genesis — Nick Roberts
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Bury Your Demons — Timothy King
And what am I reading right now?
Morsels by Abe Moss.
I’m already halfway through this one, so that’s where my attention is currently focused. One book at a time, one story at a time, and hopefully fewer distractions from tempting new recommendations!
A Little Reminder for Fellow Readers
This unexpected extension of my reading list has reminded me of something: sometimes, the fun is in the journey, not just checking off everything on our lists.
We make plans, set goals, and look forward to accomplishing them by a certain date. But interests change, new opportunities pop up, and sometimes we simply discover something else we want to explore. That doesn’t automatically mean we’ve failed. Sometimes it just means we need to adjust the plan.
Of course, there’s a difference between intentionally extending a reading challenge and letting every new book distract you from the ones you already own. I may need to have that conversation with myself the next time another irresistible horror anthology appears in my recommendations!
For now, I’m embracing my extended reading season. Halloween may be behind us, but the chills, suspense, and creepy tales will be keeping me company well into November.
And who knows? Maybe by Thanksgiving, I’ll have finished my original list. Or perhaps I’ll have discovered a few more books that absolutely cannot wait until next October.
Your turn, fellow readers!
Did you finish your spooky season reading list, or did your TBR pile get a little out of hand, too? Do you enjoy horror anthologies, short scary stories, or full-length novels that keep you turning pages late into the night?
I’d love to hear what you’ve been reading!
Until next time, happy reading—and may your November be cozy, your books be captivating, and your nightmares be strictly fictional.
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