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Halloween is coming, which means it’s time for dressing up, getting sick from too much candy, and of course, some spooky and some not so spooky (for those readers who despise anything scary), recommendations!
A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson
Five years ago, Andie Bell was murdered by her boyfriend, Sal Singh. At least that’s what the police have concluded and what everyone was led to believe. But not Pippa Fitz-Amobi. For her Senior summer capstone project, she decides to delve deeper into Andie’s case. The further Pippa digs, the more dangerous the project becomes and the information she uncovers with it. Shocking truths that someone clearly wants to stay hidden are being revealed. From highly threatening notes to breaking-and-entering, Pippa fears that her project has gone too far and she’s risked too much. But if Andie’s supposed killer still walks and she can’t bring Sal justice, then who will?
Sidenote: If you’re a sensitive-reader when it comes to creepy stuff, then I wouldn’t suggest reading this book. It’s really not that bad, but on the Spooky Scale I would rate it a “sleep with your lights on tonight” or “possible nightmares” type of book.
Age Recommendation: 13+ GENRE: YA Murder Mystery Song: no body, no crime by Taylor Swift
Youngblood by Sasha Laurens
Kat Finn is sick of living among humans and not being able to afford Hema, a blood substitute that was invented when humans started getting a virus in their blood that was deadly toward vampires. She also feels isolated, knowing that she’s lying to her friends every day about her true self. She doesn’t want to spend the rest of her immortal life “just scraping by,” so when she receives an email from the headmaster at Harcote (an elite vampires-only boarding school) stating that she’s been accepted, Kat knows her life is about to change.
Taylor Sanger lives in the upper class vampire world, but she’s tired of the conservative values, “especially when it comes to sexuality, since she’s an out-and-proud lesbian” (Goodreads). She despises Harcote, but she only has to deal with two more years of school before she can leave. “But when she discovers her new roommate is Kat Finn, she’s horrified. Because she and Kat used to be best friends, a long time ago, and it didn’t end well,” (Goodreads). When Taylor discovers a dead vampire and Kat finds a distressing article in Harcote’s archives, the two of them know something isn’t right at their school and the secrets being hidden there connect to “the most powerful figures in Vampirdom and to the synthetic blood they all rely on.” Age Recommendation: 13+ GENRE: YA Paranormal Romance
River of Shadows by Karina Halle
Based on Finnish mythology, Karina Halle’s first book in the Underworld Gods series is a must-read.
24-year-old Hanna Heikkinen lives an average life as a social media manager in L.A….until her father dies and she has to fly to Finland for his funeral. When Hanna arrives, she gets weird vibes from the people who work at her father’s inn and when she later discovers that her father’s body is missing from the casket, it’s confirmed that something is definitely not right. A mysterious man named Rasmus reveals to Hanna the truth: her father is actually a powerful shaman and was suffering from cancer, so he went into the Land of the Dead/underworld, Tuonela, to make a bargain with the God of Death, hoping for a longer life. Hanna doesn’t believe Rasmus, but knowing she’ll do anything for her father, she reluctantly follows Rasmus to the dark and unearthly realm of Tuonela. They travel to the City of Death via the River of Shadows until they finally arrive in the kingdom Death rules over. “Only for her to be captured and held prisoner by the God of Death himself.” Of course. But Death is intrigued by Hanna’s beauty and boldness and makes a bargain with her. If Hanna agrees to be the wife of Death and rule over Tuonela, then he’ll let her father be free (Death captured Hanna’s father previously). Hanna has no choice but to accept her fate with Death. Little does she know that even the “most noble sacrifices” come with a price, and an unexpected one might be her heart.
Age Recommendation: Mature Readers GENRE: Adult Dark Mythology & Romance
I Kissed Shara Wheeler by Casey McQuiston
Chloe Green moved from a progressive school in Los Angeles to Willow Christian Academy in Alabama, where she’s considered scary because the students have never seen anyone like her before. In other words, she’s confident and doesn’t care what people think. All Chloe has ever wanted was to be valedictorian and back in Los Angeles, she didn’t have any competition. But of course, at Willowgrove, the school’s golden girl and the principal’s daughter, Shara Wheeler, stands in her way. Unfortunately, a month before school ends, Shara kisses Chloe and disappears. Chloe is furious and wants answers, only to discover she’s not the only one Shara kissed. There’s Rory, Shara’s neighbor, who has a crush on her and Smith, Shara’s boyfriend. They form an unlikely alliance to hunt down Shara through a series of vague notes she left behind and drag her back to graduation so Chloe can beat her fair-and-square. Together, “chasing a ghost through parties, break-ins, puzzles, and secrets revealed on monogrammed stationery, Chloe starts to suspect there might be more to this small town than she thought. And maybe—probably not, but maybe—more to Shara, too,” (Goodreads). This book is one of the best books I’ve ever read and 100% recommend! I Kissed Shara Wheeler is basically a queer Paper Towns, just with more depth and (maybe) a happy ending.
Age Recommendation: 12+ GENRE: YA Queer Mystery Romance Song: Bubblegum ***** by MARINA