Strange Beasts written by Susan J. Morris is everything you want for this season. Gothic, historical, 20th century France, monster hunting, slow burn romance, sapphic, shall I go on? From the first page, we are instantly transported to a society of monster hunters located in London.

I listened to Fairy Tale by Stephen King on audiobook and was instantly hooked. The first half of the novel follows Charlie Reed, a seemingly normal teenager, and Mr. Bowditch, a grumpy old man who lives at the top of a hill, as the former helps the latter recover from a fall. Charlie grows to enjoy Mr. Bowditch’s company which includes taking care of his German Shepard, Radar.

Hearts on Thin Ice follows Nick Sorenson who is battling immense guilt and grief after losing his teammates/ best friends in a plane crash. His coach, concerned with Nick’s well being, tasks him to fix up his living situation and get into therapy. This is where interior designer Alyssa Compton comes into the picture; after getting hired by Nick to fix his apartment, the two of them grow to enjoy each other's company.

This was such an emotional rollercoaster from start to finish. The Favorites by Layne Fargo is an amalgamation of Daisy Jones and The Six, Wuthering Heights, and Spinning Out. I mean the level of toxicity, drama, betrayal, and scandal at every turn had me wanting to throw the book across the room, stare into the void, and then pick it up and keep reading.

Water Moon by Samantha Sotto Yambao was such a unique read. A magical realism that starts in a pawnshop where you sell your regrets.