Book Bites # 1: November Reads

Spooky books to get you through the month

Hi everyone! I hope you’re all doing well and taking care of yourselves!

It’s November, which in my eyes is when the Christmas festivities officially begin ( I start listening to Christmas music promptly on November 1st. Yeah, yeah, I need an intervention. Heard that before and it ain’t happening). Anyway, fortunately for you Chloe is infinitely more rational than I am, and instead of foisting a selection of holiday-themed books on you, she’s stuck with a spooky autumnal theme. She’s curated a list of thrilling, deliciously unnerving reads that I can’t wait for you to sink your teeth into. If you have any thoughts, recommendations or just want to chat about one of the books Chloe’s mentioned be sure to share in the comments section below!

Happy reading,

Arielle

Hello, new bookish friends, it’s Chloe here! Welcome to the inaugural edition of Book Bites, Spilt Milk's place for curated monthly book recommendations! If you missed my introductory post, have a look to get up to speed.

I'll get straight to it: fall is my favourite season, and while Halloween may be behind us, I'm of the opinion that November remains an excellent time of year for dark, spooky, or otherwise-autumnal reads. With that said, this month's picks are ones that - at least in my mind - scream "fall" in one way or another. Without further ado, grab yourself a pumpkin-spiced something (don't knock it 'till you try it) and let's get started.

1. Son of a Trickster - Eden Robinson

What it's about: First Nations teenager Jared is having a rough go of it. His beloved dog has died, his family life is chaotic, and on top of all that, birds have started talking to him. Son of a Trickster is a hilarious and hard-hitting coming-of-age story seamlessly grounded in Indigenous stories and tradition. There might even be murderous otters.

Read this if...you're looking for one of those rare books that can make you both laugh and cry. I know we don't know each other that well yet, but this is one of my all-time favourite books, and I really think you should read it. It’s written by an Indigenous woman, a TV adaptation just dropped, and the sequel (Trickster Drift) is even better. Yeah, I said it.

2. When No One is Watching - Alyssa Cole

What it's about: Sydney's childhood neighbourhood in Brooklyn is changing - and fast. Her Black neighbours who have lived there her whole life are disappearing, replaced by white families with nothing but good things to say about the "urban renewal" process. Something especially sinister is going on in this psychological thriller that brings a whole new dimension to gentrification.

Read this if...you want a thriller that a) provides strong social commentary and b) is not written by a white dude (*cough* Stephen King). Besides being a good amount of eerie, When No One is Watching illustrates the process of gentrification in a really informative and accessible way. If you liked Get Out you will probably enjoy this book.

3. I'll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman's Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer - Michelle McNamara

What it's about: For over a decade, the Golden State Killer terrorized California - a string of dozens of horrifying crimes that, until recently, went unsolved. I'll Be Gone in the Dark posthumously curates the unrelenting research of journalist Michelle McNamara, who was determined to stop at nothing to identify the serial rapist and murderer.

Read this if...you're new to true crime and not sure where to start. Also, if you're into not sleeping at night without double-checking all your locks and closets. Don't say I didn't warn you.

4. Bunny - Mona Awad

What it's about: Grad student Samantha is enrolled in a fancy MFA program at a fancy college - and the only other students in her program are a group of unbearable, cliquey women who insist on calling one another "bunny." One evening, Samantha ends up at one of their homes, where a seemingly-innocent tea party takes a witchy - and er, sacrificial? - turn. This is Mean Girls meets Rocky Horror, and I mean that in the best possible way.

Read this if...you are a strange person who likes strange books, or want the feeling of being on psychedelic drugs without the cost and/or side effects. Frequently described by readers as "the strangest book they've ever read," Bunny can be a bit of a hit-or-miss for people - but if you want something absolutely bonkers, then I'd highly suggest giving it a go.

5. The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle - Stuart Turton

What it's about: Our main character wakes up in an unfamiliar home (and as an unfamiliar person) and is told he has eight days in eight different bodies to figure out who kills Evelyn Hardcastle - no pressure. This is a fun and unpredictable mystery with a ton of twists and turns, not to mention a setting and cast of characters that makes you feel like you're in a game of Clue.

Read this if...you're a fan of murder mysteries but haven't been able to attend one in a while because *gestures at the world.* I know I've made a few movie comparisons, and I'm going to make one more: Knives Out.

And there we have it - from murder mystery to just plain murder, five books with some veritable ~fall vibes~ to carry you through autumn! Are you interested in picking any of these up, or maybe you have already? Do you have favourite reads for fall? What recommendations are you looking for? Let me know - let's chat more in the comments!

Happy reading! 🍂

- Chloe

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