BOOKS

It's spooky season, which means it's also book-y season! There's nothing better than a witchy read or two to get you in the Halloween mood. Here are six of our fave witch-themed reads for All Hallows' Eve vibes for the rest of October (and beyond!).

Witch of Wild Things by Raquel Vasquez Gilliland

@notinjersey

In this witchy rom-com, Sage Flores, like every woman in her family, was born with magical gifts. Sage has a talent for identifying plants, and she gets a job looking for unusual specimens. But her new colleague turns out to be Tenn Reyes, the boy who broke her heart in high school. For a multicultural modern witch story that will make you *feel*, give Witch of Wild Things a read!

Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin

@readingathousandworlds

In Serpent & Dove, the first book in Shelby Mahurin's YA witch series set in Paris, witch Louise Le Blanche is forced to marry witch hunter Reid Diggory. Lou has to keep her identity a secret, but she's falling for her new husband. If you love the witchy books, historical Paris *and* the enemies-to-lovers trope, Serpent & Dove is the book for you this spooky season!

Plain Bad Heroines by Emily Danforth

@bookswithtay

If you're in the mood for dark academia vibes, whimsical spookiness and a complicated, absorbing plot, give this dark YA book a read! At Brookhaunts, a preppy New England boarding school, we get alternating timelines and glimpses of the past, when a number of mysterious deaths happened. In the present, three girls find themselves on the set for The Happenings at Brookhaunts, a Hollywood movie that will tell the story of those deaths.

This book is a long one (around 600 pages), but def worth reading for a creepy, darkly aesthetic Halloween mood. Plus, the book is illustrated!

The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare

@evelovesbooks_travel_art

This classic children's book is set in the time of the Salem Witch Trials and follows Kit Tyler, who makes friends with the elderly Hannah Tupper who is accused of witchcraft. The Witch of Blackbird Pond is historical fiction, not fantasy, but the New England setting and spooky undertones are perfect for Halloween.

Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor

@penguinteen

Twelve-year-old Sunny lives with her family in Nigeria, where she's teased about her looks. When she discovers that she's a "free agent"—a person with magical abilities—she and three fellow magic students have to work together to learn how to use their abilities and stop the Black Hat Killer before he brings about complete destruction.

Akata Witch is the first book of a duology and has been called "the Nigerian Harry Potter"! Try it out if you love found families and learning-to-use-magic stories.

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna

@ridiculusreads

This is a feel-good spooky season book about orphan witches and found families. Mika Moon is a lonely witch, used to hiding her powers and staying away from other people.

When she's asked to travel to the mysterious Nowhere House and teach magic to three young witches, she finds the community she's always dreamed of. But when danger comes, will Mika be able to protect her new family?

This book is the perfect mix of witchy and warm and cozy, so it might be just your cup of tea if you don't want to read something so scary it'll keep you up at night. Whether you're a fan of fantasy or contemporary stories, The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches is a charming Halloween read!

What books are you loving this spooky season? Let us know on IG @glbestiebookclub!

Looking for more fall book recs? We've got you covered!
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🎥 5 upcoming book-to-screen adaptations to keep on your radar
🍂 5 inspiring poetry books by female authors

Slider image: @journeybetweenpages
Top image: @sipsandspines

by Ava Slocum | 10/27/2023