Book Review: The September House
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4.5 stars
Halloween season is officially upon us, which means it’s time for pumpkin carving, haunted houses, apple cider, fall treats, and by the end of the month, lots of candy. Perhaps, in hindsight, too much candy.
Another staple of Halloween season are the scary movies, and—if you’re a reader like me—some scary books.
I was always a bit of a wimp when it came to anything horror. My first scary movie was The Grudge, which had me awake most of the night and turning on every light possible for about a week (I could not be anywhere where it was dark).
I did (and still do), however, like to be mildly scared and I enjoy my fair share of spooky stories (anyone else remember Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark?), so I was looking forward to reading The September House just in time for Halloween.
The novel follows Margaret, a woman who, along with her husband, Hal, buy their dream home together. But every September, strange things start to happen, such as blood dripping down the walls and appearances from a ghostly crew. Margaret adapts and learns how to handle—and almost co-exist with—her unexpected housemates, but Hal isn’t as successful, and one day decides to leave the house, and apparently Margaret, behind. When he is unable to be contacted by his and Margaret’s adult daughter, Katherine, she makes plans to visit Margaret for the first time since she she and Hal moved into the house—and in September no less. Now, Margaret has to figure out how to keep the September antics under control during her daughter’s visit—a task that does not prove to be all that simple.
As a note, there are mentions of abuse and alcoholism—just a few scenes and mentions, and nothing too in depth, but just something to keep in mind. There also was a slight bit of gore, mention of blood, and a few descriptions of fatal injuries, which is another thing to keep in mind for readers who may be sensitive to that sort of thing.
That being said, let’s get into what I enjoyed about the novel.
I thought this book was a great Halloween read. I would say it was slightly more creepy than scary, so it’s good for those who don’t want to be keeping all the lights on at night (like 13 year old, post-Grudge me). As I mentioned, there was a bit of gore, but it was on a relatively low scale.
I liked how Margret learned how to co-exist with the cast of ghosts occupying her house. Each one of them was different, and she quickly learned their names, their habits, and how to semi-peacefully share a space with them. All except Master Vale, of course, the ghost that haunts the basement.
In the same vein, I liked Margaret as a character as well. She could certainly adapt well to her unusual circumstances, determined to stay in her house instead of choosing to run away. I thought she showed nice character development as well, showing a lot of bravery in her attempts to fully take back her life and her house from the ghosts that haunt them.
Katherine (Margaret and Hal’s daughter), came across at first as abrasive and bratty, even as an adult. When it came to Katherine, Margaret also seemed to not have much of a backbone, and I found myself wishing she would really take charge in those moments instead of backing down. However, as more and more of their family backstory was revealed, readers begin to see an explanation for the mother daughter dynamic.
Overall, I would say this novel at its core was more of a story about mental illness and finding yourself again after being in an abusive relationship than a ghost story. But that also made it more realistic and relatable. Sometimes the worst sort of ghosts aren’t the ones that jump out and say Boo. They’re the real problems that people fight through every single day.
The book was well-written, I enjoyed the writing style and the interesting cast of characters. There was suspense in the mystery of what happened to Hal, and just the right amount of creepiness. This is Carissa Orlando’s only book to date, but if she ever decides to publish another book, I would definitely be interested in reading it.
If you’ve given this book a read, let me know what you thought in the comments (but don’t forget to include spoiler alerts if you’re mentioning any spoilers). And feel free to send over any other fall/Halloween/thriller novel recommendations that you’ve enjoyed!
Happy reading, and Happy Halloween! 🎃
“You will find that everything, even the apparently unbearable things, can be bearable to some degree. It is all in how you handle them. The perspective you take.”