15 October Book Club Selections to Set the Fall Vibe Just Right

If you’re looking for something spooky, eerie or heartwarming October book club books, check out these 15 suggestions.

When I think about the best October book club picks 2024 , I look for short chapters, a spooky atmosphere, and somewhat likable characters. If your group is hunting for a disturbing or eerie thrillers or magical fantasies these fall book recommendations are perfect for making the most of October. I’ve included 15 spooky reads for your group, along with book club questions for each. Also, don’t forget to check out the general book club questions that work for any read!

15 October Book Club Picks

The Coven by Harper L. Woods

Dark academia meets gothic fantasy in this paranormal romance. Raised to avenge her family, Willow enters Hollow’s Grove University, a secretive school for witches and warlocks. The story is full of magic, romance, and dark secrets. I really loved this dark fantasy with gothic vibes . It’s a great book club book for October if you are looking for book club books with steamy romance and magical mysteries. Plus, the story ends on a cliffhanger, so you’ll be dying to know what happens next!

Discussion Topics:

• How does Hollow’s Grove University create the right mood for the story?

• How does the main character’s focus on revenge shape her actions and relationships?

• How do the power dynamics between the protagonist and Headmaster Thorne affect their romance?

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Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll

Inspired by a real-life serial killer, Bright Young Women focuses on two women: Pamela, who survives a sorority house attack, and Tina, who’s on a mission to uncover the truth behind her friend’s disappearance.

Discussion Topics:

• How does the book flip the usual serial killer story?

• How does media hype affect how we see crime stories?

• Do you think Pamela and Tina’s are easy to connect with?

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The Measure by Nikki Erlick

Imagine waking up to a box on your doorstep that tells you how many years you have left. That’s what this book, The Measure is about. The story follows eight characters. The book raises deep questions about fate, choice, and mortality. Also check out : 31 Discussion Questions For The Measure by Nikki Erlick

Discussion Topics:

• How would knowing how long you have left change the way you live?

• Would you open the box? Why or why not?

• What would you do if you found out a loved one’s time was running out?

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None of This Is True by Lisa Jewell

None of This Is True is bone-chilling psychological thriller. The story follows Alix, a podcaster, who crosses paths with Josie. Josie claims she’s on the verge of a life-changing moment. What starts off as a potential podcast episode quickly turns into a mess of secrets and manipulation. This is another great book by one of my favorite thriller authors. I absolutely loved the plot and characters. I highly recommend this as an October book club pick if you’re looking for a really good psychological thriller with a discussion-worthy plot. Also check out: 37 Book Club Questions For None of This Is True

Discussion Topics:

• Discuss why true crime stories so addictive?

• How does the relationship between Alix and Josie change throughout the story?

• How far would you go to get a great story?

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Slewfoot by Brom

Set in colonial New England, Slewfoot is a haunting blend of folklore and horror. Abitha, a widowed woman, must survive in a Puritanical society, while an ancient spirit, Slewfoot, rises from the earth. The story is dark and full of eerie tension, as both Abitha and Slewfoot try to figure out their places in a world where witch hunts and suspicion run rampant.

Discussion Topics:

• Discuss the themes of power and control in the book.

• Discuss the character of Slewfoot. Is he a hero or a villain?

•How does the setting make things even scarier?

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Hidden Pictures by Jason Rekulak

Mallory, a young woman trying to restart her life, takes a nanny job only to discover that her young charge, Teddy, is drawing disturbingly detailed pictures of a murder. As Teddy’s drawings grow darker, Mallory must confront the idea that something supernatural may be at play.

Discussion Topics:

• Do you believe in supernatural explanations?

• How do Teddy’s drawings reflect the story’s tension?

• How does the book deal with trauma and recovery?

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The Broken Girls by Simone St. James

The Broken Girls is a suspenseful, dual-timeline novel where we follow Fiona who is investigating her sister’s mysterious death linked to a creepy, abandoned boarding school with a haunted past. If your book club members love a scary books about haunted mansion, discuss this book.

Discussion Topics:

• How does the book handle the themes of guilt and redemption?

• How do the two timelines complement each other?

• What is your favorite part about the book?

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The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson

The Haunting of Hill House is a gothic horror classic that tells the eerie tale of four individuals investigating the infamous Hill House. It’s a slow-burn horror, more psychological than overtly scary. But it’s definitely a scary and unsettling book for October book club.

Discussion Topics:

• What do you think about the haunting, Is it real or imagined?

• How does Jackson explore isolation and madness?

• How does the author use the house itself as a character in the story?

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Ask for Andrea by Noelle W. Ihli

Ask for Andrea follows three women—Meghan, Brecia, and Skye, who were all murdered by the same man. Even in death, they refuse to let him get away with it. The women come together as ghosts, determined to stop their killer before he can claim another victim. If you want to discuss a paranormal thriller with the perfect amount of spookiness, this would be a great choice.

Discussion Topics:

• Do you think the supernatural element add excitement and mystery to the plot?

• What makes the relationship between the murdered women interesting and unique?

• Discuss how author narrates the themes of justice and revenge.

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Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

One of the original horror classics, Frankenstein tells the story of Victor Frankenstein, a scientist who creates life, only to be horrified by his monstrous creation. The novel raises deep questions about responsibility, ethics, and what it means to be human.

Discussion Topics:

• Is Victor or the creature more deserving of sympathy?

• What do you think about the themes of the book?

• Discuss the relevance of Frankenstein in this era?

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The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna

If you are looking for cozy witch romance for October book club, get The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches. Mika Moon, one of the few witches in Britain, lives a quiet, solitary life to avoid drawing attention to her powers. That is until she’s asked to train three young witches at the mysterious Nowhere House. This book is full of charm, slow burn romance and found-family vibes.

Discussion Topics:

• How does the theme of found family resonate throughout the story?

• Discuss the character development of Mika.

• How does the book’s magic system feel unique or different from other witch stories?

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The Mesmerist by Caroline Woods

Set in 1894, The Mesmerist combines historical fiction with the mysterious world of mesmerism . Faith, a mute young woman, ends up at a home for unwed mothers, where rumors swirl about her strange powers. As May, another resident, starts investigating Faith’s dark past, secrets about the spiritualist movement and a string of mysterious deaths begin to surface.

Discussion Topics:

• What role does mesmerism play in the overall suspense of the story?

• How does the book portray women’s roles in a society marked by superstition?

• How do secrets and lies contribute to the narrative?

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A Still and Awful Red by Michael Howarth

In this historical horror set in 1609 Hungary, Maria is hired as a seamstress by the infamous Countess Elizabeth Bathory, known for her violent tendencies. Soon, Maria finds herself trapped in a castle full of danger and dark secrets. The book’s gothic atmosphere and eerie vibes make it a deeply unsettling book club choice.

Discussion Topics:

• How does the book blend history with horror?

• Discuss the character of Countess Bathory as both villain and victim.

• What do you think about the horror setting in 1600s.

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Ward D by Freida McFadden

Amy Brenner is a medical student spending the night shift in the psych ward of a hospital. What starts as a normal shift quickly turns into a nightmare as patients and staff begin to vanish without a trace. Now Amy must figure out what’s going on before it’s too late. Ward D was one of the best thrillers I finished in a day. There is so much psychological tension, eerie vibes along with the horror of confinement. If you’re looking for a spooky October book club pick without any ghosts, this would be a perfect choice.

Discussion Topics:

• How does the setting of a locked ward build tension?

• What do you think about the main characters?

• Discuss the pacing of the story.

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South of the Buttonwood Tree by Heather Webber

In the charming town of Buttonwood, Blue Bishop has a knack for finding lost things. When she stumbles upon an abandoned baby near a mysterious tree, it sets off a series of events that intertwine the lives of Blue and Sarah Grace, a woman with her own secrets. South of the Buttonwood Tree beautifully blends small-town vibes with magic. So if you are looking for cozy and intriguing books for your October book club, this is a great choice.

Discussion Topics:

• Discuss the theme of finding lost things in the book.

• Do you think the secrets and lies have a huge impact on characters?

• What are the best parts about the writing ?

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Conclusion:

There you have the book club reads for October. Also check out more booklists.

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15 Perfect Books for Fall Book Club Discussions

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