Hello fellow readers! We’ve officially reached the top three best books of 2025. Have you guessed my top three? Here’s a clue, two of the books have similar storylines but are uniquely different.

The bronze medal goes to a story where a couple thinks they have found their dream house, but have only just stepped into a ghost infested horror story. It is The September House by Carissa Orlando.

What is it about? Hal and Margaret have saved their whole lives to buy a dream family home and they might have just found it. It’s an old Victorian home that is being sold for a killer price, mainly because there might have been a few killers who once called the place home. Despite its creepy history, Hal and Margaret soldier on and purchase the home. There is just one tiny problem…ghosts also like to call this place home. While most can be handled, a darker spirit lurks in the basement but as long as Hal and Margaret keep him there they’ll be fine. But when Hal goes missing and the couple’s daughter makes it her mission to find him, Margaret will have to keep up the facade by herself.

Why did I love it? Despite its somewhat scary premise, The September House manages to blend horror with comedy. There were plenty of moments that made me laugh and Margaret as a character was fantastic. She is trying to keep everything together but isn’t having much luck. There are some dark elements to the story (check trigger warnings) but I do love the complicated relationship between Margaret and her daughter and how it is handled at the end, making it a good read to read with your mom or daughter. The book is also a good starting point for anyone fairly new to horror like myself. Finally, it is one of those books that after you finish it you’ll already be making plans to read it again next September.