Home Feed
Home
Search
Search
Add Review, Blurb, Quote
Add
Activity
Activity
Profile
Profile
The September House
The September House | Carissa Orlando
Why run from a haunted house when you can stay and ignore the ghosts? Just when you thought you'd seen everything a haunted house novel could do, The September House comes along and delivers an eerie, darkly funny, and emotionally grounded book about the ghosts that haunt houses and marriages." Grady Hendrix, New York Times bestselling author of How to Sell a Haunted House A woman is determined to stay in her dream home even after it becomes a haunted nightmare in this compulsively readable, twisty, and layered debut novel. When Margaret and her husband Hal bought the large Victorian house on Hawthorn Streetfor sale at a surprisingly reasonable pricethey couldnt believe they finally had a home of their own. Then they discovered the hauntings. Every September, the walls drip blood. The ghosts of former inhabitants appear, and all of them are terrified of something that lurks in the basement. Most people would flee. Margaret is not most people. Margaret is staying. Its her house. But after four years Hal cant take it anymore, and he leaves abruptly. Now, hes not returning calls, and their daughter Katherinewho knows nothing about the hauntingsarrives, intent on looking for her missing father. To make things worse, September has just begun, and with every attempt Margaret and Katherine make at finding Hal, the hauntings grow more harrowing, because there are some secrets the house needs to keep.
Amazon Indiebound Barnes and Noble WorldCat Goodreads LibraryThing
Pick icon
100%
review
CSeydel
The September House | Carissa Orlando
post image
Pickpick

#trappedinaspookyhouse

The tone was a little bit sillier than your usual haunted house tale. The MC has accepted the presence of a slew of ghosts (mostly murdered children, mostly harmless) as the price of living in her dream house. When her husband goes missing, her daughter shows up to investigate, throwing all her careful routines for coexisting with the ghosts into chaos. But … why isn‘t she more curious about her husband‘s whereabouts?

CSeydel The idea was clever, but the writing was somewhat lacking. I never felt terror or suspense. There was a lot of dialogue between the MC and daughter, and it was pretty clunky. The daughter is supposed to be 30 but reads about ten years younger. Soft pick, fun for Halloween, but didn‘t really live up to the buzz. 2mo
Texreader Bummer! I had stacked it. Should I keep it on my tbr? 2mo
CSeydel @Texreader It‘s got a lot of enthusiastic 5-star reviews on Goodreads, so I would say if you want to read it, go ahead. It was a quick read if nothing else. And it was good, but it will depend on what you‘re looking for. There‘s no eerie mood or mounting dread that you typically expect from a haunted house story. There is a lot of carnage and graphic descriptions of mutilated children, so if you have a low tolerance for that, I‘d steer clear. 2mo
See All 7 Comments
CSeydel @Texreader But I‘m looking at Goodreads and people are comparing it favorably with The Haunting of Hill House, which frankly makes no sense to me. Whether or not you enjoy Jackson (she‘s not for everyone, I know) the two books could not be more different. 2mo
PuddleJumper 🧡🖤🧡 2mo
kspenmoll I am doing your book bracket. What is a wild card? Thx! 1mo
CSeydel @kspenmoll Hi Katherine! A wild card is just an extra spot on the bracket that you can use for any book you want. It serves to even out the matchup pairs, and it gives you flexibility if you have a month when you can‘t pick a single best book of the month. 1mo
49 likes7 comments
review
wildwoodreads
The September House | Carissa Orlando
post image
Pickpick

I was expecting a traditional haunted house story and got so much more. I had a great time reading this. Just when I thought I knew the direction it was going it would switch up on me. Plus, I loved the tongue in cheek humor thrown in.

https://wildwoodreads.com/2024/10/21/the-september-house-review/

blurb
wildwoodreads
The September House | Carissa Orlando
post image

Perfection 😍

dabbe OMG! That mug! 😱 2mo
Cupcake12 Love that mug! 2mo
49 likes2 comments
blurb
Mirazzles
The September House | Carissa Orlando
post image

I‘ve been sick this past weekend and my lovely friend dropped me off a care package including the book and blanket! Perfect reading for spooky season…

LiteraryinPA That‘s so thoughtful! Hope you feel better soon. 💗 2mo
Mirazzles @LiteraryinPA it really was! Thank you! 💛 2mo
Jas16 Hope you get well soon💐 2mo
Mirazzles @Jas16 thank you! 💛 2mo
41 likes4 comments
review
Areader2
The September House | Carissa Orlando
post image
Pickpick

Creepy, crazy haunted house , the author has you guessing about fmc it was a ride, very descriptive, I loved it for scary season!👻💀
#ReadAway2024 book 38

DieAReader 👻🎃 Excellent!! 2mo
28 likes1 comment
blurb
IMASLOWREADER
The September House | Carissa Orlando
post image

finished this on the last day of September…so fitting… #readinggoal #audiophile #readinglife

11 likes1 stack add
blurb
bookish_wookish
The September House | Carissa Orlando
post image

Started this one on my lunch break. This one is due back in a few days so i hope i can get through it because it‘s really good so far.

25 likes1 stack add
review
julesG
The September House | Carissa Orlando
post image
Pickpick

This was refreshing.

Four years after moving into the Victorian house, Margaret and Hal have gotten used to some of the quirks of the old house. September seems to be the roughest month if the year, bleeding walls, wailing, ghosts all over the house, but Margaret thinks nothing is so bad that you can't get used to it.

When her adult daughter announces she wants to visit things get tricky. How can Margaret hide the ghosts?

⬇️

julesG Loved the nonchalance of the main character. The ghosts are like pets with certain quirks, you get used to handling it all.

#audiobook narration was very good
3mo
julieclair This sounds like fun! Stacked. 3mo
ShyBookOwl This has been on my tbr for a while but u just convinced me to move it way up! 3mo
61 likes3 stack adds3 comments
review
BookMaven9
The September House | Carissa Orlando
post image
Pickpick

🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃 this book weaves horror, gore, family trauma and humor effortlessly. Hats of to a well crafted story that is both shocking and delightfully entertaining. A wonderful protagonist that will win your heart.

16 likes1 stack add
blurb
ImperfectCJ
The September House | Carissa Orlando
post image

I read this one (tagged) in April on a trip to Zion National Park (pictured), and I've been recommending it to people who like spooky reads ever since. I love that there's so much more to it than just the spooky stuff.

If you're looking for something chilling to read in October, I recommend The September House.

#BlackCatCrew @BookwormAHN #HauntedShelf @PuddleJumper

AnnCrystal 😍💝. 3mo
PuddleJumper 🦇🦇 3mo
BookwormAHN Nice 🐈‍⬛ 3mo
53 likes3 comments
blurb
julesG
The September House | Carissa Orlando
post image

I had this on my TBR and then @scripturient recommended the audiobook - she said the narrator was stellar.

Eight chapters in and I'm in love. The narrator of the audiobook manages to transfer the nonchalance of the novel's narrator perfectly. Gory ghosts, moaning, bleeding walls,... you get used to it. 🤷As annoying as a cute cat hacking up hairballs. 🤣🤣🤣

It's horror, but it's also funny.

68 likes2 stack adds
blurb
angel1
The September House | Carissa Orlando
post image

My reading buddy wondering if it‘s time to put the book down and take a Sunday nap??🤣😴

ShelleyBooksie Adorable reading buddy!! I highly recommend Sunday naps. 3mo
angel1 @ShelleyBooksie I caved and took a nap with her🤣 3mo
Gissy 🐶🤎🤎🤎 3mo
22 likes3 comments
blurb
Fortifiedbybooks
The September House | Carissa Orlando
post image

September for me means a combination of #SummerSciFi and #RIP, so I tried to reflect that in my #BookSpin list for the month.

@TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 3mo
16 likes1 stack add1 comment
review
Kylivi
The September House | Carissa Orlando
Mehso-so

First, the good things. A darkly humorous, scary, and surprisingly deep book about a woman puttering around her haunted house. The book would have benefited from being 80 pages shorter. There were some issues with scenes dragging on too long, and the aggressive passivity and inaction of the MC (which I know is plot-relevant) got grating the longer it went on. Easily solvable by cutting some scenes down. Overall, funny, scary, and fun.

blurb
Bklover
The September House | Carissa Orlando
post image

Last night this book (finally!) became available on Libby and I am having the BEST TIME listening to it! I can‘t even describe how much I am enjoying it- I‘m definitely going to have to buy a copy. Horror with a bit of dark humor - I hope the rest is as good as the beginning!
#litsylove

IMASLOWREADER ohhh this is on my list too 4mo
67 likes3 stack adds2 comments
review
sprainedbrain
The September House | Carissa Orlando
post image
Pickpick

Holy sh*t, that was awesome. Just when you think you‘ve figured out what‘s going on, this author smacks you upside the head, because NO! And then she does it again. A darkly funny, gory, creepy, little mindf*ck.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Have you read this, @Reggie ?

Reggie Sadly I dnf‘ed it. I think I was in a mood and by page 50 I just didn‘t have the patience. Maybe I will revisit it. The mom and dad buy a house and he‘s in denial about it he dies and now the daughter comes home. That one right? 4mo
sprainedbrain @Reggie he disappears and the daughter comes home… that‘s the one. 4mo
70 likes2 stack adds2 comments
review
TorieStorieS
The September House | Carissa Orlando
post image
Pickpick

This haunted house story manages to brush against all kinds of horror from gory ghosts, domestic violence, continued trauma, but tempered with a surprising bit of humor and heart. A dark story for sure with menace that rises as steadily as the blood pours from the faucets and walls, but one that kept my attention from start to finish. A strong audio performance, too makes this all in all a promising debut novel!

ladym30 Love this photo!😍 5mo
TorieStorieS @ladym30 Thank you!! 😊 I had fun coloring it!! 5mo
dabbe @TorieStorieS Did you color it online or in real life? Either way it's gorgeous! 🩵💙🩵 5mo
See All 6 Comments
TorieStorieS @dabbe With markers in real life! It‘s just zoomed in a bit because this was a copyright page of the coloring book it‘s from! 5mo
dabbe @TorieStorieS #gobsmacked! 🤩🤩🤩 How did you get the fuzzy effect with markers? And what book is it? I love coloring and have lately only been doing it online. 5mo
TorieStorieS @dabbe I think the marker strokes are just more prominent from being zoomed in… it‘s The Beauty of Horror coloring book— I think there are a few versions out there now. 5mo
38 likes6 comments
review
CaitlinR
The September House | Carissa Orlando
post image
Pickpick

Margaret has fallen in love with a Victorian house that a great deal. Of course, the house is haunted, and boy-howdy are there ghosts! There‘s even a dead serial killer in the basement. What makes this such a clever story, is that Margaret is able to cope by applying the skills she has learned surviving years of domestic violence. Her husband earns his just deserts in the basement. There‘s a great, powerful women-united-against-violence ending!

Texreader Not my genre nowadays but your review convinced me. Stacked! 5mo
CaitlinR @Texreader There‘s a lot of humor too. Hope you enjoy the book! 5mo
29 likes1 stack add2 comments
blurb
Cailey_Mac
The September House | Carissa Orlando
post image

Also stopped at my local library and they were able to find The September House for me🥹 so I got to leave here with 2 horror books that were on my radar!👻🖤 I‘m convinced she had magical powers because it was not on the shelves when I looked😅

review
Jgacreations
The September House | Carissa Orlando
post image
Pickpick

I knew I would love this and I‘m so happy I did! I was laughing at so many things and excited at others. A haunted house? A crazy woman? Who knows??? Do you stay in a haunted house or do you go?

review
ImperfectCJ
The September House | Carissa Orlando
post image
Pickpick

Oh, my gosh! I love this novel! It's so weird and intense, with such an honest, deep representation of "home" and all the complicated things that come with it. It's about the accommodations we make to hold things together, and what it looks like to set a firm boundary, at long last. And alongside that, it's a deliciously creepy haunted house story. Probably shouldn't have read it on vacation in a house whose noises I don't know, but here we are.

59 likes1 stack add
review
OutAndAbout
The September House | Carissa Orlando
post image
Pickpick

Wow! What an amazing ride. Steady pace but relaxed for a haunted house book. Good characters, gripping scenes. Not your typical ending. A strong recommend.

blurb
Cazxxx
The September House | Carissa Orlando
post image

📚Spending my weekend with these library books

📚 What are you reading this weekend?

rajithr 📚Read September House and ❤️d it 9mo
44 likes1 comment
review
CindyMyLifeIsLit
The September House | Carissa Orlando
post image
Pickpick

I went into this blind and so was even more blown away by this quirky, drily humorous and simultaneously gory haunted house tale! Haunted houses are my favorite, but this was like no other haunted house I‘ve ever heard of. The bleeding walls, the shrieking ghosts, the biting ghosts, and a host of other paranormal oddities are dealt with in a matter-of-fact tone that only makes them more surreal. Absolutely LOVED it!!

32 likes1 stack add
review
DavidDiamond
September House | Carissa Orlando
post image
Pickpick

If you are looking for a story that will scare you and make you laugh,look no further!
Margaret has been living in a haunted house for 4 years now and every September is when things get really crazy. Her nonchalant and dry comments towards her "pranksters" and their hijinx is the highlight of this story for me. But if all that weren't enough, her daughter is coming back into town to look for her father (an abusive alcoholic) who has gone missing.

32 likes2 stack adds
review
Djspens
The September House | Carissa Orlando
post image
Pickpick

Margaret loves her new “old” Victorian house. So much so that when September rolls around and the walls bleed, the “pranksters” roam the house (just be careful Elias doesn‘t get his teeth in you), and the local priest attempts an exorcism, just follow the rules and you‘ll get through it. I enjoyed the author‘s writing style, and there was some humor thrown in. The build up towards the end was a little long, but I was satisfied with the ending. 4⭐️

46 likes1 stack add
blurb
mcipher
The September House | Carissa Orlando
post image

We‘ve been hibernating this week - it‘s rainy and so windy I keep thinking the house is going to blow to Oz 😂
So I‘ve been getting some solid reading time with some really good books. So far this is hilarious and sad and SO WEIRD.

dabbe 🖤🐾🖤 11mo
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks 🖤😽🤍 11mo
61 likes2 stack adds2 comments
review
Bookboss
The September House | Carissa Orlando
post image
Pickpick

This horror novel about a haunted house that goes into overdrive every September is one of the best haunted house books I have ever read. Orlando doesn‘t just provide tension and dread, but she frames it in a larger observation of abuse and relationships. The story was riveting, and the characters were well-developed. I listened to the audio, and looked around for things to do so I could have an excuse to listen. Warning for violence, gore, abuse.

32 likes2 stack adds
blurb
intothehallofbooks
The September House | Carissa Orlando
post image

#12Booksof2023 I couldn‘t believe this was a debut! I loved that it completely surprised me not once, not twice, but over and over. The ghosts were great and the level of humor was perfect for me. Since finishing it, I‘ve been dying to see what Carissa Orlando writes next. I can‘t wait.

The Quiet Tenant by Clemence Michallon was another great September read. A serial killer story. I just remember feeling so many HUGE emotions while I read it.

Andrew65 Sounds a great debut. 11mo
32 likes1 comment
blurb
MrsGagnonreads2024
The September House | Carissa Orlando
post image

@aCleverDuck thank you for everything in my #creepychristmasswap package I love it all sadly the mug broke in transit. But everything else survived. @teebe

blurb
MaleficentBookDragon
The September House | Carissa Orlando
post image

THNAK YOU THANK YOU! @WildAlaskaBibliophile
This is an amazing #creepychristmas package.
I wanted to read this book for a while. the other book looks really interesting (a great way to get introduced to new authors).
the #manpanion and I spend the PB cups right away. YUM!
Where did you find that ornament and teas? They are fantastic.
I Love everything so much.
BTW the wooden postcard with the bat is perfect.

#tebee

WildAlaskaBibliophile The ornament I found on Amazon and the teas I bought online at Brutalitea. 😁 I'm glad you enjoyed it all! 11mo
WildAlaskaBibliophile The tree/skull ornament I found on Etsy. (edited) 11mo
Yuki_Onna That tree ornament with skull is so cuuute!!! Aaaaawwwwww!!! 🤩🥰🎄💀🖤 11mo
48 likes3 comments
review
BeeMagical
The September House | Carissa Orlando
post image
Pickpick

Book 205📚 4.5⭐️

This one was so good! And there was now delay on the crazy shit, they just jumped right into it!!

Flies coming outta their mouths, biting ghosts, bleeding walls. It‘s great.

They had be going there for a bit too near the end!!😱

Needs must when the devil drives…

ShelleyBooksie I'm a third into this - it's wild. 12mo
BeeMagical @ShelleyBooksie ooo it gets even more wild! 12mo
29 likes2 comments
review
candc320
The September House | Carissa Orlando
post image
Pickpick

I enjoyed this one more than I was expecting! It has the ghosts and gore that I was expecting (and hoping for), but it also had humor and heart and quite a bit of sadness that surprised me. I can‘t get enough of haunted house stories but this one had the added benefit of being unique and fresh. And the narrator was great! 🌟🌟🌟🌟

review
Breanne1
The September House | Carissa Orlando
post image
Pickpick

This is horror with really complex, sad themes woven throughout. I felt all kinds of things reading this, including horror. Definitely passing this on to friends to read. @StephMC82 it‘s coming to you!

17 likes2 stack adds
review
Addison_Reads
The September House | Carissa Orlando
post image
Pickpick

I love a book with a haunted house.

This was not as scary as I would have liked, but I thought the premise was an interesting way to tell a haunted house story. My favorite part was getting to know all the different ghosts.

There were also a few good twists.

#Scarathlon #SpookyGhostClub @Clwojick

blurb
Beck9lol
The September House | Carissa Orlando
post image

I am convinced you are not human @Litlady because you are just too good. I couldn‘t have pick out better gifts for myself. I‘ve already gotten into the lotion, the word finder, and decorated the house with those sponges (that I get the biggest kick out of) and cute ghost pumpkin. All the books look creepy and perfect. Thank you so much my friend! My #litsypenpal is the best! Happy Halloween to all!!!

Litlady Awww …. so glad you like everything! 🥰 It‘s our favorite time of year and hoping you have the coziest of Halloween‘s, Becky! 📚🎃💀👻🎃📚 13mo
13 likes1 comment
blurb
Pearrr
The September House | Carissa Orlando
post image

October 2023 Wrap Up
- The September House ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
- Out There Screaming ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
- Mermaids Never Drown ⭐️⭐️⭐️
- Mister Magic ⭐️⭐️⭐️

blurb
Avanders
The September House | Carissa Orlando
post image

Oooooooh I‘m so excited for both of these!! Thank you @MidnightBookGirl for picking out perfect books for me!! And I love peeps (will save for next cheat day ;)) and those bookmarks are adorable! Thank you!!!! 🧡👻🖤🎃🧡👻🖤🎃

And thank you @MaleficentBookDragon for hosting one of my fave swaps!! #AllHallowsReadSwap #AHRS

BethM Love the new profile pic! 13mo
Avanders @BethM thanks! 🥰😘 13mo
58 likes2 comments
review
TamTracy
The September House | Carissa Orlando
post image
Pickpick

This was a gruesome haunted house story but the twist that made it different for me is that the main character isn‘t scared and is defending her house. Made for an interesting story but not nearly as creepy or scary as I had hoped. With that being said, I couldn‘t but it down. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

review
Twainy
The September House | Carissa Orlando
post image
Pickpick

Annoying characters. Daughter 🔪 so annoying! Mother was a bit laissez faire.

Awesome haunting.

Loved it!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Edit - #31by31 … 22/31

28 likes2 stack adds
blurb
MartinaLove
The September House | Carissa Orlando
post image
FlynnDewey lol My September house is my year-round house. :p 14mo
13 likes1 comment
review
AudiobookingWithLeah
The September House | Carissa Orlando
post image
Pickpick

𝟑.𝟕𝟓⭐
You know, I wanted to love this since the cover is amazing. So, it‘s possible gallows humor isn‘t my thing…because this is the second book that I just didn‘t get the humor within it. Otherwise, this was a rather terrific story about a haunted house…and so much more. The back-and-forth between the mother and the daughter did get on my nerves super bad at one point, though. It really got more and more gruesome as the story progressed.

blurb
MartinaLove
The September House | Carissa Orlando
post image

#PhotoChallenge #Scarathlon @FlynnDewey #TeamWhoYouGonnaCall

Day 4: Ghost

#Scarathlon Soon! I heard they were ghost in this book. 🍁🎃🍂

FlynnDewey The glowy white font gives it such an eerie look! 1y
22 likes1 comment
blurb
Nessavamusic
The September House | Carissa Orlando
post image
dabbe 🧡🎃🧡 1y
48 likes1 comment
blurb
PathfinderNicole
The September House | Carissa Orlando
post image

You‘re getting a 2 book update today because BOY were the last few days full of insanity with having to take a dog to the vet, our truck‘s battery dying, plus our son‘s birthday yesterday. The Perry wasn‘t as good as others in the series but not sure why I didn‘t enjoy it as much? Probably a me thing. But the tagged? PHENOMENAL.
#scarathlon #TeamCreepinItReal #31by31 #spookoween #falling4books

TheSpineView Fantastic!😊📖🎃📚 1y
Read4life I‘ll have to check out the tagged book. 🍁👻🎃 1y
Catsandbooks Hope things get less stressful! 🧡 1y
StayCurious Hope you can relax and take a breather soon! 1y
24 likes4 comments
review
DenaeReads
The September House | Carissa Orlando
post image
Pickpick

The September House has it all. A sweet old lady of a main character that you can‘t help but love. A haunted house with bleeding walls and ghostly inhabitants wearing the gore of their demise. Banter between characters that will make you laugh out loud. Twists and turns around every corner that will leave you at the edge of your seat until the very last page. Overall a fantastic read!
#horror #scary #halloween

review
alecia3dixie
The September House | Carissa Orlando
post image
Pickpick

Love, love, love! This is 100% not a normal haunted house story. I absolutely adored all the characters. I thought I knew exactly what was happening the whole time, and even got a little mad when it didn't. Just to realize this book was written so well to drive you to that conclusion, completely tricking you. I'm impressed this author was able to convince me so wholeheartedly on the wrong conclusion. 5/5!

dabbe #stacked because of your review! 🤩🤩🤩 1y
8 likes1 stack add1 comment
review
Nessavamusic
The September House | Carissa Orlando
post image
Pickpick

This was a fantastic horror read. It has a great balance of humor and gruesome horror and would make an amazing movie. You constantly are questioning what is really going on in the house with a dark history until the very end. I will say nothing else as this is best read knowing very little. 5⭐️

A great choice if folks are looking for more picks for #Scarathlon!

52 likes1 stack add
review
intothehallofbooks
The September House | Carissa Orlando
post image
Pickpick

This was FANTASTIC. I enjoyed every second of reading it. It was creepy, it was scary, and there were great twists sprinkled throughout. I thought I knew what would happen, then I was wrong! So I shifted my ideas around, and I was wrong again!! I cannot believe it‘s a debut. It‘s just so much fun. Plenty of emotion packed in here among all the scares, but also there is levity. Especially with one character: Fredricka.

DO NOT miss this one, guys!!

28 likes4 stack adds