You Only Get One Chance

1.The Lie Tree by Frances Hardinge

It’s spooky,  it’s smart, thematic and has splashes of the otherworldly but it’s mostly a historical mystery

2. Tangleweed and Brine by Deirdre Sullivan

This is a collection of twelve fairytale retelling it’s Witchy, subversive and lyrical, it’s a bit dark but not to bad, it’s an ideal autumn read.

3. The Strange Case of the Alchemist’s Daughter by Theodora Goss 

This is a retelling inspired from the classic horror stories of: Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Sherlock Holmes, Van Helsing, Dracula (Mr. Renfield,) Frankenstein, Rappaccini’s daughter, and Dr. Moreau.  it’s a very Interesting read if you love the Classics and a perfect read for Halloween.

4. The Accident Season by Moïra Fowley-Doyle

This is a ideal book for reading and re-reading every autumn, Come October, seventeen-year-old Cara and her family – including her mother, older sister and ex-stepbrother – board up the windows and hide the sharp implements in preparation for the Accident Season, a month in which mysterious and dangerous things seem to constantly befall them. A spellbinding magical realism standalone, it’s full of tarot cards, masquerade balls, fortune-telling, dreams, hallucinations and hazy, stylish prose. If you’re looking for an atmospheric autumnal read, this is absolutely the book to go for. 

5.Harry potter by jk Rowling

Let’s face it you can’t have Halloween with out harry potter, with it’s wizards and witch’s, it’s magic spells and potions, it’s monsters and just overall feeling of autumn in this series it’s a must read.

6. Murder Most Unladylike by Robin Stevens

The Murder Most Unladylike Mysteries are one of those series you know is relatively recent but which seems like it’s been around for ages. It has that classic but accessible touch which makes it appealing to kids and brings something older readers or adults can appreciate, too. 

7. All the Crooked Saints by Maggie Stiefvater.

Here is a thing everyone wants: a miracle; here is a thing everyone fears: what it takes to get one.Enchanting writing and complex characters interwoven into a tale of love, darkness, fear and redemption.

8. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith

Why so perfect for fall? The emphasis on education makes this feel especially appropriate to read during back-to-school season. This turn of the century coming-of-age story is an American classic for good reason. The beautifully crafted tale pulls you into Francie’s story and has you rooting for her as she grows up in challenging circumstances. There is an undercurrent of hope that buoys everything

9. And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie

One of Agatha Christie most famous mysteries, the eerie setting, and countdown of survivors makes for a satisfying mystery with a slightly Halloween-inspired feel. Add in the narrative following the children’s verse, and the disappearing soldiers mimicking the fallen guests and there is a decided sense of menace to the text.

10. The Halloween Tree by Ray Bradbury

This is a fast-moving, eerie…tale set on Halloween nigh. Eight costumed boys running to meet their friend Pipkin at the haunted house outside town encounter instead the huge and cadaverous Mr. Moundshroud. As Pipkin scrambles to join them, he is swept away by a dark Something, and Moundshroud leads the boys on the tail of adventures. This book is actually for kids but I read it last year at the age of 18 and I loved it and learned a lot about Halloweens history. (Also I loved the movie as a kid)

Bonus

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

🌹Emoji spell to increase self love & promote self care.🌹

This is Kjell Lindgren. He’s a NASA astronaut who just got back from 5 months on the International Space Station. There are two reasons why this picture is hilarious:

His wife is flawless and makes bad space puns to make him do household chores.

I have that shirt. Thousands of people have that shirt. That shirt is available at Target. Which means actual astronaut Kjell Lindgren, with his wardrobe already full of NASA-issued and logo-emblazoned clothes, was at Target, saw a NASA shirt, and was like, “Yes, I am buying this because this is what I want to spend my actual astronaut salary on.”

Courtesy of Wikipedia, here’s the poster NASA released for his mission to the ISS:

Hallucigenia was about an inch long (most life back then was tiny, they were only a few eras removed from being single celled after all) and it had sixteen clawed legs, hard spines coming out of its back, and a wicked tentacle neckbeard. 

Opabinia was between two to three inches long and it had thirty fins along the side of its body, along with five mushroom shaped eyes on top of its head. By far though, its most interesting feature was its strange proboscis. Like a Dr. Moreau style mashup of an elephant and a lobster, the long nose terminated in a large claw that it used to grab prey and bring it to its backward facing mouth.

Finally, this is wiwaxia. This danger-artichoke was a two inch long armored slug-like creature with no head. In fact, its actual body was largely just its one massive foot. 

But how could you not mention my favorite one?  

Meet anomalocaris:

Its name means “strange shrimp”.  This is because it was first identified via its mandibles, which looked like a weird shrimp.  Later, someone realized “oh wait no all these parts we thought were different animals were actually the same one”.  The most beautiful origin story, in my opinion.  Anomalocaris was one of the first predators ever, and is my beautiful strange son.  Here’s what the mouthparts look like.

Yep.  That’s definitely a strange shrimp.

Also, if you want other weird-ass things to look at, look up things from the Ediacaran (aka before the Cambrian).  They’re so damn strange that they have their own phylum, Vendobionta.  They have forms of symmetry that we literally have never seen in anything else.  They look like plants but are animals.  I love them and they are all my children.

[Of course, anyone of any identity, including men and non-binary people, can treat themselves to a manicure, a bouquet of flowers, or a face mask. However, for a variety of reasons, some people may not feel comfortable with these traditionally ‘feminine’ self-care ideas.  The following are ideas for pampering your body and mind that have little or no gender connotation.]

Stretch ||

 it’s a great way to start the day, to do during a break, or to wind down before bed. Stretch gently; never stay in a position that causes sharp pain.

stretching 101 || 7 basic stretches || stretches for neck pain || yoga poses you can do in bed || stretches to boost energy ||

Create a luxurious sleeping space || 

whether it’s closing the curtains, repainting, or trying a new pillow, there are lots of ways to improve your sleep. You can make it a project or just a couple of minutes.

light, bedrooms, & sleep || 5 calming colors for a bedroom || mattress guidelines for good sleep || types of pillows & sleeping positions ||

Experiment with texture || 

Sensory play is often suggested for children and adults with special needs. But textures can be calming or stimulating for anyone. Have fun and see what works for you.

Homemade “theraputty” || homemade stress ball || “sensory diet” for teens || 12 ideas for tactile defensiveness || different kinds of textures

Self-massage || 

Everyone has occasional aches. Even if nothing hurts, it can be incredibly relaxing to get a nice massage. If you massage yourself, you’ll get exactly what you want with no strangers or fees necessary.

3 ways to massage yourself || for muscle knots/triger points || 4 common trouble areas and how to massage them || how-to: reflexology || reflexology self-help || 11 ways to self-massage everything that hurts ||

Dress in what makes you feel good ||

It might be that pajamas make you feel comfortable with the world, or that you like putting your best foot forward in slacks and a button-down. Dress in whatever makes you feel good about yourself.

important aspects of pajamas || how clothing affects self-perception || link between clothes & emotional states || clothes affecting your mood || clothes, colors & mood ||

Play || 

Not just for kids anymore. Play is a powerful tool that can calm you down, pep you up, or just help you enjoy the day a little bit more.

the benefits of play for adults || importance of play || what constitutes ‘play’? || 40 ideas || 150+ ideas for summer ||

Take in meaningful words || 

Whether they’re famous quotes, single words, or affirmations, meaningful words can be healing, empowering, or soothing. Find words, quotes or affirmations that work for you and return whenever you need to.

15 quotes to make you think || 15 positive quotes || 20 inspirational quotes || 1000+ positive words || more positive vocabulary || list of affirmations || 100 positive affirmations || 5 steps to make affirmations work ||

Mind your breath || 

it’s natural and automatic, but it’s still important to think about your breath once in a while. More efficient breathing means more oxygen, which helps your mind and body feel and work better.