Editor picks: 16 books the Scary Mommy team recommends for early fall

# What this roundup is

Scary Mommy editors pooled their recent reads to recommend 16 books they think are worth limited free time this early fall. The list leans into stories about women in crisis or revolt, but it also includes ghosts, witchy historical fiction, a tween graphic-novel sequel, a theater-focused kids' book, and a memoir voice that rejects life optimization.

# The recurring themes

Many of the editors noticed a through-line: women being dismantled by people who claim to love them, women who leave or lie to escape, historical women punished for being educated, and characters who intentionally blow up their lives. That theme sits alongside quieter gothic and rural horror, plus lighter romance and YA entries.

# Representative picks and who should read them

• Mixed Signals by Sara Amini (releases Oct. 6): A sequel graphic novel for seventh-graders balancing drama club, sports, crushes, and family expectations. Recommended for readers buying for tweens or fans of middle-grade coming-of-age comics.

• Lenz (releases Oct. 20): A Victorian-set novel about an American expat painter of the dead in 1880s London, set against the Whitechapel murders. Suited to readers who want feminist historical fiction with atmospheric period detail.

• Nightjar by Emily Ruskovich: A collection of five short stories with subtly gothic, Northwest rural settings and complex women. Recommended for readers who want atmospheric, short-form horror with literary edges.

• If Not You by Ellen O'Clover: A rivals-to-lovers romance about two Chicago ad copywriters forced together on a month-long work trip. Suggest this to readers who like slow-burn workplace rom-coms.

• Junie by Erin Crosby Eckstine: Historical fiction in which an enslaved girl sees her dead sister as a ghost and faces the realities of plantation life. Recommended for readers seeking serious historical fiction that confronts slavery's horrors.

# How the list is structured

Editors named books they personally read and enjoyed across genres. Several titles are new or upcoming releases and may be available for preorder. The recommendations include age-specific picks (middle-grade graphic novels) and adult novels across romance, literary short stories, gothic horror, and historical fiction.

# Practical next steps for readers

• If you want a seasonal, spooky tone without full-on horror: pick Nightjar for short, unsettling stories.
• If you want feminist historical fiction: try The Betrayal of Cora Wexford or Junie depending on whether you prefer Victorian London or antebellum settings.
• If you need something lighter and funny: Like This, But Funnier or If Not You will deliver character-driven, laugh-aloud moments.
• Shopping note: a portion of sales may be received if purchases are made through links in the original article.

# Bottom line

This monthly editor roundup favors intimate, character-driven books that skew toward women's experiences of unmaking and reinvention, while offering variety for readers who want scares, romance, or books for younger readers and theater fans.