“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 Street—for sale at a surprisingly reasonable price—they couldn’t 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. It’s her house. But after four years Hal can’t take it anymore, and he leaves abruptly. Now, he’s not returning calls, and their daughter Katherine—who knows nothing about the hauntings—arrives, 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.
Average Rating
Informations
About the author
Carissa Orlando
Author
The September House
by Carissa Orlando
Books Like The September House
If you're looking for books similar to The September House, here are some recommendations based on themes, tone, and narrative style.
The Haunting of Hill House
Shirley Jackson
A classic haunted house novel that explores psychological terror and the blurred lines between reality and supernatural phenomena. The story follows Eleanor Vance, who joins a paranormal investigation at a notoriously haunted mansion. Jackson masterfully creates an atmosphere of creeping dread and ambiguity about the nature of the haunting.
The Haunting
Shirley Jackson
Another seminal haunted house novel about a paranormal investigation in a notoriously haunted mansion. Four characters with different motivations explore the supernatural phenomena, revealing psychological tensions and supernatural uncertainties. Jackson's masterful prose creates an atmosphere of mounting dread.
House of Leaves
Mark Z. Danielewski
An experimental horror novel about a house that is impossibly larger on the inside than the outside. The narrative follows a family discovering increasingly bizarre and impossible spatial anomalies within their home. Its complex structure and psychological depth make it a unique exploration of domestic horror.
The Elementals
Michael McDowell
A southern gothic horror novel about two families vacationing in isolated beach houses consumed by supernatural forces. The story explores the terrifying presence of an ancient, malevolent entity that inhabits one of the houses. McDowell creates a suffocating atmosphere of dread and supernatural menace.
The Hunger
Alma Katsu
A supernatural reimagining of the Donner Party expedition, blending historical fiction with horror. The narrative explores the growing supernatural threat facing a group of settlers trapped in a nightmarish journey. Katsu creates a compelling story of survival and unknown terrors.
Mexican Gothic
Silvia Moreno-Garcia
A gothic horror novel set in a decaying mansion in 1950s Mexico. Noemí Taboada investigates her cousin's mysterious illness in a sinister family estate with dark secrets. The book blends supernatural horror with historical fiction and explores themes of family, colonialism, and inherited trauma.
The Changeling
Victor LaValle
A dark fantasy novel that begins as a story about parenthood and transforms into a supernatural horror narrative. A father's quest to understand a traumatic event involving his wife and child leads him into a world of mythical and horrific revelations. The book blends contemporary urban setting with folkloric elements.
The Twisted Ones
T. Kingfisher
A folk horror novel about a woman cleaning out her deceased grandmother's house and discovering supernatural mysteries. The narrative blends dark humor with genuinely unsettling supernatural elements. Kingfisher creates a unique voice that balances horror with sardonic commentary.
White is for Witching
Helen Oyeyemi
A complex narrative about a haunted house and generational trauma centered around a young woman and her family. The house itself seems to have a malevolent consciousness that impacts the inhabitants. Oyeyemi blends gothic horror with magical realism to create a deeply atmospheric story.
Ghost Wall
Sarah Moss
A psychological horror novel about a teenage girl participating in an archaeological reenactment that becomes increasingly sinister. The narrative explores themes of historical trauma, patriarchal control, and the lingering spirits of past violence. Moss creates a tense, claustrophobic atmosphere.
Into the Drowning Deep
Mira Grant
A scientific horror novel about a marine expedition investigating deadly mermaids. The story combines supernatural elements with scientific exploration, creating a unique narrative about unknown oceanic terrors. Grant develops a complex mythology around maritime horror.
The Grip of It
Jac Jemc
A couple moves into a new home and experiences escalating supernatural phenomena that threatens their relationship. The haunting manifests through increasingly bizarre and unsettling events that challenge the characters' perception of reality. The novel explores psychological horror and marital tension.
The Cabin at the End of the World
Paul Tremblay
A horror novel about a family vacationing in an isolated cabin who are confronted by strangers with an apocalyptic ultimatum. The story blends psychological tension with supernatural uncertainty, challenging the characters' perceptions of reality. Tremblay creates a narrative that is both terrifying and emotionally complex.
The Family Plot
Cherie Priest
A haunted house story about a salvage crew working in an old mansion with a dark history. As they deconstruct the house, they uncover increasingly disturbing supernatural secrets. Priest creates a compelling narrative that combines haunting elements with architectural mystery.
No account connected — sign in to comment.