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Here's Your Fall 2021 Watch List For Netflix, Hulu, and Apple TV
Fall is almost here. The weather will soon start cooling and the days will get shorter.
What to do when you just want to veg out on the couch or in bed? Binge-watch great shows are my suggestion. There are so many things to watch for sure. Too many choices almost, but I have six shows I recommend for this fall to keep you entertained as your fall hibernation begins.
My recommendations are See, Nine Perfect Strangers, Clickbait, Only Murders In The Building, and You. The shows can all be found on Apple TV, Hulu, and Netflix. Apple TV and Hulu release new episodes weekly but Netflix allows the full binge experience.
See Season 2
“Far in a dystopian future, the human race has lost the sense of sight, and society has had to find new ways to interact, build, hunt, and to survive. All of that is challenged when a set of twins are born with sight.” - IMBD
There are now two great seasons of See to binge watch. Season 1 introduces us to Baba, his wife, and their sighted twin children. In a world where sight is looked upon as witchcraft and is illegal, Baba will do anything to protect his children.
Season 2 picks up right where season one left off, and that’s with a new enemy for Baba (Jason Momoa), his brother played by Dave Bautista. New episodes are available each Friday on Apple TV.
Nine Perfect Strangers
“Nine stressed city dwellers visit a boutique health-and-wellness resort that promises healing and transformation. The resort's director is a woman on a mission to reinvigorate their tired minds and bodies.” - IMDB
Nine Perfect Strangers is full of recognizable faces and names, which brings some comfort as you try to figure out where this story is trying to take you. I have to admit that after six episodes I still don’t know where this series is going but I don’t mind the journey.
New episodes premiere each Wednesday on Hulu.
Clickbait
When family man Nick Brewer is abducted in a crime with a sinister online twist, those closest to him race to uncover who is behind it and why.” - IMDB
With eight episodes total, Clickbait is completely binge-worthy. I literally binged this show in a day. With Netflix, they drop all episodes at once which is awesome! Each episode is centered around one particular character but with the goal of moving the story forward.
There are some issues with the plot for sure but at the end of the series, I was still happy I watched. And honestly, there are some takeaways and lessons to be learned as well. Clickbait can be viewed now on Netflix.
Only Murders In The Building
“Three strangers who share an obsession with true crime suddenly find themselves caught up in one.” - IMDB
Only Murders In The Building is undeniably quirky and weird, but of course, it would be with Steve Martin and Martin Short, but I am still invested in figuring out the whodunit of it all. There are actually two murders to solve, one from the past and one from the present.
I for one cannot wait to see how it all plays out. New episodes premiere each Wednesday on Hulu.
You Season 3
“A dangerously charming, intensely obsessive young man goes to extreme measures to insert himself into the lives of those he is transfixed by.” - IMBD
The much anticipated season three of “You” premieres on Netflix on October 15th. So if you need a refresher or haven’t watched the previous two seasons, you have time.
Joe and Love are starting a new life together and it’s looking like there is someone new to obsess about. Who is the mystery lady we glimpsed at the end of season two? We shall see. I’m ready for it.
Truth Be Told
“A true-crime podcaster tries to solve the mystery surrounding a family patriarch's death.” - IMDB
Although season one of Truth Be Told premiered a couple of years ago, I only recently watched season one. I was instantly hooked, as I am a fan of true-crime podcasts and can relate to the intrigue they create. True crime stories bring out the sleuth in all of us.
Season 2 of Truth Be Told recently dropped with a new mystery to solve and this one is closer to home for the lead Poppy. New episodes premiere on Thursday on Apple TV.
I think I have given you all some great choices of shows to binge watch across several streaming services. They are not documentaries or going to change the world but they serve their purpose. They entertain. Please give one or all a watch and come back and let me know what you think. Enjoy!
5 Binge Worthy Shows To Stream In The New Year
Winter is now upon us and the quarantine and pandemic precautions continue for many of us around the world. As we stay inside to stay warm and to stay healthy, we need something to occupy our time. I am all about a good book, but I am also all about a great Netflix and Amazon Prime Video binge.
Here’s what worth a watch this new year on Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.
The Expanse
In the 24th century, a disparate band of antiheroes unravels a vast conspiracy that threatens the Solar System's fragile state of cold war.
The Expanse is one of my favorite shows and on December 16th the series is back for its fifth season. There are 10 episodes this season but unlike last season where all 10 episodes were dropped at once, only the first 3 episodes are available immediately and the rest will premiere each Wednesday. Although not a total binge for the current season, there are four other seasons to catch up on.
The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina Part 4
As her 16th birthday nears, Sabrina must choose between the witch world of her family and the human world of her friends. Based on the Archie comic.
The fourth and final season of the Chilling Adventures of Sabrina returns on December 31st. This is a fun, dark show that is sure to send some chills and thrills your way this winter.
Lucifer
Lucifer Morningstar has decided he's had enough of being the dutiful servant in Hell and decides to spend some time on Earth to better understand humanity. He settles in Los Angeles - the City of Angels.
I came late to the Lucifer fandom. I never watched it on network television, but once it was recommended to me on Netflix I gave it a try and was lured in by Lucifer’s cheeky charm. The second half of season 5, part 2, is returning to Netflix soon, but until that time all 5 1/2 seasons are currently available for binging.
Bridgerton
Wealth, lust, and betrayal set in the backdrop of Regency-era England, seen through the eyes of the powerful Bridgerton family.
I am a sucker for a period piece and I love a great romance, especially Regency. Bridgerton is new from Shonda Rhimes and it’s based on Julia Quinn's novels with the popular anonymous gossip columnist Lady Whistledown. I read all of these books well over a decade ago, but never forgot them.
Watch the Bridgerton series bring Julia Quinn’s novels to life with a Shonda Rhimes twist on Netflix beginning December 25th.
The Boys
A group of vigilantes set out to take down corrupt superheroes who abuse their superpowers.
The Boys is an Amazon Prime Video original. If violence, sex, action, and foul language is your thing, then this is the show for you. One of the best lines and takeaways from this show is “don’t mistake nice for good”. Life lessons in the harshest way possible is what this show offers, in a fun, action-packed, kick-ass way.
Two seasons are currently available to watch. So binge-worthy!
All of the above shows are perfect for an anytime binge watch. You cannot go wrong with any of these so pick one to start watching. I do no think you will be disappointed.
Your Stay At Home Must See TV Binge Watch List
Toilet paper, check. Disinfectant wipes, check. Remote in hand, check. Now you just have to figure out what to watch as we all wrangle the kids and self-quarantine.
There has been no better time to catch up on your favorite shows or find out what you have been missing all this time. Some of my recommendations are not family friendly, but there are a couple that you can enjoy with the kiddos. Enjoy!
My Binge Recommendations
Little Fires Everywhere
Little Fires Everywhere follows the intertwined fates of the picture-perfect Richardson family and an enigmatic mother and daughter who upend their lives. Based on Celeste Ng’s 2017 bestseller, the story explores the weight of secrets, the nature of art and identity, the ferocious pull of motherhood – and the danger in believing that following the rules can avert disaster. - Hulu
Hunters
In 1977, in New York City, a troubled young Jewish man bent on revenge is taken in by a secret group of Nazi hunters fighting a clandestine war against the cabal of high-ranking Nazi officials in hiding who work to create the Fourth Reich. - Amazon Video
The Stranger
Follows the lives of suburban families whose secrets and lies are made public by the appearance of a stranger. - Netflix
Locke and Key
After their father is murdered under mysterious circumstances, the three Locke siblings and their mother move into their ancestral home, Keyhouse, which they discover is full of magical keys that may be connected to their father's death. - Netflix
Merlin
These are the brand new adventures of Merlin, the legendary sorcerer as a young man, when he was just a servant to young Prince Arthur on the royal court of Camelot, who has soon become his best friend, and turned Arthur into a great king and a legend. - Netflix
The Valhalla Murder
Police profiler Arnar is sent back home from Oslo to his native Iceland to investigate the country's first serial killer case. He teams up with the local senior cop Kata. - Netflix
Must See TV…Binge Worthy Shows For The New Year
Winter break is a time to enjoy family and friends, and to decompress. Your holiday break is also a time for nesting, and staying inside to get cozy and avoid the winter weather. And what better way to decompress and get cozy inside than to do some binge watching on Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.
As the new year starts, many highly anticipated shows return. Here are four shows I think are completely binge worthy from first season to current season.
Binge Worthy Shows
The Expanse Season 4
Season 4 begins a new chapter for the series with the crew of the Rocinante on a mission from the U.N. to explore new worlds beyond the Ring Gate. Humanity has been given access to thousands of Earth-like planets which has created a land rush and furthered tensions between the opposing nations of Earth, Mars and the Belt.
Ilus is the first of these planets, one rich with natural resources but also marked by the ruins of a long dead alien civilization. While Earthers, Martians and Belters maneuver to colonize Ilus and its natural resources, these early explorers don’t understand this new world and are unaware of the larger dangers that await them. - Amazon Prime Video
The Expanse is one of my favorite shows. The stakes are always high, the action is never ending, and the special effects are impressive. I recommend you create a real viewing experience for this series. With a big screen television, good surround sound, and the lights out, you will almost start to feel like you are a crew member on the Rocinante.
Jack Ryan Season 2
After tracking a potentially suspicious shipment of illegal arms in the Venezuelan jungle, CIA Officer Jack Ryan heads down to South America to investigate. As Jack’s investigation threatens to uncover a far-reaching conspiracy, the President of Venezuela launches a counter-attack that hits home for Jack, leading him and his fellow operatives on a global mission spanning the United States, UK, Russia, and Venezuela to unravel the President’s nefarious plot and bring stability to a country on the brink of chaos. - Amazon Prime Video
I have always been a Tom Clancy fan, but was a little reluctant to see Jim from the office playing Jack Ryan. I was so wrong. It took me two years to watch an episode, although I added it to my watchlist some time ago. All I can say is that it was so worth the wait. Season one was action packed, heart stopping episode after episode. And season two doesn’t disappoint.
Lost In Space Season 2
Now stranded even deeper in space, the Robinsons band together to explore strange planets, face down new dangers and find their beloved Robot. - Netflix
I have never considered myself a sci-fi geek but apparently I am. I definitely love all things space. Season 2 picks up where season 1 left off with Robinson’s in peril and trying to get back to the rest of the new colony.
You Season 2
Meet Will Bettelheim. He’s not your regular Joe. He’s new to LA and has sworn off love. But love, like murder, has a way of tracking you down. - Netflix
The uber creepy stalker series is back for a second season. Will has changed his name and moved to LA to start fresh but the man formerly known as Joe cannot help but stalk, fall in love, and then kill. Season 2 stays true to form, and with no spoilers, ends the season with a twist.
All of the above shows are great, and I do no think you will be disappointed. The 4 shows I chose offer a good variety of action, adult, family friendly, and science fiction.
So what are your recommendations? What great shows am I missing that I need to give a look? Please share your thoughts and recommendations!
Best Netflix Shows For October Scares
October is such a great month. Fall is just starting, the weather is cooling but not too cold, and halloween is just around the corner. I love halloween, and although I am not a big horror movie lover, I always indulge during the month of October in lots of creepy and scary viewing choices.
Here are six series and movies to enjoy this month that are sure to get that pulse racing just a little. Nothing too gory, just creepy fun.
Chilling Adventures of Sabrina
As her 16th birthday nears, Sabrina must choose between the witch world of her family and the human world of her friends. Based on the Archie comic.
I have to say that I love this much darker take on the story of Sabrina the Teen Witch than the one we are all familiar with. This Sabrina is by no means a sweet little angel, and you may even find yourself rooting against her at times. She is dark, she is sassy, she’s kind of self-righteous, and endearing in all wrapped in one teenage witch.
The Haunting Of Hill House
“Flashing between past and present, a fractured family confronts haunting memories of their old home and the terrifying events that drove them from it.” - IMDB
I have seen so many versions of the Haunting of Hill House story that I wasn’t sure I wanted to bother with this one. But my daughter wanted to watch it, , not by herself though, so we decided to give it a try together. I have to say that this Netflix series is by far my favorite. It’s dark, and creepy, and sad, all wrapped into one, with a satisfying ending. No word on if there will be a second season, but the window was left open to do another season.
American Horror Story
An anthology series centering on different characters and locations, including a house with a murderous past, an insane asylum, a witch coven, a freak show, a haunted hotel, a possessed farmhouse, a cult, the apocalypse and a slasher summer camp.
While the American Horror Story franchise is not a Netflix original, you can catch on the earlier seasons now. Although American Horror Story has lost some of its appeal to me with its most recent seasons, I highly recommend the first three season, especially season one. Murder House is season one and will creep you the hell out.
Coraline
An adventurous 11-year-old girl finds another world that is a strangely idealized version of her frustrating home, but it has sinister secrets.
This is a somewhat kid friendly, depending on the kid, dark tale about a girl Coraline who finds that sometimes the grass is not only as green as you thought but it is actually fake. This movie has a very Tim Burton feel, so if you enjoyed Nightmare Before Christmas and Corpse Bride, this is for you.
Black Mirror
“An anthology series exploring a twisted, high-tech world where humanity's greatest innovations and darkest instincts collide.” - IMDB
I am not going to lie, Black Mirror is dark and kind of weird. But also entertaining, and a great way to kill time. The great thing about Black Mirror being an anthology series is that each episode is stand alone, and offers lot of viewing choices.
In The Tall Grass
After hearing a young boy's cry for help, a sister and brother venture into a vast field of tall grass in Kansas but soon discover there may be no way out...and that something evil lurks within.
It’s no surprise that this creepy brain child is based on a novella by Stephen King. This movie will not only have you spooked, but will also have your mind going as you try to figure out what is going on.
All of the above shows are perfect for October scares. None of these are for the faint of heart, but these shows are highly entertaining. So pick one to start watching. I do no think you will be disappointed.
5 Binge-Worthy Shows You Should Be Watching
As you may, or may not know, I have a small Netflix addiction. But as a busy working mom, I do not get to indulge as much as I would like to. I always try to make time for the important people in my life, while keeping up with my favorite hobbies of writing and reading. During that time there has been, and continues to be, many televisions shows that look interesting to me, and have great reviews.
Unfortunately it is hard to find the time to watch everything I fancy, and the DVR will only hold so much. But once I catch up on my viewing, I like to share my intel. Maybe you have seen some of these shows already, want to watch for them first time, or want to watch them again.
5 Binge-Worthy Shows
The Expanse
“A police detective in the asteroid belt, the first officer of an interplanetary ice freighter and an earth-bound United Nations executive slowly discover a vast conspiracy that threatens the Earth's rebellious colony on the asteroid belt.” - IMDB
I first heard of this show when it was getting cancelled by the Syfy channel, and getting picked up by Amazon. The premise sounded interested, so when it became available on Amazon Prime, I thought I would give it a try, and by episode two I was sold.
I binge watched all three seasons in a weekend, and it was so worth it. Many consider this series to be Game of Thrones in space, and I really cannot disagree. Season 4 of The Expanse returns at the end of 2019.
Killing Eve
“After a series of events, the lives of a security operative and an assassin become inextricably linked.” - IMDB
Killing Eve had been getting rave reviews, but I never had the opportunity to watch it on television. While doing a trial subscription with Hulu, I found my opportunity to see what all the buzz was about. It was so worth it. The psychology behind Villanelle, who is the assassin/ sociopath/stalker is very riveting. Season 2 premieres April 7th.
The Haunting Of Hill House
“Flashing between past and present, a fractured family confronts haunting memories of their old home and the terrifying events that drove them from it.” - IMDB
I have seen so many versions of the Haunting of Hill House story that I wasn’t sure I wanted to bother with this one. But my daughter wanted to watch it, , not by herself though, so we decided to give it a try together. I have to say that this Netflix series is by far my favorite. It’s dark, and creepy, and sad, all wrapped into one, with a satisfying ending. No word on if there will be a second season, but the window was left open to do another season.
You
“A clever bookstore manager relies on his savvy Internet know-how to make the woman of his dreams fall in love with him. “ - IMDB
“You” is really a tale of stalking. Stalking in the worse kind of way. Joe is geeky cute, smart, and charming, and totally cray cray. He meets this girl Beck, and he just has to know everything about her, and have her. She is perfect, or so he thinks. Joe will not let anything, or anyone stand in his way of having Beck as his girl.
This show is very easy to get wrapped up in, and crave more episodes, although it does require suspense of disbelief a few time. Season 2 will premiere in 2019 on Netflix.
Black Mirror
“An anthology series exploring a twisted, high-tech world where humanity's greatest innovations and darkest instincts collide.” - IMDB
I am not going to lie, Black Mirror is dark and kind of weird. But also entertaining, and a great way to kill time. The great thing about Black Mirror being an anthology series is that each episode is stand alone, and offers lot of viewing choices.
All of the above shows are excellent. And yes, I am sure you notice a trend in my viewing choices. With the exception of The Expanse, all the shows are dark, but great studies in human behavior. Although not for the faint of heart, these shows are highly entertaining. So pick one to start watching. I do no think you will be disappointed.
February Book Club Recommendations
If you are like me you love a good book. I read all of the time, but tend to stick to one or two genres and authors. A great way to find new authors and be exposed to literature you would have never considered is by joining a traditional bookclub, or signing up for a book of the month club.
If you are already in a bookclub, but looking for some suggestions I am here to help. Or if you are just trying to figure out what to read next I think I have some great choices for you.
I enjoyed all of the below books, albeit some were more satisfying than others, but that's the beauty of reading a book. You never know what you are going to get, or how it is going to end.
February Book Club Recommendations
The Girl With Seven Names
The Girl Who Lived
Shattered Glass
The Hundredth Queen
The President Is Missing
My Mother, The Liar
Her Name Was Rose
The Storytellers’ Secret
The Girl With Seven Names by Hyeonseo Lee with David John
An extraordinary insight into life under one of the world’s most ruthless and secretive dictatorships – and the story of one woman’s terrifying struggle to avoid capture/repatriation and guide her family to freedom.
As a child growing up in North Korea, Hyeonseo Lee was one of millions trapped by a secretive and brutal communist regime. Her home on the border with China gave her some exposure to the world beyond the confines of the Hermit Kingdom and, as the famine of the 1990s struck, she began to wonder, question and to realise that she had been brainwashed her entire life. Given the repression, poverty and starvation she witnessed surely her country could not be, as she had been told “the best on the planet”?
Aged seventeen, she decided to escape North Korea. She could not have imagined that it would be twelve years before she was reunited with her family.
The Girl Who Lived by Christopher Greyson
No one believes her story.
The police think she's crazy.
Her therapist thinks she's suicidal.
Everyone else thinks she's a dangerous drunk.
They're all right--but did she see the killer?
As the anniversary of the murders approaches, Faith Winters is released from the psychiatric hospital and yanked back to the last spot on earth she wants to be--her hometown where the slayings took place. Wracked by the lingering echoes of survivor's guilt, Faith spirals into a black hole of alcoholism and wanton self-destruction. Finding no solace at the bottom of a bottle, Faith decides to track down her sister's killer--and then discovers that she's the one being hunted.
Shattered Glass by Maria V. Snyder
While trying to teach her adopted daughter, Reema, how to work with molten glass, Opal receives a letter from Master Magician Zitora Cowan requesting Opal's immediate help. Zitora resigned from the Sitian Council over two years ago to search for her lost sister, and no one has heard from her since. The letter is probably a trick, but Opal refuses to pass up the opportunity to help her mentor, who may be in genuine trouble. Good thing Opal isn't that easy to fool. With her two soldier friends Nic and Eve providing backup, the three travel to a small town in the Jewelrose Clan. But can they rescue the Master Magician without being caught in the same trap?
The Hundredth Queen by Emily R. King
As an orphan ward of the Sisterhood in the ancient Tarachand Empire, eighteen-year-old Kalinda is destined for nothing more than a life of seclusion and prayer. Plagued by fevers, she’s an unlikely candidate for even a servant’s position, let alone a courtesan or wife. Her sole dream is to continue living in peace in the Sisterhood’s mountain temple.
But a visit from the tyrant Rajah Tarek disrupts Kalinda’s life. Within hours, she is ripped from the comfort of her home, set on a desert trek, and ordered to fight for her place among the rajah’s ninety-nine wives and numerous courtesans. Her only solace comes in the company of her guard, the stoic but kind Captain Deven Naik.
Faced with the danger of a tournament to the death—and her growing affection for Deven—Kalinda has only one hope for escape, and it lies in an arcane, forbidden power buried within her.
The President Is Missing by Bill Clinton and James Patterson
The President Is Missing confronts a threat so huge that it jeopardizes not just Pennsylvania Avenue and Wall Street, but all of America. Uncertainty and fear grip the nation. There are whispers of cyberterror and espionage and a traitor in the Cabinet. Even the President himself becomes a suspect, and then he disappears from public view . . .
Set over the course of three days, The President Is Missing sheds a stunning light upon the inner workings and vulnerabilities of our nation. Filled with information that only a former Commander-in-Chief could know, this is the most authentic, terrifying novel to come along in many years.
My Mother, The Liar by Ann Troup
Every family has a secret…
When Rachel Porter’s estranged mother dies, she returns to her family home filled with dread about having to face her past, and the people who populated it.
Little does she know that there are dead bodies waiting to be discovered, and a lifetime of secrets are about to unravel.
Here Name Was Rose by Claire Allan
Rose Grahame had everything Alex D'Arcy dreams of. A handsome husband, a stunning home and a baby boy with twinkling blue eyes and a smile that would brighten the darkest of days. It's a stark contrast to Alex's life - her dead-end job, her borderline addiction to drink and pills, her failed engagement and her cluttered flat. But the women's lives are about to collide - and nothing will ever be the same again.
Strangers in a lift in a shopping centre, Alex gestures to Rose to go ahead of her when they reach the bottom floor. But tragedy strikes when a car ploughs into the young mum - killing her instantly - before driving off at speed. But was this a tragic accident? Or was it more than that? And just how involved is Emily truly going to become?
With twists that will keep you guessing until the very end, Her Name Was Rose makes you question who you can really trust and if any of us are truly honest about ourselves in the social media obsessed world.
The Storytellers’ Secret by Sejal Badani
Nothing prepares Jaya, a New York journalist, for the heartbreak of her third miscarriage and the slow unraveling of her marriage in its wake. Desperate to assuage her deep anguish, she decides to go to India to uncover answers to her family's past.
Intoxicated by the sights, smells, and sounds she experiences, Jaya becomes an eager student of the culture. But it is Ravi - her grandmother's former servant and trusted confidant - who reveals the resilience, struggles, secret love, and tragic fall of Jaya's pioneering grandmother during the British occupation. Through her courageous grandmother's arrestingly romantic and heart-wrenching story, Jaya discovers the legacy bequeathed to her and a strength that, until now, she never knew was possible.
All of these books are great choices for your February bookclub selection, or for just an "any time" read. What are you currently reading in your bookclub? Have you read any of these books? If so, which is your favorite? Please share your favorite!
Halloween Costume Ideas For Women
If you are like me then you love Halloween. I love everything about Halloween. I love the decorations, the excitement of the kids, taking my girls trick or treating, handing out candy, and the crisp air on Halloween night. Best of all are the costumes, although they are the hardest to decide on.
Each year there is a decision to made on how big or small to go for costumes. Keep it simple with some cute ears, or a witches’ hat, or go big with a full on costume, wig, and make-up.
As I discussed with my girls what their costumes this year might be, I started pondering my options as well. I have narrowed my options, and I think I have made my choice. Any guesses?
As for you, whether you want to exude power or be a super hero, I have the costume for you. Now all you have to do is decide. Easier said than done, right?
Halloween Costumes For Women
If you were looking sexy police woman, sexy firefighter woman, sexy teacher, or sexy…well I think you get my point. This blog consists of funny adult costumes for women that don’t include the word sexy in the description. It’s not the costume or the clothes that make you sexy, it’s your attitude and the way you carry yourself.
What are your thoughts on adults still dressing up for Halloween? I have kids so that still gives me an excuse for now, but I hope to never lose the joy and fun that comes with playing make believe and dress up. Please share your experience and opinion!
My 10 Favorite Scary Movies To Watch In The Fall
As you all know, fall is my favorite time of year. There are many things to love about fall, and Halloween and scary movies is one of them. I have never been one to go for the gore type of film, with a few irresistible exceptions. I tend to to gravitate to the psychological creepy and campy scary.
I caution that this list consists of some of my favorites to watch, and not the definitive list of the best horror films ever. I will leave that for you all to decide. My picks are still fun, scary, sad, and yes even a little heart stopping after years of watching over and over again.
My 10 Favorite Scary Movies To Watch
Psycho (1960) - A Phoenix secretary embezzles $40,000 from her employer's client, goes on the run, and checks into a remote motel run by a young man under the domination of his mother.
Halloween (1978) - Fifteen years after murdering his sister on Halloween night 1963, Michael Myers escapes from a mental hospital and returns to the small town of Haddonfield to kill again.
Carrie (1976) - Carrie White, a shy, friendless teenage girl who is sheltered by her domineering, religious mother, unleashes her telekinetic powers after being humiliated by her classmates at her senior prom.
Fright Night (1985) - A horror-obsessed teenager discovers that his next door neighbor is a murderous vampire. He tries to convince the police, his family and friends but to no avail. Now, he must take matters into his own hands.
The Silence Of The Lambs (1991) - A young FBI cadet must receive the help of an incarcerated and manipulative cannibal killer to help catch another serial killer, a madman who skins his victims.
Scream (1996) - A year after the murder of her mother, a teenage girl is terrorized by a new killer, who targets the girl and her friends by using horror films as part of a deadly game.
Misery (1990) - After a famous author is rescued from a car crash by a fan of his novels, he comes to realize that the care he is receiving is only the beginning of a nightmare of captivity and abuse.
Nightmare On Elm Street (1984) - The monstrous spirit of a slain janitor seeks revenge by invading the dreams of teenagers whose parents were responsible for his untimely death.
Sleepy Hollow (1999) - Ichabod Crane is sent to Sleepy Hollow to investigate the decapitations of 3 people with the culprit being the legendary apparition, the Headless Horseman.
Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992) - The centuries old vampire Count Dracula comes to England to seduce his barrister Jonathan Harker's fiancée Mina Murray and inflict havoc in the foreign land.
Nothing beats snuggling on the couch or in bed with your favorite snack on a chilly night watching one your favorite scary movies. It’s cool to brave it alone, but so much more fun with your favorite snuggle buddy, or a group of friend.
What are your favorite scary movies to watch in the fall, or any time of year for that matter? Please share your favs!
September 2018 Book Club Recommendations...10 Great Reads For You And Your Book Club
If you are like me you love a good book. I read all of the time, but tend to stick to one or two genres and authors. A great way to find new authors and be exposed to literature you would have never considered is by joining a traditional bookclub, or signing up for a book of the month club.
If you are already in a bookclub, but looking for some suggestions I am here to help. Or if you are just trying to figure out what to read next I think I have some great choices for you. I enjoyed all of the below books, albeit some were more satisfying than others, but that's the beauty of reading a book. You never know what you are going to get, or how it is going to end.
10 September Book Club Recommendations
What Alice Forgot
The Handmaid's Tale
The Silent Wife
Unfu*k Yourself
The Tuscan Child
The Ugly and Wonderful Things
The Mountain Midwife
Small Great Things
The Orphan's Tale
Tell Me Three Things
What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty
Alice Love is twenty-nine, crazy about her husband, and pregnant with her first child.
So imagine Alice’s surprise when she comes to on the floor of a gym and is whisked off to the hospital where she discovers the honeymoon is truly over — she’s getting divorced, she has three kids and she’s actually 39 years old. Alice must reconstruct the events of a lost decade, and find out whether it’s possible to reconstruct her life at the same time. She has to figure out why her sister hardly talks to her, and how is it that she’s become one of those super skinny moms with really expensive clothes.
Ultimately, Alice must discover whether forgetting is a blessing or a curse, and whether it’s possible to start over.
The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood - After a staged terrorist attack kills the President and most of Congress, the government is deposed and taken over by the oppressive and all controlling Republic of Gilead. Offred, now a Handmaid serving in the household of the enigmatic Commander and his bitter wife, can remember a time when she lived with her husband and daughter and had a job, before she lost even her own name. Despite the danger, Offred learns to navigate the intimate secrets of those who control her every move, risking her life in breaking the rules in hopes of ending this oppression.
The Silent Wife by Kerry Fisher
Lara’s life looks perfect on the surface. Gorgeous doting husband Massimo, sweet little son Sandro and the perfect home. Lara knows something about Massimo. Something she can’t tell anyone else or everything he has worked so hard for will be destroyed: his job, their reputation, their son. This secret is keeping Lara a prisoner in her marriage.
Maggie is married to Massimo’s brother Nico and lives with him and her troubled stepdaughter. She knows all of Nico’s darkest secrets – or so she thinks. Then one day she discovers a letter in the attic which reveals a shocking secret about Nico’s first wife. Will Maggie set the record straight or keep silent to protect those she loves?
For a family held together by lies, the truth will come at a devastating price.
Unfu*k Yourself by Gary John Bishop
Are you tired of feeling fu*ked up? If you are, Gary John Bishop has the answer. In this straightforward handbook, he gives you the tools and advice you need to demolish the slag weighing you down and become the truly unfu*ked version of yourself. ''Wake up to the miracle you are,'' he directs. ''Here's what you've forgotten: You're a fu*king miracle of being.'' It isn't other people that are standing in your way, it isn't even your circumstances that are blocking your ability to thrive, it's yourself and the negative self-talk you keep telling yourself.
The Tuscan Child by Rhys Bowen
In 1944, British bomber pilot Hugo Langley parachuted from his stricken plane into the verdant fields of German-occupied Tuscany. Badly wounded, he found refuge in a ruined monastery and in the arms of Sofia Bartoli. But the love that kindled between them was shaken by an irreversible betrayal.
Nearly thirty years later, Hugo’s estranged daughter, Joanna, has returned home to the English countryside to arrange her father’s funeral. Among his personal effects is an unopened letter addressed to Sofia. In it is a startling revelation.
Still dealing with the emotional wounds of her own personal trauma, Joanna embarks on a healing journey to Tuscany to understand her father’s history—and maybe come to understand herself as well. Joanna soon discovers that some would prefer the past be left undisturbed, but she has come too far to let go of her father’s secrets now…
All The Ugly and Wonderful Things: A Novel by Bryn Greenwood
As the daughter of a meth dealer, Wavy knows not to trust people, not even her own parents. Struggling to raise her little brother, eight-year-old Wavy is the only responsible "adult" around. She finds peace in the starry Midwestern night sky above the fields behind her house. One night everything changes when she witnesses one of her father's thugs, Kellen, a tattooed ex-con with a heart of gold, wreck his motorcycle. What follows is a powerful and shocking love story between two unlikely people that asks tough questions, reminding us of all the ugly and wonderful things that life has to offer.
The Mountain Midwife by Laurie Alice Eakes
Ashley Tolliver has tended to the women of her small Appalachian community for years. As their midwife, she thinks she has seen it all. Until a young woman gives birth at Ashley’s home and is abducted just as Ashley tries to take the dangerously bleeding mother to the nearest hospital. Now Ashley is on a mission to find the woman and her newborn baby . . . before it’s too late.
Hunter McDermott is on a quest—to track down his birth mother. After receiving more media attention than he could ever want for being in the right place at the right time, he receives a mysterious phone call from a woman claiming to be his mother. Hunter seeks out the aid of the local midwife in the mountain town where the phone call originated—surely she can shed some light on his own family background.
Ashley isn’t prepared for the way Hunter’s entrance into her world affects her heart and her future. He reignites dreams of having her own family that she has long put aside in favor of earning her medical degree and being able to do even more for her community. But is it commitment to her calling or fear of the unknown that keeps her feet firmly planted in the Appalachian soil? Or is it something more—fear of her growing feelings for Hunter—that makes her hesitant to explore the world beyond the mountains?
Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult
Ruth Jefferson is a labor and delivery nurse at a Connecticut hospital with more than twenty years' experience. During her shift, Ruth begins a routine checkup on a newborn, only to be told a few minutes later that she's been reassigned to another patient. The parents are white supremacists and don't want Ruth, who is African American, to touch their child. The hospital complies with their request, but the next day, the baby goes into cardiac distress while Ruth is alone in the nursery. Does she obey orders or does she intervene?
Ruth hesitates before performing CPR and, as a result, is charged with a serious crime. Kennedy McQuarrie, a white public defender, takes her case but gives unexpected advice: Kennedy insists that mentioning race in the courtroom is not a winning strategy. Conflicted by Kennedy's counsel, Ruth tries to keep life as normal as possible for her family—especially her teenage son—as the case becomes a media sensation. As the trial moves forward, Ruth and Kennedy must gain each other's trust, and come to see that what they've been taught their whole lives about others—and themselves—might be wrong.
With incredible empathy, intelligence, and candor, Jodi Picoult tackles race, privilege, prejudice, justice, and compassion—and doesn't offer easy answers. Small Great Things is a remarkable achievement from a writer at the top of her game.
The Orphan's Tale: A Novel by Pam Jenoff
A powerful novel of friendship set in a traveling circus during World War II, The Orphan's Tale introduces two extraordinary women and their harrowing stories of sacrifice and survival
Sixteen-year-old Noa has been cast out in disgrace after becoming pregnant by a Nazi soldier and being forced to give up her baby. She lives above a small rail station, which she cleans in order to earn her keep… When Noa discovers a boxcar containing dozens of Jewish infants bound for a concentration camp, she is reminded of the child that was taken from her. And in a moment that will change the course of her life, she snatches one of the babies and flees into the snowy night.
Noa finds refuge with a German circus, but she must learn the flying trapeze act so she can blend in undetected, spurning the resentment of the lead aerialist, Astrid. At first rivals, Noa and Astrid soon forge a powerful bond. But as the facade that protects them proves increasingly tenuous, Noa and Astrid must decide whether their friendship is enough to save one another—or if the secrets that burn between them will destroy everything.
Tell Me Three Things by Julie Buxbaum
Everything about Jessie is wrong. At least, that’s what it feels like during her first week of junior year at her new ultra-intimidating prep school in Los Angeles. Just when she’s thinking about hightailing it back to Chicago, she gets an email from a person calling themselves Somebody/Nobody (SN for short), offering to help her navigate the wilds of Wood Valley High School. Is it an elaborate hoax? Or can she rely on SN for some much-needed help?
It’s been barely two years since her mother’s death, and because her father eloped with a woman he met online, Jessie has been forced to move across the country to live with her stepmonster and her pretentious teenage son.
In a leap of faith—or an act of complete desperation—Jessie begins to rely on SN, and SN quickly becomes her lifeline and closest ally. Jessie can’t help wanting to meet SN in person. But are some mysteries better left unsolved?
All 10 of these books are great choices for your September bookclub selection, or for just an "any time" read. What are you currently reading in your bookclub? Have you read any of these books? If so, which is your favorite? Please share!