If there’s one thing we all agree on here at Once Upon a Book Club, it’s that there’s no such thing as too many books. We’re a team of proud bookworms, and while we love creating unforgettable book boxes for our readers, we’re just as busy devouring stories in our downtime. 

And as usual, we’ve asked the OUABC team what they’re currently reading—and let’s just say their picks cover everything from cozy romance and creepy houses to direwolves, Deaf rom-coms, and royal assassins. Whether you're in the mood for spine-tingling mystery, heart-racing fantasy, or heartwarming romance, there's something here to add to your TBR.

We’re so excited to share what we’ve been curled up with!

Logan: The Mystery Guest by Nita Prose. 

“This is the 2nd book in The Maid series! I absolutely love Molly the Maid and her perspective at solving mysteries. I'm also loving the character development of many of the side characters in this sequel as we get much more of her childhood and the backstory of many characters that we didn't get in the first one.”

About the Book:

Molly Gray is back and better than ever in this standalone follow-up to The Maid. Now the Head Maid at the luxurious Regency Grand Hotel, Molly’s world turns upside down when world-famous mystery author J.D. Grimthorpe suddenly dies during tea, quite literally dropping dead. 

With an old foe back on the case, Detective Stark, and a long list of suspects, Molly takes it upon herself to uncover the truth. But to solve this mystery, she’ll need to revisit her past, including the strange memories of the Grimthorpe mansion where she once worked with her beloved Gran. Packed with secrets, charm, and a sprinkle of classic whodunnit suspense, The Mystery Guest proves that even the tidiest of lives can hide the dirtiest secrets.

 

Tiffany: Warrior Princess Assassin by Brigid Kemmerer. 

“The romance isn’t instant; it builds gradually, with a lot of yearning, internal conflict, attraction vs distrust. The heat does get turned up though!”

About the Book:

Three people. One kingdom. A storm of secrets and longing. Ky, the fire-wielding King of Kyronan, faces a nation on the brink of ruin and hopes a marriage alliance with Astranza will be its salvation. 

But Princess Jory hides a fading family magic and a love for another, her childhood friend Asher, who now works for the deadly Hunter’s Guild. When Asher is hired to kill both Jory and Ky, he's faced with a choice that could save or destroy them all. What follows is a fiery mix of political tension, slow-burn romance, betrayal, and (yes, Tiffany was right!) a fair amount of heat.

Teri: Dire Bound by Sable Sorensen. 

“I'm listening to the audiobook which is really good and has one of my favorite voice actors. It's about a girl who joins the army in order to save her sister, and unsuspectedly ends up a part of the Bonding Trials, where people bond with dire wolves to become elite fighters in the war. It's very intense and action-packed and fun.”

About the Book:

Imagine Fourth Wing and The Hunger Games got together and added giant, telepathic direwolves. That’s Dire Bound. Meryn Cooper never wanted to be a warrior, but when her sister is kidnapped, she joins the army out of desperation and lands smack in the middle of the brutal Bonding Trials. 

She’s bonded with a direwolf who won’t speak to her, surrounded by enemies, and constantly watched by an icy instructor (who may or may not be swoon-worthy). With deadly training, royal drama, and secrets hiding behind every smile, Meryn’s fight is as much for her heart as it is for survival.

Sydney: The Red Knot by Monique Asher.

“I'm listening to this one on audiobook and loving the emotion and anxiety the narrator adds to this atmospheric story! The unreliable main character makes for a confusing read (but in a good way) with tons of twists and turns! This is the perfect mix of occult mystery and small-town horror, and I have no idea what's going to happen next.”

About the Book:

Set on a storm-battered, isolated Alaskan island, The Red Knot follows Detective Audra as she investigates the brutal murder of her friend (the town therapist) and the disappearance of three local girls. 

At the heart of the mystery is Valorie, the dazed and blood-covered daughter of a notorious cult leader. Her memory is gone, her past a mystery. As Audra races to uncover the truth, what she finds is more chilling than she imagined, stretching back decades and turning friends into suspects. With a haunting atmosphere and hair-raising twists, this is one story where no one (and nothing) is as it seems.

Nicole: Strange Houses by Uketsu. 

“It's such a fun mystery book! I love the way this book incorporates house blueprints to help tell the story and the way all the murder houses in the book are tying together! It's hard to put down!”

About the Book:

Part horror, part logic puzzle, Strange Houses is a chilling Japanese bestseller that invites readers to examine the literal blueprint of mystery. When a freelance writer is asked to evaluate a second-hand house, he notices something odd: a “dead space” hidden within the floor plan. 

One by one, the blueprints of other murder houses come into play, each revealing new clues and eerie architectural anomalies. With help from an architect friend, he digs deeper and finds that what’s behind these strange designs may be more sinister than any ghost story.

Tristan: The Honeycrisp Orchard Inn by Valerie Bowman. 

“This story is so cute and enjoyable! It's making me want to take a trip to the East coast for all the fall activities and colors. There's a pug named Pumpkin with the most adorable character traits. Every page makes me smile, and it's really been the perfect uplifting, cozy read!”

About the Book:

Ellie Lawson’s return to her family’s inn on a Long Island apple orchard isn’t exactly going as planned. Fired and freshly dumped, she’s looking for peace and instead finds Aiden, the grumpy but handsome son of the orchard’s owners, already living in her attic apartment. 

To make matters even more complicated, they’re put in charge of the orchard’s Harvest Festival. As tension turns to spark, and forced proximity leads to unexpected sweetness (plus a pug named Pumpkin!), this small-town romance is full of cozy vibes, fall leaves, and heartfelt second chances.

Ryan: Kiss-Fist by Cora Rose and E.M Lindsey. 

“This book is super cute and sweet. Robbie is deaf and Thom is dyslexic, with ADHD. It is really sweet seeing the two MMCs work hard in order to be able to communicate and better understand each other.”

About the Book:

When grumpy Deaf professor Robbie is guilted into joining a gym, the last thing he expects is to fall for Thom, the charming, dyslexic, ADHD personal trainer who doesn’t know sign language but does know how to smile in a way that melts hearts. 

What starts as a sweaty enemies-to-lovers fling slowly becomes something more, as Thom learns to sign and Robbie starts to believe he might be worthy of love. Kiss-Fist is a spicy, heartfelt MM romance full of laughter, awkwardness, adorable efforts, and that warm, fuzzy feeling of being truly seen.

Final Chapter: Our Reading Hearts Are Full

From murder mysteries and direwolves to cuddly pugs and swoony slow burns, our bookshelves are full of incredible stories this month—and we wouldn’t have it any other way! Whether you're looking for a dark thriller, an epic fantasy, or a tender romance, we hope something from our reading list makes its way onto yours.

Got a current read you’re obsessed with? We’d love to hear about it. Tag us and share what’s got you hooked this month! And as always, keep turning those pages. Happy reading from all of us at Once Upon a Book Club.

If you’re looking for some more inspiration, make sure to check out our blog on October’s new releases and our ready-to-ship boxes!