October Readathon Recap & What's Next

Theresa Wilson
8 hours ago
4 min read

Autumn has officially brought the cozy reading vibes, and I’m excited to share how my October readathon, Love & Lanternlight, went! From bookish challenges to unexpected favorites, this readathon was a wonderful way to celebrate the season. If you participated too, I hope you had as much fun diving into your TBR as I did.

My Reading Goals & Prompts

This year’s readathon had some wonderful prompts to spark creativity and keep things exciting. Here’s a look at the ones I completed:

🕯️ Candlelit Romance
🔍 Lanternlight Mystery
🖤 Whispers in the Dark
🍂 A Stroll Through the Leaves
🔮 Flicker of Magic

Books I Read

Here’s a quick rundown of the books I finished during the readathon; some of these thoughts will have spoilers;

Given Our History – My thoughts: This was such a cute second chance romance! While it still had some steamy moments, I loved the depth of the story — how the characters’ past shaped their present relationship made it feel really heartfelt and authentic.
Grimstone – My thoughts: I absolutely loved this one! If you know me, you know I can’t resist a dark romance, and this book had it all: mystery, murder, and yes, plenty of smut. I finished it in a single day because I just had to know what happened next. It’s hands down my favorite of the readathon and my October favorite.
The Ex Hex – My thoughts: This one was fun! There were a few spots that felt a bit repetitive to me, but overall I really enjoyed it. It’s a second chance romance with a magical curse twist, which made it both sweet and whimsical.
A Deal with the Elf King – My thoughts: I technically included this book in my completed list, but I marked it as a DNF on my personal tracking. I got about a quarter of the way through and couldn’t get into it, so I skipped ahead to the last couple chapters. Unfortunately, it just didn’t click for me — I expected more and found it lacked the hook that usually keeps me reading.
The Spellshop – My thoughts: I really enjoyed this one! I loved the magical elements and the way the story started with a revolution and an escape to her home island. Even though it didn’t have smut, it’s a second chance romance with a magical twist, and it left me wanting to read the other books set in this world.
For Better or Hearse – My thoughts: This was such a fun enemies-to-lovers story. She had previously caused a scene at his wedding, and in the present, she’s a death doula hired by his grandfather to help him in his final months. When they go on vacation with the whole family, they can’t help getting more involved than either expected. Super cute, and yes, the grandfather’s passing added a bittersweet note.
The Wedding Witch – My thoughts: I just finished this one last night, and I loved it! Same author as The Ex Hex, and it delivered all the cozy, magical vibes I was hoping for. I still need to read The Kiss Curse, the second book in the series, to finish the trilogy.

Highlights & Challenges

One of the best parts of this readathon was sharing the books that I read with friends, making those recommendations for others is always a highlight of reading for me. .I also faced some challenges along the way, like DNFing A Deal with the Elf King, I just had a really hard time getting into this book at all. Also I didn't read as many books as I anticipated for October due to the fact that I started rereading some of my favorite fanfiction as well at night so I was really only reading during lunch at work, although Grimstone I did finish in 1 day because it was so good I had to know what was going to happen next.

Favorite Moment

If I had to pick a favorite readathon moment, it would be curling up in my oodie after work to finish reading Grimstone, I had started it at work during my lunch but I had to finish it that night because I just had to know what happened. It really captured the cozy, autumnal spirit of Love & Lanternlight.

Looking Ahead: Upcoming Readathons

I’m thrilled to start planning for the rest of the year! Here’s a peek at what’s coming up. I’ll be diving into these with fresh prompts, exciting reads, and of course, lots of bookish fun.

1. Snowflakes & Second Chances –January 1-31 2026

We’ll kick off the year with cozy reads, quiet stories, and second chances — perfect for fresh starts in the new year.

2. Petals & Prologues – April 1–30, 2026

A season of blossoms, new beginnings, and lighthearted reads.

3. Sunlight & Stories – July 1–31, 2026

For summer, we’ll dive into fun, bright, adventurous stories.

4. Love & Lanternlight – October 1–31, 2026

The original seasonal readathon returns — cozy evenings, flickering lanternlight, and romance at the heart of it.

5. Tinsel & TBRs – December 1–31, 2026

We’ll close out the year with a festive holiday-inspired readathon that still holds onto those cozy winter vibes.

Why You Should Join the Next Readathons

Even if you didn’t join Love & Lanternlight, I highly recommend giving these future readathons a try! They’re perfect for:

Discovering new books and authors
Challenging yourself with creative prompts
Connecting with fellow readers in a fun, cozy community

Plus, there’s nothing like the sense of accomplishment when you check off your reading goals and see your TBR shrink—or grow, depending on your style!

Are you planning to join any of the upcoming readathons? Share your TBRs or your favorite moments from past readathons in the comments below!