Hello again, dear readers! Because we’ve officially made it a full week into October and are thus in the throes of Spooky Season, this article will be taking a miniscule step back from the world of Jane Austen to celebrate the other authors headlining JASP’s upcoming Austen vs. Brontë season, Part II—for it is a truth universally acknowledged that the Brontë sisters are the queens of Victorian gothic, and who better to guide our foray into the literary macabre this Halloween season? While the Brontë sisters aren’t around today to post their current recommendations on Instagram or TikTok (although, if they were, this author guesses their feeds would look something like this…), they would certainly approve of the contemporary gothic masterpieces on this list.
Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
If you’re a fan of gothic love stories, chances are you’ve read, or at least heard of, Daphne du Maurier’s classic tale of romantic suspense, originally published in 1938. Du Maurier’s hauntingly beautiful novel tells the story of a young woman who, while serving as a “traveling companion” to an older gentlewoman, meets and quickly marries the mysterious Maxim de Winter, a rich widower with a dark past. Manderley, Maxim’s family estate, is haunted by the memory of Maxim’s late wife Rebecca, who perished under strange circumstances the year prior. Rebecca follows the new Mrs. de Winter’s search for answers, belonging, and true love.
PS. Rebecca is said to have been partially inspired by Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre!
The Death of Jane Lawrence by Caitlin Starling
Caitlin Starling's The Death of Jane Lawrence recounts the tale of Jane Shoringfield, a practical young woman who marries a local doctor, Augustine Lawrence, for convenience's sake. He has only one stipulation for their marriage: that she must never visit Lindridge Hall, his crumbling family mansion (…are we sensing a theme re: gothic houses, here?). Of course, as fate would have it, Jane finds herself stranded at the estate as soon as they’re married, where she finds her new husband terrified, paranoid, and barely clinging to sanity. As the tale unfolds, Jane must fight to secure her marriage, her future, and her life.
What Lies in the Woods by Kate Alice Marshall
If you’re looking for a book that leans a little further into true horror, I’d recommend Kate Alice Marshall’s contemporary thriller What Lies in the Woods. Twenty years ago, Naomi Shaw and her two best friends roamed their hometown woods in search of magic and wonder, playing a “Goddess Game” of their own creation. But then Naomi suffered a violent attack, bringing their games to an end, and the girls’ shared testimony put away a serial killer wanted for the murder of six other women. Twenty years later, Naomi is not so sure they were telling the truth, and she’s determined to find out what really happened—even if it kills her.
Angelika Frankenstein Makes Her Match by Sally Thorne
If you’re in the mood for a cozy, slightly gothic rom-com—hold the guts and gore, please!—then Angelika Frankenstein Makes Her Match is the book for you. Angelika Frankenstein, tired of trying to find a man the old-fashioned way (aren’t we all, girl!), decides to take a page from her brother’s book and fashion her perfect mate from scratch. But when her newly resurrected boyfriend is more interested in discovering his true identity than pursuing a romantic relationship, Angelika reluctantly agrees to aid in his investigation. This re-imagining of Mary Shelley’s classic novel is “filled with carriages, candlesticks, and corpses,” and might just be the pick-me-up you need this Halloween season!
And that’s it for our Brontë-approved Spooky Season reading list! Of course, nothing beats the classics, so if you’re in the mood to revisit Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights (though in light of the recent casting controversy surrounding Emerald Fennell’s upcoming adaptation, you might want to avoid this one altogether…), or even Northanger Abbey, by all means—read on! I’m sure the Brontë sisters would have no qualms with you revisiting an old favorite.
And if, like myself, you’re a connoisseur of all-things-Halloween, be sure to join us later this month for my article detailing Halloween traditions of the Regency and Victorian eras. Trick or treat!
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