October Happenings: Cozy Reads, Craft Nights & Spooky Fun!

October Happenings: Cozy Reads, Craft Nights & Spooky Fun!

by Megan Dixon in Blogs

Fall has officially arrived at Paper and Vine, and October is packed with creative, cozy, and just a little bit spooky activities you won’t want to miss! Here’s a look at everything happening this month:

📚 Book Club Gatherings

  • Book of the Month Club Meeting – October 2
    Kick off the month with thoughtful conversation on 'Anywhere with You' and your favorite thoughts.  
  • Fantasy Book Club Meeting – October 9
    Step into magical worlds and discuss fantastical adventures about 'When the Portals Open' with fellow fantasy lovers and local author, Mercedes Koefoed, who will be at the store for Q&A and signing.
  • Thriller Book Club Meeting – October 16
    Perfect for spooky season—join us to dive into suspenseful, edge-of-your-seat conversation about 'Wasp Trap'.
  • Book and Bottle Book Club – October 23
    A relaxed evening combining great conversation over 'French Kitchen' with your favorite bottle—wine, cider, or sparkling water, it’s up to you!

🎨 Creative & Craft Nights

  • Pink Pumpkin Painting – October 3
    Get creative for a cause! Paint pumpkins pink in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
  • Fantastic Needle Point Night – October 14
    Thread, stitch, and relax with fellow needlework enthusiasts. Beginners and experts are welcome!

👻 Spooky Season Specials

  • Boo-Dazzle Book Night – October 7
    A festive evening celebrating Halloween vibes with themed book fun.
  • Ghosts and Gossip PJ Party – October 17
    Bring your coziest pajamas for an evening of ghost stories, gossip, and laughter.
  • Trick or Treat Book Swap – October 28
    Swap your gently loved books for new-to-you reads in this Halloween-inspired community exchange.

🗓️ Special Notes

  • The store will be closed on Mondays (Oct 6, 13, 20, 27).
  • October 22: Closed for a private event in the evening.

✨ Whether you’re here to read, craft, or celebrate the season, October has something for everyone. Mark your calendars, invite a friend, and join in the fun!

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Conditions of Will by Jessa Hastings - Book Review

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It’s about what it means to accept yourself, even when others won’t. And it asks: Can you find peace when the people who broke you still refuse to own what they’ve done? Some of the major themes that stood out to me: • Truth vs. Silence — how much it costs to finally speak, and how freeing it can be • Family trauma & favoritism — the way siblings can be assigned roles that define their whole lives • Self-worth — especially in the context of abuse, secrecy, and parental rejection • Love as risk — and how love rooted in truth is always messier, but more real One of my biggest takeaways: Healing is not about fixing other people—it’s about freeing yourself, even if no one else comes with you. ⸻ 🎨 Writing Style & Pacing Jessa Hastings has a beautifully observant writing style—layered, introspective, and full of quiet tension. That said, some parts of the book, especially the romantic repetition between Georgia and Sam, slowed the pacing for me. 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Read if you like: 👻 Feeling like someone is watching you🎧 True Crime podcasts👀 Perspective of the killer🌧️ Pacific Northwest weather💪 Stories of survival and resilience after trauma Nola Strate is no stranger to the morbid and paranormal. After an encounter with a serial killer as a child, she grew up to carry on her father’s radio show which specializes in hauntings and cryptid sightings. Until one evening when she receives a call to the radio show that takes her back to her childhood. What was initially believed to be a hoax call turns out to be the return of a prolific Pacific Northwest murderer-the very same one taht Nola survived in her youth.  As an avid thriller consumer, I was instantly interested in reading Night Watcher based on the creepy night vision cover art. Yes, I judged a book by its cover, and I’m so glad I did. Although I am normally skeptical about podcasters writing novels, Daphne Woolsoncroft has done an excellent job at creating a fictional story based on her own experience with an unsolved murder of a family member. Night Watcher creates a creepy ambiance that had me nervous to listen to the book after dark. This particular boom depicted a voyeuristic insight into the mind of a calculated stalker turned serial killer. I found myself holding my breath as I listened to it on my drive home, begging the characters to look over their shoulder or check the locks one more time. While I did have some issues with the resolution of the book, the storytelling along the way was so fun and creepy that I’m willing to forgive a trope I’m not a fan of. Overall, I would give Night Watcher a solid 4 out of 5 stars. It is a perfect read as we transition into the fall season, but don’t say I didn’t warn you if you find yourself sleeping with a light on. If you want to read, you can find copies of the book here: HardcovereBook

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