Editor’s note: This article was published in Grand Traverse Scene magazine’s Fall 2026 issue. Pick up a free copy at area hotels, visitors centers, chambers of commerce or at the Record-Eagle building at 1764 Forest Ridge Drive in Traverse City. Click here to read GT Scene in its entirety online.
In the blink of an eye, another summer has come to an end. Soon we’ll be setting out pumpkins and spooky décor. Here are three books fit for this transitional time of year.
If you’re not quite ready to say goodbye to beach read season, then pick up a copy of Katie Prokop’s young adult novel, “Harbor Summer.” This delightful second-chance romance unfolds along the shores of Harbor Springs, where Meggie, a college student, is visiting her grandmother. At a party one night, Meggie meets Mitchell, a local boy bartending to make extra money. Sparks fly and soon they are spending all their free time together; sailing on Little Traverse Bay, leaping into the lake, and sharing their dreams. But just as quickly as their romance begins, so does it end, leaving a wake of hurt feelings, guilt, and things left unsaid.
Meggie returns to Harbor Springs 10 years later after having built a shiny life in New York City. On the surface, she appears to have it all. But the comfort and nostalgia of Harbor Springs remind Meggie of the person she used to be and of the priorities she set aside. A chance encounter with Mitchell stirs up old feelings, causing both to confront the truth of that long-ago summer and the consequences of decisions they have made since then. Perhaps by trusting their hearts, Meggie and Mitchell will find their way back to themselves and back to each other.
Prokop has created a sweet and wholesome escape for teen readers and anyone looking to revisit the joys of youth. As a coming-of-age novel, the pages are filled with life and relationship lessons. Meggie and Mitchell face moments that challenge their integrity and necessitate self-reflection. Idyllic Harbor Springs and Little Traverse Bay are an enchanting backdrop to a story that will evoke your own memories of crushes and seemingly endless summers. Sure, the ending is rather predictable, but I found that to be a reprieve from the chaos of everyday life and the news cycle. Besides, who wouldn’t enjoy being swept away by a Northern Michigan love story?
To swap sunny summer reads for spooky season vibes, look no further than “Voices Carry Here: Supernatural Stories of Ghosts, Mystery, and Suspense,” by Gail Galotta. Set primarily in the Upper Peninsula, this collection of 10 short stories jumps around from the 1950s to present day and features characters living and dead. There are cautionary tales, hauntings, unexplained disappearances, and premonitions. In one story, a young teacher rents a lakeside cabin and discovers a history of tragedy. Later, a young man learns the consequences of wishing for a different life. And in perhaps the most frightening story, a babysitter faces an unimaginable foe.
Although most of the suspense and fright are products of the supernatural, plenty of goosebumps come from Galotta exposing the dark side of humanity. Duplicity, jealousy, indiscretion and cruelty all play a role in “Voices Carry Here.” Galotta wisely leaves us several untidy endings, allowing the reader to draw their own conclusions and adding to the eerie atmosphere. Like a fog rolling in, the horror in “Voices Carry Here” seeps in slowly, building a sense of doom that lingers beyond the page. This collection would be a great introduction to the horror genre, as there are no major frights or excessive gore. One just has to be brave enough to dip their toes in.
In J. L. Hyde’s “Witches of Westridge” a fictional Michigan town becomes known as “Salem of the Midwest” after three teenaged sisters go missing in October 1993. Maggie, Sarah, and Bridget Thornwick were beloved by everyone in town until a night of babysitting and scary movies leads to accusations of witchcraft and endangering young children. The gossip and hostility grow like wildfire, and just a few days later, the three Thornwick sisters disappear. Investigators never uncover what happened to the girls, leaving a gaping hole in the lives of their parents and older sister, Nancy.
Decades later, Westridge Cove has created a booming tourist industry inspired by the Thornwick sisters’ disappearance, the accusations against them, and Halloween. Every October, the town fills with people lured by this unsolved mystery and the macabre. Influencers and internet sleuths vie to discover new information and to catch a glimpse of Nancy Thornwick or her daughter Iris, who run a café in town. For the most part, Nancy and Iris just try to keep their heads down while Westridge Cove turns the worst period of their lives into spectacle. But this year, visitors are getting more than they bargained for as one body after another turns up. Residents begin to question whether these deaths are connected to the Thornwick case or if they are just coincidence.
Inspired by the Salem Witch Trials and the Satanic Panic of the 1980s, Hyde’s tale calls attention to the dangers of gossip, misinformation, and letting fear turn into hatred. Her novel is led by strong, witty, and complex female characters and she skillfully captures the power of friendship. Hyde balances her thriller with ample humor and a bit of romance.
“Witches of Westridge” is a page-turner written for fans of Hocus Pocus, urban legends, and true crime dramas. Hyde casts a spell that keeps readers guessing from the prologue to the final page, where she reveals some answers but leaves us wanting more. Thankfully, we won’t be waiting long; book two in her Westridge Cove Mystery Series comes out this fall.