Most people might be put off by the ghosts living in their house, but Margaret is not most people. She is patient, she knows the rules, and she will not let a little disembodied screaming chase her out of her dream home. Sure, some of the ghosts bite, and yes the walls bleed horrendously every September, but she has waited her whole life for a home like this. But now her husband has gone missing, and her daughter is coming to find him, in the middle of September, the worst month of the year. She’s not sure how, but Margaret will have to hide the fact her house is haunted from her daughter. She will not be moved from her home, even if it kills her.
“The September House” was a hilarious, dark, and surprisingly deep read about a woman taking her power back after a life spent bending to other people’s whims. The concept of a main character who knows the house is haunted and chooses to stay and work with or around the ghosts makes for an interesting twist on the traditional haunted house story. Margaret is not scared of her home, for the most part, and works to find joy even in the most difficult of circumstances and to hold her ground even when everyone around her is working against her. The interpersonal relationships between Margaret, her husband, and her daughter are also a fascinating and integral part of the story that is worked masterfully into Margaret’s reactions and understanding of the home and world she lives in. Equal parts funny, horrifying, and meaningful, “The September House” is a must-read for anyone who loves a good old romp through the local Haunted House.