Awkward in October

Bookish Romantics #1

by Teresa Yea

My name is Theodora Dy. I’m single and live with my parents. I may be existing, but I sure as hell am not thriving. I want more out of life before resigning myself to decrepit spinsterhood. I want adventures and mistakes, balmy summer nights and stirring rooftop conversations. I want a beautiful romance. Like something ripped straight out of the pages of The Witch of Blackbird Pond , my favorite book of all time. But that’s all wishful thinking until I commit to a dramatic change. So I quit my job. Purchased a cheap old house sight unseen and booked a one-way ticket to Connecticut where autumn is in full swing and Halloween is just around the corner. I may be living my best life, but I’m in over my head. My fixer upper is falling apart and my big stupid gesture is sucking my bank account dry. Fortunately, my grumpy neighbor, Carter, knows a thing or two about repairing ‘money pits’ (his words, not mine). He’s perfectly practical in every way. I’m a hopeless romantic. We’re as opposite as two people can be. But unbeknownst to him or me… In October any wonderful unexpected thing might be possible. Even the beginning of a beautiful romance.

Genres: Romance, Halloween, Contemporary, Holiday, Rom Com, Contemporary Romance, Paranormal

292 pages, Paperback

First published September 13, 2022

About the author

Teresa Yea is an awkward bean with a fondness for British period dramas and minimalism. In the grand scheme of romance novels, she likes dukes and viscounts, adorkable rom coms and spicy ebooks that blazes up her Kindle (you know the kind). She is obsessed with The Witch of Blackbird Pond, a book she has read over 15+ times and wrote about (lustfully) at her website teresayea.com


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Reviews

[Sammie Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was cute, and really funny! The first half made me laugh my ass off, it was completely ridiculous…and a little bit gross. The second half…just ridiculous. Both MCs acted like they were teenagers, and when we got to their final hash-it-out scene, it was actually pretty hurtful and mean. I had high hopes! Let me set the scene; Connecticut in October. Lots of historical houses, a perfect B&B, one local grump and one California transplanted weirdo. Meet Theo and Carter…

Theo thinks she can fix up her new-to-her house, known as The Witch House, to live in. Carter thinks she’s unrealistic as fuck, and thinks she should scrap it and build new. Also, it’s haunted. What could go wrong? Throw in the most awkward sex-proposition scene that I’ve ever read in my life (I know, I know…it’s in the title) and a stubborn idiot girl with commitment issues, and the second half of the book just went up in flames. Cute, FUNNY, but not my cup o’tea.

[CheyAnn Robin ·ᴥ· · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm giving this book three stars because it had some steamy scenes in it. (I read a lot of reviews and a lot of people said this was a clean romance book. I skipped the pages with the sexual content.)
There was some language in it: Jesus's name was used as a swear word twice.


I did enjoy this book, I just wish the author skipped some parts of the book. It was funny, the main character was hilarious.

[Candace Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this super cute story! Theodora was so much fun and I absolutely loved her fascination with a book character which most of us can relate to! The fall vibes were perfect and although contemporary I enjoyed the bit of witchy decor sprinkled in! This is either my favorite or tied to be my favorite of contemporaries by Yea. And Carter was oh so much swoon! He was the cutest little cinnamon roll! Fantastic dialogue, spunk, with the perfect amount of steamy and adorable romance!

[Morgan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was completely ridiculous, but super fun at first. I loved the first half. By the second half, I was over it and it just kept getting more and more out there.

[Mckenzie M · Rating 1 out of 5]

oh my God this was such a tough read. if you cannot stand the ultimate millenial cringefest then you won't want to read this book. the main character was the cringiest, most annoying and selfish character. how can you root for someone like that? if the main character was a man instead of a woman and was expecting the girl he kind of likes to change to fit her ideals, people would be upset. i wish the author would pay me for the piece of my life that i wasted reading this garbage.

[Bec · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF

I was bored and just couldn’t get into the characters

[Amber Chapa · Rating 1 out of 5]

Sounded cute but I should’ve DNF’d it. Thankfully it was short so yeah —I’d pass on this.

[Katie Grimmer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was written just for me. A woman who moves to Wethersfield because her favorite book of all time is “The Witch of Blackbird Pond” and ends up living next to door to her own Nat Eaton?! Yeah, just for me.

[hilal · Rating 1 out of 5]

i hope this was written by a 12 year old

[Shelley Lawrence · Rating 3 out of 5]

Awkward in October, by Teresa Yea, is a seasonal, sweet, silly and slightly frustrating story. It’s also free on Kindle Unlimited.

The main character, Theo, short for Theodora, has spontaneously left her longtime job as a Grievance Specialist for a health insurance company and impulsively purchased a house sight unseen, on the other side of the country simply because it’s linked to her favorite story, The Witch of Blackbird Pond. To say that her life revolves around this book would be an understatement. Once there, the house, as would be expected particularly for the price, is far worse than she anticipated. Though it’s in shambles, she decides that she can tackle this renovation (because she’s good at DYI projects) with a little help from her hunky, orderly, minimalist neighbor.

Not only does Theo befriend some of the quirky older women in the neighborhood, but despite their wildly differing personalities, a rapid romance ensues between Theo and her neighbor. This story is not without its steamy moments and they do hop into bed before much of anything else happens. Regardless, her neighbor, Carter, is a gem of a guy and far too accommodating and compassionate, if you ask me.

The beginning of this story was really cute, light-hearted and humorous, and Theo is an usual, lovable oddball of a character with a laugh-out-loud inner dialogue. But her exaggerated stubbornness and intolerance over a simple mistake made by Carter, was over-the-top, off-putting and aggravating. The ending was a wild, outlandish, whirlwind of a ride, but if you’re willing to suspend disbelief, you’ll have fun with it. This story can’t be taken too seriously, but it is a humorous, unexpected, light-heartedly entertaining Autumnal story and I enjoyed it.

[Ari💕 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book! It was fun and quirky like the FMC! It was also super cozy~ 🍂🍁

[Sayuri Correia · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5 ⭐️

"Attention men: everything you know about dating is wrong. Just listen to your girl when she talks about her favorite book. She’s given you the key to her heart."

[ells · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well it is awkward I’ll say that. I loved the idea but some bits were cringe and just a bit weird and it felt rushed at times.

[Celine Schell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the first half of the book. It was quirky and cute and awkward! Halfway through, however, when they take their relationship to the next level felt so abrupt and just weird to me. The second half of the book then felt weird and childish to me compared to awkward. I also felt that the ending wrapped up the book ok but it was very quick. I wish I could have had more of an ending.

It was a cute read for October and I’m glad I read it, but it’s not a book I’d re-read🤷🏼‍♀️

[Mahfer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Woow I did not think I would like this books but I really loved if! And BOTH characters! What a miracle
Just the old lady was a bit annoying… but everything else and the main girl was so funny and I relate to her so much omg lol! Had such a good time

[Ariana Reyes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this cute little book! It was such a good pellet cleanser from reading so much fantasy!

The only reason I have it 4 stars was because the main character Theo didn’t really act her age. I would say she acted like she was in her early 20’s but she was 34 😲

[Lauran’s Chapter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rom-Com Perfection!

This book was adorable! It is definitely the meant to be read in October, though it would be enjoyable any time. I LOL’d multiple times throughout the book. A light, quick, very enjoyable read!

[Carmen GilFraguada-Bibber · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.75

[Natalie {booksandbakeryfinds} · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute, fun, quirky and quick fall read. I read this book while I was sick in bed for a few days, and it was the perfect antidote! Laugh out loud funny, some spicy scenes, spooky vibes and interesting main characters. Definitely worth putting this on your fall/Halloween TBR.

[Bekk Mendenhall · Rating 1 out of 5]

Awkward in October is a grumpy sunshine romantic comedy about Theodora, a woman who quits her job and moves to Connecticut to live out her favorite book, The Witch of Blackbird Pond. She buys a fixer upper house that needs a lot of work, and her neighbor Carter, a retired contractor, is offered up by his Grandma Edith to help her. They have opposite personalities and clash at first, but soon develop feelings for each other.

I don’t really know what I was expecting, but this wasn’t it. Between the action words (CREAK. GROAN. CREAK. SCUFFLE. SCUFFLE. STOMP. STOMP. CRASH.) and literally shitting herself during what is the only implied spicy scene, I was cringed and second-hand embarrassed through the whole thing. I finished it, I’m not sure why or how, but I did.

Anyway, read it if you don’t mind what I assume to be a crossover between disney and hallmark.

[Marissa Lambert · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so cute! It had everything you could ever want in a cutesy fall rom-com: A charming small town, a handsome neighbor, a spunky old lady, and an old creeky house that may or may not be haunted by a ghost named Eliza. I can't tell you how many times I laughed out loud!

P.S. I want to be apart of Edith's book clubs so bad.

[Holly · Rating 2 out of 5]

So this was good in the first half and then the second half took some... interesting... turns that I don't really know how to feel about! It wasn't dull though that's for sure

[hazel (taylor’s version)🎀💗 · Rating 2 out of 5]

i’m sad i didn’t like this i thought it sounded super cute but honestly it sucked 😭

[Manders · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lighthearted and cute, quick and quirky. The humor in this had me giggling as a cringey millennial.

[Mel · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5 ⭐

“Camille doesn’t dress like a goth,” I say, thinking of my cousin’s collection of designer handbags, “but she’s a graveyard girl in her soul.”

This started off strong, but it couldn't keep the same pacing for the entire read. Sometimes I would be laughing at the humor, and at other points I thought there was just too much humor. That it could use less jokes at certain points, and just more organic scene building to help balance it out.

"Attention men: everything you know about dating is wrong. Just listen to your girl when she talks about her favorite book. She’s given you the key to her heart."

With that out of the way, let me just say that this book has so much heart. This felt like it was written by someone who is passionate about every single scene in here and put their everything into it. I love that. There were parts of this that made me so gleeful, lines that resonated with my soul, and validation that A Very Merry Mix-Up is in fact a top tier Hallmark movie.

"She’s a moonbeam that’s hard to pin down.”

It's a love letter to screwball comedies, romance, and of course the book The Witch of Blackbird Pond. There were things that just didn't work for me, but that doesn't mean I don't appreciate the pure love that's pouring out of these pages. I'm not talking about the romance between Theo and Carter either. I will continue to follow this author and read anything they write because there is potential here for her to become one of my favorites. I can just feel it.

[Weekend Reader_ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Theo

This was adorable, a romance based on a book that is a book. Theo's quarterlife crisis kicks into gear, so she quits her job and moves to the town her favorite book was written in to start her new life. Her house may be haunted but at least her free help is a sexy retired contractor. Carter is very much an introvert who loves trains and might be frugal to the extreme. Anywho these two are spending a lot of time together so that Theo can host Thanksgiving. Will they make it? Will they fall in love?

Such a fun read but it dragged a bit once Theo got to town and then again around that halfway mark but overall would keep reading from this author.

CN: medical debt, microagressions, ghosts, house fire, sexism, work related burn out

[readbypia · Rating 3 out of 5]

3⭐️
Die erste Hälfte des Buches war so gut, dass ich sogar 5 Sterne vergeben hätte. Es war unglaublich lustig und das Setting so toll mit dem Witch Haus im Herbst und Halloween😍 aber die zweite Hälfte hat mir gar nicht mehr gefallen. Die Beziehung hat sich unglaublich merkwürdig entwickelt und die Protagonistin wurde leider richtig nervig. Auch die Story wurde zum Teil einfach nur noch absurd und komisch. Awkward in October passt da auf jeden Fall.
Leider richtig schade. Die Story hatte viel mehr Potential.

[Megan Curry · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this - it was a quick, cozy little read. I legitimately forgot where I was while reading it, I was so immersed. Carter is just the flipping best and I adore him and Theo’s banter.
Also I need an Edith in my life - both for just who she is as a person but also wouldn’t mind a lovely older woman setting me up with her hot grandson.

[Priscilla Berstler · Rating 1 out of 5]

that was… bad. theo might be top 5 worst fmc i’ve had the displeasure of reading. she was so immature and stubborn being inside her head gave me a headache. i was happy when carter put her in her place… until he immediately forgave her.
also i don’t think this author knows anything about hamster care.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was hilarious. I snorted so many times.