If you asked any reader what their favorite reading season is, I think by far the most popular response you\u2019d get would be a resounding \u201cfall.\u201d It\u2019s the season of cozy romances<\/a>, witchy tales<\/a>, and horror books that will have you falling asleep with the light still on. But despite all the fabulous thematic reads, there\u2019s one subgenre I look forward to reading all October long: dark academia<\/a>. So, it only made sense that I bring you all into my obsession for this month\u2019s book club pick.<\/p>\n Dark academia books have that eerie atmosphere, gothic campus settings, and a touch of magic, paired with an obsession with academia that usually borders on mania. And while there are plenty of viral picks that get recommended over and over again, I wanted to make sure our October book wasn\u2019t one everyone had already read. When I cracked open And He Shall Appear <\/em>and was immediately transported back to what it felt like listening to \u201cMurder on the Dancefloor\u201d while watching Saltburn<\/em> in the movie theater, I knew it was the perfect book for October. Here\u2019s everything you need to know about The Everygirl Book Club\u2019s October pick, And He Shall Appear<\/em> by Kate van der Borgh.<\/p>\n Kate van der Borgh<\/p>\n From a mesmerizing literary voice comes a story of obsessive friendship, chilling powers, and untimely death for readers of dark academia classics like If We Were Villains<\/em> and The Secret History<\/em>.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n When an unnamed narrator arrives at Cambridge University in the early 2000s determined to reinvent himself. His northern accent marks him as an outsider, but thanks to his musical gifts, he manages to fall in with his wealthy classmate, Bryn Cavendish.<\/p>\n A charismatic party host and talented magician, the narrator becomes obsessed with Bryn. But something seems to happen to those who challenge or simply irk Bryn\u2014and they aren\u2019t ever the same again. The narrator begins to suspect that Bryn may be concealing terrifying gifts under the guise of magic tricks. As the tension between them grows, a harrowing encounter is followed by Bryn\u2019s death.<\/p>\n Our meetings will take place on the final Thursday of every month, where we\u2019ll dive deep into every thought, theory, and feeling about the book\u2014gently guided by discussion questions we\u2019ll send out the week prior so you have plenty of time to gather your thoughts. However, with the holidays the last couple months of the year look a little different. <\/p>\n JOIN US: October 25, 2026, at 10:30 AM CST<\/strong>: Reserve your spot at the meeting and get the Zoom link here!<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n Sign up for our email list to receive the discussion questions!<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n And don\u2019t worry. There will still be plenty of time for the reading-related tangents we all love to spiral into. If you can\u2019t make it one month, that\u2019s okay, we\u2019ll continue the conversation online through the Book Club BFF group<\/a>, so you\u2019re always in the loop.<\/p>\n The Everygirl has been recommending and reviewing books for years, delivering our unfiltered opinions on what\u2019s worth your time\u2014from the buzzy books<\/a> TikTok can\u2019t shut up about to debut authors you have to know. After years of connecting with our readers through a shared love of books, we were craving a space where we could hear more directly from you and, instead of just telling you what we\u2019re reading, actually read together. The Everygirl Book Club<\/a> is a monthly book club with a reading pick (carefully vetted and chosen by yours truly), which we\u2019ll all read together, chitchatting in our BFF Group<\/a> while we binge, culminating in our monthly live book club discussion.<\/strong> Between meetings, you can also look forward to plenty of book recommendations<\/a> and hilariously relatable bookish content<\/a> (not to toot our own horn). More than anything, The Everygirl Book Club<\/a> is a community by readers, for readers.<\/p>\n Worried you won\u2019t love the read one month? We get it, your time is precious, and you don\u2019t want to waste it reading a book that feels like a chore to finish. But rest assured, we are committed to choosing books we know our readers will love. Our picks will span genres, so depending on the month, you may be diving into your favorite category or stepping slightly outside your comfort zone. What you can always trust is that every book is hand-selected by a team of readers who are just as obsessed with reading as you are. We can\u2019t wait to hear what you think.<\/p>\n So now that you\u2019re caught up on all things The Everygirl Book Club<\/a>, what\u2019s next?<\/p>\n We hope to see you at the meeting, but until then, let\u2019s chat online!<\/em><\/p>\n ABOUT THE AUTHOR<\/p>\n As an Editor for The Everygirl, Lauren ideates and writes content for every facet of our readers\u2019 lives, from must-read books and behind-the-scenes interviews to beauty products she can\u2019t live without. When she isn\u2019t sitting in an AMC watching the latest buzzy release, she can be found scouring Goodreads for the perfect pick for The Everygirl Book Club<\/a>. There, she co-hosts discussions with members, debating plotlines, fancasting characters, and, of course, tossing in her own recommendations.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\nOur October Book Club Pick: And He Shall Appear<\/em><\/span><\/h2>\n
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<\/a>\n <\/div>\nWhen is the book club meeting?<\/span><\/h2>\n
What is The Everygirl Book Club?<\/span><\/h2>\n
You can trust our recommendations<\/span><\/h3>\n
What\u2019s next?<\/span><\/h2>\n
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\n <\/div>\nLauren Blue, Editor & Book Club Co-Host<\/span><\/h3>\n
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