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October O'Neil

Goodreads Author

Website

https://www.instagram.com/octoberismagic/

Genre

Romance

Member Since

May 2018

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I write MM Romance books I like to read, which are mostly small town, hurt/comfort, second-chance at love stories that feature broken boys, found family, lots of laughs, lots love, and lots of lube.

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What are you currently working on?

October O'Neil Hi there. I have a few things in the works:

1. There is a sequel to The Long Way Home simmering that I'm very excited about. It's another unique take …moreHi there. I have a few things in the works:

1. There is a sequel to The Long Way Home simmering that I'm very excited about. It's another unique take on a single dad getting a second chance at love in the small town of Pine Gap, GA. I can't wait to share it with everyone. I learned SO MUCH from writing TLWH, reading the reviews, and interacting with all of you. I think Home, Again will retain all the things that made TLWH special--good banter, cozy found family vibes, opportunities to heal--and some improvements that will (hopefully) really help these guys' story really shine.

But first...

2. I'm in the final stages of putting together the very first book I ever started. I actually wrote TLWH when I needed to step away from it for a minute because it got so intense. It's also set in Pine Gap, but 2003. It's a heavy story that really explores trauma in a profound way, but also the healing power of love. There's the support of found family that is so important and a few side characters that I've completely fallen in love with and hope you do too. But, it's no walk in the park. It's torn up my heart something fierce as I've written it. Here's a sneak peek of the blurb....

Rowan
I can tell myself and everyone else I don’t know why I returned to this podunk town for college, but that’s a lie. The reason is standing across the field from me, staring at me with the same eyes that have haunted my dreams for the last six years. But now that I’m here, I don’t know what’s next. The only thing I know for certain–the only thing I’ve ever really known–is that we belong together. I’ve known that since we were five years old.
Nothing’s really changed in the six years since we’ve seen each other: I still want to have adventures with him, share all our secrets and be the one to pick him up when he falls down. Only now, I want him in other ways too, but he’s told me in no uncertain terms he is not interested in any of my “gay shit.” There’s also the problem of him seeming to hate my very existence for reasons unknown.
So, I guess I’ll love him from the sidelines, but this becomes increasingly hard to do when I can tell that he’s hurting more and more every day. Something haunts him, threatens to pull him under, and I’m scared it will succeed. How can I be a friend he doesn’t want and help protect him against an invisible monster, all while protecting my own heart from destruction?

Fletcher
Six years ago, Rowan Shipley was the only good thing in my world. He was light and laughter and a safe place to fall. But a lot can change in six years. When you live with a monster, it’s a very long time. Monsters sink their claws into your brain and make things that were once certain unclear. They tell you that you can’t trust your friends. They help you push them away and stoke the anger and resentment you have when they leave.
So, even though there’s a tiny little voice in the back of my mind that tells me Row can be trusted, the monster’s claws thrash around and try to rip it out, even as he’s standing right in front of me. It feels easier to just let the monster win. To not fight it. I’ve figured out a way to keep myself alive. It might not be living, but at least I’m alive. All I have to do is get through these four years of college, then I can figure it out. I can get out of this town, out of the monster’s grip, and start fresh. I don’t need Rowan Shipley showing up after all this time with his bright smiles and kind eyes and sinfully beautiful body trying to get me to deviate from my plan. I don’t need him trying to get me to live. If I try and live, I just might die.

Gold in the Shadows is a contemporary MM romance that takes place primarily on a college football team in the early 2000s and is as much a love letter to that period of time as it is a love story between the two MCs. It is not a football story, so I may have taken a few liberties there to make the backdrop work for the story. Apologies to the die-hard fans. t features friends-to-tense strangers-to lovers, found family, self-acceptance, slow-burn, moderate angst, lots of steam, and a guaranteed HEA.

See you on the other side!!!
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October O'Neil’s books

Average rating: 4.09 · 44 ratings · 35 reviews · 2 distinct works • Similar authors

	The Long Way Home (Coming Home #1) 4.02 avg rating — 41 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Gold in the Shadows it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 3 ratings — expected publication 2025	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

* Note: these are all the books on Goodreads for this author. To add more, click here.

3 posts
October O'Neil's Blog

In the Works

Hi there. I have a few things in the works:

1. There is a sequel to The Long Way Home simmering that I'm very excited about. It's another unique take on a single dad getting a second chance at love in the small town of Pine Gap, GA. I can't wait to share it with everyone. I learned SO MUCH from writing TLWH, reading the reviews, and interacting with all of you. I think Home, Again will retain all t Read more of this blog post »

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Published on May 26, 2025 12:00

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October is Currently Reading

October O'Neil is currently reading

Welcome to the Universe: An Astrophysical Tour

by Neil deGrasse Tyson (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: nonfiction, nf-science, currently-reading

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Jul 16, 2025 01:16AM

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October O'Neil rated a book liked it Drown Me Gently by Tereza Kane (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
MCs mermaid/kraken gay strict roles 21/ancient TROPES grumpy/sunshine hurt/comfort forced proximity frenemies to lovers fated mates CWs forced medical procedure forced body modification forced captivity KINKY SHIT tenticlessssss
Sep 08, 2025 02:42AM · 1 like · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Drown Me Gently by Tereza Kane. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Drown Me Gently by Tereza Kane <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
October O'Neil rated a book liked it Head in the Game (Groveton College; Forbidden Goals) by Rebecca Rathe (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
MCs White Strict with some switches Double bi awakening TROPES age gap coach player grumpy/less grumpy hurt/hurt I'm gonna fix you by fucking you daddy vibes secret relationship forbidden relationship CWs struggles with alcohol (mostly in past) MC has sex with wo ...more
Sep 08, 2025 02:34AM · 3 likes · like · see review
October O'Neil and 7 other people liked Dani’s status update Dani started reading Playing Dirty (Leighton U, #4)
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October O'Neil and 2 other people liked •:´¨binx ¨`:•'s status update •:´¨binx ¨`:• is 52% done with Pit Stop
Aug 19, 2025 02:20AM · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Pit Stop by Cora Rose. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Pit Stop by Cora Rose <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
October O'Neil rated a book really liked it Blitz'd (Evergreen University #1) by Lee McCormick (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
MCs white bi/bfy mostly strict (top bottoms for first time) TROPES rivals to lovers hurt/comfort sexual awakening/bi-for-you touch him and die CWs parental rejection/aggression physical violence cheating (non-mcs) substance use KINKY SHIT face fucking hands fre ...more
Aug 16, 2025 07:21AM · 3 likes · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Blitz'd by Lee McCormick. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Blitz'd by Lee McCormick <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
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October O'Neil rated a book it was amazing Scoring the Player (Chasing Rings #2) by Kit Grey (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Phenomenal. RTC as I process the emotional ride I've just been on. For now, thank you, Kit Grey, for this gift you've given us. ...more
Jul 29, 2025 01:41PM · 2 likes · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Scoring the Player by Kit Grey. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Scoring the Player by Kit Grey <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
October O'Neil rated a book it was amazing Defined By Deceit by A.E. Via (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
💎 HIDDEN GEM 💎 I stumbled on this book when it was recommended in FB group. I love these finds. I wasn't looking for it, but it was exactly what I needed. This is the kind of story that cracks your heart open but then knits it back together again. Re ...more
Jul 26, 2025 11:31AM · 1 like · like · see review
October O'Neil marked as dnf Coach (Heartstrings of Honor #4) by Casey Morales (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
ARC Review - No Rating - DNF @ 60% I tried, I really, really did. I knew it wasn't exactly my cup of tea from the beginning with the non-stop metaphors and the never-ending processing of the current state of the relationship with relative friend group ...more
Jul 18, 2025 04:34AM · 8 likes · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Coach by Casey Morales. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Coach by Casey Morales <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
October O'Neil rated a book really liked it Safe by L. Waltree (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
a violent and swift wound left behind that will never be healed. it'll stay open and bleeding for him. I know exactly why people love this book. It's raw and passionate, the MCs practically bleed on the page from their wounds--often self-inflicted--an ...more
Jul 15, 2025 01:12PM · 4 likes · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Safe by L. Waltree. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Safe by L. Waltree <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">