If Halloween is your season (and let’s be honest, for many of us it’s the highlight of the year), then Matthew Mead’s Halloween Spooktacular feels like stepping into a glossy magazine dedicated solely to the magic of October. This book is a visual treat—part craft guide, part recipe collection, and part inspiration board.
What makes it stand out is Mead’s signature style. Every page is beautifully photographed, with that cozy-yet-sophisticated vibe that makes you want to drop everything and start decorating your mantel with gourds, black lace, and flickering candles. The crafts range from simple, family-friendly projects to more detailed displays for those who love going all out. There are also fun recipes sprinkled throughout, making it easy to pull together a themed party that looks Pinterest-perfect but is still approachable.
As a long-time crafter and mum of teens, I especially appreciate how many of the projects are adaptable. Younger kids can jump in on the cookie decorating or pumpkin painting, while adults might want to try the more stylish centerpiece or table-setting ideas. Nothing feels too intimidating, which is important when you’re balancing real life but still want your home to look like it belongs in a magazine spread.
The only drawback? Once you flip through it, you’ll want to make everything. My copy quickly became dog-eared because I kept returning to it year after year, using it not just for crafts but also as seasonal décor on my coffee table.
If you love Halloween crafts, recipes, and decorating ideas that feel elevated but still doable, Matthew Mead’s Halloween Spooktacular is well worth adding to your bookshelf. It’s a keeper that you’ll revisit every fall.
. Holiday style pro Matthew Mead 
offers endlessly inventive haunted home makeovers, quick-and-easy ways to reinvent store-bought cookies and candy, awesome themed parties, and more to make, eat, and enjoy in the weeks before, and throughout all hallows’ eve.
