What I Read in September 2023
an eclectic mix
I finished 6 books in September and it looks like I’ll be continuing Secrets Never Die by Vincent Ralph into October. It’s the perfect teen horror story for the lead-up to Halloween! I also finally began reading A Swim in a Pond in the Rain: In Which Four Russians Give a Master Class on Writing, Reading, and Life by
. I’m taking it one story at a time and learning a lot about reading and writing at the same time.Some quick stats for you:
3 Audiobooks
1 Novella
1 Short Story
1 book of poetry
2 eARCs from NetGalley
1 Kindle book I’ve owned for over a year
Psst… if you find your next great read in this newsletter, consider supporting my work and keeping me caffeinated while I write.
September Book Reviews
The Magic Border: Poetry and Fragments from My Soft Machine by Arlo PARKS
Synopsis: From Arlo Parks, Grammy Award-nominated recording artist and “voice of a generation”—a stunning debut book of poetry and a world-building companion to her sophomore album My Soft Machine . “Poetry was my place, my little clearing in the forest, where I could quietly put everything I was holding. I’m not sure what gave me the courage to open up that space to you but here I am, doing it. I am proud to show you this personal lens that life shimmers through. This book is no longer mine. It is yours.”— Arlo Parks The Magic Border is the debut book from the Grammy-nominated, Mercury Prize winning musician and poet Arlo Parks. This remarkable collection features Arlo’s handpicked original poems alongside exclusive photographs by friend and collaborator Daniyel Lowden in addition to the complete lyrics to her critically lauded sophomore album My Soft Machine. A deeply personal literary tapestry, The Magic Border beautifully showcases the full breadth of Arlo’s singular artistry.
My Thoughts: If you love Arlo Parks, you will really enjoy this collection of poetry. Narrated by the author, Parks' signature tender lyricism shines through. It was a neat experience to be able to see the beauty of the world through her words. She truly draws you in with infinitesimal details so often overlooked in our busy lives. It's pure magic. Parks has a sweet and soulful voice that is so dreamy to listen to. I would love to buy a full copy of this book to get the lyrics and photos that go along with the poems!
A million thank yous to Libro.fm for my advanced listening copy of this book!
Galatea by Madeline Miller
Synopsis: In ancient Greece, a skilled marble sculptor has been blessed by a goddess who has given his masterpiece--the most beautiful woman the town has ever seen--the gift of life. After marrying her, he expects Galatea to please him, to be obedience and humility personified. But she has desires of her own and yearns for independence.
In a desperate bid by her obsessive husband to keep her under control, Galatea is locked away under the constant supervision of doctors and nurses. But with a daughter to rescue, she is determined to break free, whatever the cost . . .
My Thoughts:
“O goddess, if this is a dream, let me still sleep.”
This retelling of Pygmalion is short but packs a punch. The audiobook narration was sensual and slightly harrowing. Shown through the perspective of Galatea, who is never named, the narrator really captures the power and control Pygmalion has over his creation. Miller expertly captures the idea of a woman as an object and the misogyny rampant in many Greek myths.
For a short story, this is compelling, complex, and very emotional. Worth a read!
Thank you to Libro.fm for the free audiobook for review purposes.
Highlands Christmas: Wishes Come True by Amy Quick Parrish
Synopsis: Melissa MacKenzie is an American interior designer with a seemingly happy life — until her husband Dave reveals he's been cheating on her and wants a divorce and the house. But when a letter informs her that she will inherit a home in Scotland, things start looking up. At the airport she inadvertently meets Colin McGregor, a charming Scottish-American lawyer who happens to be her husband's divorce lawyer. She's taken by his sexy Scottish accent and charm and, as fate would have it, he's on Melissa's flight to Edinburgh ... and on her train to Inverness, and happens to live in the same town where she's inherited her home.
As sparks fly between Melissa and Colin, he agrees to help her secure the Scottish home that she believes she's entitled to. They dive right into Scottish culture — and each other's arms — as love and a new home seem within reach. Will they be able to succeed in both missions? Or will everything fall apart?
My Thoughts: I saw the title Highlands Christmas and knew I’d need to pick this book up! I didn’t realize it’s a novella which makes it perfect if you need a cute, Christmasy read by candlelight. The story follows Melissa, an American interior designer who is going through a divorce. She serendipitously runs into her ex’s lawyer, Colin, en route to her new life in Inverness. The chemistry between the two is instant. I loved the older characters, second-chance romance, and of course the setting! It’s a little stereotypical in some of the Scottish references but I thought it was well done since it’s all new to Melissa anyway. The story was a bit open-ended but I think that was the perfect way to wrap it up. The reader can assume Melissa got everything she wished for Christmas!
The Good Part by Sophie Cousens
Out on November 7th.
Synopsis: At twenty-six, Lucy Young is tired. Tired of fetching coffees for senior TV producers, tired of going on disastrous dates, and definitely tired of living in a damp flat share with flatmates who never buy toilet roll. She could quit her job for a better living, but she's not ready to give up on her dreams. Not just yet. After another diabolical date lands her in a sudden storm and no money for bus fare, Lucy finds herself seeking shelter in a tiny shop, where she stumbles upon a curious wishing machine. Pushing her last coin into the slot, Lucy closes her eyes and wishes with everything she's got: Please, let me skip to the good part of my life.
When she wakes the next morning to a handsome man, a ring on her finger, a high-powered job, and storybook perfect little boy and baby girl, Lucy can't believe this is real--especially when she looks in the mirror, and staring back is her own forty-something face. Has she really skipped ahead to the future she's always wanted, or has she simply forgotten a huge chunk of her life? And as Lucy begins to embrace this new life and new relationships, she'll have to ask herself: Can she go back, and if so, does she want to?
My Thoughts: Can we skip to the good part?
Sophie Cousens was already an auto-read author for me but the fact that she had me both laughing out loud and then crying profusely through the last 20% of this book further solidified her position on my TBR shelf forever. The author took her inspiration from some iconic 90s/00’s movies like Freaky Friday and 13 Going on 30 and came up with the best time travel novel I’ve read this year. Lucy Young is an aspiring TV exec who wishes on a wishing machine to skip to the good part of her life after a fight with her BFF/roommates, a drunken night out, and a failed dating app encounter. Fast forward 16 years and Lucy’s not sure she made the right decision to skip to the part of her life where she’s got everything together. The magical realism aspects of this story are done incredibly well. Anyone who has struggled through the awkwardness of their 20s when everyone seems to be in a little bit different stage of life and you’re just trying to figure out your place in the world will appreciate this novel. I wish I could have given Lucy a big hug and a few words of encouragement before she made that wish! Cousens tackles some messy topics with tender care. All of the characters have profoundly human and endearing qualities. One thing that struck me the most was her experience as a mother. There are really, really hard parenting moments but also so much joy and both exist at the same time. Sam was also the most patient and loving husband and father and I absolutely adored their love story in reverse.
If you like heartwarming stories filled with self-discovery and kids as supporting characters, this one’s for you. I could not put it down.
Some content warnings for the death of a friend, memory loss, and loss of an infant.
Best read while listening to The Good Part by AJR.
Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the eARC in exchange for my honest thoughts!
Acts of Violet by Margarita Montimore
Synopsis: Nearly a decade ago, iconic magician Violet Volk performed her greatest trick yet: vanishing mid-act. Though she hasn't been seen since her hold on the public imagination is stronger than ever. While Violet sought out the spotlight, her sister Sasha always had to be the responsible one, taking over their mother's hair salon and building a quiet life for her beloved daughter, Quinn. But Sasha can never seem to escape her sister's orbit or her memories of their unresolved, tumultuous relationship. Then there's Cameron Frank, tapped to host a podcast devoted to all things Violet, who is determined to finally get his big break--even if he promised to land an exclusive interview with Sasha, the one person who definitely doesn't want to talk to him.
As the ten-year anniversary approaches, the podcast picks up steam, and Cameron's pursuit of Sasha becomes increasingly intrusive. He isn't the only one wondering what secrets she might be keeping: Quinn, loyal to the aunt she always idolized, is doing her own investigating. Meanwhile, Sasha begins to experience an unsettling series of sleepwalking episodes and coincidences, which all seem to lead back to Violet. Pushed to her emotional limits, Sasha must finally confront the most painful truths about her sister, and herself, even at the risk of losing everything.
My Thoughts: Violet Volk performs her greatest magic trick ever— she disappears at a live show without a trace, leaving her family and biggest fans to question whether she meant to escape the world or if there’s foul play involved.
This book was a delight. The story weaves through different timelines and character’s perspectives. While there were A LOT of characters, it’s easy to gloss over the fans and acquaintances in the podcast interviews and focus on the MCs. At its core, this is really a story about sibling rivalry between Violet and her sister. In fact, this is more of Sasha’s story and how she worked through the grief of her sister’s disappearance than a story about the mystery surrounding the disappearance of Violet. There’s a ton of tension and bad blood between the siblings that translates well on the page. I found myself feeling a little bored around the midpoint but Sasha’s relationship with her daughter Quinn kept me reading. Quinn is very much the voice of reason and if it weren’t for her, the story wouldn’t have the same satisfying ending. I’ve read a few reviews where people were disappointed in the ending but I think it was pretty obvious all along that this book would lean towards the realm of magical realism.
I can’t recommend Acts of Violet on audiobook enough. The full cast performance is truly immersive and magical. Montimore does a great job creating a dynamic and engaging reading experience by mixing genres and media types (podcasts, emails, text messages, etc.). I knew within the first 5 minutes of listening time that this was going to be a unique story.
Overall, I’d give this 3.5/5 ish stars. It was a fun read to set the mood for Fall!
Verity by Colleen Hoover
Synopsis: Lowen Ashleigh is a struggling writer on the brink of financial ruin when she accepts the job offer of a lifetime. Jeremy Crawford, husband of bestselling author Verity Crawford, has hired Lowen to complete the remaining books in a successful series his injured wife is unable to finish.
Lowen arrives at the Crawford home, ready to sort through years of Verity's notes and outlines, hoping to find enough material to get her started. What Lowen doesn't expect to uncover in the chaotic office is an unfinished autobiography Verity never intended for anyone to read. Page after page of bone-chilling admissions, including Verity's recollection of what really happened the day her daughter died.
Lowen decides to keep the manuscript hidden from Jeremy, knowing its contents would devastate the already grieving father. But as Lowen's feelings for Jeremy begin to intensify, she recognizes all the ways she could benefit if he were to read his wife's words. After all, no matter how devoted Jeremy is to his injured wife, a truth this horrifying would make it impossible for him to continue to love her.
My Thoughts: Only 5 years late to this one but I finally read my first CoHo book. This book completely consumed me and I did not want to put it down. My heart was racing for the majority of it as I flipped through page after page. The ending left me with so many questions (in the best possible way). A fantastic psychological thriller and steamy romance rolled up in one. The hype for this book is real! It's disturbing and will get inside your head so be sure to check the content warnings. I'll be thinking about this one for a while.
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After reading your review, I absolutely need to get my hands on The Good Part! I don’t think I have read a really good romance-in-reverse-order before and this sounds delightful!
I'm really looking forward to The Good Part, so I'm glad to hear you enjoyed it so much!