What I Read in September 2024
Hello from the other side of Hurricane Helene. I’m not ready to get back into a regular newsletter rhythm just yet but I did want to let you know that my family is safe, our home was not damaged, we now have power and water (but no Internet) and we all have a role to play in the ongoing recovery efforts in our town. Everything that happened after September 25th until now is a blur and I have not had time to process it yet. I’m in awe of the way our community has come together to support each other during this time. It wasn’t until I sat down to finish this newsletter draft that I realized just how good of a month it was for reading. I read plenty of 4 ⭐ books and several highly anticipated Fall releases that I’d be remiss not to share with you.
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
Lady Macbeth by Ava Reid
⭐⭐⭐
Genre: Historical Fiction/Gothic Fantasy
Pages: 320
Format Read: digital, borrowed from the library
“You will haunt me, too,” she says at last. “We can never be truly apart then, if we are each other’s ghosts.”
"Lady Macbeth" reimagines the original play with a feminist twist and elements of fantasy rooted in Scottish folklore. Reid’s descriptions of the landscape are beautiful. I highlighted many passages in the first half, but fewer in the second. Beyond the romance with Lysander, the story never fully captured my attention. The pacing was slower than I anticipated. However, I appreciated how the author portrays Roscille exploring her power as a woman amid vile and manipulative men. Overall, I was disappointed in this story and wish that Reid pushed the character development further.
If I Stopped Haunting You by Colby Wilkens
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Genre: Paranormal Romance/Horror
Pages: 320
Format Read: advance DRC, courtesy of NetGalley
In this enemies-to-lovers paranormal romance, two feuding writers end up on a writers’ retreat together at a haunted castle in Scotland. The mix of lustful romance contrasted with solving a ghost mystery shouldn’t work but it does and was so much fun to read! I had a hard time putting this one down because the pacing was brilliant. Another unique angle If I Stopped Haunting You brings to the romance genre is the representation of native writers and their struggles in the publishing industry. Both Neil and Penelope grapple with their native identity and how to be true to themselves while also writing a bestselling book that people want to read. Wilkens does a great job of creating a haunting gothic atmosphere with the castle setting and I honestly felt a little spooked as I read this book before bed! If I Stopped Haunting You was the perfect Halloween jaunt and I’m eager to read more from this author.
Death at Morning House by Maureen Johnson
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Genre: Young Adult Mystery/Thriller
Pages: 320
Format Read: audiobook, borrowed from the library
When Marlowe accidentally sets fire to a house with a candle that explodes on her 1st date with her crush Akilah, she wants to disappear. Luckily, a job at Morning House presents itself. Typical of Johnson’s signature writing structure, the timelines alternate between the present and the past as a way to build suspense and lay out the mystery that will be explored in the present day. Both timelines are equally interesting and the way the stories are related reveals twists and turns that play into the other. The back and forth is seamless, as is the overall pacing of this standalone mystery. Fire is a recurring theme in this book and is brought up in a way that provides a bit of dark comedic relief for the reader. There is an attempt by the author to include commentary against eugenics but my only criticism of the book is that it felt half-hashed. One thing I loved in this book is that the location of the murders in Johnson’s novels becomes a character. The lore surrounding Morning House is haunting and we learn a lot of history through the descriptions of the events that happened there. It’s always easy for me to picture myself in her books. Marlowe is no match for Stevie Bell but this was still a solid YA mystery/thriller!
The Faculty Lounge by Jennifer Mathieu
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Pages: 320
Format Read: audiobook, borrowed from the library
The Faculty Lounge offers a unique perspective on school life through a diverse cast of characters. The story begins with the discovery of an elderly substitute teacher's death in the faculty lounge at Baldwin High School. This event sets off a chain of wild, bizarre, tragic, mundane, beautiful, and humorous moments throughout the school year. The novel delves into the lives of the adults involved, revealing their distinct personalities and lives outside of their roles at the school. Ultimately, at the core of this unconventional workplace novel is a story about the strength of human connection and the fulfillment found in everyday work. I'm not sure what else to say about this novel other than it was an unexpected delight. Each of the teachers' lives Mathieu explores in the 13 chapters of this book is layered and rich. She gives humanity back to the very real and sometimes messy lives of teachers. The Faculty Lounge had the perfect dose of sarcasm that I crave in my reading life.
The Pumpkin Spice Cafe by Laurie Gilmore
⭐⭐.5
Genre: Romance/Cozy Mystery
Pages: 286
Format Read: audiobook, courtesy of Libro.fm
The cover of this book leads you to believe that it will be a cozy mystery but the mystery elements were not fleshed out. The romance was just as lackluster. If you’re looking for a book to read strictly because you want autumnal vibes, this could be the right choice for you. The best part of the book is Casper the cat and the fact that it’s a short listen on audio.
Love Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Genre: Romance
Pages: 389
Format Read: audiobook, courtesy of Libro.fm
This is one of my new favorite Ali Hazelwood STEM romances. I think I’d give it a slight edge over Love on the Brain. I enjoyed seeing cameos from Olive and Adam pop up in this story. In fact, all the side characters in this story were incredibly well-developed and added depth to the story. There weren’t any I felt could have been left out. Ali Hazelwood nails it every time she writes about women’s struggles in academia. In Love, Theoretically, I especially appreciated her commentary on how underpaid the people who work in academia are. This is a slow-burn, enemies/rivals-to-lovers romance but the push and pull between Jack and Elsie is undeniably hot. There are tons of funny pop culture references scattered throughout the banter between the two MCs. This book is for all the women who grew up being told that their purpose in life was to make everyone else happy. Elsie shows us we can stand up for ourselves and that it’s okay to choose what we want. Jack helps Elsie see that and for that reason, I think they bring out the best in each other. I also adored Therese Plummer's narration and highly recommend projects she’s involved in.
Most Wonderful by Georgia Clark
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Genre: Romance
Pages: 432
Format Read: advance DRC, courtesy of NetGalley
The Belvedere siblings are not ready for the holidays. One's obsessed with a TV star, another's struggling with their comedy career, and the third just got dumped publicly. But hey, what's Christmas without a little chaos? The three adult siblings head to their mom's Catskills mansion, hoping to escape their problems. But the universe had other plans. Did I mention she’s a famous actress? Most Wonderful is like a queer rom-com meets a dysfunctional family drama, and it's worth the read. Georgia Clark is a genius when it comes to writing characters that feel like they could be your best friends. They’re well developed and it was easy to keep all the characters straight. Well, decidedly not straight, but you know what I mean. While this is marketed as a Christmas novel, the crux of the story focuses on the Belvedere family with just a bit of holiday magic sprinkled throughout. There are several open-door scenes and each of the siblings has a romantic plot that will leave you blushing! A must-read for any time of year but especially leading into the holiday season.
All I Want is You by Falon Ballard
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Genre: Holiday Romance
Pages: 256
Format Read: audiobook, borrowed from the library
This may be my favorite Falon Ballard romance yet! When two exes are stranded in a winter storm in the leadup to Christmas, it's no surprise that there's only one bed at the Inn. This book felt very meta in a charming way. The two MCs are romance authors so of course, it's full of all my favorite romance tropes. This book is the perfect choice if you're looking for a short but addictively swoon-worthy holiday romance that can be enjoyed year-round.
Perfect Fit by Claire Gilmore
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Genre: Romance
Pages: 352
Format Read: advance DRC, courtesy of NetGalley
Perfect Fit, set against the vibrant backdrop of Austin, Texas, chronicles the life of Josie, a young CEO navigating the challenges of running her clothing company while juggling personal commitments. Despite her passion for her work, Josie teeters on the edge of burnout. Enter Will, Josie's love interest and her ex-best friend's twin brother, a brilliant consultant whose expertise not only salvages Josie's company but also makes her feel truly valued through countless acts of service.
While both Josie and Will are flawed individuals, their relationship stands out as one of the most authentic and healthy portrayals in contemporary fiction. Their bond is built on a foundation of open communication and unwavering honesty, offering readers a refreshing departure from typical romantic tropes.
Perfect Fit is a must-read for enthusiasts of women's fiction-leaning romance that doesn't shy away from substantial character growth. The novel expertly weaves in elements of travel and culinary exploration, while delving deep into themes of friendship, personal development, and the real-world challenges faced by young businesswomen. It's a compelling exploration of balancing professional ambition with personal fulfillment in the modern world.
The Rereading Project Update
In January, I challenged myself to reread 12 books from my childhood that made a significant impact on my life as a reader. You can see my full list in the post linked below!
The Rereading Project
I briefly mentioned in my last newsletter that I’m embarking on a personal rereading project. I’m finally ready to share more about it with you today. I’ve been a little nervous to put this out into the world because I know it means I’m opening myself up to a bit of accountability to commit to it and finish.
Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Genre: Literary Fiction
Pages: 317
Format Read: physical copy/audiobook, borrowed from the library
I switched to audio at the halfway point of Lolita to finish the book. I enjoyed the narrator and thought that listening to the audiobook helped with the delivery of the stream-of-consciousness style of writing. After starting it way back in July, I’m grateful to have finished.
It’s impossible to adequately review a classic that has been studied and written about ad nauseum. Instead, I want to focus my thoughts on my experience of rereading the book. As an adult, and more specifically, as a mother to young children, I was less fooled by Humbert’s appeals to the reader than I was as a teenager reading Lolita for the first time. I was, however, equally captivated by Nabokov's mastery of language during my reread. Not only English, but his use of French, Latin, and invented words in the text. I will always be in awe of his prose and poetry. Lolita proves that words on a page can be art and this book spurred my interest in reading more of Nabokov’s work. In my reread it was more obvious that this is a tragedy written in parts. The tone is distinct for Lolita’s grooming, the actualization of the illicit affair, and Humbert’s final confession. I found it particularly clever that Nabokov assigns the role of juror to the reader at the beginning of the novel before he sets out the case in the rest of the story. While we know we have an unreliable narrator, he persuades us playfully to sympathize with his version of this story. The pedophilia and incest explored in this book are shocking and difficult to read at times. Despite its disturbing themes, Lolita is a book that will stick with me forever.
What’s up next in October
I finished Intermezzo by Sally Rooney over the weekend and I’m looking for book with fall vibes so I may start Morbidly Yours by Ivy Fairbanks on my Kindle. I was able to get my device to connect to my phone via a hotspot to download it.
My audiobook hold for The Third Gilmore Girl by Kelly Bishop came in and I’m hoping to listen before it returns.
You can keep up with my reading journey in real time on Goodreads or The Storygraph!
Tell me, what was the best book you read in September?
Happy reading,
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I’m glad you’re safe! I hope the books can bring you some comfort in this difficult time🫶🏻
So glad to hear you guys are okay and the hurricane is behind you. 💗
I've been seeing Pumpkin Spice Cafe everywhere and was almost tempted but I'm glad I read your review first! Think I'll just give it a pass. And your words on Lolita encapsulate why I want so badly to read it again but also NOT want to read it again.