This September, I managed to read eight books! I started out with an ambitious TBR, and ended up adding two more to the stack. That seems to be happening quite a bit lately! Nonetheless, I’m really happy with how my reading month went. Over the past several months I’ve been having an easier time finding books that I love, and knowing where to go if I want to try something new.
Usually I’m able to finish all of my books before a new month (it’s a habit of mine to want to do this), but this months I had two books I carried over to October. The first is A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara, which I’m only about 50 pages into. I think I’ll slowly continue to read this throughout October so I can make the most of my experience with it. And the other book is Forget This Ever Happened by Cassandra Rose Clarke, which as of today, I have finished reading!
The end of September also came with a little bit of a blogging slump for me. I tend to have a lot of posts for the end of the month and it can get to be a bit overwhelming, so I’m a bit slow to blog maintenance and blog hopping and getting posts like these up. This is my first time experiencing this with this blog so I’m trying to take things a bit slow. Additionally, I have a couple days off this month and I’d love to use the time to organize myself a bit this month so the more overwhelming times of the month (usually when I have my monthly posts) go a little more seamlessly. I’d love to share my organization system with you too once I get there!
So here’s everything I read this month, and my thoughts on each of them!
Nobody Knows But You by Anica Mrose Rissi
Nobody Knows But You is a YA mystery about the events leading up to a murder at a summer camp. The book follows Kayla and her recollections of what happened at camp, becoming best friends with Lainie, and how Lainie became the prime suspect to the murder of her on-and-off boyfriend, Jackson. Kayla recounts everything that happened, and shares in the series of letters, text messages, and more what there secrets were – until we find out what really happened.
I received an ARC of this book from EpicReads in exchange for an honest review. This was a pretty interesting end-of-summer mystery and it makes me want to read more YA mysteries in the future. While I thought that the characters actions weren’t as well materialized throughout the book, I still enjoyed this one.
Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo
Clap When You Land is a young adult contemporary written in verse by Elizabeth Acevedo. This book follows two sisters Camino and Yahaira, living in the Dominican Republic and New York City respectively when they find out their father was killed in a plane crash. The story navigates their grief and discovery of not only their father’s secrets, but the biggest secret of all – learning about each other.
I haven’t read many books written in verse, but I really liked the way it was done here and how it emphasized everything the characters went through. I’m looking forward to reading Acevedo’s other books!
On A Sunbeam by Tillie Walden
On A Sunbeam is a young adult science-fiction graphic novel. This book follows Mia and the start of her career when she joins a crew that works on the repair and restoration of older buildings and areas. The book flips between her time at work and her time at school where she met another girl named Grace, and how she’s determined to find her after she disappears one day.
This is my first venture into graphic novels after a really long time, and I enjoyed it. Where there were some elements of the story that were indistinguishable or left to be unanswered, I loved the way the artistic elements of the pages brought out the tone and emotion of the characters and the story.
Lie With Me by Philippe Besson, Translated by Molly Ringwald
Lie With Me follows Philippe, who encounters a man who looks strangely like his first love. The book continues into a recollection of his earlier years, and the hidden affair he’s had, and the relationship he will never forget.
Books like these have me more interested in trying short stories and novellas in general – while short, they pack a punch. There’s quite a few moments in this book I had to stop and think on. And there were some moments where I wish the writing gave us a little bit more, but I found it interesting that this book does a lot of telling, not showing, and still manages to portray what it does.
Where Dreams Descend by Janella Angeles
Where Dreams Descend is the first book in a duology. It follows a group of magicians facing off to determine who the next headliner of the Conquering Circus will be. Little do they know there is the threat of danger waiting for them. And with each act, this threat becomes more and more dangerous, only to be avoidable with the reckoning of their own secrets.
I loved how atmospheric this book was, and it’s been way too long since I’ve read a book about the circus. It was a slower-paced book, which I was alright with, but it definitely wasn’t something I was expecting going in.
Hurricane Season by Fernanda Melchor
When a small town outcast known as “The Witch” is found dead, speculation runs loose and investigations begin. Hurricane Season explores this small Mexican town and its villagers as unreliable narrators as they slowly reveal what happened, in addition to the utterly immoral and horrifying events that take place within the village.
There was so much to unpack with this book, and I don’t think I’ve read anything like it. It’s such a difficult book to read emotionally because of the reality it portrays for the characters. It’s hard to go into the details of this book without revealing too much, but I do think it’s one I’d like to revisit in the future.
Seven Devils by Laura Lam and Elizabeth May
Seven Devils is the first in a science-fiction duology. It follows seven resistance fighters, starting with Eris, who thought faking her death left her ties to the empire behind. When her and Cloelia are assigned to a dangerous mission to retrieve intelligence from a cargo ship, they learn how they can bring down the empire once and for all. But time is ticking to save civilization from the empire, and the lives of millions are in their hands.
The story for this was really good! However, there were a ton of POVs and time jumps that took me a while to adjust to. I am curious to see what happens in the second book!
White Oleander by Janet Fitch
White Oleander follows Ingrid, who was imprisoned for murder, and her daughter Astrid, who lives between many Los Angeles foster homes. As Astrid moves from one foster home to another, each one unique in its own challenges, she finds herself on a path to self-discovery.
Review to come! I liked reading this book and I think it did a good job of highlighting all of the issues within the foster care system.And while there were a couple of story elements that I didn’t feel were executed in the greatest way, I found myself very invested in this story.
Do you like to read certain books at certain times of the year / have different reading preferences based on your mood? Or do you like to read similar books or genres throughout the year?
Also, let me know if you’ve read any of these and what you thought of them!
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This is a fantastic wrap-up! It sounds like you read some great books. I really want to pick up Clap When You and Where Dreams Descend soon!
*Clap When You Land 😂
I read eight books this month too, although none of these! I have my eye on Where Dreams Descend, although I keep seeing mixed reviews.
Yeah, I think it’s got certain elements that are more preferable to some readers than others. I think it all depends on preferences on pacing and storyline!
Ooh yes! I hope you enjoy them once you read them!
Sounds like you read some great books; I can’t wait to try Clap When You Land myself! And as for your question: I do tend to read a lot of thrillers all year round, but I always like mixing them up with different genres depending on my mood… Normally a mix between historical fiction, contemporary and fantasy.
Ooh I hope you love it! I used to read thrillers more year round and I think I need to do that again! I’m definitely a mood reader too.
I’m happy about Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo. I have been reading about this book a lot
Yes, it’s so good! I definitely recommend it.
You had a great month! 🥰 Clap When You Land is brilliant and yes, it can be so hard to keep up with blogging at times. Don’t worry about it too much, you do so well already. Have a wonderful October, full of great books!
Thank you so much! I hope you have a great October too! 😊