In September I read 19 books.

I had a good mix of audio, e-book, and physical books going at most times during the day. Sorry to my therapist for using books instead of confronting my feelings. Maybe October will be the month for that.

I have to say- I had a higher number of ✨not great✨ reads in September. Maybe I wasn’t DNFing as much as I usually do? I tend to know what I like and what I definitely don’t like while I’m reading something but I stuck-with-it at a much higher rate and it shows because I handed out a lot of 2-3 star ratings. I’m hoping to change that in October and DNF what doesn’t resonate with me. Life is too short for 2 star books.

Okay! Here’s everything starting with the worst and working our way up to the best of the best.

p.s. I’m only gonna say a couple things about each book bc there’s a lot and no one wants me to opine in detail on almost 20 books but if there’s one you wanna chat about more the comments section is open baybeeeee.

🌟🌟 2-star books

Relic

White authors need to stop using “indigenous curse” as an entire plot device.

The Twisted Ones

This author’s other book, The Hollow Places is SO MUCH FUN and while the dialogue had the same signature snark, the pacing and fun of The Hollow Places just wasn’t showing up in The Twisted Ones.

For Your Own Good

I am absolutely certain this author’s style has an audience, but it’s not me. I went into this wanting a twisty thriller, and what we get is a group of people who hate their own lives and everyone else while running in circles for 350+ pages.

A Touch of Darkness

Marketed as Persephone/Hades smut retelling. It had too much plot and not enough of what WE CAME HERE FOR.

The Devils Thief

Oh, my poor suffering heart. There is no pain like that of a sequel 180. Loved the first in this series, and this was…whew.

🌟🌟🌟3-star books

The Beautiful

Fine. Kinda boring.

How Long Til Black Future Month
A short story anthology, really loved some, was happy to get through others. Evens out to a solid 3 star read.

Klara and the Sun

This, to me, reads as a dystopian slice-of-life. Which is a little odd! Very contemplative, would’ve worked well as a short story.

🌟🌟🌟🌟4-star books

Get a Life, Chloe Brown

This is a re-read. Absolutely love this entire series. A charming, witty romance with a diverse (in many ways) cast of characters.

The Love Hypothesis

Another romance win! An academic lab romance with some well-loved tropes done in just the right way.

White Smoke

This was a delightful spooky find. Marketed as Haunting of Hill House meets Get Out and that feels apt.

Lesson in Vengeance

It seems people are torn on this dark academia book but it did all the right things for me. A secluded, cozy school setting, some twisted characters, murders, the occult.

The Chestnut Man

I typically don’t care for Nordic procedurals because the pacing feels like a slog, but this starts off with a bang and doesn’t let you catch your breath until the very last page.

Inheritance of Orquídea Divina

I think it’s best going into this book knowing as little as possible. The writing is lovely and lush, and you never know what’s going to happen next and that’s the best part.

Sorcery of Thorns

A re-read! This author has a new book out in October and I was getting impatient so opted for a re-read. This is a standalone fantasy with magical libraries, murderous books, and a dash of romance.

All’s Well

This book is tough to get through and I think that’s done by design. This was HARD to read, but Mona Awad’s brilliance shines in this book.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟5-star books

The Diviners

Another re-read! I love a good re-read. This is one of my favorite fantasy series of all time and I was due for a re-read. 1920s New York with some of my favorite elements: magic, the occult, found family, and MURDER GHOSTS.

My Heart is a Chainsaw

I love every single thing I’ve read from Stephen Graham Jones but this takes the lead. With themes of gentrification and colonialism, this slasher walks a tense line in a way only Stephen Graham Jones can craft.

She Who Became the Sun

I typically don’t love war-strategy heavy stories. I’m more into fantasy with some unrest and a battle looming, but if the story is fully focused on war I tend to stay away. But I got this in only of my book subscription boxes and decided to give it a go. And clearly it paid off. This was brilliant. A war story with the very slightest hint at possible magic down the line, we get to see both sides of the battle and see each leader try to outwit the other. It was fascinating.