Wake me up when September ends…
Oh, hello there. It’s here already, the end of September. HOW?! And somehow… I’m still reading? Another month that felt like I wouldn’t meet my goal, but I did! That’s something to celebrate.
The one thing I haven’t done that I set out to do this year though, is re-read some more classics. I may still try, but, we’ll see what happens. Maybe I should pick up Wuthering Heights to see how different Emerald Fennell’s pending 2026 film will be from the book. (FTR: I am fully in the camp that her movie will be iconic, even if it’s a hard pivot from the source material.)
Anyway, at this point… I’m just trying to keep reading. That’s the best anyone can do!
Book Stats
I can’t believe it, but I’ve hit 80 books for the year. I’m on pace to beat out my final number for 2024 (95) and that’s thrilling!
Physical Books: 2
Library Books: 6
eBook: 3
Audiobook: 3
Not bad, not bad. I think for the year, I’m sitting at like… I think over 75% of my reads are still coming from my local library, and exclusively through the Libby app. (This is my personal reminder to maybe start reading the ~80 physical books stacked around my office… but, you know, we’ll see what happens.)
Use Libby like a *PRO* by:
Grab extra library cards!!! There are so many cities, towns, and counties that offer library cards to nonresidents. Check this article out to find out where you can grab more cards. Then, you’ll be able to put more on hold, borrow more, and ultimately, support more libraries!
Hitting “Notify Me” on books that aren’t published yet: Depending your notification setup, you’ll get an email or a push notification from the app saying it’s available. If you’re quick enough, you can borrow immediately, before the holds start piling up. This is single-handedly the reason I am able to check out newly-published books right away, which is always fun!
Utilize tags: I have things set up as “Want to Read” for anything I can grab when I hit a lull or I’m between holds. This serves me well for audiobooks.
Check your Timeline: This is how I see how many books I’ve borrowed, read, etc. Sometimes I have to manually remove some items — I’m notorious for borrowing something but the mood doesn’t strike, so I return and put it back on hold so others can enjoy without waiting.
Check out the Newsstand: My library boasts that they have thousands of magazines always available, with no due dates or loan limits. It has largely replaced subscriptions for me, save for a couple. Check yours out, I bet it’s the same deal!
If you have a recommendation or something you know I’ll love to read, please put it in the comments, DM me, send a smoke signal, tell me on Goodreads — basically, whatever it takes to get the book on my TBR!
Also, just to keep it top-of-mind, please refer to the Instagram post on what my star ratings mean.
OKAY! Let’s get into everything I read this month. Let me know what hit your stacks in September, will ya?
FICTION
THE GHOSTWRITER, by Julie Clark
Who it’s for: Suspense lovers, family saga lovers, literature lovers
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Incredible. This is my book of the year, I’m sure of it. I know I still have a few months left to decide that, but damn, this one was fantastic. Olivia Dumont is a well-known ghostwriter who has found herself in a monetary bind and accepts a job of writing a memoir… for her estranged father. He sets out to tell his version of events from a specific evening of 1975 (where his siblings were murdered), and Olivia confronts the past and present as she unravels what happened to her aunt and uncle. I cannot recommend this enough — just… just read it. It’s so well-written (you know that’s what I’m about) and compelling and just… ah, so good.
ONE OF OUR OWN, by Lucinda Berry
Who it’s for: Those who love a short mystery novel
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Heartbreaking. This short novel by Lucinda Berry was so well-written, tightly packed prose that shared such a gripping story of a mother helping a woman who called the suicide hotline she volunteers for when she’s not working for her clients at her own law firm. I truly fear saying more will ruin the plot because it’s such a short book, so you’ll just have to trust me that it was really great and you should read it!
VANTAGE POINT, by Sara Sligar
Who it’s for: People who dig an unreliable character + rich family drama
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Succession vibes. This story was *so* good. The Weiland family is like the Kennedys, curse-wise. Every April, something catastrophic happens to a member of this uber-rich family. Siblings Teddy and Clare are living their lives — Teddy is running for Senate and is married to Clare’s best friend, Jess. Clare is “losing her grip on reality” and when she finds herself at the center of a scandal, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to not crash out. I won’t say more, because the way this comes together becomes such a solid, gorgeously written suspense novel. This will forever live on my shelf for when I need inspiration!
L.A. WOMEN, by Ella Berman
Who it’s for: Those who dig historical fiction + drama
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Compelling. This fell on my radar before it was published, and when my library had it available, I couldn’t hit borrow fast enough. I’m glad I did — it’s not the typical genre I read, but the description was compelling enough. A couple of chapters in, I was hooked. This story follows two friends, Lane (a writer) and Gala (a writer, but also a muse), in the 1960s and 1970s. Gala has been missing and Lane has just secured a new book deal, which is about Gala. This gorgeously written story had me turning the pages quickly and I’m glad I branched out and put it on my shelf.
THE WILD ROBOT, by Peter Brown
Who it’s for: People who want something lovely to read with the kids
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Adorable. I’d be lying if I said I only enjoyed this for the sake of children but… it was wonderful. Roz is a robot who washes up on shore of an island, comes alive, and goes into survival mode. This story is about how Roz finds her way around this new life, making friends with animals, and thriving in the wild. Until one day, she’s confronted with a past she doesn’t realize she has. I loved this story. I cannot wait to see how it unfolds, either, as there are two more books to roll through! So, our plan is to read the second and third books, and then finally watch the movie, and I cannot wait!
NONFICTION
CARELESS PEOPLE, by Sarah Wynn-Williams
Who it’s for: Those who devour memoirs about toxic work environments
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Phenomenal. This memoir by a person who was in the upper echelons of Facebook in the 2010s is eye opening, terrifying, and awfully sad. The author’s raw account of her time at the company was nothing short of compelling and well-structured, and very carefully laid out the evils within. I’m reconsidering my relationship with anything owned by the company, but honestly, I have been for a long time. This just makes me want to rip the bandaid off faster. Highly recommend this one, and the audiobook was fantastic.
CALYPSO, by David Sedaris
Who it’s for: People who love humorous essays by a master writer
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Wonderful. I have never met a Sedaris collection I didn’t absolutely love, and this is no exception. He is known for his witty humor and astute observations translated from the world and onto the page, and this darkly funny collection hit all the marks for me. Stories of a tumor, a shopping trip while in Japan with his sisters, living abroad, and his beach house that he invites his family to use — all of these are stories not to be missed. Sedaris prompts me reflect on the human experience, but above all, he makes me want to be a better writer.
ALL THE WAY TO THE RIVER, by Elizabeth Gilbert
Who it’s for: People who like drama in a memoir
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Speechless. Honestly speechless. This was… wild? Looking at this memoir for what it is: a chapter of an acclaimed author’s life that covers her addiction, love, and loss — it’s fantastically written. We know Elizabeth Gilbert is a fantastic writer. She will always have that. But dear reader, I fear she’s lost me with this one. Between the whole “wanting to attempt murder on her partner” and “conversations with god”, I found this very self-serving and different than her past work. I suppose EPL could be considered that too… and sure, a memoir can be self-serving, in the way you’re getting your own story out. Anyway, I found myself thinking “wtf” constantly through this work and the only reason I gave it four stars is because the writing is impeccable. It’s worth reading for the “wtf” of it all, though.
All the (non-affiliate) links for the books reviewed go to Bookshop.org, a wonderful site where you can purchase your books and support your local independent bookstore(s). 📚
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