September Book Recap

It's still a little hard for some of y'all to believe, but I didn't really grow up reading. Clif Notes were a lifesaver in high school. I'd read 'enough' to get by, but I didn't enjoy the act of reading so never did it. Maybe I wasn't reading things that held my interest or maybe it was because it was "required", but whatever the reason, I'm glad I took the challenge to add the goal of reading 17 books in 2017 (which became 88 books in 2017, 77 books in 2018, 67 books in 2019, 66 books in 2020, 67 books in 2021, 41 books in 2022, 98 books in 2023, 224 books in 2024 and 136 books in 2025). The majority of my reading recently has been listening to audiobooks, but it still counts! Even still, holding a physical book is my JAM and I hope I can add that back into my routine on a more regular basis. Just like in years past, writing a monthly recap of the books I finish is a great way for me to both record what I'm reading (so I don't forget and in case anyone is curious) and to stay accountable. So, without further ado, here are the books I completed in the month of September:

• Theo of Golden by Allen Levi - I had seen a lot of positive reviews for this book, so I got in line at my local library... and waited... and waited... And FINALLY it was my turn! I didn't realize it was a Christian book until I saw the sticker on the spine of it when I checked it out. This is definitely a character-driven novel (which often are not my favorites because they can tend to drag on a bit). It's about a Portuguese man named Theo who moves to a town in Georgia named Golden. It's all a bit of a mystery - no one really knows much about him, where he came from, what he does, etc. All the townsfolk know is that he's an 87 year old man who is new to town. When he is walking around downtown, he ventures into the local coffee shop and sees a bunch of portraits on the walls. He discovers that a local artist draws the portraits of patrons of the shop and then the owners put them up as a gallery. Theo decides he is going to start buying the pieces of art and gifting them back to the subjects. While he is doing this, he obviously meets many people from the town - forming friendships along the way. It's a story of generosity, kindness and connection. There were a few things that rubbed me the wrong way (i.e. the phrase used to describe undocumented peoples, the surprise Theo felt when realizing an unhoused person could read, etc). I'll be honest and say it all read a bit Hallmark-y for me (for all the hype it was getting), but if you go into it knowing it's a Christian fiction feel-good book and that's what you're looking for, I'm sure you'll enjoy it (although it was a bit repetitive). I would give it a 7 out of 10. 

• Pictures of You by Emma Gray - I had added this to my 'for later' list on my Libby audiobook app at some point, but don't remember why or when ;) The cover looked summer-y and since we will soon be entering fall I thought I'd give this a listen before the seasons changed. It turned out to be about a 29 year old woman, Evie, who wakes up in the hospital after being told she was in a car accident in which her husband has died. She has no recollection of the accident, the marriage or the previous 13 years. The last thing she remembers was being 16 years old. As she is trying to flee the funeral of her husband, she gets into the back of a car she believes to be an Uber. The driver was not an Uber driver or a paparazzi (her next guess), but turns out to be a best friend from her high school years who she no longer knows (both because of the amnesia and because she has edged him out of her life). After being sucked back in to Evie's orbit, Drew tries to help her get her memories back and piece her life back together. The story is told in dual timelines and alternating between the two main characters' perspectives. For not knowing anything about it when I first downloaded it, I was hooked from the start. It was romance and suspense and ALL THE DRAMA. (I think had the ending felt not as abrupt or maybe if we got an epilogue I would have enjoyed it that much more.) I would give it an 8 out of 10. 

• It's a Love Story by Annabel Monaghan - I read two of this author's books last month, so when I saw another of them on the 'beach read' table at my local library I snagged it. This was an enemies-to-lovers rom-com. Jane is a former child actor still working in the entertainment industry, trying to catch her 'big break' and bring a script to the big screen. When she finds 'the one', she is eager to do what it takes to get the film made... even if that means lying about her relationship with a pop superstar and promising the studio she can get him to sign on and write a song for the soundtrack. In an effort to make the impossible happen, she teams up with her work nemesis, Dan, to try and track down her old crush. The two fly from LA to Long Island and spend a week with Dan's family, knowing that the popstar is in town for a music festival and trying to track him down. As we all could've guessed, the forced proximity leads to the pair exploring their feelings and preconceived notions of one another. It was cute and actually a bit more emotional than I was expecting. I would give it an 8 out of 10.

• When in Rome by Sarah Adams - I have heard about this series for a while now, but neither of my audiobook apps nor my local library had the books available (my library has books 3 and 4, but you can't start half way through the series, even if they are technically stand alone books). Well, that is until I was able to add another library card to my Libby app and POOF - the whole series was there! The first book of the series was all about a grumpy-sunshine, forced proximity rom-com. Amelia (also known as Rae Rose to her adoring fans) was overwhelmed with her over-scheduled life and her upcoming 9 month worldwide tour, so she wanted to run away. She would've loved to go to Rome, Italy (after her favorite actress Audrey Hepburn's Roman Holiday film), but she couldn't swing that so plugged "Rome" into her GPS app and wound up driving to the tiny town of Rome, Kentucky. On the way to the bed and breakfast, her car breaks down in the front yard of one of the townsfolk... and out strolls Noah. Noah is a grumpy, jaded, pie-shop owning man who knows who is and and what he wants (and he does NOT want or need another woman coming into town, capturing his heart and knowing full well that she won't be sticking around). Noah offers Amelia a place to stay while her car gets fixed and everything happens from there. I'll be honest and say that at times I felt like I had read this book before (not because I had actually read it, but because there are lots of similar type stories out there), but even still I stuck around. Who doesn't love a swoon-worthy small town romance?! This is also where we are introduced to Noah's three younger sisters (who will be the main characters of the following books in the series). Although it felt predictable, it was a slow-burn that had me smiling from ear to ear. I would give it an 8 out of 10. 

• Practice Makes Perfect by Sarah Adams - This is the second book in the Rome, Kentucky series and I snatched it right up after finishing the first. This one focuses on Annie, the youngest of the siblings and the local flower shop owner. She is always known as being the 'sweet' one. She has felt a hole in her life for years now and thinks that what she's missing is a husband and family of her own. She voices her concerns about her lack of a dating life to Amelia, her soon to be sister-in-law, and Amelia comes up with a gameplan. She decides to ask her hunky bodyguard to act as Annie's dating coach. Will is against relationships (and love in general) because of his traumatic childhood, but is drawn to Annie for some reason he can't put his finger on so offers to help build her confidence. As I'm sure we could have all guessed from the jump, sweet Annie falls hard for her bad boy tutor even though he is nothing like the man she thought she wanted. Oh yeah, and he falls hard and fast for her too! There were some parts that had me laughing out loud as I was running by the beach (I probably looked like a goof, but I couldn't hold in how much fun this one was). I also appreciated that Annie's personal growth was just as important as her love life. If you like the witty, friends to lovers, small town romance with not a lot of spice, then I'm sure this will be right up your alley. I would give it a 9 out of 10. 

• All the Sinners Bleed by S.A. Cosby - I had seen this book mentioned for quite some time, but just have never pulled the trigger and checked it out before now. I was running low on books that were becoming available on my current hold list at the library, so I went scouring the shelves and remembered this one. I had been reading mostly rom-coms lately, so I thought I'd venture out a bit more into the crime/ thriller/ mystery genre. This is a story about a Black sheriff (the first ever in the county of Charon) in Virginia who is fighting his own demons and trying to keep his hometown safe. While on duty one day, there is a school shooting that he responds to which turns out to uncover a whole lot of evil in the town (like a serial killer!). It is gritty and fast paced (it was a bit of a slow build, but then nonstop action packed) and full of twists along the way. With topics such as systemic racism, faith, sexual abuse, community trauma, and more, I'd say it definitely felt heavy at times, but I was hooked to keep reading. There were parts that I wish were expanded (maybe more backstory of the serial killer, maybe more time to put the pieces together, but maybe fewer characters to keep straight), but overall I thought it was a great read and could see this being turned into a series. I would give it an 8 out of 10. 

• Beg, Borrow, or Steal by Sarah Adams - Yep, it's time for the third book in the Rome, Kentucky series. Originally I was going to borrow the physical copy from my local library, but when I went searching for it throughout the space, I couldn't find it. Seeing as the audiobook version was available, I figured I'd just snag it that way (and then added the fourth book to my hold list at the library and decided I'd let the staff track the hard copy down for me ;)). This go around we follow Emily, the oldest of the sisters. Her nemesis since college left town recently to get married, which she is exceedingly happy about. The problem is when his wedding gets called off and he shows back up to town... and buys the house next door to her! Yep, and from there a traditional enemies-to-lovers rom-com ensues. The pair of second grade teachers has to team up when Emily accidentally emails her scandalous novel to their prim and proper principal and asks Jack to help her get the book back. This wasn't my favorite of the series, but it might also be because this trope isn't normally my favorite. Some of the banter was great and the characters felt relatable, but the story just didn't grab me as much as the other two books. Only one book left to go in this little town. I would give it a 7 out of 10.

• In Your Dreams by Sarah Adams - Time to wrap up the Rome, Kentucky series. Like I said, I put the fourth book on hold at my local library, so once I finished the third I raced over and picked it up. This was about Madison, the middle of the Walker sisters. She is more of the wild child, the free spirit. When she realized she became a teacher only because her older sister was one and hated her job, she knew she needed a change. She moved to New York for culinary school because she loved food and cooking for others. While there, she had a terrible time, lost all of her confidence and almost didn't even graduate. During an extremely rough night, she thought she was calling her sister's boyfriend, Jack, but it turns out she called James, her brother's best friend/ long time family friend. To say James had been pining for her for years would be an understatement, but he'd never let her know. He decided right then and there to open a restaurant on his farm's property so she could come home and be the executive chef. Obviously (because it's a rom-com after all ;)), along the way, the two realize they have feelings for each other. I would say that the friends-to-lovers trope is one of my faves because you tend to see a lot more growth in the characters since they tend to have known each other longer and have much more of a past/ relationship than some of the insta-love in other tropes. I did enjoy this one, but I felt like I wanted more. Maybe it's just because it was the final book in the series and I knew we wouldn't hear any more from this town, but the ending left a bit more to be desired. I would give it an 8 out of 10.

• Just Haven't Met You Yet by Sophie Cousens - This audiobook was added to my 'for later' list on my Libby app a while back, but I just now finally got around to downloading it. I have read a few books by this author and have enjoyed them, so thought I'd give this one a try. This rom-com was about Laura, a reporter who goes on a business trip and accidentally grabs the wrong luggage at the airport. She is a romantic at heart and when she opens the luggage (only to realize it isn't hers), so sees the owner's items and believes she is meant to know (and hopefully love) the person. Originally she is on the trip because she was going to write a piece about her parent's love story, visiting places they had during the summer they fell in love, but once she opens the suitcase her plans change to trying to track down its owner. Laura commissions a local cab driver, Ted, to help her in her pursuits. Along the way she discovers a family secret and her world gets flipped upside down. I'd say it was a cute premise, but it just didn't grab me as much as I would've liked. I would give it a 7 out of 10. 

• Accidentally Amy by Lynn Painter - Apparently when September hit, that meant my Libby app swapped out all of the beach reads for fall flings in its recommended list. I have always enjoyed the books I've read by this author, so when I saw a new-to-me (it came out 4 years ago, oops) title pop up I thought I'd give it a try. This was a rom-com that all started with a stolen coffee. Isabella is running late for her first day of work at a new job and is waiting for her pumpkin spiced latte to be ready. Looking at the time, she realizes she's going to have to leave soon without her coffee. The coffee gods might be looking down on her favorably when Amy's name is called multiple times and she doesn't show up for the same thing that Izzy ordered... She snags the cup, turns to go and runs right into a handsome man, spilling the stolen coffee all over his shirt/ chest. After trying to clean him up, she has to book it to her new job, only to find out that Mr. Chest, aka Blake, is actually her new boss's boss. Blake is a super serious VP, so although he had an instant attraction with "Starbucks Amy", he knows he can't have anything to do with "employee Isabella". The two know they have major chemistry, so try to figure out how they can still have a friendship without being unethical at the office. Let's just say that things only get more intense from there and they have to walk a very fine line while keeping their attraction bottled up. I thought it was fast, flirty and fun (full of great banter), even if it was a bit predictable (but, hey, most rom-coms follow a formula, so you know what you're gonna get when you pick one up). I would give it an 8 out of 10. 

• Same Time Next Summer by Annabel Monaghan - This is the fourth book of this author's that I've read in the past two months (and I'm bummed there is only one left for me to check out) and it might be my favorite of hers yet. I know it's September and we should be into more of the fall reading, but it was 96* out yesterday and 94* today, so I think I can get by with a few more summer reads ;) This rom-com follows Sam. She is thirty years old, engaged to doctor and seemingly has her life together. Sam and her fiance, Jack, head back to her family's summer house on Long Island to check out potential venues for their wedding. While there, she sees her first love/ childhood best friend/ boyfriend, Wyatt, who she hasn't been in contact with for fourteen years (after he broke her heart when she was seventeen). While the two reconnect, Sam is forced to decide whether she wants to continue living her extremely well planned life or if there is something still there between her and Wyatt. Like I've mentioned before, the second-chance romance trope is one of my faves and I loved how there was a dual timeline with this one - flipping back and forth between their past and the present. I am always rooting for young love to prevail and Wyatt made it easy to cheer for him. This is a perfect summer romance, beach read. It was a rollercoaster of emotions I never wanted to get off of. I would give it a 9 out of 10. 

• Duct Tape and Determination by Jacky Hunt-Broersma - I have seen this ultrarunner on social media for quite some time, but I've never followed her story too closely When I saw she was releasing a memoir I knew I needed to keep my eyes peeled for whenever it became available. Jacky was diagnosed with cancer in her mid-twenties which led to a below-the-knee amputation. This memoir is her story of turning that devastation into triumph. She wasn't a runner before the surgery, but, golly gee, is she ever one now. The book follows her journey from the amputation and being ashamed/ embarrassed of her post-surgery body to running 104 marathons in 104 days and tackling grueling ultras. The book is written to be an inspiration to others - no matter what battles you may be facing (or goals you may be chasing). Jacky's story is truly one of grit and determination. This is a great read for endurance athletes and non-runners alike. I would give it an 8 out of 10. 

• The Shampoo Effect by Jenny Jackson - I had seen this book a few times on different summer TBR (to be read) lists, so figured I'd get in line for it at my local library. The calendar may look like it's no longer summer, but the temperatures definitely tell a different story (we are in the middle of yet another heatwave - yuck!). Anywho, this was a story about Caroline, a writer who moves to a small beach town thanks to a fellowship. She wants to use the months writing, but ends up meeting a man, Van, shortly after coming to town and gets wrapped up with him and his friend group. The group has been friends since high school (and often it feels like they act like they're still those immature kids), so Caroline has a hard time trying to break in and feel welcome. Van shares with Caroline that before he met her, he and Bailey were together and Bailey is now pregnant with his baby (although they are not a couple and Bailey wants to raise the child on her own). The story is told from four different female POVs (Caroline, Bailey, Fran and Augusta) - three of the friends and the one outsider. I would say it's about friendship, marriage, parenthood and the messiness of life. I was really hoping I would like this one, but it just missed the mark for me. I didn't connect with any of the characters, there seemed to be no personal growth (everyone felt shallow and selfish) and although a lot of the blurbs said it was funny, I found zero humor in it. It felt like a reality show I just wasn't interested/ invested in. I would give it a 4 out of 10.

• Vera Stein is Fine by Julie Murphy - When I was returning my last library book I was doing a quick look through the newly released fiction shelves and saw this one. I have read a few books by this author (and even have one of them in my personal library), so I thought I'd give it a go. The cover was giving Palm Springs and summery vibes, but other than that I didn't know anything about the book. It turned out to be a rom-com about Vera (as if you couldn't guess from the title). Vera is forty years old and had been a caretaker for her mom, who recently passed away after losing her battle with colon cancer. They had been living with her grandma, Ruby, but once Vera's mom (and Ruby's daughter) passed away, Ruby decided it was time to pack up, sell the house and relocate to a retirement resort for the Hollywood type in Palm Springs (yep, I was right about the cover ;)). Vera was thrown by this bomb Ruby dropped on her lap and ended up moving into the poolhouse of her boss, Brody. Vera had been Brody's assistant for years (and his secret trist for even longer), but one day she was in his house to use the computer and saw an email exchange mentioning Brody needed to fire Vera to save money. Vera didn't want to let that happen, so she grabbed her stuff and hightailed it from LA to Palm Springs. While crashing on her grandma's couch, she is confronted with someone she never thought she'd see again - her ex-husband. The story is mostly told from Vera's point-of-view, but sporadically there are past scenes from Eli's perspective sprinkled in to give us more context about what happened. For not having any expectations about this one when I picked it up, I loved it (you already know I enjoy a good second-chance romance and with him falling first - chef's kiss!). I appreciated the more mature characters, the funny banter, the plus-sized representation, the real-life/ relatable feel and so much more. I would give it a 9 out of 10. 

• Where the Wildflowers Grow by Terah Shelton Harris - I don't remember how I got this one on my radar, but I must have heard about it somewhere and when I saw it was available on my Libby app I got in line. I had to wait a couple months for it to become available, but that just means it's gotta be good if so many people are checking it out, right?! This is the story of Leigh. We aren't given all of the pieces of her puzzle upfront, but suffice it to say she is a woman with a story. When we first meet Leigh, she is a convicted felon who is being transported to another facility and the prison bus gets into an accident. The bus goes into a raveen, killing everyone on board except her. A survivor at heart, she knows this is her chance to walk away from the wreckage of her past and hopefully start anew. Through some bad luck and different circumstances, she finds herself on a flower farm in rural Alabama. She starts to work for with Jackson, the owner of the farm, and his crew. She finds so much more than just a job, she finds a welcoming embrace and a place to start living. I don't want to give it all away, but I'll just say this one is full of love, suspense, romance, growth, shame, hope, forgiveness, grief, secrets, redemption, healing, abuse, self-discovery and so much more. I can see why this book is getting so much love, because it definitely deserves it. It was a little slower than some of my normal reads, but it was emotional and so beautifully written that I was okay with it. I would give it a 9 out of 10. 

• The Missed Connection by Tia Williams - I had read one of this author's YA novels a while back and enjoyed it, so when I saw she had a new release coming out I kept my eyes peeled for it at my local library. This was a rom-com about Sasha and her quest to track down a mystery man she met on a flight to Paris. She is a casting agent who needed to fly to Paris for a work conference and while on the flight she connected with her neighbor. The two were a little inebriated when they got off the plane and although they spent six hours vibing, they never officially introduced themselves and exchanged names/ contact info. When she gets back to New York she sets off to try and track down this handsome stranger. She reaches out to a detective/ PI who she knew from a few years prior when she was dealing with a stalker. Although Wes is no longer in that line of work, he takes on the 'case' because it's Sasha. Even though Sasha is trying to find her 'missed connection' and is therefore unavailable, Wes still falls for her (and has actually been holding a candle for her since they met four years before). I really enjoyed this one and could totally see it being turned into a movie. I think my favorite parts were actually the emails that Sasha was being sent about how this international 'manhunt' was leading others to find love in unexpected ways. Love at first flight - how fun! It was messy yet still being playful, while still touching on serious topics such as trauma and mental health. I would give it an 8 out of 10. 

• Smile, or You're Doing it Wrong by Andy Glaze - I have always loved following this ultrarunner on social media, so when I saw he was releasing a book I kept my eyes peeled for it. Thankfully last month I was able to add another library card to my Libby app and got access to a ton more books - including this one. As soon as it was available for check-out I snagged it. This is Andy's story of growing up, hitting rock bottom and finding running. I didn't know much about his past, so it was interesting to learn about where he came from and what he's lived through. I feel like a lot of runners have dealt with addiction in their past and Andy's no different. I appreciate his openness in sharing what he's been through and his work in trying to destigmatize talking about mental health. This book is inspiring, motivational and authentic. You don't have to run to take away a ton of helpful nuggets from this one (but, if you are a runner, it'll be that much more impactful). I would give it a 9 out of 10.

• You'll Love it Here by Natalie Sue - I had seen this book on a new release list and thought I'd check it out. This is the story of Mona, a thirty-something workaholic who is put on leave after she had a bit of an outburst with one of her clients at the office. After being forced to take some of her vacation time, she goes to the bar with some of her coworkers to commiserate and gets drunk. She wakes up the following morning to the fire alarm going off and starts putting the pieces of her previous night together - and how she vandalized the apartment's lobby which lead to the fire alarm (and, subsequently, the landlady breaking her ankle). To assuage her guilty conscious, she offers to step in as the temporary super for the building. Although she has been living in her apartment for five years, she doesn't really know any of her neighbors (other than by monikers she's given them - like Divorced Dad, Fighting Couple, Old White Perv and Weird Girl Beside Me). During her time as manager of the complex, she gets to know the people and starts to see them as friends. I thought it was an entertaining and heartwarming read, even if it was a bit predictable. I enjoyed the founce family aspect and the romance was sweet too. The characters were all quirky and I enjoyed getting to know them all throughout the story (I could see some of them having books of their own). I would say that the ending did leave me wanting more (not that I didn't like how it wrapped up, but maybe we needed just a few more chapters so that we could have sat with what was happening a little longer - it felt a bit too quick). I would give it an 8 out of 10.

• Ready or Not by Cara Bastone - I actually came across this book because I had been hearing a lot of great things about another book by this author (Promise Me Sunshine) and saw that it was actually the second book in a series. I am normally not one to start in the middle of a series (I mean, who would do something like that?!), so I knew I had to grab this one first. This was a rom-com that started off with a surprise pregnancy and ended up with a childhood friends turned lovers. Eve finds out she is pregnant after a one-night stand but is nervous to tell her best friend Willa because she and her husband have been struggling with infertility for a long time. While sharing the surprising news with Willa, Willa's brother (and Eve's longtime childhood friend), Shep, is there and offers his caring and supportive shoulder. Shep is along for the ride while Willa and Ethan, the baby's father, can't seem to be fully present. I've gotta say, I really enjoyed this one. It seemed to be focused more on the journey of Eve through her pregnancy (with a sweet and swoon worthy romance thrown in) rather than messy or chaotic characters and unbelievable circumstances. It was funny, heartwarming and had me saying 'awwwww' quite often while listening to the audiobook. I would give it an 8 out of 10.

• Roomies by Christina Lauren - I am all about this author duo. Whenever I see a book by them, I know I need to pick it up. When I added a second library card to my Libby app and unlocked a ton of new books, I saw that this was available and I knew I was gonna grab it. This was all about a marriage-of-convenience. Holland, the main character, had been crushing on a subway busker for months when her uncle ran into an issue with his Broadway show. One of the main performers was leaving and he needed to replace the talent. Holland brought her uncle to the subway station where the busker was performing and her uncle knew she was on to something. He offered the busker, Calvin, an audition and it went off without a hitch... the only problem was Calvin was in the US without the proper documentation, overstaying his student visa by over four years. Holland's boss, a man she had zero love or respect for, jokingly suggested that Holland marry Calvin so he could get a greencard and stay for the performance. Holland decided she would help her uncle (and her crush) out by actually going through with it. As you know with most rom-coms, there is more drama than just a fake marriage and the relationship goes from fake to real to rocky. I was expecting to love this, since I normally love everything this pair writes, but I just didn't. Maybe because the book is almost 10 years old and the dup hadn't found their footing yet, maybe I just didn't vibe with the audiobook narrator, maybe I just didn't connect with the characters, but whatever the case this just wasn't my jam. Don't get me wrong, there is another of their older books also available on my Libby app that I am still planning to gobble up, so this isn't tainting my love for their work in the slightest, but I won't be adding it to my personal library anytime soon. I would give it a 6 out of 10.

• Under the Falls by Richard Russo - This is another book that I saw on a new release list and thought I'd get in line for it at my public library. It was a thriller that centers around Tyler, a famous musician, who returns to his small hometown for a benefit concert to support one of his childhood friends. Tyler originally left Stone Mountain when he was 18, packing a bag, his guitar and leaving without a look back or a goodbye. Eighteen years later he returns for the first time and is confronted with ghosts from his past. I don't want to give anything away, but poop hits the fan at the concert and life as Tyler knows it changes. The story is told from multiple POVs, which I do enjoy. Originally this was supposed to be a pilot for a show, but with a writers' strike it never transpired and a novel was born instead. I would say that this was definitely a slow build. It took me about a third of the way through before I actually got hooked into the storyline (and, if I'm being honest, the last two-thirds felt a bit predictable once we got there...). It was a quick read (under 250 pages), so it didn't take me too long to finish, but I'm not sure I would've stuck with it had it been a thicker book. I would give it a 6 out of 10. 

• Dating You Hating You by Christina Lauren - This was another of those older books by this author duo I hadn't had access to until I added another library card to my Libby app. I didn't love the last one I listened to, so I'll be honest and say I didn't have high hopes for this one, but I wanted to check it out anyway. This was a rom-com about Evie and Carter with alternating chapters from their two perspectives (and the audiobook was read by two different narrators - always a bonus in my opinion). They met and hit it off at a Halloween party, but then, due to a corporate merger, started working together at the same Hollywood firm. Not only were they now going to have to work together, but they were forced to compete for the same position (since a merger means redundancies in the workforce). I guess you could consider it an enemies-to-lovers type story, although they started off with a pretty instant connection when they first met (and were even accidentally matching with their Halloween costumes). There were office pranks involved (including switching out regular coffee with decaf, adding bronzer to hand lotion, etc) while the two tried to avoid the elephant in the room - their attraction for one another. It was cute enough (nothing too special or different from other similar stories for me to write home about), but not one of my top picks from this writing powerhouse pair. I would give it a 7 out of 10.

• Abby Offsides by Annie McCallie - I saw this book on a recently released list and was interested right away. With the recent hype from the World Cup (and the well-earned love for Ted Lasso), I was stoked to see 'football' getting a little more love in the literary world (I enjoy me a good sports themed rom-com, but you don't see many set around the soccer world, especially the Premier League in Europe). This was a rom-com about Abby, who moves across the pond to try and start her life over after a failed relationship and cancelled wedding. Abby admits in her interview for the football club that she knows nothing of the sport, but has been in the sports world (actually working for the Boston Red Sox as her previous position) and the hiring manager decides to take a chance on her. While working for the team, she falls for one of the famous players, Lachlan. The two start off as friends, morphing into best friends/ roommates and then turning into something that seems to be a little more, which could be a major problem for multiple reasons. First is the fact that Lachlan is married (even if his wife didn't move with him back to Liverpool after his trade). The next issue to overcome is the fact that Abby just got out of a six year relationship and is still healing from the heartache and betrayal. Oh yeah, and third is the small issue of her job and visa, which she isn't sure how they would be impacted if the Abby and Lachlan ever became something more than just friends. I'll be honest and say I went back and forth on this book. I think my main issue is not with the author or the writing, but with the trope itself. I don't love the forbidden love angle when it could be considered cheating (emotional intimacy is just as bad, if not worse, as physical intimacy when it comes to crossing a line in a relationship). It's a morally grey area and although I wanted to root for the two main characters, I just couldn't. Again, I enjoyed the subject matter and some of the side characters were great, but the heart of the romance just wasn't my jam. I would give it a 7 out of 10.

• Fake Dates and Mooncakes by Sher Lee - I don't remember when or where I heard about this book, but it was probably a while ago since it was fairly far down on my 'for later' list on my Libby app. With that said, it still caught my attention and was available to check out so I thought I'd give it a listen. This was a YA rom-com about Dylan, who works at his aunt's Chinese takeout restaurant. While on a delivery he runs into Theo, who appears to be the wealthy boyfriend of an extremely rude customer. Theo comes back to the restaurant to apologize (and officially introduce himself) and the two connect. Dylan lets it slip that the restaurant is struggling and needs to find $5,000 to stay afloat and surprisingly that exact amount shows up in Dylan's aunt's mailbox from a grant that no one applied for. When Dylan puts everything together and confronts Theo about the 'gift', Theo offers Dylan a way to make it up to him - go to a family wedding with him as his fake date. As with most fake dating situations, the feelings become real along the way. Throughout the relationship, Dylan is learning to make mooncakes to enter a contest that will hopefully help his aunt save the family restaurant. Not only did I enjoy the sweet story (even if I would've liked to see it a little longer so we could've dug into the drama or even the backstories a bit more), but I also enjoyed learning more about the Singaporean Chinese culture. It was an adorable romance that had me swooning from start to finish. I would give it an 8 out of 10.

• Extracurricular by Rachel Lynn Salomon - Okay, so let me preface this by saying I think I heard about this book on a recent social media post, but I don't think I saw the cover when it was originally mentioned. I say that because the cover art is a little more 'romance' than rom-com and I probably wouldn't have put it on hold at my local library had I known it was going to give off 'that' vibe ;) Now I am not shaming anyone who likes a lot of spice in their books, but that's just not my jam (which is why I usually stick with the YA genre that tends to have a lot less physical 'affection' portrayed). Anywho, this book was about Ramona, a popstar who decides she needs out of the music industry and enrolls at UCLA, and Nick, a recently divorced psychology professor. This is all about a forbidden love (not to mention the age-gap thingy and a little of the black cat/ golden retriever trope thrown in for good measure) - seeing as a relationship between a professor and student is a big no-no. There were actually quite a few serious topics discussed in this one - from sexual assault (more alluded to than actually described in the story itself) and panic attacks to personal autonomy and toxic relationships. I did appreciate the fact that there wasn't a late-in-the-game breakup, like a lot of romances out there, but again, it was filled with a bit too much spice for my reading pleasure (but you do you ;)). I would give it a 7 out of 10. 

• PS: I Hate You by Lauren Connolly - I had this one saved in my Libby 'for later' list for a while and I figured it was time to give it a try. If you couldn't guess from the title of this one, it was a rom-com all about the enemies-to-lovers trope, but there was also a lot of other tropes sprinkled throughout as well - such as the brother's best friend, forced proximity, second-chance romance, roadtrip, etc. This was about Maddie, who we meet at her brother's funeral. Josh lost his fight with cancer and at his funeral his best friend, Dom, was tasked with handing out personal letters that he wanted distributed after his passing. Instead of a personal letter to Maddie, she gets a combo package with Dom (who she had a major crush on growing up, hooked up with once when she was in her late teens and then started hating because the day after they got together he asked his ex-girlfriend to marry him). Josh's final wish for them is to go on eight different adventures - to eight states around the US he never got to visit - and spread his ashes. Let's just say this was one gut punch after another. The pair is constantly being confronted by their grief of losing the person who meant the most to them in their lives. This one will have you feeling all the feels, so be ready! I thought it was beautifully written (even if I would've liked to have seen how Maddie overcame the insecurities that seemed to overtake her life for most of the book and maybe a bit more after the final twist that was uncovered towards the end). I would give it an 8 out of 10.

• The Unknown by Riley Sager - I haven't read any of this author's books before, but I have always heard great things about them so decided to get on the waitlist for his newest release at my local library. This was a thriller that follows an actress trying to make it in Hollywood and is cast in an up-and-coming film. The movie is about the true story of five women who mysteriously disappear from a small island off the coast of Vermont one hundred years ago. The director is a little eccentric and decides that before the filming, the crew should go to the island and live like the women did (in the period garb, no electricity, etc) to really get into character. The story switches back and forth between the present day and the diary entries that one of the women who disappeared, Daisy, left on the island. Everything starts to unravel when what happened back then seems to start happening again. I was on the edge of my seat for the majority of this book, but would say that it was a bit more paranormal/ supernatural than I usually go for (in fact, I normally read a bit in bed before going to sleep and I knew I shouldn't do that with this one because it was too spooky/ creepy for me personally). There were plenty of twists and turns that kept me guessing the whole time. I would give it an 8 out of 10. 

• Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall - This one had a long wait on my Libby app and had the little Reese's Book Club sticker on the cover, so I assumed it had to be good and got in line. After a couple months of waiting it was finally my turn to download the book. I didn't know anything about it when I first put it on hold, but noticed when I downloaded it that it was in both the romance and mystery genres, so my interest was piqued. I will start off by saying that books set not in the present (like 'modern times') aren't really my jam, so I guess it already had a strike against it without really knowing it. The story was about a love triangle, grief and family secrets. It actually had three simultaneous timelines going on - the past (the 1950s), the present (the 1960s) and the trial (you only get snitbits of this storyline, so you aren't really sure who is on trial and what the crime is until later in the book). When Beth was a teenager, she met Gabriel, who was a wealthy, Oxford-bound boy. The pair had an amazing summer together and stayed together even when Gabriel went off to university. Beth broke it off after finding Gabriel's journal and discovering that he had started spending more time with (and even sleeping with) an Oxford student who was much more aligned with who his family wanted him to end up with. Heartbroken, Beth returns to her small rural home and gets together with Frank, the farmer's son who always had a huge crush on her. The two end up marrying, having a son together, holding down life on the farm, losing their son in an accident and struggling to put the pieces of their life back together. One day Gabriel returns to town and asks Beth to stand in as his son's nanny because his ex-wife has moved to the US. The two slip into old ways and everything comes to a head when the town finds out about the infidelity. The constantly switching timelines kept things interesting like a traditional thriller, but I didn't really vibe with either Beth or Gabriel (Frank and Leo were the only two characters who I actually liked) so couldn't really get emotionally invested in the overall story. Suffice it to say, this wasn't my favorite (but had I actually done a little research beforehand, I probably would have known better and skipped it from the get-go), but if the historical family dramas are up your alley you'd probably enjoy this one. I would give it a 7 out of 10.

• My Favorite Half-Night Stand by Christina Lauren - Yep, I found another older book from this writing duo on my Libby app and checked it out. I'm happy to report this one was back in line with the others of theirs that I usually enjoy. This was a rom-com about a group of best friends (four men and one woman) who decide to join a dating app because they need dates for an upcoming event. After joining the app, Millie and Reid (two of the friends in the group) hook up but agree to keep things platonic because they don't want to screw up their friendship (or the group dynamics, so they keep it hush-hush). The first round of matches that Millie receives is less than stellar, so she actually makes a second profile that is a little more mysterious but also more vulnerable. Reid matches with 'Catherine' (Millie's middle name) without knowing that it is actually his best friend. Millie originally thinks Reid will figure out that it's her, but once she gets a little competitive and jealous of other matches he gets on the app, she decides to keep it from him and see if she can win him over. I thought it was a quick, super fun rom-com and flew through it in a single morning. I loved the friendship this group had and would have loved it if the other characters got books of their own (but obviously since this one was released in 2018 I think that time has come and gone). I'd say I was a little disappointed that we didn't dive into Millie's curiosity of female serial killers (I felt like that aspect of her life was never really touched on and I thought it was an interesting idea), but overall it was an entertaining listen. I would give it an 8 out of 10. 

• Promise Me Sunshine by Cara Bastone - Remember earlier in the month where I mentioned I read a book because I had heard great things about another one by the same author and realized it was actually the first one in the series?! Well, now that I finished the first book, I could finally get my hands (or ears) on the book that I originally was interested in ;) Let me start off by saying this one was a doozy! I mean, if you aren't in the mood for an emotional read, you might want to leave it on your TBR list for now. Technically this is a contemporary romance about Lenny (and Miles), but it is so much more than that. You see, Lenny recently lost her best friend, her soulmate, her other half, Lou. She is trying to figure out how to keep living in a world where her everything is now absent. As a way to avoid her life, she takes a temporary babysitting gig. While caring for the quirky seven year old, Ainsley, she is thrust into her grumpy uncle's orbit. Miles can see she is struggling and offers to be her grief consultant if she helps him learn to be better with his niece (and people in general). The pair work through a survival list and Miles does his best to help Lenny to start living again. Sure there is yearning, sure there are sweet moments between the two of them, sure it is heartwarming, sure I was rooting for them to open their eyes and see what they had in front of their faces, but, again, this was about so much more than just the two of them. Oh my goodness, this one pulled at my heartstrings and just never let go (and, technically, although it's in the same series as Ready or Not, the two stories are not interrelated at all so I could've totally gotten away with reading this one first). The way this author addressed grief with such grace and humor, showing the healing process as messy and raw, chef's kiss, no notes! I would give it a 10 out of 10.

• No Matter What by Cara Bastone - Well, it was time to wrap this series up, so I stopped in at my local library and grabbed the third book. These are all standalone stories, so you don't necessarily have to read them in a certain sequence, but I am a rule follower, so still did them in order of publication. This was the story of a married couple - Roz and Vin. You are reading from Roz's perspective, but sprinkled throughout the book are short snidbits told by Vin (you find out later in the story where these quick vignettes are coming from). These two, along with Vin's younger brother (who happens to also be Roz's best friend) Raffi, were in an accident and are now trying to deal with the fallout from that traumatic event. It is a story about marriage, about love, about struggle, about communication, about picking up the pieces, about finding yourself and your way back to the people who have always been in your corner and who you once were. I found it heartfelt and appreciated the more mature characters (forty-ish). It felt real and raw and relatable, even if the constant miscommunication throughout the book had me wanting to pull my hair out at points. I would give it an 8 out of 10.  

• Farther by Heather Anderson - I saw this book pop up in the recommended section of my Libby app (probably because I had listened to two other running memoirs this month) and it caught my eye. This follows Heather as she tries to tackle the Triple Crown of hiking (the Appalachian Trail, the Pacific Crest Trail and the Continental Divide Trail) in a single calendar year. You don't have to be a thru-hiker to be amazed at this feat... almost 8,000 MILES of continuous hiking across the country. She had to battle weather, terrain and logistics, not to mention the physical and mental demands it takes to tackle a goal of this magnitude. I doubt I will ever tackle anything nearly as gnarly, so I'm thankful she shares a little of what goes on behind the curtain for all of us mere mortals who are content with cheering her on from the sidelines ;) I would give it an 8 out of 10.

• The Dead Romantics by Ashley Polston - I have had this one on my 'for later' list on my Libby app for quite some time, so I downloaded it and figured now was as good of a time as any to try it out. As with most books by this author, this one has a bit of magical realism in it. It was about Florence, a ghostwriter for a very famous romance author who happens to see ghosts. Yep, a little like Sixth Sense. Her family actually owns a funeral home and she can see people once they die (her father also has this 'gift'). Her main dilema actually has nothing to do with this eccentricity... The book she is supposed to be writing is due (the fourth and final book of her contract) and she hasn't finished it. The reason she can't finish the book is because she no longer believes in love and therefore is having a hard time writing about it. When she goes to a meeting with her new editor, Ben, she is hopeful that she can get another extension, but that's not in the cards. As if the day can't get any worse, when her and her roommate are out trying to shake off the crappiness, she gets a call that shatters her world - her father had a heart attack and didn't make it. She flies back to her tiny hometown and tries to help her family in preparation for his send off. While home she encounters a handsome ghost - HER EDITOR! It was definitely a slow burn (I mean, she couldn't even touch him, seeing as he was a ghost!) and had quite a few characters to keep track of, but I thought it was cute. I also appreciated the non-binary and LGBTQIA+ characters who were referenced but not made a big deal of (because, duh, they should be able to exist in all types of media [and the world in general] just as they are and who they are!). I would give it an 8 out of 10. 

• Just the Nicest Couple by Mary Kubica - I thought it was time for a break from the rom-coms, so scrolled through my 'for later' list on my Libby app for a thriller. I had saved this one a while back and decided to check it out. It was a thriller that centered around two married couples - Jake and Nina, Christian and Lily. Jake goes missing after he and Nina have a fight (although Nina believes he might just be taking time away from her due to their argument) and Lily believes that she might have actually been the last one to see him. Lily tells Christian she ran into Jake at a local nature preserve and he attacked her, so she had to fight back and hit him a few times in the head with a rock. As soon as Jake fell, Lily ran away from him and made it back to her car. Christian and Lily now have to figure out how to hide the evidence in case Jake is in fact dead and Lily killed him. I thought it was twisty-turvy and was pulled in from early on. There were definitely a few parts which felt predictable (at least to me), but it was enjoyable enough to keep me listening. I would say that there was a character/ subplot that was unnecessary, but overall it was an entertaining thriller. I would give it a 7 out of 10.

• Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah - Let me start off by saying not many authors can get me excited about reading historical fiction or 500ish page books quite like this author can. In fact, historical fiction is normally not my jam, but somehow this author always gets her claws into me and I can't look away. When one of her books I hadn't read before showed up in the little neighborhood library in our front yard I snagged it right away. This isn't one of her most known books, but it is oh-so-good. It is a coming of age story about two best friends - Tully and Kate. The two met when they were teens and formed a bond that lasted decades. The story follows both women growing up in the 70s, 80s, 90s and beyond. Tully is the loud, boisterous friend, while Kate is the more level-headed of the two. Tully's goal has always been to become a famous TV reporter/ journalist and Kate has been sort of wrapped up in being Tully's sidekick. The pair end up leading very different lives, but have each other to rely on throughout it all. It's a story of female friendship, of relationships (mother-daughter, husband-wife, etc), of finding/ knowing your worth, of decisions and choices, of betrayal, of family dynamics. No one can bring the tears to my eyes like Kristin Hannah ;) And now I see that not only is there a Netflix series based on this book but there is also another book in the series... off to the library I go! I would give it a 9 out of 10.

• The Break-Up Pact by Emma Lord - Okay, you knew I couldn't stay away from the rom-coms for that long ;) I was scrolling through my Libby app, looking for an audiobook to listen to while out on a run and came across this one. I've read a few books by this author and have always thought they were cute, so thought this one would be worth a try. It's a rom-com about June and Levi. These were were childhood friends, but time, distance and unrequited love got in between them and they've been estranged for over ten years. The prior friends find themselves in a random, similar situation - they were both dumped in a somewhat viral way within weeks of each other. Levi returns home after this very public break-up and runs into June. After a photo of them together gets buzz on the InterWebs, the two decide to fake date in hopes that it will help June's struggling tea shop and show Levi's ex-fiancee what she's missing so she'll come back to him. I'm sure you can guess what happens from there... the fake dating turns into real feelings and they have to decide whether to risk their newly re-formed friendship for something more. It was a quick listen (especially now that I'm listening to audiobooks at 2x speed) and had some fun [albeit unrealistic] tropes. I would give it an 8 out of 10.

• Without Children by Peggy O'Donnell Heffington - Figured it was time for go back to some non-fiction and saw this one was available (I have had it on my 'for later' list for almost as long as I've had my Libby app, but it was never available to me, so I was thrilled I could check it out). This was a book about women who do not/ did not have children. It seems to be assumed that millennials have jumped on this 'trend', so this author shared the history of women not having children for a multitude of reasons (and for many, many centuries). Although society often frames women not having children as abnormal, Peggy dives into the numerous reasons why this is not the case - including financial pressures, lack of support, environmental anxiety, career demands, infertility, etc (as opposed to the thought that women who don't have children [whether they have made the decision themselves or not] are just 'selfish'). The author's hope was not only to show that this was not a new phenomenon, but also to hopefully bridge the divide that society creates by pitting mothers vs. non-mothers. This is definitely a historian's look at the subject, so at times is felt a bit 'dry', but the author did her best to infuse humor throughout and I found the book and topic interesting nonetheless. I would give it an 8 out of 10.

• Judge Stone by Viola Davis and James Patterson - I had seen this book mentioned a few times recently but the wait was months long on my audiobook apps so I got in a short line at my local library. Once the book was ready to check-out, I made my way over and snagged it. I hadn't read anything by James Patterson before, but loved Viola's memoir when I read it a couple years back, so was excited to see how the two would work together. This was a legal thriller set in a small county in Alabama. It was told from multiple POVs (which I always enjoy). Judge Mary Stone is a Black judge who is respected throughout the community for being fair and running her courtroom with no-nonsense. She is tasked at presiding over a HUGE case - one in which Nova, a thirteen year old, was raped and went to their local doctor for an abortion. Dr. Gaines performed the abortion, even though Alabama had a strict no abortion law (no exceptions for rape or incest). Not only is Judge Stone at the helm of this high-profile case, but she also has to deal with tons of political pressure (she is also up for reelection, which is set to take place weeks after the trial concludes), an influx of out-of-towners who are protesting and causing a ruckus in town, threats to her home and safety, running her farm, a related murder trial and much more. I thought the drama was top-notch, the topic was relevant and the writing was excellent. I was drawn in right from the start and couldn't put the book down. I would give it a 9 out of 10.

• Birding with Benefits by Sarah T. Dubb - I don't remember how I came across this book (if I saw someone recommend it or not), but I thought the cover was cute and needed an audiobook to listen to, so thought I'd give this one a try. This was a rom-com with an accidental fake dating trope. How was it accidental, you ask. Well, Celeste is out at a painting event one night and meets Chris. Chris mentions (although she isn't paying close attention) that he is letting his friend, John, down and suggests that Celeste play the part of John's partner at the park the following day, especially since his ex will be there. Celeste is under the impression that partner means romantic partner, so heads to the park thinking she will be his fake girlfriend for the morning to make his ex jealous. Wires were definitely crossed because the partner John needs is actually a birding partner for a big birding contest. Celeste had already introduced herself to John's ex (as his girlfriend AND partner), so the two decide to see it through. John needs a partner to win the contest (and hopefully get his birding business off the ground) and Celeste needs a fake boyfriend to get all her co-workers off her back since she hasn't been with anyone since her divorce a few years before. I thought it was a fun, lighthearted story, I loved the chaotic energy that Celeste brought with her and I appreciated that the characters were in their forties. (And when I was getting the link for this recap I saw that this book inspired a Hallmark movie and can totally see that... although maybe they dialed back the spice a bit ;)) I would give it an 8 out of 10.

• Famous Last Words by Gillian McAllister - I had saved this book on my Libby app a couple months back and thought it was time to dig into a thriller. I had read another of this author's books before and had seen rave reviews about this one so downloaded it. This one was about Camilia (and her husband). Camilia is a new mother who is going back to work as a literary agent after her maternity leave was up. The morning she is set to return to the office she wakes up to her husband having already left and a somewhat cryptic note left by him. As she goes about her morning she sees news breaking that there is a hostage situation occurring and is informed by police officers that her husband is in fact the gunman. The story is told from Camilia's point-of-view, as well as from Niall's perspective, who is the hostage negotiator. I don't want to give anything away (I always prefer to go into books blind, especially suspenseful mystery ones), but let's just say the standoff doesn't end well and we are left following along with the aftermath seven years post event. I definitely enjoyed all of the twists and turns along the way (although I would say that there were quite a few that were alluded to and not as surprising as they could've been), but there were a handful of plot points that I felt were just too unbelievable and they made the story hard to buy into fully. I would give it a 7 out of 10.

With that, September is done-zo. If you have suggestions, let me know! I'm always looking to add to my "must read" list! 

What's the best book you've read lately?