Top September Reads!
The start of the -ber months have treated us RIGHT when it comes to books. It is now time for spooky season and I (Maggie) am personally ready. Even if I am not a scary movie person and actually hate haunted houses, I'm ready for the decor, the cooler temperatures and the start of reading under a blanket with some nice smelling candles (well maybe, I have a kitten and haven't tried candles yet). There were some really stellar books for me this month, and even more books I'm excited to read in October. I (Allison) had a mix of books that blew my mind and books that were let downs- sometimes even classics that missed the mark. I did read probably my favorite book of the year (tied with They Bloom at Night by Trang Thanh Tran- which you will see in an upcoming post). That book was The Isle in the Silver Sea by Tasha Suir, and I will be writing up a longer post for it because it deserves so much more praise than I can give it in a summary post!
Dead Beat By Leigh Bardugo - Maggie
Dead Beat is the last book in the Ninth House Trilogy and honestly, I was so excited to read it when it came out. As a huge fan of pretty much anything that Leigh Bardugo writes, I was really excited (and mildly terrified) to see how this trilogy would end. The book follows Alex Stern, who is brought to Yale to be placed in Lethe, the Ninth House of the secret societys. Lethe is in charge of making sure rituals go correctly, but what happens when they don't, especially when Alex is around. Now, Alex and Daniel Arlington are fighting demons both in and outside of hell, trying to keep the camus safe while working on figuring out their own powers.
I really enjoyed this book but obviously can't say too much since its the end of the series. If you like darker magic, secret societies and some rough around the edges characters, this book is definitely for you.
The Royals and Romance Series By Sara Raasch - Allison
I will admit- I slept on this series for so long because I feared it would be VERY gimmicky. What I learned upon binging them for a few days straight was that all the gimmick was embraced while layered in-between deep conversations and internal work related to dysfunctional family drama, unrealistic expectations from both self and others, self-destruction amidst moral grey areas, and... corporate shenanigans in an era of low-key neocolonial-esque monopoly building? I know- it might seem like these were supposed to be silly little fun books, and at times they were, but they also gave me a huge does of- in AO3 terms- crack treated seriously. I have no idea how this author did it, but I am here for it. I will definitely be tuning in for the next holiday installment in March 2027! Also... the spice was hot.
Grim Tidings By B.K. Borison - Maggie
Grim Tidings is the next book in the Haunted Series by B.K. Borison. This book follows a reaper who is assigned their next target, but when they get to the location they end up running into a guardian, who's job it is to keep people safe. But Darcy isn't sure she enjoys being a reaper anymore, finding each time she takes a soul harder on her own. Now she wants to try something new, saving the soul. But Gabriel, the guardian, doesn't trust her, so he promises to help her with a list of 'human' things she wants to experience in order ot keep an eye on her. As their feelings for each other become more complicated so does the way the rest of the story will go. I really enjoyed this book, I loved the vibes it gave me about the guardian angel/fallen angel books I would read as a teen. I loved the magic of it and the how the story worked through the complications each of the characers had. I really enjoy this series and how unique the stories feel.
Give it a Grow By Martha Swales - Allison
My parter is the green thumb of the two of us, but in an effort to help him in the garden and try to hold my own with mother nature, I found this fun little practical book by UK influencer Martha Swales. I have often found myself smiling at her videos, so I put it on my birthday wish list. And I am so glad I did! - thanks Mom and Dad!
This book is informational without being overwhelming. This book is instructional while also being whimsical. This book meets you where you are at based on personal skill level and on urban gardening space constraints, and it encourages you to try, fail, succeed, and everything in-between. I read it over the entire summer, recently finishing it just in time for most of the growing season to be over, but every time I picked it up, I felt inspired. As someone that has historically avoided all things associated with plants out of fear of murdering them, that was an incredible feeling! I will definitely be attempting to garden again in the near future, and more than that, I will be trying to channel the author's repetitive mantra of being present in nature and noticing the wonderful little moments your plants are experiencing in your garden. I recommend this book to beginners like me who are too afraid to start.
What books, fiction and/or nonfiction, did you connect with this month? Any recommendations for the "official" start of spooky season in October?
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