September Wrap Up

Hey! Look at me! Only the 3rd day of October, and I'm ready with my blog post. Things in my life have calmed down a bit, and I've been able to keep up on my reviews. So, here we go!

I truly enjoyed reading Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin! I had seen the movie many years ago, and subsequently purchased the book, but literally never got around to actually reading it. Having read a few other books by Emily Giffin within the past couple years, I just knew this was one I had to pick up. I'm so happy I did! I loved the Darcy and Rachel storyline so much. It reminded me of my friendships, minus the cheating. I always planned out everything, and sat on the sidelines while my friends' dreams would come true. Don't worry though, I'm very happy with my life and wouldn't want to live it differently. I cannot wait to read the second in the series. 4 out of 5 stars for sure!

Dates Read: August 30, 2021 - September 1, 2021

Shari Lapena is one of my favorites, and Not a Happy Family was no exception! I was beyond thrilled when it was announced as a BOTM selection for August, and had to jump right on the ordering train! I did not see the twists coming, and was at the edge of my seat the entire time. I definitely put aside the rest of my responsibilities to finish this book making it a sun up to sun down book! A definite 5 out of 5 star read for me!

Date Read: September 2, 2021

I loved the humor in Last Summer at the Golden Hotel by Elyssa Friedland. Being Jewish, I always find it beyond humorous when little jokes are thrown in that simply remind me of my family. I got major Maisel vibes from this story, so I obviously enjoyed the journey. 4 out of 5 stars!

Dates Read: September 3, 2021 - September 4, 2021

Goodnight Beautiful was the second book I had read by Aimee Molloy, and another one that I barely remember. Basically, the memory of what I had read immediately left my mind within a day or two. I remember kind of liking it, but I know that I probably won't read another book by this author again. 3 out of 5 stars.

Dates Read: September 4, 2021 - September 5, 2021

The Dirty Book Club by Lisi Harrison was so cute! I loved the premise of these young women living out the plans made by their elderly relatives. I'm also partial to a good book club! I loved how the storylines transcended decades, and what had happened in the past was mirroring present day life. The characters were likable, and I audibly laughed out loud on a few occasions. I gave this book 5 out of 5 stars.

Dates Read: September 4, 2021 - September 6, 2021

Wedding Night by Sophie Kinsella was such a fun ride! Following a public breakup with her boyfriend who she thought would've proposed to her, Lottie reconnects and marries her old fling. The two of them set off on a honeymoon, but her sister, Fliss, would do whatever it takes to stop them from having sex. This story was HILARIOUS. The lengths the hotel staff went to in order to stop them from consummating their marriage were unhinged. I loved this story! I gave it 4 out of 5 stars.

Dates Read: September 7, 2021 - September 11, 2021

This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger was a story that I had seen all over my Instagram for years. I had such high hopes for the book. While I did enjoy the pictures painted by the author, the writing just wasn't for me. I didn't hate the story by any means, but I don't think I'll read another book by Krueger. The scenery described by Kreuger was beautiful though, and I felt like I could vividly imagine where the book was taking place at any given time. I gave this book 3 out of 5 stars.

Dates Read: September 12, 2021 - September 16, 2021

Okay! Here we go! November 9 by Colleen Hoover is definitely one of the top books I've read in 2021! The story was so cute. Fallon and Ben are together for only one day each year, November 9. Little did I know what rollercoaster of emotion Colleen Hoover would take me on this time. I watched them fall in love, watched them stand by one another for their hardest moments in life, and then SHE ABSOLUTELY BROKE ME. The twist in this story---there was NO WAY to see that coming! I do give her credit though, Colleen Hoover knows definitely how to end a book. Not saying she gives a happy ending, or a sad one, but she brings the story to a close very nicely each time! I cannot wait to read more! 5 out of 5 stars---duh!

Date Read: September 18, 2021

A Good Neighborhood by Therese Anne Fowler was the perfect book to read in today's emotional climate. What struck me as interesting was that this book was published shortly before the COVID outbreak last year, but you would've thought that it was published after March 2020. The ending though, I wish it would've ended differently. I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars.

Date Read: September 19, 2021

Teenagers dealing with death and pregnancy was not what I was expecting when I picked up Someone Like You by Sarah Dessen, but I'm so grateful for the ride it took me on. I felt an emotional connection to the characters in this story, and the friendship between Halley and Scarlett reminded me of my high school friendships. It was a very cute story, an easy read, and solidified my want and desire to read more books by Sarah Dessen. 4 out of 5 stars!

Dates Read: September 20, 2021 - September 21, 2021

I had The Book Thief by Markus Zusak on my bookshelf for years, and I don't know why it took so long for me to finally read it...I missed out on a journey that will stay with me for years and years. I'm very grateful that my book club decided on this book for September, and I cannot wait to discuss it with them! WW2 Historical Fiction always has been and always will be my favorite genre. This era is important to never forget, because we must never let it happen again! 4 out of 5 stars.

Dates Read: September 22, 2021 - September 27, 2021

I watched The Boy in the Striped Pajamas many years ago with my mom, but reading the novel by John Boyne hit differently (but just as hard). Growing up, I had always learned about the horrors of the Holocaust from the Jewish perspective, so to learn about it from the innocent German boy's perspective was a culture shock. To realize that this little boy had literally no idea what was even happening in his own back yard is just mind-boggling. He's going about his normal life, and right under his nose, others are going through unbelievable torture. I highly recommend this book!! I think it's a very important one, and it should be required reading. I rated this book 5 out of 5 stars.

Dates Read: September 27, 2021 - September 28, 2021

So, September was a good month for me, with a total of 12 books, bringing my 2021 total to 98! My favorite, hands down, was November 9 by Colleen Hoover. I could've passed on Goodnight Beautiful by Aimee Molloy. October is spooky season, and with one notable exception, Have a slew of spooky reads picked out! Happy Fall, Happy Reading!