SEPT/OCT WRAP UP
Disclaimer: I read books based on preferences which take into account my faith and personal convictions. Please check any of my recommendations against your own convictions and read responsibly.
Hey there, reader friends—I’ve missed you! It’s been a minute since I’ve shared a reading recap and that’s because September and October were extremely busy months for me personally. But we’re back and ready to chat about all the reading I did manage to squeeze in over the past two months! With such hectic months came a bit of a reading lull. I definitely didn’t get through as many books as usual, but honestly, that ended up being a blessing in disguise. Having less free time meant I had to be more intentional with my choices—reaching for quality books over purely entertaining ones. And I think that might mean…I’m entering a hardcore contemporary fiction era. But before I get too ahead of myself, let’s take a look at my reading stats from September and October!
September and October ended up being a tie between Romance and Thrillers as my most-read genres. The funny part? Neither genre ended up standing out. Instead, I found myself finishing the month most excited about Contemporary Fiction—specifically Historical Fiction. Maybe it’s because the final books I picked up were both historical fiction and I absolutely loved them. I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again: once you read a lot of Thrillers, they start to blend together—and I’m starting to feel that way about Romances too. So the contemporary and historical fiction reads I picked up were a true breath of fresh air. They felt richer and so much more engaging than anything else I read. Don’t get me wrong, I still found a few good romances and some solid thrillers sprinkled in there, but it’s the contemporary fiction books I’m genuinely excited to continue exploring. So with that said, let’s dive into everything I read over the past two months!
RATING: 4.5 ⭐️
SPICE: LIGHT ❤️🔥
This is the perfect transitional summer to fall book! We follow our female main character, Lenny, as she is fresh off grieving the death of her best friend to cancer. She picks up a nannying gig putting herself in the path of our male main chatter, Miles. He offers to help Lenny overcome her grief in a surprising way that leads to healing and unexpected outcomes.
The focus on pure humanity in this book—grief, simple joys, friendship—was so beautiful and grounding. I absolutely loved the flashback sequences of her friendship with Lou mixed with the present-day story of her walking through grief. It allows us to see and feel their friendship while simultaneously watching her journey of grieving it.
The characters were some of the most lovable I’ve read in a while. There’s just something about Miles—the way he cares for and truly sees Lenny at her core—that is so sexy and swoon-worthy. What really stood out to me, though, was how this story centers not just around romance but around grief and familial love, and the beauty that can come from both.
And that slow-burn romance? Perfection. I loved watching all the small moments between them in the quiet ways they bonded causing our FMC Lenny to not even realize what was happening until halfway through the book. It was such a refreshing change of pace from the typical fast fall romances. Instead, we got to really savor the friendship building first, giving us more real-life moments full of genuine human emotion that make love feel lasting and believable.
In the end, it’s not even the romance that touches you most—it’s the way they help each other grow toward what they each need: Lenny’s healing and acceptance of her friend’s passing, and Miles finding peace and security in his love for his family. The conflict here isn’t about a romantic misunderstanding but rather a deeply human one: learning to live with loss.
This book is heartwarming, emotional, and tender. It captures the ache and the beauty of love, loss, and connection all at once. I definitely recommend this one and can’t wait to read more of Cara Bastone’s books!
AGE RECOMMENTDATION: 18+
RATING: 3.5 ⭐️
2025 NEW RELEASE
VIOLENCE: MILD 🔪🔪
SPICE: MILD ❤️🔥❤️🔥
This was super witty and entertaining, delivering a perfect satirical take on influencer culture. In this story, we follow two former college besties, Lizzie and Bex, who have long since drifted apart. Bex is now a wildly famous tradwife influencer, while Lizzie’s writing career is barely staying afloat. When Bex entices Lizzie with the promise of an exclusive interview that could revive her career, Lizzie jumps at the opportunity. But once she steps into Bex’s perfectly curated world, it becomes obvious that nothing is quite as it seems—and Lizzie is left picking up the pieces of truth behind her former friend’s seemingly glamorous life.
I loved the snarky commentary on online creators and the way this story peels back the curtain to show just how curated, staged, and downright fabricated so many influencer “lifestyles” really are. The mystery elements were pretty solid too. Nothing overly high-stakes or heart-pounding, but intriguing enough to keep you turning the pages to see where everything was headed. The final reveal was fun and not overly predictable, which I appreciated.
Lizzie’s character was another highlight. It’s so easy to relate to getting pulled into the rabbit hole of someone else’s online life and finding yourself both skeptical and strangely drawn to it. The book captures that tension really well. My only real gripe was the heavy-handed portrayal of toxic masculinity. Some of those plot lines felt a bit too extreme for my personal taste and for the otherwise playful, satirical tone, and they occasionally pulled me out of the fun.
Still, if you enjoy commentary on the bizarre behaviors and wild excesses of influencer culture—this would be a fun read for you! It’s a light, clever, and entertaining read worth picking up.
AGE RECOMMENDATION: 21+
RATING: 3.5 ⭐️
VIOLENCE: MODERATE 🔪🔪🔪
This one was an extremely easy, binge-able, fast-paced read. This is the first book in a series following our female main character, Cassie, who is recruited by the FBI into a classified program for teenagers to assist in solving cold cases. Throughout the book, we follow Cassie and the group of gifted teens as they work to crack a decades long serial killer case.
The premise of bringing teens with special abilities in to work with the FBI was fun, unique, and genuinely intriguing. The mystery itself was solid and kept me guessing pretty much all the way to the end. I appreciated the driving force of having two killers whose cases were connected, which created a great puzzle for the reader—trying to figure out how and who tied everything together.
I will say, I was a bit taken aback by how graphic parts of this were for a YA thriller. Maybe I’m becoming more sensitive, but the descriptive nature of the kills felt more intense than I typically expect from YA. I usually pick up YA thrillers because they lean toward mystery over gruesome detail, and this one definitely pushed that line more than expected. That said, it did deliver that classic YA-mystery feel of solving the case alongside the characters, which I always enjoy.
The characters themselves were fun and likable, adding to the story’s binge-ability and my interest in continuing the series. However, the ending was oddly unsatisfying. After all the build-up and suspense, the final twist lacked that “wow” factor—parts of the killer’s motive didn’t fully add up, which made it feel slightly unrealistic. I was actually more shocked by some of the smaller moments along the way than by the reveal itself.
If you’re looking for a quick read to cure a reading slump or give you a little mystery, I would recommend this book.
AGE RECOMMENDATION: 18+
RATING: 4 ⭐️
VIOLENCE: MILD 🔪🔪
This one followed in the footsteps of the first book—being super fast-paced and incredibly binge-able. We follow the same group of teenage characters as they work to solve the case of a copycat killer, and this time they find themselves a little too close to the line of the action.
I loved that we get the same lovable, quirky cast of characters, but what I appreciated most was how this book digs more into their backgrounds, personalities, and histories. It made the group feel so much more dimensional and ultimately strengthened the entire story.
I also felt like the main plot here was much stronger than in the first book. It was more cohesive, the mystery was more intriguing, and I loved getting to see the characters interact with the supposed “killer” throughout the investigation. The “strangers on a train” storyline was so perfect for this one… which is why I was left a little disappointed when the final twist diverted away from that angle. Just like in book one, the end twist left me scratching my head—it felt messy, rushed, and a bit forced, almost like the author added in a last-minute shock that didn’t quite serve the story.
I’m also still holding to my thought that the violence in this series feels surprisingly descriptive for YA. Not a deal-breaker, but definitely unexpected. And as for the love triangle… I’m not super invested. It feels more like a side plot than a core emotional thread, so those moments don’t hit as hard for me as I think they’re meant to.
Overall though, this book had much stronger character development and a tighter mystery than the first, and it definitely left me wanting to pick up the next in the series.
AGE RECOMMENDATION: 18+
RATING: 4.5 ⭐️
SPICE: MILD ❤️🔥❤️🔥
This was a gorgeous, layered look at fame, love, identity, and the cost of reinvention. The story follows our female main character, Monique, as she’s unexpectedly selected by Hollywood icon Evelyn Hugo—our second FMC—to pen her memoir in a full tell-all. As they sit down together and Hugo begins to unravel the story of her life, it leads to an ending Monique never saw coming.
I loved the diversity in the character backgrounds. There’s something so refreshing about having a biracial (black and white) main character in Monique and a secondary lead like Evelyn who is Latina. And the imagery—wow. The old Hollywood glamour absolutely oozes off the page. From the fashion to the film sets to the smoky allure of the 50s and 60s, Taylor Jenkins Reid paints everything with such vivid, cinematic detail. This was my first Jenkins Reid book, and her writing hooked me immediately. Her writing is definitely impressive with strong structure and flow.
I loved how this book centered fully around the telling of Evelyn Hugo’s life, with each section dedicated to each of her seven marriages. The nuance she brings to each relationship made the story super compelling. While I don’t personally condone many of the actions depicted, I appreciated how the story explores the layers behind people’s choices—the context, the pressure, the survival, the things that aren’t always visible from the outside.
The book also does a great job exploring wealth, fame, and the cost of chasing both—how you can lose yourself in the chase and miss out on what matters most. I equally found the depictions of taboo relationships during the 50s, 60s, and 70s especially fascinating. Seeing how society, politics, and the entertainment industry shaped (and constrained) people’s lives was such a compelling thread throughout the story.
This book truly hooks you from the first chapter and keeps you engrossed with Evelyn’s vibrant, brash, unapologetic voice paired with beautiful, immersive writing. And that final reveal? Timed perfectly. I loved watching Monique wrestle with the complicated truth about her own life and how far we sometimes go to protect the people we love—even when it goes against what we believe is right.
I highly recommend this one, especially if you are a fan of historical romance or fiction!
AGE RECOMMENDATION: 21+
RATING: 3.25 ⭐️
2025 NEW RELEASE
MATURE CONTENT INCLUDED
When I found out Mayci Neely was releasing a memoir, I was so excited to read it! She’s always been my favorite Momtok member and this memoir completely confirmed that while giving me a deeper understanding of why I’ve always gravitated toward her on the show.
For me, the style of writing was very staccato, almost like you’re reading a diary entry from a teenager. It’s super fast-paced and I appreciated the short chapters because they made the reading experience quick. The writing itself is very simple—not necessarily a bad thing—but I personally prefer when a memoir leans into deeper, more complex descriptive writing.
I loved getting to read her entire story and seeing all of the trials and hardships she faced in her relationships, especially around topics like abuse, teenage motherhood, sex outside of marriage, and grief. I also found it extremely interesting to see the ways the Mormon religion affected her mental health and self-worth, and how it can be very controlling and judgmental almost to a fault. I did love seeing her full trajectory—from stepping outside of strict Mormon rules to eventually coming back to her religion and tradition after the tragedies she faced.
I also found it interesting to learn how Momtok is more of a side hobby for her and not what made her famous. It was refreshing to see how she built her platform and brand on her own, with Momtok simply being a supplementary way to continue growing her following. She has always seemed like one of the more normal, grounded ones from the Momtok group, and this memoir gives clear insight into why. It shows how well-rounded and grounded she really is.
It’s a simple but beautiful memoir about honesty, tragedy, perseverance, and rising from the ashes. And I love how her personal mission is to use the tragedies she’s been through to help other women who have faced those same things—giving them a voice. I would recommend this if you’re a fan of Mayci or Momtok.
AGE RECOMMENDATION: 21+
RATING: 5 ⭐️
This book was everything I had been missing and yearning for in a story! If I could, I would give this 6 stars—it’s truly the first book I’ve ever felt that much love for. This story follows our two female main characters, Tully and Kate, through four decades of friendship—spanning high school, careers, marriage, family, fame, and tragedy.
This is such a beautiful portrayal of lifelong friendship and all the mess, joy, love, disappointment, hurt, and mixed emotions that come with knowing someone so deeply for so long. I loved the variety of themes explored in this book—toxic family dynamics and the lasting effects on children, the pressure to follow someone else’s vision for your life, the push for women to choose career over family, and the complicated layers of friendship and jealousy.
I loved the continuous timeline and how the story moved through different decades. It added the perfect historical touch. My favorite aspect was the juxtaposition between the life paths the two friends chose: one dedicated to career and fame, the other to marriage and family. The way both were portrayed—with their highs, fulfillment, doubts, and sacrifices—felt so honest, real, and relatable.
The writing flows effortlessly—from the dialogue to the raw emotions—to the point that you truly feel every high and every low right alongside the characters. The one thing I truly disliked was Tully’s character and the selfish immaturity she often brought into her friendship with Kate. Even her final apology felt like it came more from the weight of circumstances than genuine personal growth.
The last 100 pages had me weeping, like full-on tears streaming down my face. The beauty of love and family being what truly matters in the end was beyond moving, and the way true friendship hits every emotional nerve made this such a powerful read! Run don’t walk to get this book in your hands!
AGE RECOMMENDATION: 21+
RATING: 4 ⭐️
2025 NEW RELEASE
I was super excited to pick this up after loving his memoir and giving it 5 stars earlier this year.
This book was a beautiful depiction of personal poetry and reflections. It was super simple and a quick listen—perfect for a pallet cleanser between books. The audiobook was especially wonderful—his voice adds so much character and nuance that it truly brings the poetry to life. He’s incredibly talented at putting his thoughts and life concepts into words, and I loved seeing his interpretations of different life moments and scripture verses.
My favorite passage was the “time” section, and I actually want to buy the physical hardcover just so I can highlight all my favorite snippets—there were quite a few gems throughout.
If you’re a fan of McConaughey or poetry, I would highly recommend—specifically the audiobook version!
AGE RECOMMENDATION: 18+
RATING: 4 ⭐️
This book is the sequel story to Firefly Lane— following the same set of characters in the aftermath of the original story.
This book can be summed up as a tale of moments lost. It’s an excellent follow-up to the original story and still captures all the heartfelt, emotional writing Kristin Hannah is known for. Personally, I think I preferred the chronological storytelling structure of the first book more than the flashback approach used here, but I still loved getting to see the emotional aftermath each character faced after the incident that closed out the original. Watching the ways grief pushed each person into different decisions was heartbreaking, yet honest and real.
My favorite part was finally learning Dorothy’s full story and past. It was a powerful reminder that you never truly know the “why” behind someone’s choices, attitudes, or behavior—and that taking things at face value can lead to devastating misunderstandings. Of all the reconciliations in this book, Tully and Dorothy’s was hands-down the best. It beautifully carried the theme of “love and family being what matters most” into this sequel, making both books feel emotionally cohesive.
I also loved how the author managed to wrap up all the complex, turbulent storylines in a way that felt meaningful, interconnected, and deeply satisfying.
I would 10/10 recommend these books to literally everyone and I cannot wait to pick up more Kristin Hannah books in the new year!
AGE RECOMMENDATION: 21+
