What I Read in September
Hi everyone! It’s hard to believe that September is over, and we’re down to the last quarter of 2024. While I can’t say that this month flew by for me, I did continue my daily reading habit and really focused on books that I could either get lost in, learn from, or laugh at. I’ve always said that reading is the way to live a thousand lives in one, and that has been really helpful to me in my grieving process lately. This month’s round-up includes two new releases, a mix of non-fiction and thrillers, and a debut YA novel that truly blew me away. As we head into the last few months of the year, add me on GoodReads so we can keep up with each other’s yearly goal progress and share recommendations.
what i read in september
not like other girls by meredith adamo
5/5 stars
This is Meredith Adamo’s debut novel, although it did not read like a debut in the slightest as this is one of the best YA books I’ve ever read. It was much more mature than you’d expect as it covers some heavy topics (check the TWs).
I really appreciated how she did not dumb down or oversimplify the challenges of being a teenager, and it really elevated the story. This had a slightly higher page count than I’m used to for YA (442 pages), it’s a well-rounded, layered story that doesn’t drag.
The writing is superb; the sharp, witty dialogue creates emotional connection with the reader and the main character had such a strong voice.
While this initially has the premise of a thriller, I found this to be much more about a young woman’s journey as she comes to term with how trauma affects her past, her present, and her future.
Read it here.
the good lie by a.j. torre
3/5 stars
This is a very twisty psychological thriller that chronicles Dr. Gwen Moore, a psychiatrist who specializes in treating predators. She is asked by defense attorney Robert Kauvin to put together a profile for a serial killer for the case he is working on. In a surprising twist, Kauvin is defending the man who is accused of killing his son (but believes he is falsely accused and on a quest to find true justice for his son).
This reads like an episode of Criminal Minds. It focuses a lot on psychology and is more introspective than action-based, but still graphic and gruesome at times.
It’s a little implausible with a couple of side-eye moments, but not so much it takes away from the story.
This was a very puzzling mystery with multiple POVs and storylines; I didn’t know how every storyline tied in together, but the author does a great job of bringing everything together in the end. There was a method to her madness, and it paid off.
Read it here (free through Kindle Unlimited).
you can't have it all: the basic b*tch guide to taking the pressure off by stassi schroeder
4/5 stars
This is an earnest, fun read about prioritizing contentment, self-acceptance, and finding inner peace during challenging moments.
Stassi’s perspective as an author is interesting because she’s so authentically herself and so much of her life has been well-documented reality show. You get to see her grow and evolve in real time, while still remaining true to some of the most innate aspects of her personality. Each book she writes feels like a time capsule of who she is during that era. There’s lots of parenting reflections in this one, but I still enjoyed it and could relate to struggling to find a balance in life, even though I’m not a mom.
This book reads like you’re having a conversation with a friend or big sister. At its core, it’s really about shifting your perspective to believe “you can’t have it all but maybe what you get will be better.” (p.181)
Favorite takeaways and quotes:
Don’t fear something because of your past; look forward to it as an opportunity to have a different experience in the future.
There’s a difference between embracing main character energy and acting as if you’re the center of the universe.
Trust yourself enough to evolve; no one wants to see the same thing over and over, anyways.
“We don’t need to have it all, all the time. There’s a beauty in that, because when everything is happening for you all at once, it’s hard to soak up those things individually and really appreciate each thing independently.” (p.61)
Read it here.
sleep tight by j.h. markert
4/5 stars
The premise of this book caught my attention right away; I saw a friend post about it on Instagram as an ARC and had been waiting for its release ever since. Teasing elements of psychological suspense and horror, I was very excited to read this for Friday the 13th.
The first few chapters are strong and engrossing, but with the main character being a detective, the middle leans more towards a slow-burn police procedural than I anticipated. The last 20% picks up to be quite unpredictable and action-packed, though.
With multiple POVs, flashbacks, and lots of characters, there was almost too much going on at times. Everything kept me guessing and I couldn’t predict what would happen next, but I enjoyed how everything connected in the end.
This story really shines within the details; want to go back and reread it with the benefit of hindsight.
While there are creepy elements, it was more psychological than I thought it would be. I don’t know if I’d classify this book as a horror novel, but if it’s made into a movie, that would amplify the horror elements and I think it would translate really well. (Putting it into the universe now).
Read it here.
over the influence by joanna “jojo” levesque
5/5 stars
It’s rare you get to read a memoir from someone similar in age to you, written very closely to the present day. This felt like sitting on the couch with a friend (or big sister) and trading lessons learned and realizing how similar we all are, even though our life experiences can be vastly different.
This memoir deeply explores the duality of self-betrayal and self-belief, and the results of putting your trust in others over your own intuition, regardless of how well-intentioned that good faith is.
Written without a ghostwriter, this feels very authentic and true to her voice. She does not water anything down, which speaks to her self-awareness and strength.
This book really plainly gave me a bird’s eye view of patterns, cycles, and how benevolence can trip you up and leave you stagnant. We learn from doing in life and don’t get a “how-to” manual, but this book plainly suggests that we all need to unsubscribe from the patterns that aren’t serving us… by actually taking action.
My favorite quotes and takeaways:
“Intention and impact aren’t always the same.” (p.236)
“By letting other people’s opinions be what I trusted over my own instincts, I was delaying the inevitable. If I didn’t stop sabotaging my own happiness, I would just keep repeating the same destructive behaviors and hurting people I love in the process.” (p. 267)
“My triggers buzz around me like flies, thick in the summer heat, humming right along the surface of my skin. It’s gotten easier to resist dropping whatever I’m doing in the moment and either swat at them or soften into them, but I still notice as they start to cluster.” (p. 319)
“Sometimes you just need witnesses. People who understand. You don’t always need to hit rock bottom to know that you need a reset - if for nothing else than you own sanity.’ (p. 321)
“Now, what any adults did or didn’t do in my childhood simply doesn’t matter. It’s 100% up to me to stop selling myself short and start trusting my own instincts.” (p. 322)
Read it here.
the girl who lived 2 - ghosts of the past by christopher greyson
3/5 stars
I loved the first book by this author and had high hopes for the sequel, which picks up about a year after the first one.
This will be very hit or miss for readers; the virtual reality plot makes this lean into sci-fi territory, which I didn’t love. I liked that the author dipped into modern discussion regarding AI and the ethics of using new technology, and while Faith is no stranger to mental health facilities, it almost felt too modern and cold for Faith’s story.
The book itself is still fast-paced and suspenseful with witty dialogue, just like the first. The author also did a great job including some of the characters from the first book in a clever, realistic way.
I highly, highly recommend the first book and it’s one of my picks for the Best Thrillers on Kindle Unlimited. I loved seeing the continuation of Faith’s story, but if you really dislike sci-fi elements, you might want to skip this.
Read it here (free through Kindle Unlimited).
ordinary heroes: a memoir of 9/11 by joseph pfeifer
5/5 stars
This is a 9/11 memoir written by Joseph Pfeifer, the first FDNY chief at the World Trade Center; he also lost his brother, Kevin, (a fellow firefighter) that day.
Deeply moving and meaningful, it truly felt like a privilege to read this. History survives through storytelling, and this book is the perfect example of that. He balances the factual recollection of 9/11 and its aftermath with his personal trauma, grief, and resiliency. What he lived through is unimaginable, yet you feel the power of human connection through the way he shares his story. How he leaned on his grief to honor his brother’s legacy, as well as all first responders that were lost that day, is truly inspiring.
He also shares quite a few leadership lessons as he details the work he’s done to enact worldwide change regarding crisis response, which is still relevant and utilized today.
Favorite quotes:
“Fear allows you to pick up on information that helps you follow through on your mission. You develop a sense of fear (awareness) and a sense of courage (calmness) at the same time. They are not two separate elements. They come together in that moment of danger.” (p. 148)
“Recovering from trauma requires turning memories into new dreams by connecting to others, reflecting on the past, envisioning the future, and enhancing the present with a new purpose.” (p. 174)
“Part of resilience is shouldering the burden of knowledge to make a difference.” (p. 185)
“The heart of crisis leadership is the ability to sustain hope by unifying efforts to solve complex problems in the face of great tragedy.” (p. 237)
“It takes courage to find resilience, to come back to lead with greater determination and purpose. My journey started on 9/11, and it is what propelled me to make a difference over the years.” (p. 238)
“Always remember the heroes, who did ordinary things, at extraordinary times, so others may live.” - Chief Joseph Pfeifer (p. 240)
Read it here.
such a good family by caitlin weaver
5/5 stars
This unforgettable debut novel by Caitlin Weaver explores the complexities of human nature and relationships. It’s more of a domestic (family-based) drama than a thriller, but it hooks you from the first chapter. Be sure to check the TWs before as it covers heavy topics.
I found this to be gripping, realistic, thought-provoking, and haunting; it’s a perfect weekend read for those looking for a book with emotional depth, and would also be great for book club discussions.
The characterization is nearly perfect; it vividly puts you in the characters’ shoes, bringing up lots of conflicting emotions. You can’t help but think about what you would do if you were put in that situation.
Sometimes books like this can also have too many characters, but the author really hit it out of the park. Telling the story from multiple POVs adds depth, yet it isn’t difficult to follow or differentiate between characters.
From start to finish, the book is very believable and realistic; it leans into the strength of the story, rather than overdramatic twists.
While I wouldn’t describe it as a coming-of-age novel, it encompasses “the in-between stage when you’re too young to fully understand the consequences of your choices, but old enough to be responsible for making life-altering decisions” (p. 344). I’m still thinking about it days later, and know it will stick with me for a while. This is the kind of book that reminds me why I love reading so much.
“We’re all complicated… don’t sell yourself short trying not to be.” (p. 355)
Read it here (free through Kindle Unlimited).
anita de monte laughs last by xochitl gonzalez
2.5/5 stars
This was recommended to me on Instagram and while it wasn’t something I would initially be drawn to read, I was excited to try something new.
A fictionalized reimagining of the life of Cuban American artist Ana Mendieta (known as Anita de Monte in this book), I understand there’s been a little bit of controversy but I didn’t know about it until after I had finished the book.
Set in 1985 and 1998, I found the dialogue to be a little too modern at times, and the writing itself to be a little too wordy and overdone for me (lots of over-explaining and extraneous details).
That being said, this book really benefited from switching narrators, and the author did a great job of utilizing each woman’s perspective to create parallels and add emotional context and depth to the other’s.
Themes include identity, loyalty, loneliness, power, and the significance of one’s legacy and while the book tells more than it shows, it does provoke you to think about own values and beliefs as you read it.
Overall, I didn’t love this and found it challenging to get through at times. I probably wouldn’t have read it if I knew about the controversy at the beginning, and wouldn’t recommend this based on that alone.
Read it here (free through Kindle Unlimited).
first lie wins by ashley elston
4/5 stars
There’s been tons of hype around this book and I’ve seen so many friends rave about it, so I was excited to finally get around to reading it.
I went into this fully unaware; I didn’t read the synopsis and had no idea what it would be about. This thriller is intriguing and deceptive; it keeps you guessing and I liked that it was centered around a con, which isn’t the most common plot for thrillers.
This wasn’t super dark or violent. I almost want to say it read like a Hallmark thriller at times, but there was definitely more substance to it. It tells more than it shows, but didn’t feel like an endless internal monologue, which you sometimes get when the protagonist is unsure of who they can trust.
I still found it to be really well-written, though. The author uses flashbacks to pull together a complicated plot, but I didn’t find it confusing at all. The characters were detailed, fun, and easy to keep track of.
Overall, it’s a great thriller for those who want something suspenseful but not scary. I’ve heard Hulu is turning into a movie, and I’m excited to see how they adapt it.
Read it here.