My September 2022 Reads

Another month, another reading update for you all. This month’s reads were a tad lackluster. I only really enjoyed 3 of the 7 books I read in total, but none were a total bust. Here’s to hoping for more “knock-my-socks-off” reads in October!

• Apples Never Fall - Liane Moriarty

  This story follows a typical Liane Moriarty mystery format after an elderly woman goes missing in Australia and there’s a massive hunt to find her. Her children and her husband find themselves trying to defend their innocence while also keep some family secrets.

  Overall the book was a slow burn and I didn’t like it as much as some of her others. I’m always impressed, though, by Moriarty’s way of shifting perspectives so seamlessly, with each character feeling developed and whole, even if you’re only in their heads for a few pages. I also liked the way she ended this one.

• The Wedding Date - Jasmine Guillory

  After finding themselves trapped in an elevator together, Drew asks Alexa, a woman he just met, to pretend to be his girlfriend at a wedding he’s attending in the following days. She decides to be spontaneous and say yes and they have more fun that they thought was possible. Now they have to navigate a long-distance relationship neither is sure they’re prepared for.

  This one is insanely popular on “bookstagram” and I honestly can’t tell you why. It was so boring! The dialogue was stilted and felt fake. The story was just okay and the ending was too fairytale perfect for my liking. Overall I would say skip this one, but it did come highly recommended to me, so clearly. others enjoy it more than I did!

• The Change - Kristen Miller

  This is coined as a magical realism thriller - a “Big Little Lies meets The Witches of Eastwick.” Three women gain new powers and confidence as they reach the middle of their lives. Together they use these powers to investigate a series of murders against young girls in their communities and find themselves in danger as they attempt to take revenge on the system which has for so long harmed them and others.

  I think this was my favorite book of the month. I loved all three of the main characters so much. I loved all the “girl power” and feminism. I loved the mystery and trying to figure out how it all worked together. And the ending was phenomenal. Highly recommend!

• I'm Glad My Mom Died - Jennette McCurdy

  This memoir is absolutely taking over since it was published a few months ago, and it’s easy to see why. Right from the controversial title you can tell McCurdy is not going to shy away from the tough subjects or difficult feelings. The short memoir chronicles her time as child actress dealing with her narcissistic mother who ultimately dies of cancer. It deals with abuse, eating disorders, alcoholism, sexual harassment and so much more.

  This is a challenging read, so I encourage anyone who’s interested in picking it up to read the trigger warnings online first and make the decision which feels best for them. McCurdy’s childhood is traumatic and she spares very few details. She does a great job writing about the complicated feelings children of abusive parents feel toward their caregivers and analyzing her own actions. It’s a great book, but proceed with caution.

• Wish You Were Here - Jodi Picoult

  Set during the height of Covid, this book tells of a woman who travels to a remote island in the Galapagos as the world shuts down, effectively getting stuck for 2 months without her long-term boyfriend, her family or anyone who speaks her language. But there’s a twist…

  And the twist is unexpected, I’ll give her that. Around the middle of the book the story goes in a completely different direction from what I thought, but I still didn’t love it. It was a slow story, a bit boring and it just didn’t grip me like Picoult’s books normally do. However, I’ll give her kudos for the ending, which was very well done.

• The Charm Offensive - Alison Cochrun

  This rom com is about a socially awkward tech giant who goes on a Bachelorette-style dating show to revive his reputation. The problem is he ends up falling for his producer, causing just a few problems in the course of filming.

  Overall I thought this book was cute but a bit forgettable. My favorite part was all the diverse representation in the main characters. This is another great palate cleanser book after you’ve read something heavy and just want something fun and cute to lose yourself in.

• The Call of The Wild - Jack London

  This classic tale tells the adventures of a large dog forcibly taken to the Klondike gold fields to become a sled dog carrying men and goods during the Alaskan gold rush.

  This was a re-read for me and I’m really glad I picked it up again. When I originally read it in high school I didn’t fully appreciate the brilliance of telling a story solely from a dog’s perspective and doing it so well. It’s a great, quick classic for anyone interested.

Need other recommendations? Ask me for some ideas!