It’s time for a September reading wrap-up. I’m bringing my reads to this blog because I need help to keep up with two blogs, start a podcast, manage social media, and make YouTube videos. Content creation is a lot of many things, but I enjoy doing it, so I must make it work for me. You’re not here for that; you’re here to learn about the nine books I read in September. (All links are Amazon affiliate links.)
- Final Offer by Lauren Asher (4.75 ⭐) This is the last book in the Dreamland Billionaires series, which follows the last remaining brother, Kane. Kane must complete his task so all the brothers can receive their inheritance. To receive my inheritance, Kane was tasked with spending a summer at the family lake house before selling it, but he doesn’t realize his long-lost love and best friend Alana is staying in the house. Kane is battling alcoholism and is most like his dad, but he always wants to change to have a better life. Final Offer is the best book in the series because there is more depth to the storyline and the characters. Kane is a character to root for, and the relationship with Alana was just the sideshow, which is a bit refreshing.
- The Wall of Winnipeg and Me by Mariana Zapata (4.75 ⭐) Aiden is a football player who isn’t happy with anything. Vanessa is his assistant who finally quits to start her full-time graphic design business. After Vanessa quits, Aiden enlists her help to help him stay in America by becoming his fake wife. The Wall of Winnipeg and Me is a slow-burn romance, and Aiden is grumpy. It’s an endearing, moody personality because it shows how much Aiden cares for Vanessa and is an excellent way to see how their relationship evolves.
- The Second Chance by Meghan Quinn (3 ⭐)
- The Forever Girl by Meghan Quinn (3 ⭐) These books are two in a series of four that follow the lives of the Knightley brothers of Port Snow, Maine. These brothers think they are cursed in love from a New Orleans trip, and this is their journey to overcoming this curse in the most Hallmark movie-ish town ever. These books are not life-changing, but the stories are heartwarming and make you feel good.
- Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros (4.25 ⭐) Fourth Wing is the most hyped book on the internet this year. The book is excellent and exciting, but it wasn’t a five-star read. This book felt a bit like Hunger Games with Dragons. There is a massive element of survival of the fittest throughout this book, with a side love story of Xaiden and Violet, which adds an exciting dynamic. I enjoyed the story and am excited to see where things go, especially after reading the last three pages.
- Love on the Brain by Ali Hazelwood (3 ⭐) Ali Hazelwood writes romance books about women in STEM, a new twist on the genre. Love on the Brain focuses on Bee, who is trying to make career moves by getting a contract job with NASA in HOUSTON. She is forced to work with a long-time enemy, Levi, to make the program successful. This is an enemies-to-lovers romance with a ton of miscommunication, so I struggled to get through some parts. The miscommunication troupe is not my thing. The third act conflict added something extra to the story. It was a quick, easy read about some badass women falling in love.
- None of This is True by Lisa Jewel (3 ⭐)This book is a mystery/thriller about Birthday Twins Alex and Josie. Alex is a famous podcaster, and Josie struggles to find her way in life but wants to make changes. Josie enlists Alex’s help in telling the story of her new journey. The story left me confused because 1. I don’t know what is true in the story, and 2. I didn’t get any answers to why the characters were the way they were. I was left with many unanswered questions. I’m not a fan of the unreliable narrator tool, but that is an important plot device that makes this story turn so that I can respect it.
- Wrong Place Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister (4 ⭐)McAllister tells a story of a mother’s love and how she would keep her child safe. Jen goes back to stop her son, Todd, from murdering by finding the answers she missed. The book is a lesson in people only seeing what they want. The book got a bit repetitive sometimes, and there are a lot of characters to keep up with in the timeline, especially when you keep going back in time. But this journey through time was finally worth all the confusion to find the truth.
- Hello Stranger by Katherine Center (4.5 ⭐) Sadie Montgomery has a life-saving brain surgery that leaves her with face blindness. She’s a portrait artist, so having this problem leaves her with many hurdles to overcome. While navigating her new way of living, Sadie discovers what she wants from life, love, and family. I loved seeing her navigate life and find different ways to get to know people. I loved the character of Sadie and how she interacted with everyone around her. This is another story set in Houston, but this isn’t a Houston I know too well. These people lived in Downtown Houston? and walked everywhere? These minor plot points made it hard for me to digest because it’s a city I know so well. I’ve read Katherine Center before and didn’t like the story, but I gave this book a shot and LOVED it.
I had a strong reading month, and although I didn’t have any five-star reads, I found some books I liked and would recommend to others. I based my whole month around reading Fourth Wing because I borrowed it from the library, so I had to be ready to read it when the library loan came through. I read a lot of variety, mainly due to being a mood reader and wanting to clear out the TBR a bit.
