October 12, 2020

September Books


Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid 5 stars

I really enjoyed this book. It was awkward and cringe-y and heartbreaking at times. The whole thing...just a really good book. Wholly, totally recommend. I, personally, found it to be about race and class but definitely more about class because money seemed to be the deciding factor in the narrative after the first chapter or so. Thoughts? 



Home Before Dark by Riley Sager 4.5 stars

I rarely read scary books and this was a cross between a thriller and a horror book, in my opinion. It was quite creepy. It'd be great for fall, if you're into that kind of thing. 

I find all of Riley Sager's books enjoyable, more or less, so I don't know where I'd rank it but definitely better than average. 



Little Secrets by Jennifer Hillier 5 stars

Ugh. This book wrecked me. I shouldn't be surprised because Jar of Hearts did the same awful thing a year and a half ago. While this book wasn't all-in-all perfect, it was very well done and I can't help but give it 5 stars. I read it in 2-3 days and it was a pretty long and involved story. The end was interesting but the first half was what made it gut-wrenching. 

Her books need to come with all the warning labels. 


Pretty Things by Janelle Brown 4 stars

This was fascinating. It was a *little* slow to start and didn't move quickly at all...it was close to 500 pages if I recollect, so it took me about a week. But it was a really solid story. I liked the writing style of the back and forth and just the way she put sentences together; her voice was great, especially building in the background stories. 




One to Watch by Kate Stayman-London 2.75 stars

I really enjoyed the first 30% of this book. Then I was invested so I kept going. Then I wasn't crazy about the last 30%. All in all, it was fine. I listened to the interview Reality Steve did with the author awhile back and that was more interesting than the actual book. I was considering giving it 4 stars during the first chunk of reading and then it started to dwindle and I lost interest. 

The Holdout by Graham Moore 3 stars

This was a legal thriller of sorts. It was fine. I did find it hard to keep the characters organized because there were a lot and lots of POVs, often switching each chapter. The beginning hooked me but it wasn't ah-maz-ing, as it didn't get better with time. 


The Stranger in the Lake by Kimberly Belle DNF

I wanted to like this and I tried. I got to like 43%? And I just didn't care enough to keep going. I really liked Dear Wife back in January, so I had high hopes for this. It was just boring. I hated the flashbacks and the main character wasn't quite interesting enough. This can get thrown into the category of "boring thriller". 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

And then I read an entire book on Saturday because I couldn't put it down but that'll have to wait for next month's post! I'm also in the process of reworking my 2020 reading goals (I don't even feel like counting up the books at this moment) because I feel that I'm much better at listening to nonfiction than reading it. I might save my nonfiction TBR for 2021 and go back to Audible for a few months. I'm 100% an auditory learner. 

What are you reading???

Linking up with Jana and Steph!

7 comments:

  1. You are not the first one to give a meh review on One to Watch. I loved Little Secrets. I have Such a Fun Age and Pretty Things on my TBR.

    ReplyDelete
  2. You have a 5 star book - I'll have to check it out.
    I need to hear the Reality Steve interview... I bet I'd enjoy it!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I read Such a Fun Age in September as well. I think maybe it's about both - class and race. Basically privilege in generally. Also, I rolled my eyes so hard at how Alix "earned" her living.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I'm in the minority with not loving Such A Fun Age, I just couldn't stand Alix (even spelling it that way bothered me). I have Jar of Hearts and this Hillier one on my TBR- sounds like I have to move them up!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Kimberly Belle was an online alias of mine for a hot minute in the late 90s so that book cover was jarring!

    I've heard so many good things about Such A Fun Age and yet I keep holding back from putting it on the TBR. Although at this rate my hold won't become available until next year so maybe 2021 Kim will want to read it.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I still need to read Jar of Hearts - glad her latest is just as good. I really want to read Such a Fun Age, and The Holdout (which I own). I really loved Home Before Dark.

    -Lauren
    www.shootingstarsmag.net

    ReplyDelete
  7. I loved Such A Fun Age! It has been my favorite book of 2020. I also really enjoyed Pretty Things, it was fascinating.

    ReplyDelete

Comments make my day!