Another month down, another thirteen books finished! October was a great reading month, and I zipped through a bunch that had been on my list for a while now! Full disclosure, I’m writing this wrap-up in December (yes, I’m behind), so if my reviews for each book seem a little lackluster, it’s because I can barely even remember what I read two months ago. Oops. But without further ado, here’s what I read in October!
CRYING IN H MART BY MICHELLE ZAUNER – 5 STARS
A phenomenal memoir about the bond between mother and daughter, Korean culture, and food. Seriously, if you’re hungry, don’t read this book. I listened on audio and the vivid descriptions of food that Zauner uses to talk through her childhood into adulthood and how that food tied into her life experiences was amazing. Highly recommend.
TO SIR PHILLIP, WITH LOVE BY JULIA QUINN – 2 STARS
At this point, I’m just trying to finally finish out the Bridgerton series, but I do not love these books. The men are so frustrating to me that it’s hard to get through them sometimes, but I’m committed at this point.
LOCAL WOMAN MISSING BY MARY KUBICA – 5 STARS
THIS was a page turner. The first chapter of the book is pretty haunting as it depicts a young girl held in captivity and her experience living in the dark for years. I couldn’t stop thinking about it. The rest of the book just keeps you constantly guessing and rushing to the end. I didn’t predict the ending, and I really loved it.
WHEN HE WAS WICKED BY JULIA QUINN – 2 STARS
Another meh Bridgerton book. Only two more to go.
DARK PLACES BY GILLIAN FLYNN – 3 STARS
Okay if you like thrillers, this is a good one! BUT content warning, it is twisted and extremely graphic. There were some sections of writing that made me feel a little bit sick. It’s a story of a 30-year old woman who is grappling with life as the sole survivor of her family’s massacre at the hands of her older brother. Written by the author of Gone Girl.
THE FAMILY NEXT DOOR BY SALLY HEPWORTH – 4 STARS
Sally Hepworth can write some very interesting stories! I liked The Family Next Door a lot. Set in Australia, it’s a happy neighborhood that welcomes a new neighbor and then things start going a little bit sideways. I can’t say much more without giving it away, but once again, I didn’t see it coming!
THE RUMOR BY ELIN HILDERBRAND – 4 STARS
I will always love Elin Hilderbrand! I realized in picking up this book that several of her standalone books tie into each other because I knew these characters from a previous novel. It’s the story of two families on Nantucket who get caught up in things that are much bigger than they are. There’s romance, scandal, crime, and of course, drama.
IT’S IN HIS KISS BY JULIA QUINN – 3 STARS
I have nothing to say here, really. One more to go!
THE DILEMMA BY B.A. PARIS – 3 STARS
B.A. Paris can write some pageturners, but The Dilemma was a little bit slow to me. I was interested in the story, but I felt that it almost could’ve been a short story with how much filler was added into the plot. A husband is hosting a lavish 40th birthday party for his wife and surprising her by flying in their daughter from school across the world. But things don’t go as planned..
VALENTINE BY ELIZABETH WETMORE – 2 STARS
I saw so many people talk about this book earlier this year (or maybe 2020) and had so many positive things to say, but it just didn’t hit for me. I found it sort of confusing to keep track of what was happening as it jumped around to so many different characters, and it never went deep enough on any of them in my opinion.
BIG STONE GAP BY ADRIANA TRIGIANI – 5 STARS
What a delight. Big Stone Gap had me laughing out loud. It was so wholesome and hysterical and just heartwarming. Set in the tiny town of none other than Big Stone Gap in the Blue Ridge Mountains, we meet Ave Maria Mulligan. She’s a single woman dealing with the death of her mother, running the town pharmacy, and resigning herself to be the town spinster when she discovers a secret that will literally change everything she thought she knew. Read this book!
YOU ARE NOT ALONE BY GREER HENDRICKS & SARAH PEKKANEN – 4 STARS
I love a good thriller, no matter how far-fetched. This book is absolutely far-fetched, but it kept me guessing! A woman throws herself in front of the subway in NYC. A stranger witnesses this and can’t get it out of her head. She becomes involved in the life of the woman from the subway through a series of lies and chance encounters, and ends up hopelessly entangled with the wrong group of people. I didn’t know what was happening half the time, but I couldn’t wait to see how it ended!
NEVER HAVE I EVER BY JOSHILYN JACKSON – 2 STARS
I did not like this book at all. It felt like it was just trying too hard to be the next shocking thriller, but it was all so far-fetched. A group of women in an Australian neighborhood meet for book club, and the new neighbor shows up to join. She is mysterious and edgy and she encourages the women to drink and then start spilling all of their secrets in a game of Never Have I Ever. Of course, some secrets are revealed that should have stayed buried. There are some content warnings in this one that I recommend you look up before reading. Don’t recommend.
You can follow along with my 2021 reading here!
What I Read in January
What I Read in February
What I Read in March
What I Read in April
What I Read in May
What I Read in June
What I Read in July
What I Read in August
What I Read in September
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