September Wrap-up!

Hi, loves, and happy October!

Honestly, where did September go?! I hope you all had a lovely month with lots of happy moments and reading. 🥰

I had a wonderful reading month, as I read six books and encountered some new favorites.

Let’s get into the wrap-up! 💘

Franny and Zooey by J.D. Salinger

Franny and Zooey are the youngest two members of the Glass family. The book follows Franny as she suffers a breakdown and how her brother, Zooey, comes to her aid. I have to say I absolutely adored this book and thought it was such a lovely reading experience! After all these years, I’m still a sucker for Salinger’s writing. I think his characterization is marvelous, making it my favorite feature of his stories. His characters’ voices feel so real they leap off the page. I found this to be an inspiring, warm read that I won’t be forgetting any time soon.

How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories by Holly Black

At the beginning of the year, I fell in love with Holly Black’s The Folk of the Air series. Last month, a dear friend gifted me her illustrated collection piece that gives us a look into Cardan’s perspective. And, I loved it. The illustrations are gorgeous and it felt so comforting to be back in Black’s fantasy world. If you’re a fan of the series and enjoy Cardan’s character, I’d say it’s a must-read. My only complaint is that it left me wanting more, but maybe I’m being greedy.

Babel, or the Necessity of Violence by R.F. Kuang

Perfect, perfect, perfect. Stunning and masterful storytelling, with great characters and a brilliant exploration of colonialism, translation, violence, and so much more. If there was anyone I trusted to revolutionize the dark academia genre, it was R.F. Kuang and she did not disappoint. You can find my full review for Babel here.

If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio

A close-knit group of Shakespearan scholars and a deadly crime that puts them all at risk. This was, overall, an enjoyable read. I liked all the Shakespeare references (even though it got a bit much at times) and thought the writing was fantastic. However, I wish we got to see more from the characters, as I didn’t feel very connected to them. I also thought it was predictable. Maybe I went in with too high expectations. I recently heard it’s getting its own adaption which I’m eager to watch!

Her Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado

Carmen Maria Machado is now one of my favorite authors. Her short story collection is absolutely stunning, original, and significant. I took my time with this one. I read the first story, ‘The Husband Stitch’, and was so stunned by how beautiful and consuming it was that I had to take a breather. The rest of the stories proved no different. Machado’s writing is nothing short of genius. I’ll now be obsessing over this author and everything she has ever written.

Himouto! Umaru-Chan by Sankakuhead

Umaru-Chan is one of my favorite anime. So, I finally picked up the manga off of my shelf the other day and I’m so happy I did. It’s pretty much exact to the anime, with all the cuteness and feel-good vibes you could ever need. It took me back to watching the anime for the first time and how much fun it was. I highly recommend this one for any manga or anime lovers!

Looking back, I’m delighted with my September reads! I really enjoyed reading all of these books. I have to say Babel and Her Body and Other Parties are the stand-outs of the month, as I haven’t stopped thinking about them.

I’m so happy it’s finally October! I love, love Halloween so, I have to admit I’ve been eagerly waiting to finally dig into some spooky reads.

I hope you enjoyed this post and thank you so much for reading. I wish you the coziest and spookiest October! 💕