Re: October Reading Wrap-Up

Happy November!! For those of you who start celebrating early, or just want to get a head start on memorizing the new Pentatonix album (me!), happy Christmas season. This also means it's the end of October, and with that, a new monthly reading wrap up.

If you're new here, I love to read. All the time, every time, whenever I can. Recently this has meant reading on my phone (broke college kid with an online library app on hand here), but I went home around the beginning of the month so I also read a couple physical books this month. All that being said, I make time in my day to read, and I'm a pretty fast reader, so don't compare your own wrap-up to what I've read this month. I'm proud of you if you just looked at a book :) Anyway, without further ado, here were the nine books I read in October.

1. The Boy in the Red Dress by Kristin Lambert

Because I'm lazy this month, here's a link to a summary of the book instead of me writing it all out for you :)

Most sites I've found call this "A Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue meets Miss Fisher’s Murder Mystery", and although I've never heard of Miss Fisher's, I adore the Gentleman's Guide. So, needless to say, I was very excited for this book. I've been delving into a bit of 1920's murder mysteries this year to expand my literary horizons and I've been somewhat surprised, so a book that threw a speakeasy and queer characters in there? Sold. Absolutely sold. However. This book...disappointed me. In the most polite way possible, I had a very hard time getting through it, and if I was someone who could dnf (did not finish) a book without feeling like I failed out on something, I would have dropped this book in a heartbeat. Alas, I finished it. And the ending disappointed. It was so so slow, the characters were uninteresting, and I just wasn't engaged. Maybe it was just me (high key a possibility since I don't really read this genre) but in my opinion, it wasn't worth my time. (It did check off a box on my 2021 book goals list though, so bonus points for that I suppose). I wish there was more I could tell you about this, but I don't remember too much of it, and what I do is too boring to share.

⭐⭐⭐ 3/10 stars (sorry Ms Lambert)

2. The Upside of Falling by Alex Light

Summaryyyyyy

I've had my eye on this book for a while, so after the travesty that was The Boy in the Red Dress, I wanted something light, simple, and fun. And on that criteria, this book delivered. It's a YA, fake-dating, cynic and hopeless romantic, boy falls first, jock and nerd rom-com and it was the cutest thing I'd read in a while. I was squealing and shaking my phone around while reading, just waiting for the main character to realize that they're not reeeeeally fake-dating anymore. It also includes serious elements, like debating the future set out for you, divorced parents, toxic parents, daddy issues (from both ends), and conversations about relationships in general. The book did such a great job of establishing both an entertaining and adorable novel, and a serious talk about how your parents affect you. And I loved it. It was cute, funny, sweet, and relatable, and although I read it at the beginning of the month and therefore have few original adjectives to give it, I highly recommend. Also, I would like a Brett Wells please and thank you. (He bought her books !!!)

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐.5 8.5/10 stars

3. It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey

Summaryyyyy (you'll want to read this one)

I found this book because of Booktok. And the amount of times I saw this one Booktok in September and October absolutely sold me before I'd even read the book. So when I actually started it, I barely looked at the summary before I dove right in. And I can't even say I'm mad about it. This book had me wrapped around it's finger from chapter 2 and from then on I was sold. Grumpy and sunshine, extrovert introvert, popular and nobody, this book had allllll the contradictions and it made it all the better. As annoying and stuck up as she should be, Piper is so entertaining and fun to read, and since it's dual POV (!!!!!!! spoiler alert: I love dual POV) you get to hear from Brendan too, and I will never be able to pick who I like reading from better. It's cute, funny, sweet, hopeful, spicy (yes ladies, it's spicy, and if you could find a Brandon just by flying to Main I think the airports would be packed), and damn near perfect. Piper is honest and kind, and makes you root for her no matter how much wrong she's done. And Brendan is gruff and sincere, and the only commanding, protective boyfriend I will ever approve of. So. If you like books such as The Hating Game [check out September's Wrap Up for my full thoughts on this one], Get a Life Chloe Brown, and The Kiss Quotient [another September book], (or literally any romance book ever), go pick yourself up a copy. I swearrrr you won't regret it. (And the cover is cute as heck so you can read it anywhere, no matter the setting ;)

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 10/10 stars (thank you Ms Bailey!)

4 and 5. The Inheritance Games and The Hawthorne Legacy by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

This summary is only for The Inheritance Games since that's the first book and I don't want to include toooo many spoilers.

First off, The Inheritance Games was a re-read because the Hawthorne Legacy recently came out and I finally got my hands on it, only to get ten pages in and realize I definitely needed to reread the first one. Thank you amazing memory (read sarcastically). This being the case, I'm actually so glad I reread it because I don't think I had enough hype as I should have had going into the second one the first time. The best way I can describe this is a combination between The Westing Game, Knives Out, and Inherit Midnight (a ya novel similar to the Westing Game that if you've never heard of it you nEED to go check it out because it is criminally underrated. But anyway). It's about Avery, a broke teenager suddenly inheriting 46.2 billion dollars being stuck in a mansion with four entertaining and exciting boys who were the grandsons of a man with an obsession with puzzles and mysteries to rival Sam Westing, Mr. Lemoncello, and Albert Ellingham. The characters are fascinating, the puzzle and mystery at it's core it exciting and suspenseful, and the twists and turns this books goes through are intense, complicated, and so so so fun to read. I was on the edge of my seat until the end. Which finished in a cliff hanger. To those who now want to read this book who have the privilege of having the second book out already, do yourself a favor and pick up both. Because waiting a year for the sequel was mean. Downright mean. Especially to someone who didn't expect there to be a sequel.

SO, with so much riding on this second book, you may ask, how did it compare. Did it take the traditional route of not being quite as good as the first?

Nope.

Not in the slightest.

When I tell you this book KILLED my expectations and threw it into number one spot of the month faster than the twists it took, you better believe it. It was amazing. Stunning. Exciting, enticing, fast paced, thrilling, thrill seeking, *insert all the good adjectives here* because it was just that good. The last quarter of the book I read in one sitting, and I was crying and doing jumping jacks because I couldn't believe what was happening, needed answers, and couldn't read on right at that moment because I needed to take a chill pill before I could emotionally process anything that was happening. Thank god my roommates weren't home. Instead, my poor sister had to hear about it through multiple video snapchats. I was in shock in the bEst way possible and because of that alone you should order the book(s) right now. Go on. Chop chop. Ignore the rest of the post for now and hop on Amazon dot com.

Anyway. I'm getting way too excited. Point of the story is that this duology (there's a third book coming out, but from what I can tell it's a little bit in the future and doesn't have the same plot line as the first) is absolutely amazing and I will recommend it to anyone and everyone for the rest of my days. So for my final recommendation, if you liked The Westing Game (if you haven't heard of this book by this point in the post you should probably look it up, it's really good), Truly Devious, Knives Out (yes, the movie I watched this weekend and am now obsessed with), or Escape From Mr. Lemencello's Library (got to throw some kid recs out there in case you're not an ya reader yet), go try this book out.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 10/10 (THANK YOU Ms Jennifer Lynn Barnes)

6. We Can't Keep Meeting Like This by Rachel Lynn Solomon

I'm realizing now that I could have just linked the summary to the title of the book above but I'm too far in and don't feel like changing it.

This was one of the books I brought from home (technically a library book but there's plenty available at the library and I'll bring it back eventually I promise), so I read this on my phone and with the physical copy. I'm not sure why that detail is necessary, but for some reason it is.

I liked this! I know, weird, getting straight to the point as opposed to sharing what I imagined the book would be, or how much I looked forward to it, but it's pretty straightforward. I liked this book. It was cute, included mental health rep (specifically OCD which I don't think is discussed in books as much as it should be) a romance cynic mc, Jewish main characters, and harps (yes, the instrument), so, like, what more could you want. It reminded me a lot of Today Tonight Tomorrow, and surprise, surprise, it's written by the same author. Personally, I preferred Today Tonight Tomorrow a little better, but WCKMLT was cute, fun, sex positive (in YA! What a find!) had great discussions on mental health, mental illnesses and relationships and communication. The one thing that maybe I wasn't so fond of was it had a bit of a miscommunication trope in the beginning (my least favorite trope), and towards the end I just really really wanted the characters to actually communicate, and my yelling at the book did nothing to help. Of course, if they communicated the main character would not be the main character we grew to know and love, but it was a little frustrating for me, personally.

However, if you're looking for something sweet, cute, and light, or are fans of Kasie West (specifically Maybe This Time, another book about a wedding coordinators daughter), Today Tonight Tomorrow, Jenn Bennet, or Emily Wibberley, go check this out!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 8/10 stars

7. Neon Gods by Katee Robert

Insert summary here per usual I read this book because I love Greek mythology. That's it. That was originally the only reason. I love Greek mythology, and an adult version of the classic myth seemed wonderful. Then I saw it on Booktok, often grouped into the spicy side of Booktok, so it moved up on my tbr a little because of all the hype. And then I read it. And DANG Booktok did not prepare me. I mean, I was told it was spicy ? And part of me was worried it would be a lil too much for my vanilla reading self, but whew. It was good. Perfect amount of steam, not super weird, don't read too much into it.

To be honest, at the beginning I totally was not sold. Didn't understand the government system, was confused by the mythology names being used as it they weren't thousands of years old, people were related to each other and included in stories that weren't canon to mythology and I was hella confused. BUT, when Hades got involved.....it got better. I understood it, liked it, was very happy I stayed.

This book is Hades and Persephone's original story meets political revenge meets pure spice. At it's core it's a enemies to lovers (although let's be honest, enemies doesn't last very long), grumpy and sunshine, chaotic and calm, revenge against the bad people type book. And I love it for that. Hades melted my heart, I love Persephone, and the "Underworld" setting was amazing. And the spicy scenes were great. I don't want to go too into detail on those because that isn't really my thing ?? Putting excessive details about the steamiest book I've ever read on the internet, but if you want to branch off into a different version of your typical spicy contemporary romances, I suggest this book. Just sayin.

I realize that this review doesn't seem as upbeat or happy as my earlier ones, and I totally didn't mean to happen, so let's up the mood. Your favorite Greek mythology power couple! (at least it's mine) Spicy scenes for days! Grumpy and sunshine!! Protective boyfriend! (you know when I said Brendan was the only protective boyfriend I'd approve of? He's still my favorite, but Hades is pretty good too). Mythology references!! And a female Hermes that is absolutely amazing! Have I sold you yet? If you want a modern day Greek mythology retelling of Hades and Persephone with a lil political revenge side plot, check this book out!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 8/10 stars

8. In Conclusion, Don't Worry About It by Lauren Graham

To be fair, this one is kind of vague cheating. It's listed as a book, and you can buy it on Amazon, but really it's the commencement speech Lauren Graham (Lorelei from Gilmore Girls) gave to the graduating class at her high school alma mater. I listened to it and it was 38 minutes long. So it wasn't cheating..... buuuuuut it's not really noooot cheating either.

I loved it though! All 38 minutes. I've loved Lauren Graham since I watched Gilmore Girls, and I was even more obsessed when I listened to Talking As Fast As I Can, so, while I was bored in my studio the other day I listened to this. There's not much to talk about it. I loved it, because I love her writing style, and it's an entertaining speech, but it wasn't long (as to be expected from a commencement speech), so I don't really know what to say. If you have easy access to the audio version of this (I found it on Libby), and have a half an hour of your day to kill time, check it out! It's good! And if you like, go try out Talking As Fast As I Can, because if you like Lauren Graham for a small amount of time, Lauren Graham for a long amount of time is twice as good.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 10/10 stars (mostly because there was nothing bad about it lol)

9. Unpregnant by Ted Caplan and Jenni Hendriks

I read this book for two main reasons: 1) it had a road trip, which checked off something on my 2021 Reading Goals list. 2) I'd seen trailers for its movie and really wanted to watch it, so the only thing better had to be reading the book. Personally, I think it would be so so good, if not better than the book, as a movie. And I'm so excited to watch it (not right now though, I think it's on HBO max, which I don't have, but eventually! I'll see it).

First off, this book had an amazing message at it's core about abortion, toxic relationships, relationships in general, and women's rights and it was genuinely amazing for that. I wish more people would read this book for that fact alone (or even watch the movie- the message is the same). So many amazing moments and topics that I haven't seen discussed in so many of the books I consume and I really really appreciated that, especially since this book in general was just so different than any book I had read before.

On a less serious note, this book was so cute! It was a classic road trip trope that goes off the rails as soon as they leave the house and you just have to love it for that. The main character is serious, committed, brave, and sarcastic, but she also has underlying faults and I absolutely loved her and related so much. Bailey, the best friend, (mostly brought along because she has a car) is spontaneous, outgoing, queer, loud, brash, and all around amazing and I hope I can meet someone like her in my life. The two of them had so many entertaining moments and the book spiraled in so many directions I could not have predicted a thing. (My favorite kind of book.) It went from getting ambushed by an ex (multiple times), trashing a car, hitchhiking, a pet ferret (I think that's what it was), a limo, and a giant elephant statue. If that's not a journey you want to take, I don't know what to tell you. (Except you're wrong, it definitely is a journey you should be taking, in my humble opinion.) Long story short, if you liked The Perks of Being a Wallflower (tbh I've never read this but I feel like it gives the same vibes ya know?), Amy and Roger's Epic Detour, or Booksmart (again never seen but same vibes), then go check Unpregnant out! It should get more hype.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 8/10 stars

So! If you've made it to the end, first off congratsssss I'm so proud (sorry it was so long). I hope you got something from this post, even if it was a passing comment, recommendation inside of a recommendation, or book to avoid. My classy little outro skills are failing me at the moment, but here's to November and alllll the books we'll read in it. I wish I could tell you to stay tuned for a November tbr post, but being someone who's almost exclusively a mood reader means I have no clue what I'm reading in November. However, I'm currently reading Cinderella is Dead, and waiting on pins and needles until I can access my copy of the Love Hypothesis and (hopefully) devour it, so in a month you can get all my thoughts on those :)

In the meantime, have a wonderful rest of your day, week, month, year (only two months left ??) and happy pre-Christmas season!! :D

-M