September has slipped away like a ghost in the night, and suddenly the evenings are darker, the air is colder, and my TBR is starting to look like something straight out of a horror story. Luckily, before the pumpkins took over, I managed to have my best reading month ever — 9 books, 3,308 pages, with an average rating of 3.88 stars.
Honestly, I feel like some kind of bookish witch who’s finally mastered her spells.
Here are the StoryGraph stats to prove it 👇
1. The God Of The Woods by Liz Moore – ★★★☆☆
Dark, mysterious, moody… and yet, it left me a bit meh. I wanted to love it more, but instead I just wandered around the woods a little confused.
🔗 Check out my full review of The God Of The Woods here
2. Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman – ★★★★★
Oh. My. Heart. Eleanor is awkward, hilarious, heartbreaking, and somehow all of us. The audiobook narrator absolutely nailed it, and yes, I cried in the kitchen while chopping onions. Don’t judge me.
🔗 Check out my full review of Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine here
3. Remain by Nicholas Sparks & M. Night Shyamalan – ★★★★★
Did anyone have this collab on their 2025 bingo card? Because wow. It’s emotional, it’s eerie, and it had me staring into the void at 1am thinking about life. Five stars, easy.
🔗 Check out my full ARC review of Remain here
4. The Ghost Merchant by Ben Andrews – ★★★☆☆
Cool premise, spooky vibes, but I kept wishing it had gone just a little bit deeper. Like ordering a fancy coffee and then realizing they forgot the syrup shot.
🔗 Check out my full review of The Ghost Merchant here
5. Atticus Arnott’s Great Adventure by Caroline James – ★★★★☆
Utterly charming! Like a warm hug in book form, with a sprinkle of whimsy. Definitely one of those reads that makes you want a mug of tea and a blanket.
🔗 Check out my full ARC review of Atticus Arnott’s Great Adventure here
6. Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell – ★★★★★
Excuse me while I go and sob in Shakespearean. Stunning writing, devastating story — basically, this book emotionally ruined me and I loved every minute.
🔗 Check out my full review of Hamnet here
7. Yellowface by Rebecca F. Kuang – ★★★☆☆
This one is spicy, messy, and sharp. I loved the commentary, but the execution left me a bit torn. Think “hot take at a dinner party” energy.
🔗 Check out my full review of Yellowface here
8. The Cocoon Within by Liisa Sabah – ★★★☆☆
Creative and thought-provoking, but the pacing threw me off a little. Still, I appreciated what it was trying to do.
🔗 Check out my full ARC review of The Cocoon Within here
9. The Last Letter by Rebecca Yarros – ★★★★★
Rebecca Yarros, you did not have to destroy me like this. This book wrecked me in the best way possible. Tears? Everywhere. Heart? Shattered. Would I read it again? Absolutely.
🔗 Check out my full review of The Last Letter here
✨ Faves of the Month
While I had some brilliant reads in September, two completely stole my heart:
- Hamnet — lyrical, devastating, and one of the most beautifully written books I’ve ever picked up.
- The Last Letter — Rebecca Yarros reached into my chest, tore my heart out, stomped on it… and somehow I’m still saying “thank you, please may I have another?”
Both of these are staying with me for a long time.
🎃 What’s Next?
October is shaping up to be extra exciting — it’s our first ever Paper + Word book club pick! We’re reading The House Witch by Emilie Nikota, which promises cozy kitchen magic, court politics, and a fluffy black kitten familiar named Kraken (yes, I’m already obsessed).
On top of that, another book club member suggested A Night in the Lonesome October by Roger Zelazny. It’s written in 31 short chapters, so the idea is to read one per day all month — basically a spooky literary advent calendar, and I’m so here for it.
And because no good TBR is ever simple, I’ve got a couple of ARCs that need finishing before the month is out. So between witches, familiars, daily gothic chapters, and my ever-watchful ARC pile, October is looking busy — in the very best way.
Will I top my September record? Probably not… but who knows, spooky season might have a trick or two up its sleeve.
👻 So, spooky season is officially upon us!
Which books haunted your September, and what tales are you summoning from your TBR cauldron this October?
Bonus points for black cats, witches, or a little literary mischief.
Until next time… 🕯️📖🖤
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