September was a GREAT month for reading! The more predictable (albeit hectic) schedule for fall is in place, we are all getting our footing with school and sports schedules and my reading time is much more regular. When school is in session I will read in the car while waiting to pick up the kids, while waiting for their sports or activities to start (so much waiting time!) and always, always before bed. It's not the marathon reading sessions at the pool or the beach that summer brought... but there is still plenty of time to read! I finally renewed my library card (after about 6 weeks without it!) and read a ton of great books this month. I read a lot of books by authors I have loved before - which is always fun - here's the rundown:
The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks... I absolutely love digging into a business/productivity/self-help book in the fall this one did not disappoint. While I thought it was geared more to business inspiration I found that it was instead about personal growth and finding the power to overcome the hurtles that keep us from being our best selves. This book was super timely for me for a few reasons and there were more than a handful of "lightbulb" moments. If you are looking to shake up how you approach a few areas of your life for the better I highly recommend this book. Plus it's a nice concise 200 pages - so it's a quick read!
New of the World by Paulette Jiles... This was the bookclub pick for my IRL bookclub. Elderly and widowed Captain Kidd makes a living by traveling through the Texas countryside post civil war reading the news to paying audiences that are eager for updates on current events from around the world. He is asked by a friend to return a 10 year old girls to her guardians after her parents were killed by Kiowa Indians and she was kidnapped by those same Indians. With the girl safely ransomed she now needs to be returned to living relatives. The trip involves many miles through dangerous and unruly Texas country, just him and the girl. This was a fascinating historical fiction read from a moment in history that I wasn't familiar with. I found the book to be quite slow at times, but at only 200 pages it was still quite a quick read. This isn't the type of story I am usually drawn to, but a heart warming ending made it worth it.
The Clockmaker's Daughter by Kate Morton... Kate Morton's newest book releases October 9 - so request it from the library or put it in your amazon cart now! This is a classic Kate Morton book that brilliantly weaves together multiple storylines, multiple points of view and a touch of mystery all in one. I loved this book from start to finish! It's the perfect cozy fall read complete with a ghost story - which was one of my favorite parts about the book. If you've loved Kate Morton in the past... you will love her latest! Brew a cup of tea, get the fireplace going and curl up to read this book. If you haven't read any Kate Morton before I highly recommend The Distant Hours and The Forgotten Garden - although all here books are awesome! (please note I received an Advanced Review Copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion)
The Summer Wives by Beatriz Williams... Beatriz Williams is another author that I will blindly follow/read anything she writes. I will say this wasn't my absolute favorite book of hers but I still enjoyed it. The somewhat formulaic storyline of a teen girl Miranda summering on a posh New England island where her now new step-father has summered his whole life. Miranda and her mom are the "new comers" to the island and as somewhat outsiders. At it's heart it's a coming of age story with a few mysteries and twists thrown in. In parallel storylines Miranda visits the island as an adult to make sense of what happened that one memorable summer when everything changed. A few parts of the storyline were predictable, I will say that. But I still love anything that Beatriz Williams writes. Other books by her that I highly recommend are The Secret Life of Violet Grant and Along the Infinite Sea.
To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han... Since this just became a Netflix movie I knew I had to read it first! This is a delightful YA read that I couldn't put down... I finished the whole book in 24 hours. The main character writes love letters to boys she's "loved" after she's finally "over" them. She's never sent the letters and the boys don't know her feelings - but when the letters mysteriously begin to show up in the boys' mailboxes she has some explaining to do. This is just a fun, feel-good book about first loves, crushes, the torture of those teen years and the importance of family. I can't wait to read the next two in the series P.S. I Still Love You and Always and Forever, Lara Jean
The Masterpiece by Fiona Davis... Fiona Davis is a master at writing historical fiction that highlights well known landmarks in New York City. Each book has a prominent NYC location or building as a "main character" of sorts. This book is her third and follows the history of the the Grand Central Terminal and also of a little known art school that was housed in the terminal before the Great Depression. Two women's lives become unknowingly involved with one another because of the art school, some lost art and the terminal that they came to love and eventually saved from the wrecking ball. I love Davis' stories and this one was no exception. Its a fun historical fiction read with a few twists and turns. I also highly recommend The Dollhouse and The Address both written by her as well.
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I thought I would let you know a few books I have on deck for October if you want to read along!
The Book of Essie - I just started this and it's a REAL page turner!
That Kind of Mother - the October book selection for my real-life book club group.
Bellewether - another new release from a long time favorite author.
The Hazel Wood - A YA book that I keep hearing great things about.
And I would love to be able to squeeze in P.S. I Still Love You and Always and Forever, Lara Jean too... looks like I have my work cut out for me! :)
