What I Read in September + October TBR
September was another good reading month! I caught up on a few books on my TBR and listened to another audiobook. I set a goal in August to read five books, and that’s exactly what I did in September!
Some of my favorites from this past month included You Had Me at Hola by Alexis Daria, which was so good! I loved reading about Jasmine and Ashton. I also read The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo (on audiobook) finally and ohmygosh, why haven’t I read this earlier? It was beyond amazing and one of those books where I continue to think about the characters.
This month (October), I have a spooky TBR that includes a murder mystery at an elite prep school BUT also part of my TBR includes the next Bridgerton book on my list: To Sir Philip, With Love (Book #5) by Julia Quinn. I hope to have another great reading month!
You Had Me At Hola by Alexis Daria
I’ve read a lot of reviews for this one, and they all have at least one thing in common: Jane the Virgin fans will absolutely devour this. And so, as someone who has watched and re-watched Jane the Virgin, I wholeheartedly agree. It was such an easy, fun, enjoyable, ~steamy~, fast read. I’m a big fan of books set on movie and TV sets and in Hollywood. At times, I wasn’t a fan of Jasmine’s character as I thought sometimes she was a bit … whiny (partly because she didn’t feel complete without a man who loved her), but overall, I didn’t hate her character and by the end, I loved her character development—which was a huge part of the plot. On the other hand, I was a BIG fan of Ashton. First, I liked the book talking a little about his anxiety—although, I wish that was talked about more but I’m totally fine with it. I think Ashton’s character was very well-written and I loved the family dynamic he had with his grandparents and father as well as his son. The overall plot was the thing that hooked me in, however. I liked how the plot of the show that they were working on, Carmen in Charge, paralleled the plot of the novel. Although Jasmine’s character wasn’t my favorite, she came into her own and learned how to be independent from a man and a relationship but without giving up her need to be loved and appreciated. And that’s a concept that I can get behind.
Excited to finish A Lot Like Adios by Alexis Daria, the sequel, and read about another member of the Primas of Power, Michelle!
Rating: 4/5
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Oooh, this one came highly recommended by #bookstagram and it did NOT disappoint. I picked up one of Taylor Jenkin Reid’s books before, and couldn’t get into it. So, once I picked up this book, I quickly fell in love.
Here’s what I think: this book was so well-written that I almost don’t want it to be made into a movie because I’m worried they’ll get it wrong—but I definitely still want it to be made into a movie. Of course, there’s that twist at the end but in my opinion, there were so many twists that I didn’t see coming. I get a bit wary of books set in the past, or books where the narrator tells their story from the present day, but this one kept my attention. While the story follows Evelyn Hugo, a world-renowned film actress, the novel also follows an unknown reporter Monique Grant who is asked by Evelyn herself to write her biography. I loved Monique’s character and how she came into her own and stood up for herself—again, a concept I can get behind and that paralleled Evelyn’s own life journey. This is one of those books where I keep thinking about the characters even after I’ve finished the book, so that’s when I know that I absolutely loved it.
Rating: 4.5/5
28 Summers by Elin Hilderbrand
This is my second Elin Hilderbrand novel, and she has a unique writing style that really just sucks you in, you know? Again, this was one of those books where I was constantly thinking of the characters, even when not reading.
The story follows Mallory Blessing and Jake McCloud over the course of 28 summers. After one Labor Day weekend and a failed bachelor party, Mallory and Jake agree to a “Same Time, Next Year” pact where they agree to get together every Labor Day Weekend on Nantucket, where Mallory lives. It wouldn’t be too bad of a deal, however, Jake is in a relationship (later married) with Ursula de Gournsey, who later runs (and wins) a seat in the Senate. However, despite whatever life throws at them, Mallory and Jake always seem to honor the deal they made and get together in Nantucket on Labor Day Weekend.
Overall, I liked it. There were no parts where I felt like putting it down. Even though Mallory and Jake were having an affair (Mallory had relationships, too), they were written to be lovable? Or at least lovable to me. Aside from the characters, I loved the easy, breezy writing style that Elin Hilderbrand includes in her novels that makes her books readable yet complex.
One thing I didn’t like—at times—is the third person dialogue. I typically like to read books that are in first person; that being said, I do like third person dialogue if it moves the story along. Elin included different points of view from different side characters (boyfriends of Mallory, Mallory’s brother, Cooper, and Ursula, Jake’s girlfriend-turned-wife). Again, this was only slightly annoying at times when all I really wanted to read is Mallory and Jake’s point of view. But it was very interesting to read from Ursula’s point of view as she had a couple of chapters dedicated to her.
Rating: 4/5
Romancing Mister Bridgerton (Book #4) by Julia Quinn
I’m reading the Bridgerton series slowly, but I just finished the fourth one, and I have to say—I think this is my favorite. (The first one will always be my favorite, so this is a second favorite.) I was very much looking forward to reading Penelope’s story (and I guess Colin’s ugh), not only because she’s revealed to be Lady Whistledown, but she’s plus-size (at least in the show and the book reveals she’s “heavier” than her co-female leads). Penelope Featherington, for 28 years, has came out to society countless times. Forced to wear unflattering yellow and orange dresses, she was dragged to ball after ball with her mother, who was hoping to marry off her and her sisters. Now that Penelope is 28, she and the rest of the ton (including Mrs. Featherington) have resigned to the fact that Penelope will never marry and be a spinster. (Just like Penelope’s best friend, Eloise Bridgerton.)
It’s all fine until Colin Bridgerton returns from his trip abroad. As Penelope has harbored a longtime crush on her best friend’s brother (Colin), she’s afraid to reveal her true feelings because she claims to know that Colin would never return the feelings.
Now at 28, after so many years of friendly dances at balls and parties and hangouts at the Bridgerton House, Penelope and Colin find each other gravitating to one another … and not just in the friendly manner that they grew up with. The Bridgerton series follows the same tone of the main “couple” do something “disgraceful” (disgraceful to the set of rules the high society elite were forced to comply with), and the couple ends up getting married to avoid ruin and scandal (but really, only the woman would be ruined, ugh). You can assume that this will be the case, but tbh, this book will surprise you! I thought it was a little slow at first, and put it down a few times, but about halfway through, it picks up and you want to finish it immediately to know the ending. Aside from the obvious friends-to-lovers trope, Penelope also is Lady Whistledown, so we get a behind-the-scenes look into the esteemed gossip columnist!
Rating: 3.5/5
Get A Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert
This one has been on my TBR forever and it was so cute! I love a good, steamy romance and honestly, the fact that it was a British rom-com just totally took it over the edge. Red, the male lead, totally reminded me of Heath Ledger in 10 Things I Hate About You with the whole bad boy artist long hair type. I love that we got to read both Chloe and Red’s POVs. And Chloe! Loved, love, loved her character and found her to be relatable—which I always like. Loved this cute love story and so excited to pick up the next books about her sisters!
Rating: 3/5