Welcome to my September Reading Wrap Up! September felt differently for me reading wise than August did. September was the month I had officially hit a slump where I did not read for almost two weeks, not even an audiobook! I couldn’t focus for the life of me, and that could have been due to the physical burn out I was feeling from things going on in my own life (moving to new apartment, working in stressful environments, lack of sleep, etc.). Thankfully though, I did manage to get some reading done and I am here to share with you the books that made the cut. So let’s dive into another monthly wrap-up, here are my reads for September! Some surprise loves, some that were a struggle to push through, and even a sneak peek at the books to come.
Books I Read:
The Woodsmoke Women’s Book of Spells by Rachel Greenlaw | Perfectly Cozy & Witchy
This book was such a beautiful surprise. I picked it up on a bookseller’s recommendation and it completely wrapped me in its cozy, witchy world. I loved that it told a love story about best friends and gave witchy fiction the kind of emotional depth you see in Practical Magic.
I can’t remember every small detail (that’s on me), which is probably why I gave it four stars instead of five. But the way it captured the warmth of friendship and the magic of autumn made it an instant favorite.
★★★★☆/5
If you’ve been following my reading wrap ups, this was one of the most enchanting reads I’ve added to my September Reading Wrap Up.
It’s Not Summer Without You by Jenny Han | Summer Obsession
I’ll admit it. My reviews for this series are totally biased because I love the show. Listening to the audiobook feels like hanging out with my favorite characters again, hearing their voices bring everything to life. It’s comforting in the best way, like slipping back into a story that already feels like home.
The books are definitely less messy than the show, which surprised me. I do wish Steven had a bigger role here, but even without him, I’m still enjoying every second of this read.
★★★★★/5
If you’ve been following my reading wrap ups, you already know how much I adore this series. Jenny Han just has a way of capturing nostalgia and comfort that makes this story the perfect addition to my September Reading Wrap Up.
Book Lovers by Emily Henry | Binge Worthy
I had such a good time reading this one! Some of the quotes genuinely made my heart swoon, and the chemistry between Nora and Charlie felt so natural. I swear, I’ll be rooting for them forever.
If I’m being honest, I did see the ending coming, but that’s kind of the charm of romance, right? After so many love stories, it’s hard not to predict where things might go. Still, even knowing what was coming didn’t take away from how much fun I had reading it. Emily Henry just knows how to make me devour a book in one sitting.
★★★★☆/5
If you’ve been following my reading wrap ups, you know I can’t resist a story that gives me all the cozy feels. Book Lovers absolutely earns its spot in my September Reading Wrap Up.
Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi | Book Club Read
Okay… I’m sorry, but this one just didn’t click for me. I really appreciate what the author was building and the story she was trying to tell, but I couldn’t fully connect with the characters or get pulled into the world. Every big moment felt a little too familiar, like something I’d already seen in another book or movie. There were some unique details, but overall it didn’t keep me excited to find out what happened next.
I listened to the audiobook, and with how long it was, it became even harder to stay engaged. I just didn’t feel that spark that keeps me glued to a story. Maybe that’s just me, and I never like giving books low ratings, but I can’t give this one more than two stars because I honestly wouldn’t recommend it. 🥺
★★☆☆☆/5
If you’ve been following my reading wrap ups, you know I always try to find something to love in every story. But sometimes a book just isn’t your match, and that’s okay. This one just wasn’t mine in my September Reading Wrap Up.
We’ll Always Have Summer by Jenny Han | Team Conrad Fischer
And now, we’ve officially reached the end of The Summer I Turned Pretty trilogy and you already know what that means: another biased five-star review from me. I just can’t help it! This final book wrapped up the story in such a satisfying way. The Conrad chapters were everything I wanted, and honestly, they gave me more depth than the show ever could.
★★★★★/5
If you’ve been following my reading wrap ups, you know this series will always hold a special place in my heart. It was the perfect finale to revisit in my September Reading Wrap Up, filled with summer nostalgia and a touch of bittersweet love.
Deep End by Ali Hazelwood | Spicy Spicy Book Club Read
Ali Hazelwood can write spice very, very well. My rating comes from how much fun I had reading this one. It was my first book post-slump, and it made me laugh when I really needed it. The story itself had solid potential, but I wish the plot had been as detailed as the spice. It sometimes felt like long paragraphs of heat followed by quick updates about what happened next.
Still, I found myself invested in the diver’s journey. It had a surprisingly serious emotional side that gave the book more depth.
Spice rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ Some of the best-written scenes I’ve read in a while.
★★★☆☆/5
If you’ve been following my reading wrap ups, this one added the perfect balance of fun and chaos to my September Reading Wrap Up.
Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur | Raw Poetry
This poetry book has been sitting on my shelf forever, and I finally decided to tackle it while cleaning the apartment. Listening to the audiobook was such a good call. The simplicity of the poetry reminded me that writing doesn’t always need to be complex to be powerful.
I couldn’t relate to every poem, which is why I didn’t rate it higher. But Rupi Kaur has a way of turning everyday experiences into something emotional and thought-provoking. For me, a poetry book has to really resonate personally to earn more than three stars, and this one came close.
★★★☆☆/5
If you’ve been following my reading wrap ups, you know I love mixing different genres. Milk and Honey brought something calm and reflective to my September Reading Wrap Up.
The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion | Grief meets Beauty
This audiobook was a bit of a struggle for me, but not for the reasons you might expect. The version I had didn’t divide chapters correctly, so I’d be listening to chapter nine while it said I was on chapter five. It made it nearly impossible to skip around or restart specific sections. Plus, the instrumental transitions between parts were so loud that they sometimes overpowered the narration.
Outside of those technical issues, I had a hard time following Joan Didion’s storytelling. It may have just been my personal taste, but I found it tricky to tell when she was reflecting on the past versus describing the present. Maybe that’s one of the downsides of doing the audiobook instead of the physical copy.
Even with those frustrations, I still walked away from this memoir feeling deeply moved. Joan Didion has a way of making you think about love, grief, and what happens when the person you’ve built your life with is suddenly gone. It made me stop and think about how fragile and precious life really is.
I don’t think I could ever rate a memoir lower than three stars, it’s someone’s life, after all. And for how much this one lingered in my thoughts, it definitely earned those three.
★★★☆☆/5
If you’ve been following my September Reading Wrap Up, this was one of the most reflective things I read this month.
Favorites of the Month:
Out of all the books I read this month, there weren’t many that reached five stars except for The Summer I Turned Pretty trilogy. Though to be fair, those ratings might not count since my reviews are 100% biased. I’d recommend both the books and the show to anyone and everyone, even if they tell slightly different stories.
The rest of my reads this month were good, just not groundbreaking. Nothing quite managed to capture my heart the way Wild Reverence did (which I gushed about in my August Reading Wrap Up). Still, every book added something unique to my September Reading Wrap Up, and I’m excited to see what next month’s reading pile brings. 🍂
⋆˙⟡ What Shall I Read Next? ⟡˙⋆
Currently Reading: Alchemised by SenLinYu
I knew this was going to be a big book to dive into, but I underestimated just how big. Over 1,000 pages! I started out strong, aiming to read about 100 pages a day… and then life started lifing. Work’s been chaotic lately, and my brain’s been running on caffeine and vibes, so reading time took a hit.
That said, Alchemised is a genuinely great read so far: detailed, emotional, and full of that slow-burn storytelling I love. I just need to carve out a quiet weekend, lock in, and finally let myself get lost in it.
October Hopefuls 🍁
Now that spooky season is officially here, my October hopefuls are a mix of magic, mystery, and maybe a little chaos. I’m hoping to finally pick up A Forbidden Alchemy and House of the Beast, both of which have been haunting my TBR since summer. I also want to finally start the Harry Potter series (yes, I know, I’m embarrassingly late), and I plan to experience it through audiobooks for the first time.
Other books on my October hopeful list include Tourist Season, Atmosphere, Meddling Kids, American Prometheus, The Never King, and If Only I Had Told Her. Will I actually get through all of these? Probably not, especially since October is already flying by but half the fun is trying, right?
That’s a wrap for my September Reading Wrap Up! 📚✨ This month was chaotic in the best way — a mix of swoony romances, reflective memoirs, and the occasional reading slump rescue. I’m so curious to know what everyone else read this month.
If you want to see what I’m picking up next (or how long I last before breaking my TBR rules), come hang out with me on Instagram @alittleroam. I’ll be sharing more cozy reads, mini reviews, and updates there all season long.
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