It’s that time of the month — the monthly list of books I read this month and the reviews for my favorites. October was a month of some spooky reads. I was able to read slightly more than I usually do because of our little getaway at the beginning of the month.
BELL WEATHER BY DENNIS MAHONEY
‘A captivating adventure set in a fantastical world where a young woman must uncover the secrets of her past while confronting the present dangers of a magical wilderness’
Bell Weather was instantly captivating. It’s a novel, unlike anything I have ever read before. It is a combination of magical realism and historical fiction, yet not our “history”, but history that closely resembles ours. It has an excellent balance between character development and plot. It’s incredibly engaging and a remarkable world.
HARRY’S TREES BY JON COHEN
‘Harry’s Trees is an uplifting tale about love, loss, friendship, and redemption.’
Harry’s Trees had my heart in pieces. Harry is passionate about trees and although he works in the US Forest Service, he works in the office devoid of trees, but he loves his wife and they have a plan to make his dreams come true, but when tragedy hits and his wife dies, Harry is left alone…that is until he meets a young girl who has also suffered loss, her father. This book has real moments of pain, but it’s also incredibly funny and uplifting.
THE LANGUAGE OF THORNS: MIDNIGHT TALES AND DANGEROUS MAGIC BY LEIGH BARDUGO
‘Inspired by myth, fairy tale, and folklore, #1 New York Times–bestselling author Leigh Bardugo has crafted a deliciously atmospheric collection of short stories filled with betrayals, revenge, sacrifice, and love.’
This is a collection of creepy short stories that is just so beautifully written. Some of these stories are retellings, but rather they are something you have read before or are completely new, they will take your breath away and have your fingers turning the pages, rapidly. I was enamored with every story and the overall design of this book.
MAGPIE MURDERS BY ANTHONY HOROWITZ
‘A murder mystery within a murder mystery’
Susan Ryeland is an editor and has been working with the author, Alan Conway, for years. She plans to spend her weekend reading the manuscript of Alan Conway’s latest Atticus Pudd mystery, entitled ‘Magpie Murders’. The reader is introduced to the story that Alan Conway has written, and just as the reader and Susan Ryeland is getting to the part where the murderer is revealed, it is discovered that the last few chapters are missing and Alan has died. As Susan starts to suspect that the story has all the clues to what happened to Alan and the lost chapters, she turns amateur sleuth. This is a cozy read and such an interesting way of telling a story.
THE ELEPHANT WHISPERER BY LAWRENCE ANTHONY
‘The story is about Lawrence Anthony and his experience with a herd of wild elephants.’
Lawrence runs a private animal reserve. He gets a call and is offered a wild herd of elephants that are considered “rogue”. This rogue herd had been hurt by people and so they keep escaping, which was causing problems and if Lawrence didn’t take them, they’d be shot. This is a story about Lawrence and his journey to build a good relationship with the herd, so they can remain safe and live happy lives. This is an all-around excellent read.
MY OXFORD YEAR BY JULIA WHELAN
‘Amidst the breathtaking beauty of Oxford, this sparkling debut novel tells the unforgettable story about a determined young woman eager to make her mark in the world and the handsome man who introduces her to an incredible love that will irrevocably alter her future.’
Ella has been dreaming of attending Oxford since she was a child, and now as a Rhodes scholar, her dream has come true. Before classes start, Ella explores the village and ends up stopping into a pub where she meets Jamie, a guy she deems pretentious, but also has an interest in, especially after he flirts with her, but then Ella discovers that Jamie is teaching her lit class and thinks that that is the end of any possibility between the two of them, but they just can’t stay away from each other. This book is cute. It’s an easy read that will have you smiling.
The Dark Days Club by Alison Goodman
‘On the eve of eighteen-year-old Lady Helen Wrexhall’s presentation to the queen, one of her family’s housemaids disappears-and Helen is drawn into the shadows of Regency London. There, she meets Lord Carlston, one of the few who can stop the perpetrators: a cabal of demons infiltrating every level of society. ‘
Lady Helen needs to find a wealthy husband so people will overlook the scandals and gossip that surround her dead mother. The only problem is that Lady Helen is not one to follow what is expected of a lady in these times, and although she feels like she doesn’t have a choice, she longs for something else. That is when she meets the mysterious Lord Carlston, who introduces her to a dark and mysterious world. Lady Helen chooses her path, which makes her a splendid heroine and I absolutely adore the world that Goodman created. I’m excited to read the next one in the series.
Things Jolie Needs to do before she bites it by Kerry Winfrey
‘Jolie’s a lot of things, but she knows that pretty isn’t one of them. She has mandibular prognathism, which is the medical term for underbite. Chewing is a pain, headaches are a common occurrence, and she’s never been kissed. She’s months out from having a procedure to correct her underbite, and she cannot wait to be fixed. While her family watches worst-case scenario TV shows, Jolie becomes paralyzed with the fear that she could die under the knife. She and her best friends Evelyn and Derek decide to make a Things Jolie Needs To Do Before She Bites It (Which Is Super Unlikely But Still, It Could Happen) list. ‘
I adore Jolie and felt so connected and protective of her. This is another easy read that will leave you feeling happy. It touches on some important topics, like self-love and changing friendships, but handles it in such an authentic way. The dialogue is pure and funny and the relationships and development between all of the characters are balanced so well. This was a delightful read.
Other books I read in October
Sometimes I Lie by Alice Feeney
What did you read during the month of October? Have you read any of these books? What were your thoughts? You can find what I’m reading currently on my Goodreads.
Oh my god, how do you managed to read so many books just in a month? Lately, I struggle to even finish one! So amazing and some good picks.
xx Anna
Thanks Anna. It helps when you lack an active social life and are in between jobs hah!