My fall reading started off with a bang with these great September reads! Even though I didn’t have a full 5-star, I really, really enjoyed almost everything I read this month, and the seasonal vibes were perfect, even though the weather still thinks it’s summer. I was on vacation for the end of the month, and finished 4 books during that time, which I was very happy with. Let’s get into it!

Stats

Total books read: 9

Fall vibes books: 8

Physical books: 5

BOTM: 2

A Dark and Drowning Tide by Allison Saft (4.25 stars) – This was a really great fantasy read, my first from this author, that was an interesting combination of dark academia, complicated friendship dynamics, murder mystery, Sapphic rivals-to-lovers romance, and historical commentary on anti-Semitism. I thought the writing was great and the characters complex, and the romance worked very well for me. The plot went in different directions than I expected, which wasn’t at all a bad thing, and I was left really glad I finally picked this one up. This definitely won’t be my last read from Allison Saft!

Play Nice by Rachel Harrison (4 stars) – I have high expectations when it comes to Rachel Harrison, and so even though I think this was a great book, it wasn’t close to my favorite of hers. I did really like how the book’s present-day action was interspersed with snippets of her mother’s book, and also the protagonist’s relationships with her two older sisters that really anchored the story. The romance, though, didn’t really feel necessary to me, and I could have used a bit more horror in its place.

You’re Invited by Amanda Jayatissa (4 stars) – This was a really well-written mystery/thriller that I apparently wrote down years ago when it was recommended on a BookTube video and never really thought about picking up until I was scrolling through audiobook options on Libby. The wedding setup, friendship/family relationship gone wrong, “unlikable/unreliable” narrator, and influencer aspects all really added up to a great book that I’ll be recommending a bunch.

My Killer Vacation by Tessa Bailey (4 stars) – A very fun romance with a murder mystery subplot that I really enjoyed reading while I was on my own vacation, which thankfully included no murders. I’m glad this was a Tessa Bailey that worked for me; I’ve read a bunch that have, and a few that haven’t, but this was great.

Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera (4 stars) – Why are mystery/thrillers featuring podcasts so much more appealing to me than those without? I really enjoyed this on audio, despite the fact that I’m not much of a mystery/thriller reader. It’s a good hook, and even though I find an amnesia plot kind of frustrating, I enjoyed the pacing, mystery, and podcast segments in this one.

ZomRomCom by Olivia Dade (4 stars) – This was less zombie horror and more spicy romance with a side of quirky fantasy characters than I was expecting, but definitely not in a bad way. I liked both the romance and the plot in this one, and Dade sets us up well for possible sequels featuring other characters and supernatural species in the future.

Apprentice to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer (4 stars) – This series continues to be a fun and funny romantasy, with a combination of action, romance, and silliness that works great when I’m in the mood for it. I’m less interested in the overarching plot than I am in all of the lovable characters, and I’ll definitely be continuing on with Accomplice to the Villain at some point.

The Night Guest by Hildur Knutsdottir (3.5 stars) – This was a short, creepy horror audiobook that really worked for me this month. Even if it wasn’t a perfect read, I was intrigued and enjoyed the writing style as well as the dawning horror of the plot.

Follow Me to Ground by Sue Rainsford (3 stars) – This was my only disappointing read this month. I’ve had it on my TBR for years, and always assumed that I’d really enjoy this short horror novel. Instead, I really wasn’t into either the writing or the story itself.