All About Books discussion

📚 What’s on Your September TBR? 🍂

As we step into September and the early signs of autumn start to show, it’s the perfect time to cosy up with a good book. Whether you’re reaching for a comforting novel, a fascinating history, or something that makes you laugh, we’d love to hear: What’s on your September reading list?

Here are a few recommendations across fiction and non-fiction to spark ideas:

📖 Fiction:
✨ The Life Impossible by Matt Haig – Uplifting, quirky, and full of hope, perfect for a fresh start this season.
✨ The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah – A gripping tale of resilience set against the wilds of Alaska.
✨ Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson – A witty and clever twist on the classic murder mystery.
✨ Prophet Song by Paul Lynch – Haunting and powerful, winner of the Booker Prize 2023.
✨ None of This Is True by Lisa Jewell – Dark, twisty, and completely bingeable.
✨ American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins – An unforgettable, tense story of survival and migration.

📚 Non-Fiction:
📝 The House of My Mother: A Daughter's Quest for Freedom by Shari Franke – A moving and insightful memoir from a young writer.
💡 Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear – If September feels like a reset month, this is the ultimate guide to small changes with big impact.
🎤 Pageboy by Elliot Page – Honest, brave, and deeply personal.
😂 Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before? by Dr Julie Smith – Practical psychology tips that are as reassuring as they are useful.

So — what will you be picking up this month? Something cosy and heartwarming, a thriller to keep you on your toes, or a non-fiction book that makes you think? Share your September reads below! 👇📚

My September Reading Round-Up

I’ve read some brilliant books recently, and September feels like the perfect time to share my thoughts before diving into a new stack. Here’s how they shaped up for me:

* The Life Impossible by Matt Haig – 5 stars, absolutely amazing, heartfelt and hopeful.
* The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah – 4 stars, gripping and beautifully written, though at times a little heavy.
* The House of My Mother: A Daughter’s Quest for Freedom by Shari Franke – 5 stars, a powerful and moving memoir that stayed with me.
* American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins – 5 stars, utterly unputdownable and unforgettable.
* Atomic Habits by James Clear – 4 stars, practical and motivating with lots of useful advice, even if some parts felt familiar.
* Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before? by Dr Julie Smith – 5 stars, packed with reassurance and tips that I know I’ll return to again.

Looking ahead, I’m hoping to pick up:

* Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson – a clever and funny twist on the mystery genre.
* Prophet Song by Paul Lynch – Booker Prize-winning and said to be devastatingly powerful.
* None of This Is True by Lisa Jewell – a dark and twisty thriller that sounds perfect for autumn nights.

What’s on your September TBR?

I am currently reading Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain. In September, I am going to read, East of Eden by John Steinbeck, A People’s History of the United States by Howard Zinn, and The Marrow of Tradition by Charles W. Chestnutt.

I have read nothing for months due to horrible work pressures. But I've picked up a few books, and I'm hoping to start reading again.

Here's my tentative plan:

Definitely:
in progress 17% Cane by Jean Toomer
in progress 21% If Beale Street Could Talk by James Baldwin
in progress 27% Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI by David Grann
in progress 21% A Sorceress Comes to Call by T. Kingfisher

Probably:
Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys (re-read)
Major Barbara by George Bernard Shaw (re-read)
Dengue Boy by Michel Nieva

Possibly:
The Stepford Wives by Ira Levin