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I'm Shay! I’m a cookbook author, lifestyle blogger, travel agency owner, wife and mama who loves making every day special for my family.

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Mix & Match Mama

Books ·

September 2025 Book Review


Happy Thursday, friends!

It’s my SEPTEMBER BOOK REVIEW!

This September, I wanted to read a few fall/back to school novels.

Did I love them?

Did I not love them?

You’ll have to read below to see 🙂 .

Spoiler alert, my favorite “back to school” books of all time are Laurie Gelman’s Class Mom series.  If you haven’t read those yet, you should certainly start there.

Alrighty, four novels in September starting with…

Book #1:

Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall

This was our SEPTEMBER BOOK CLUB read.  If you have already read it/don’t care about “spoilers”/want to read our thoughts and opinions of it from the book club, click HERE.

Here is my “spoiler-free” review:

I gave this novel FIVE STARS.

You guys, it’s so very good.

This is one of those family sagas that span a few decades.  Set in the English countryside, a woman is torn between her husband and the man she loved as a teen.

I think you’ll be sucked in by the very first line “The farmer is dead…”.  The story starts with a “bang” and builds bigger and more complex from there.

I was empathetic and yet also frustrated by the female lead in one of those twisty, emotional ways that only the best books can do to you.

I do not want to spoil any of this story, but it’s about friendship and loyalty, love and death and forgiveness…it’s beautiful and tragic and I cannot recommend it enough.

Read it, friends!

Book #2:

The Husbands by Holly Gramazio

I really hope some of you read this book too because I would LOVE to know what you thought about it.  This is a twisty little chick lit about a woman living in the UK who comes home one night and poof, there is a husband in her house.  She, of course, freaks out a bit.  She’s not married.  She’s not even currently dating.  But now, she has a husband and a full on life she didn’t have before.  Just when she’s starting to accept the fact that something crazy is happening and she does have a husband (she just can’t remember), he goes into the attic and a “new” husband comes back down.  What?  What?  And so the story goes from there.

Throughout this book, husbands continue to change out in the main character’s life.  Some, she’s super happy to see come and go, others, she starts to really care for and gets sad when they’re replaced.  Clearly fiction, this book focuses on so many “life lessons” like being content with where you are in the moment.  Some husbands that “seem” great cause a ripple affect in her life that she doesn’t want.  Some husbands make her less afraid of pursuing her dreams.  Some husbands are boring.  Some are old.  Some are mean.

This book had more substance than I was anticipating. It was a little long (there are a lot of husbands), but overall, I really enjoyed it.  In a sea of forgettable books I’ll read this year, this one, I’ll remember.

Book #3:

Mean Moms by Emma Rosenblum

This is my second novel to read by this author.  I selected this one because it seemed fun, light and back to school-ish.  It’s about a group of private school moms in Manhattan and all the drama that surrounds their kids’ new school year, their private lives, their careers…it sounded light and fun.  Unfortunately, just like the other book I read by this author (Bad Summer People ), I just didn’t like it at all.

For starters, it was more Rated R than I expected.

I didn’t find a single character likeable.  Not a one.

What started out fun to read, (elite New Yorkers and their kids’ private school) ended up being outlandish and way too unrealistic.

This one had the framework to be a really fun September read, but honestly, I couldn’t wait for it to end.

And finally…

Book #4:

The Academy by Elin Hilderbrand and Shelby Cunningham

What could be more fall than reading Elin’s new book set at a boarding school in Massachusetts?!

Goodness, I have a lot to unpack.

You know I love me some Elin Hilderbrand.  For YEARS, I have been saying that I should be president of her fan club.  I’ve read every single one of her books.  This novel is special for two reasons.  It’s her first release now that she’s done writing Nantucket fiction.  It’s also the first novel that she co-wrote with her 19 year old daughter.

Let me touch on both points…

As much as I ADORE Elin’s Nantucket books, there were SEVERAL at the end that I didn’t love.  I’ve reviewed them all and you know that I felt some were big misses (there were ghosts in several, GHOSTS?!).  This novel here though was quintessential Elin Hilderbrand.  The story, the characters, the setting, the writing, THIS IS WHY I LOVE HER.  I was so pleased with this novel because it just felt genuinely like an Elin book.

I don’t exactly know how it worked, but when I read the book, I read “Elin” all the way through.  I’m not sure how much her daughter wrote and/or how that process even came to be, but it didn’t add or take away from the story.  If I’m being honest, there are some adult-ish topics/moments/words used that did make me a little uncomfortable knowing a teenager co-wrote.  It just landed funny for me.

This is a very back to school/fall book because of the time of year and boarding school setting.  There is a little mystery.  A little romance.  And a lot of info on life at a boarding school.  I have read that Elin’s daughter went to a boarding school for many years, so I have to believe a lot of the details are fairly accurate.  We know so many people in Massachusetts whose children attend boarding schools, and I always have questions about what life looks like for them…and honestly, this book answered many of them.

I was so happy to read this one in September.  If you love Elin, you should read it.  I hope she plans on more “fall” books in her future.

And that’s our SEPTEMBER BOOK REVIEW!

Don’t forget…

To see the complete list of books I read in 2015 (all 63 of them), click here.

To see the complete list of books I read in 2016 (all 62 of them), click here.

To see the complete list of books I read in 2017 (all 62 of them), click here.

To see the complete list of books I read in 2018 (all 61 of them), click here.

To see the complete list of books I read in 2019 (all 54 of them), click here.

To see the complete list of books I read in 2020 (all 54 of them), click here.

To see the complete list of books I read in 2021 (all 59 of them), click here.

To see the complete list of books I read in 2022 (all 60 of them), click here.

To see the complete list of books I read in 2023 (all 51 of them), click here.

To see the complete list of books I read in 2024 (all 58 of them), click here.

If you want to stay current on all of the books I’m reading in 2025, THIS PAGE HERE is where I keep the books, authors and reviews each month.

Also, we would love, love to have you join us this month for our BOOK CLUB!

Right now, we are reading…

…Buckeye by Patrick Ryan.  We would love for you to read along with us and join in on our discussion October 22nd.

That wraps up Book Day!

Please comment and share your thoughts, opinions and suggestions for new books we should all read.

I’m sharing a HALLOWEEN RECIPE today should you want to make something festive too.

I’ll see you tomorrow. xx

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Comments

  2. Susan Jeffries says

    I feel like I am the only reader on earth who didn’t enjoy Broken Country lol. I just found it to be boring. But that is ok – everyone loves different books and that is what makes book club fun! I jus started The River is Waiting by Wally Lamb. It started out as a 5 star but is slowly losing ground. Hoping it has a great ending. Happy reading!

    • Carly says

      I didn’t like Broken Country either! The main character was so selfish and completely unlikable!

    • Jessica Shobe says

      I feel you! I had it on audible and maybe that was the problem, but I just couldn’t get into it. I didn’t even finish it.

    • Jessica says

      Susan, I am your people. I really disliked the book too. I agree with many that is was very well written, but it wasn’t a story that “I” wanted to read. I just felt the main character was highly unlikeable and incredibly selfish.

    • Marianne says

      Susan- stay with The River is Waiting. The ending really took me by surprise. I felt all finds of things after finishing this book and have thought about it many times since.

  4. Alison says

    I LOVE Book Review day!! Thank you for sharing about Elin’s newest book. I was hesitant to buy and read because I have followed her throughout her Nantucket & St. Johns novels. So happy to hear that I should get this one and will give me original Elin feels. I read Broken Country a few months back and really enjoyed it! The twists were crazy… especially the ending. The female lead was annoying at times, but I did understand where she was coming from. Thanks for sharing, Shay!!

  5. Keesha says

    Have you ever listened to the Friends and Fiction podcast? It’s hosted by Mary Kay Andrews, Kristen Harmel, Kristy Woodson Harvey, and Patti Callahan Henry. They interview different authors. They have one with Elin and her daughter. They talk about how they wrote the book, which parts are based on real life, etc. I think you’d like to listen. There’s already a second book in the works!

  6. Sue says

    Elin did a great podcast with her daughter on Elin and Tim Talks Books’ podcast, Books, Beach and Beyond. I bet you’d love listening to it. If you haven’t read The Correspondent, it is fantastic!

        • Macey Conradt says

          I fourth The Correspondent! The writing style is different and very refreshing! It is easy to read, yet deep, thoughtful and so tender and heart warming!

  7. Kelly Sites says

    I love love loved Broken Country. Last month I also loved Miss Benson’s Beatle. Such a great book. I’ve already bought it 3 more times to give to people. Funny, quirky, and I loved it.

  8. Maria says

    Watch Friends and Fiction on YouTube Elin and Shelby are guests and explain how they cowrote the book. Shelby would call Elin and tell her all the drama going on at school and Elin said there’s a book here. Elin wrote the main story while Shelby edited for context. She made sure the kids dialogue was current.

    I found the book had too many characters. I was getting lost at times with the audiobook.

    • Mix and Match Mama says

      THAT is so helpful! Thank you so much for sharing. I wish she would have put this in the acknowledgements.

  9. Jami Romano says

    So glad to hear you loved the new Elin book… I’ve been on the fence about reading it, and I typically have similar reviews as you, so I’m hoping I will love it also!

  11. CJ says

    I just finished Broken Country too! Phew, it was a lot but beautiful. I also didn’t always love the main character but felt the author did a great job portraying the internal conflict. I just started “The Favorites” and would recommend for a sports read that is fast-paced (so far it’s not too R-rated but I think that might be coming…)

  12. Jessica Shobe says

    Love book day! This month I read Promise Me Sunshine by Cara Bastone, which I loved! It will make you laugh and cry. It deals with grief over losing a friend, so you wouldn’t expect to laugh, but the main character, Lenny, is so real and funny! Since I loved that one, I read Ready or Not by the same author, and enjoyed it also! Lastly, was Theo of Golden by Allen Levi, which was wonderful! It’s a book to read slowly and savor. It will make you laugh, probably tear up, but leave you feeling hopeful and seeing how one person can bring some good into this world.

    • Susan Dike says

      Just finished Theo of Golden last night. I thought it dragged on parts but loved the story and the ending. Would love you to read it Shay.

    • Kelly Brannan says

      I loved both of Cara Bastone’s books, too – she is now an auto-buy author for me. So good!

  13. Dena says

    Happy October! I have Broken Country on my TBR pile. Happy to see something by Elin Hilderbrand! Here in the Northeast, it’s 48 degrees this morning -chilly enough for a sweatshirt and sweatpants. Looking forward to alllllll things Fall!

  14. Kristin says

    I just finished Broken Country this week, and I loved it too. I don’t think I would ever act on it, but I can completely understand how Beth could love two different men at the same time. I mean, marriage doesn’t mean you can’t love anyone else. It means that you have committed to this one relationship, and it is the one you are going to honor and work to keep. I felt exactly as you did about The Husbands. Much more substance and emotional work than I expected. It did seem to be a bit long. Imagine how long it would’ve been if she had spent more time with some of the husbands who came and went in one sentence!!

  15. Katie Compton says

    Hooray for book day! Ok… I already commented on how much I loved Broken County in the Book Club post. Such an amazing suprise read! I also read Mean Moms this month and felt the same… yuck. I was giving this author another chance, but I think I need to quit her. I read it fast b/c I wanted it done. I felt like I was reading a really bad Real Moms of NY series. I’m so happy to hear you enjoyed The Academy. I haven’t read Elin in a couple years but I’m starting this one today, b/c I thought it was a perfect “fall” book. I’m totally a seasonal reader!

  16. kristen says

    I love book day!! Honestly, Shay, you’ve gotten me into reading the last few years and I love it! Thank you!

    In September I read Great Big Beautiful Life, Summer of ’69, God of the Woods, and Summer Island. I honestly really enjoyed all of them, but I especially love Kristin Hannah books, so Summer Island was a fave.

    Just started Sally Hepworth’s Soul Mate and am already sucked in. Thanks so much for reading and reviewing for us! I make my list from your reviews each month!

  17. Lynelle says

    I loved Broken Country. I *liked* The Husbands. I really loved it at first and felt like there were so many great points and lessons (there’s a great opportunity for a discussion on modern marriage and our expectations of it). And then the husbands kept coming…and coming… and coming. I was ready for it to be over, but I’m glad I read it.

  18. Aja says

    I loved Bad Summer People so I am excited to read Mean Moms. I don’t need my characters to be perfect. Real life isn’t black and white. The Academy is also on my list!

      • Katie Compton says

        I don’t need my characters to be perfect either- Hello Broken Country!- but I thought the characters in Mean Moms were just full on cray-cray! Lol

  19. Caryn H says

    I just read Insignificant Others. It sounds very much like The Husbands. She goes to sleep and awakens in a relationship with all of the men who she has met and they “could have been”. There are some she wished she could have stayed with and some she could not get rid of fast enough and her elderly Aunt is impacted by this time jumping as well. It was a good read in that she learned a lot about herself and what was important but this one felt a bit long as well with the many relationships and I was always anxious for her with each new morning.

  20. Lauren Palomo says

    I’m reading the Academy right now and it’s great so far! I saw Elin post on IG that there will be a sequel to this novel coming out next September. The drama continues! Thanks for a great book review.

  21. WhittyWife (Lindsay) says

    I’m also a fellow member of Elin’s fanclub. 😄 I’m reading The Academy now and loving it! You’re right- quintessential Elin!

  22. Gail says

    I know you don’t always love historical fiction but I am reading When the Men Were Gone by Marjorie Herrera Lewis – it’s based on a true story about a woman who coached her TX town’s high school football team during WWII to avoid the program being shut down, because she recognized the joy and purpose it brought the community. Thought you might enjoy the themes!

  24. Kay says

    Like others, I’m glad you reviewed Elin’s new novel as I was really on the fence about it!

    I am currently reading “The Lion Women of Tehran” and I think you would love it. It’s about female friendship and it is beautifully written.

  25. Beck says

    Have you read Theo of Golden? I just finished it, and while it’s long, it’s easy to read and I got through it pretty quickly. It’s a great story with some surprises in it, and very thought provoking. Really enjoyed it and highly recommend!

    • Mix and Match Mama says

      Okay, my honest answer is that I purchased it, but when I opened my Kindle to begin reading, it said the estimated time to read was 14 hours! That’s twice as long as most of my books. I’m not sure I want to commit to 14 hours.

      • Kaley says

        It’s SO worth it! It surprises me that it says it takes that long, I read the “real” book and it wasn’t massive by any means. I think the writing is so good that maybe people linger/take a longer time to read than they usually do?

  26. Jessica says

    I love your monthly Book Posts. I just started The Academy this morning. I’m not very far along but I can tell it’s going to be classic Hildebrand and I can’t wait for it all to come together.

  27. sandi says

    The Husbands was one I read this month too. It started great and the premise was fun. If she would have stopped at 12 or 15 husbands (even 20) and really gotten into why they were right/wrong and life circumstances at the time, I could have enjoyed it. For me the last quarter of the book just was too long. Here is what else I have read recently:
    The Fall of Marigolds (3 stars)
    Georgie, All Along (3 stars)
    The Life List (4 stars)
    The Happiest Man On Earth (4 stars) story of a Holocaust survivor
    Nine Women, One Dress (4 stars)
    An American Beauty (4 stars)
    Carnegie’s Maid (4 stars)

  28. Katie says

    Just finished Broken Country and really, really liked it! Started The Academy this week and am enjoying it so far. Love getting to hear your perspective and recommendations, happy reading!

  29. Christie says

    Love following you! Can you recommend some good books for 14 year old girls? My daughter just finished a book that we both thought would be PG to read and it was the exact OPPOSITE of that-like XRated 😞 I feel like I failed her. It was VERY deceiving. Any suggestions?

    Thank you.

  30. Donna Mullen says

    Would you let your daughter read Elin’s new book? I had given it to my granddaughter who is a senior in high school to read before I did. I don’t think she has started it yet, so I wanted to be sure it was appropriate! Thanks for your input!

    • Mix and Match Mama says

      Hmmmm…I think you should read it first and decide. I would personally rate it PG-13 and not R.

  31. Erin McGuire says

    I read The Husbands earlier this year and I was mad I would never get those hours of my life back! 😆 I thought it was so ridiculous. Ugh, I’m sorry! Thrilled to read EH’s new book, thanks for the rec!

  33. Karen says

    My girlfriends and I were in Nantucket for Elin’s book signing at Mitchell’s Bookstore on September 14th. She called us the 5 star weekend girls when we had our photo taken with her. Even though she signed my book I downloaded it on kindle and can’t wait to start reading it! We also got our photo taken by one of the producers in front of the home on Eel Point Road where they were filming The 5 Star Weekend!! Love, love Nantucket!!

  34. Bex says

    Head into the southern hemisphere for your next read – Trent Dalton’s Lola in the Mirror, and Boy Swallows Universe are both sublime.

  35. Carole George says

    I thought The Husbads was so unique! I enjoyed it and don’t remember thinking it was overly long. It was definitely more than I expected subject wise too.

  37. Amy Heinl says

    I read The Heartbreak Hotel by Ellen O’Clover. This is her first adult book after writing several young adult books that were chart toppers. I will say for her debut adult novel she hit this one out of the park. I finished this book in 4 hours. I just couldn’t put it down. It had a wonderful storyline with some great twists and turns and the characters were so well developed and engaging. This book would make a wonderful rom com movie.

    The move revolves around Louisa who comes from a very tumultuous childhood and is living with her musician boyfriend is wealthy home that she loves. When she is dumped by her boyfriend she begs the reclusive owner of the house to let her run the house as a B & B where he can keep the rental income in exchange for living there for free. She is shocked when he agrees and calls the place The Comeback Inn where it’s fragile guests can heal from their own heartbreak and get footing to move forward. The guests are so well written and charming and struggling that you cheer as each one works to regain their lives back and perhaps the greatest healing of all revolves around Louisa ad our reclusive homeowner who dance around their attraction and work to each heal their broken hearts.

  38. Shannon says

    I am SO excited you finally read The Husbands! I really was interested to see if you would like it and I’m so glad you did!

    I love that it was realistic fiction mixed with a total fantasy element in it. And I don’t typically like fantasy, so I appreciated that the author was able to draw me in with it. I agree that it was peppered with life lessons-some things were so shocking but there was also some funny stuff too!

    I liked the mystery element in it with that one old, weird husband, as well as the aha moment she had about the guy that broke her heart. Such an overall clever plot!

    I also liked that it was like no other book I’ve ever read. All around a great read that kept me turning the pages. I would love to see this as a movie. And lastly, I agree with you, it is one book you won’t soon forget!

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