Happy happy Tuesday!
It’s BOOK DAY!
This month, I am reviewing FIVE books!
It was a big variety this month. I have a little suspense, a little historical fiction, one by my favorite author, and a memoir-ish book too.
Settle in for one big book post (and maybe nibble on one of my Apple Butter Oatmeal Cookies?!) and enjoy!
Let’s start with…
Book #1 this month was:
….The Story Keeper by Kelly Rimmer.
As many of you know, this was our SEPTEMBER BOOK CLUB pick! If you have read this book, please head to THIS POST to discuss. If you haven’t read this book, let me give you a spoiler-free review below…
I am a HUGE fan of this author. Her book The Things We Cannot Say was MY FAVORITE BOOK OF 2019, and her book, The Paris Agent, was my FAVORITE BOOK OF 2023!
She’s the only author that has ever received my #1 spot multiple times.
All of that to say, I did not enjoy her latest novel.
This is the story of an Australian woman who buys her deceased uncle’s estate. Everyone from her mother to the neighbors to the strangers in town think it’s an odd purchase since this home was known to be haunted.
Sigh.
I actually would have liked this story more if it had been a “meaty” horror story, but instead, I found it a little cheesy and very predictable.
Since the novel is “suspenseful”, I don’t want to give anything a way, but needless to say, this one fell very flat for me.
Book #2:
Receipts From the Bookshop by Katie Clapham
Well this book was just SO CHARMING!
Goodness, I really enjoyed it.
The author herself lives in a little seaside town in England and co-owns a bookshop with her mom. She spent a year writing journal entries of the funny tales, whimsical customers, and daily life as a bookstore owner. The book opens the first day back after the holiday break at the beginning of January and goes until the end of the year.
Spoiler alert: you will want to head immediately to your independent book seller after reading this and buy a bunch of books.
The author is funny and witty as she describes her daily life in the shop, but she’s also very honest about how hard it is to keep a little book shop in business. If you love books, you will love this memoir. It’s the book every reader should read.
Book #3:
The Thoroughbreds by Elin Hilderbrand
I don’t know about you, but I have been waiting a whole year for this one!
Last September, I reviewed the first book in this series, The Academy, and I loved it. It’s very “quintessential” Elin but with a fall twist. If you haven’t read that book first, you absolutely should before diving into this sequel. The characters and storyline pick up right where the other one left off.
In this novel, we head right back into the New England boarding school where the cast of characters includes everyone from students to admin. There is a little suspense, a little love, and a big peek into boarding school life.
Do I love these stories as much as I do her Nantucket novels? No. Do I find them very entertaining, easy to read, and very fall? Yes!
I will say that even though this was a fun, fall read…I didn’t enjoy this one as much as the first one. In my opinion, the first novel had a nice balance of adult narrative and student narrative…where I felt this one was a bit too much about the students. Hilderbrand’s Nantucket and St. John books are almost exclusively about adults which…I guess I prefer.
If you liked the first one, pick this one up. If you were on the fence about the first one, I’d probably pass.
And now it’s time for…
…except this month, I listened to TWO audiobooks both based on YOUR suggestions!
Woohoo!
Okay, first up…
Book #4:
The Rose Code by Kate Quinn
You guys, why didn’t I read this one when it was released five years ago? Why people? Why?
This book was SO GOOD! From beginning to end, I loved it. If you have been living under a rock like me and haven’t read or listened to this one, stop what you’re doing and do it now. Without a doubt, this was the best book of the month for me.
This is historical fiction about three young British women working in a secret sect of intelligence outside of London during World War II. These three women couldn’t be more different, but they form a friendship during war time that lasts a lifetime.
This story toggles back and forth between WWII and then the weeks leading up to Queen Elizabeth marrying Phillip. I don’t want to give anything away because this story has a big problem/issue/mystery that you’re trying to resolve from beginning to end.
Whether you read or listen to the book, make sure you stay for the acknowledgments at the end where the author goes back into history and shares the real people behind these fictitious characters (and some not-so-fictitious…like Prince Phillip!).
Truly, truly this will be a book I recommend to people moving forward. I loved each main character, sub-character…every character. I actually cried at one point listening. My heart broke for these people. I was nervous for these people. I was rooting for them and invested in them…the whole book is so well done.
As far as listening to this one, it’s narrated by one person who I thought did an excellent job. Was her voice as magical as the narrator for Lady Tremaine? Not quite, but she added value to my experience without taking anything away. I did not find her distracting/over the top/boring/dull. I couldn’t quit listening and finished this one quickly.
This was a FIVE STAR book for me! I loved it!
And the second audiobook I listened to this month was…
Book #5:
Whistler by Ann Patchett
Awwwwww, yes. This was also a rec from you ladies. Brace yourselves, I have a lot of thoughts.
My first thought is that I am clearly a person who judges books by their covers because the cover alone was making me not to want to read this one. Anyone else? I could not muster the enthusiasm to actually read a horse book, so when several of you suggested I listen to this one, I did.
Spoiler alert: it’s not about a horse.
This is a beautifully written novel about a woman and her stepfather toggling back and forth between present day NYC and then about 40ish years prior outside of Boston. (See? Confusing. I really thought it was going to be about a horse.)
I really did think it was beautifully written. Patchett has a way with words that pull you into a story and keep you there without a lot of pomp and circumstance. This story is layered with topics from childhood to divorce to tragedy and hope and resilience and forgiveness and remembering the details in life that are small at the time but profound in the end. It really was a great book about this woman and her relationship with her stepfather. That being said (I feel like you knew that was coming), I found the whole book a little melancholy. It’s very reflective. It’s very introspective.
When the story was over, I wasn’t sure what I thought. It was good. I was entertained. I was a little sad though. Given the chance again, I don’t know that I would have selected this one.
I would call this book “vanilla”. It’s good but not really flavorful. Does that make sense?
Since I’m new to this audiobook thing, I would LOVE some feedback about this…the author herself read this story which, in the end, I don’t think I particularly enjoyed. Her voice was soothing and peaceful which might have been part of the “vanilla” aspect. As the story was being read to me, it didn’t have a lot of “zip” or personality. I think that might have contributed to the flat, melancholy vibe I received.
Any thoughts? I genuinely would love to know.
This book was fine. It was good. I don’t know that I’m recommending it. I am though just letting you know, it’s not about a horse. 😉
And that’s my 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.
To see the complete list of books I read in 2025 (all 58 of them), click here.
If you want to stay current on all of the books I’m reading in 2026, THIS PAGE HERE is where I keep the books, authors and reviews each month.
Don’t forget, we would love, love to have you join us in October for our BOOK CLUB!
Next month, we are reading…
…Hollow Bones by Jodi Picoult and discussing it on October 22nd.
Alrighty, let’s chat books in the comment section!
I’ll see you back here tomorrow, friends! xx
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