None of you asked for this, but I’m sharing anyways.
This was most definitely supposed to be a “books I read this month” trend, but all of the sudden September passed, and now it’s almost Halloween. So this post has quickly turned into a “books I’ve read recently”. Much less commitment this way.
Chronicals of A Radical Hag by Lorna Landvik: Very heartfelt. It was like being a fly on the wall for people going through different changes in their lives, all drawn together by one woman, Haze. Haze was a columnist for a newspaper, and she recently had a stroke in her late 80’s. As a reader, we see the lives of her co-workers, as well as reflect on the exciting life Haze had. Definitely recommend if you want something meaningful, but not super deep or intricate.
The Maidens by Alex Michaelides: Okay moment of honesty, I had super high expectations for this one and it fell a bit flat. This is a mystery that takes place at Cambridge university, involving the murder of students that all happen to be a part of a society known as the Maidens. While this books takes deep inspiration in Greek Mythology, which I would usually LOVE, it just didn’t hit the right notes for me. I think I wanted more of the Maidens, and instead was introduced to a bunch of random characters. While I know that is par the course for a murder mystery, it just didn’t seem too necessary. If you are looking for a dark academia Murder Mystery vibe, I recommend A Secret History by Donna Tart.
A Secret History of Witches by Louisa Morgan: I have a STRONG weak spot for witches. I don’t know what it is but I guarantee I’m not alone. This book absolutely did not disappoint. It wasn’t too ‘witchy’, and focused on generations of witches trying to survive, beginning in the late 1800’s. While it is important obviously to note that they are witches, I would say a stronger theme is the relationships between mothers and daughters as the try to navigate powers, and how they want them to impact their lives. So good. 10/10 recommend.
Birthday Girl by Penelope Douglas. (read on Kindle, don’t have cheesy pic to post, apologies) Okay okay, I just needed a bit of a light read, and this was recommended to me by a friend. Although I was cringing and blushing the whole time, I was definitely coming back for more. This one is most definitely spicy, so be prepared for sex sex and more sex. I would tell you about the plot, but honestly that’s not what’s important here.
School of Essential Ingredients by Erica Bauermeister: My. Heart. I didn’t really have any expectations for this one, but wanted another light-ish read before embarking on another series. I fell hard and fast for this one. It’s about a cooking class and it’s 8 students. The book is split into parts that go into detail about each of the students and their lives. I love EVERY single character (teacher included) and thought everything about this book was perfect. Honestly just read it. Please. I want to talk about it.
Let me know if you’ve read any of these, and what you thought! Would love to discuss!
xoxo Reb.
20 Something POV 