That's a Wrap!
There is only two months left of this year – I cannot believe it. This time of the year always feels like the quite before the storm that is the festive season. Out weather has been hot, hot, hot making it extremely difficult to find the perfect reading spot. I have not mastered the art of reading in the pool – I am always scared that I will drop my book or tablet…. And that would be a disaster.
This month we added twelve reviews to the blog. Alicia having a few days off schools left her with some extra reading time. Thank you for your wonderful contributions to the blog this month – I love that we share a passion for books.
October marked the blog’s Two-Year Anniversary; I cannot believe it is two year already. If you missed out anniversary post, you can read it here
If you missed any of our October reviews, here is a recap:
03 October – Ahead of the Shadows by A.B. Kyazze
This one was my only blog tour for October. Ahead of the Shadows is a look at the emotional effect war has on volunteers who enter Africa to assist the people that has been displaced and left behind after the rebels have moved on.
05 October – Blood Sugar by Sascha Rothchild
This month Alicia reviews Blood Sugar. I am excited that she enjoyed this one. That means we will be enjoying a lot more of the same books moving forward.
This book was very much out of my genre and my typical comfort zone when it comes to books. However, I decided to pick up this book after my mom’s recommendation. I was told it was super amazing and that I would love it. And it most certainly did not disappoint!
07 October – Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid
I stole this book from Alicia’s pile before she had a chance to read it. (Sorry babes!) But I did not give anything away and she loved it as much as I did.
This book brought so much to the table. It was so many things at once, it was romance, sports fiction, historical fiction and family drama. This book is very different to the other books I typically pick up. However, after I read Daisy Jones and The Six, I just knew I had to read more of Taylor Jenkins Reid’s books. So my mother agreed she would buy me this one just as long as she could read it first. (Thanks Mom) So naturally, I agreed and I am so glad I did.
10 October – End of Story by Louise Swanson
I was surprised when finishing this book to discover that Louise Swanson and Louise Beech is the same author. I only do a google search on the author when I have finished reading a booking. I have read Louise Beech before and I love her writing. End of Story was different. This book was not what I expected but I found myself totally engrossed and eager to see where it was headed. This story looks at the loss of a loved one and how everyone grieves in their own unique way. This book is a brilliantly creative story that you will not want to miss.
11 October – Until Friday Night by Abbi Glines
Was this book a masterpiece? God no. Was it super entertaining? Hell Yeah! Honestly, the entire time I read this book, it played out like a TV-Show…more specifically in my head, it played out as an early 2010s CW TV-Show. Honestly, it was giving such nostalgia for my childhood as I 100% could see the CW or ABC Family (Now Freeform) eating this up. So for that very reason, I just had to give this book a high rating.
12 October – Buddy Read Review of Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn
After seeing this book everywhere on social media, we had to read it. I was expecting a little more humour from what I have seen others say about it. Nevertheless, this was an entertaining read despite not being very realistic. Readers who enjoy a lighter thriller will enjoy reading this one.
14 October – The Retreat by Sarah Pearse
I waited forever for this book to be available locally. It’s no surprise that it jumped to the top of my TBR and I started reading it the day it was delivered. After reading Sanatorium, I could not wait to dig into this one. Sarah Pearse is a brilliant author and someone who will always jump the que on my TBR.
18 October – The Likeness by Tana French
I enjoy Tana French’s work and I have a few of her older books sitting on my TBR shelf waiting for attention. I finally managed to make time for this one and was a brilliant read. IF you haven’t had the pleasure of reading one of this author’s books you are missing out. Be sure to this author to your wish list.
20 October – The Missing Wife by Sam Carrington
This book will have you reading late into the night as you will not want to put it down. Sam Carrington tells a wonderfully gripping story that will have you glued to the pages. This author deserves a lot more attention and I am keen to add more of her books to my TBR in the near future.
21 October – Nothing More to Tell by Karen M McManus
This book is a teen crime book that everyone needs to read. Honestly, this just might be the best mystery I have read to date. Thank you to Penguin Random House South Africa for sending me this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
This book was so beautifully written. I find that sometimes when reading mysteries, it can get a bit slow at times, however, that was not the case with this book. I found myself flying through this book and if I didn’t have the attention span of a squirrel then I probably could have read this in one sitting easily.
25 October – Finlay Donovan is Killing It by Elle Cosimano
This book was released in 2021 and I have seen it everywhere I turn. I was not sure if this would be my cuppa tea. Alicia suggested this one as a buddy read and when our books arrived it jumped to the top of our TBRs. This book is absolutely brilliant. A crime mystery with a touch of humour. I raced through this book and I have already placed an order for the next book in the series. The touch of humour in this book added a brilliant change to my usual heavy reading and I cannot recommend this one highly enough. Please read this book! You will love it!
26 October – The Girlfriend by K.L. Slater
K.L. Slater pop up as a suggestion on my Good Reads profile. I purchased a copy of The Marriage in August, which I have not have the chance to read yet. When The Girlfriend became available on NetGalley I decided it was time to give this author a try. What a fabulous read. This book will leave your head spinning. I have moved The Marriage up on my TBR after reading this one, so you can expect a review on that one soon.
BOOK OF THE MONTH
Finlay Donovan is Killing It by Elle Cosimano
Even though this book was published last year; it was still the best book I read this month so there is no question. My choice for October is Finlay Donovan is Killing It by Elle Cosimano. This book is a refreshing, light read while it manages to maintain enough intensity to make it impossible to put down. I cannot wait for my copy of Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘Em Dead to arrive.
I hope you enjoyed our reviews this month and that you will add some of these titles to your TBR. Alicia is starting her end of year exams today, which means she will be little on the quite side during November. However, she has giving me a huge wish list for when she is done. It would appear her holiday plans do not venture any further than a good book.
Thank you for the time you have spent on the blog this month. Your continued support is hugely appreciated. Until next time… Happy Reading!
Another good reading month!
Yes, it was not bad