September was a fantastic month for readers. Publishers have started transitioning from beach reads to darker stories to match the fall weather, and I’m all for it! Not only are the plots getting more intense, but the books are getting longer ā perfect for creating some cozy fall vibes, even with our Florida weather.
Iām a fantasy fan at heart, but this year, Iāve been challenging myself to read outside of my comfort zone and try new genres. So, here are five newly released books from September that are totally worth picking up!
- The Book Swap by Tessa Bickers
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While Erin Connolly is coming to terms with her life turning completely upside down, she accidentally donates her copy of To Kill a Mockingbird to a community library. Itās heavily annotated from her school days and holds a precious card from her best friend. When she realizes what she did, she goes to claim the book, only to find itād already been taken. However, itās returned a week later with fresh notes. Erin and this mystery reader build a relationship on the books they read andĀ provide insights into their lives as lost 20-somethings.
Romance isnāt often a genre I reach for, so I think Iām always harder on the ones I do end up reading. That being said, I had a lot of fun with this one! I love a classic secret identity trope, and I wonāt lie, the final reveal of this one definitely had me kicking my feet. Despite being marketed as a romance, I felt that it took a backseat to the heavy themes of grief and loss that both characters are dealing with. I found myself connecting to the characters the most during these scenes rather than during their more romantic interactions.
As a literature nerd, I loved catching all the references in the characterās margin notes. Itās not the type of book Iād typically reach for, but itās the kind of book that reminds you why you love to read.
- We Solve Murders by Richard Osmand
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Amy Wheeler is a contracted bodyguard who we meet while sheās guarding Rosie DāAntonio, an author threatened by a Russian oligarch. Her father-in-law, Steve, is a retired police officer who now works as a private investigator. When things start going sideways on Amyās mission, she reaches out to Steve, the person she trusts the most. This book follows the three of them on a globe-trotting adventure to meet a curious group of characters as they dive into whoās behind the heinous plots theyāve become involved in.
From the first page, I knew Iād thoroughly enjoy this book. I love books that make me laugh, and this one had my sense of snarky, off-the-cuff humor. It was an absolute page-turner. I made the mistake of starting it late in the night and not getting enough sleep before class, so donāt make the same decisions I do! This book was the perfect start to my fall reads. It was just the right combination of murder mystery and comedy to transition from summer to fall.
- Here One Moment by Liane Moriarty
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After being delayed on their flight from Sydney to Hobart (an actual nightmare that is perfectly depicted!), an elderly woman predicts the age and cause of death for all of the passengers. No one pays her any mind until the predictions begin to come true. This book follows the lives of the āDeath Lady,ā who doesnāt remember her predictions, and five passengers whose deaths were foretold to come soon.
The thing I enjoyed most about this book was the juxtaposition between the inevitability of death and Moriartyās humorous tone of writing. Itās a very character-driven book. I can confidently say I grew to care about everyoneās fates by the end.
- The World She Edited by Amy Reading
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Katharine S. White never published books of her own or became editor-in-chief of The New Yorker, but her impact on the writing industry is undeniable. Through Whiteās own collection of diaries and letters, Reading paints a portrait of her life and legacy. This is a literary history book and a collection of important but forgotten names.
Iāll admit this book took me a while to read, clocking in at around 600 pages. Though filled with humorous and heartfelt moments, itās a somewhat dense recollection of literary feminism. I paired it with something faster-paced, like some of the other books on this list. The bookās strongest (and my favorite) point was the time spent inside The New Yorker‘s offices, focusing on Katharine Whiteās connections to her writers.
Maybe Iām biased in including this one in my list because The New Yorker is my favorite magazine. Still, I think it provides some valuable insights into the media industry. It asks important questions about the nature of a publicationās voice and the role of an editor through the eyes of a creator.
- Intermezzo by Sally Rooney
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Two brothers: Peter, a Dublin lawyer in his 30s, and Ivan, a competitive chess player in his 20s. They’re mourning their father’s death and trying to handle the bitterness thatās grown between them. This book is a case study of what happens when grief makes you unrecognizable. I think the plot of this book is difficult to summarize without spoiling it. I honestly recommend you go into it blind and with a box of tissues in hand.
This was my first Sally Rooney book, and I was not prepared! I absolutely loved the writing style and will definitely be picking up her other books to add to my endless to-be-read list. It was the perfect addition to Sad Girl September.
Whether you want romance, humor, lit-fic, or even literary history, I hope you enjoy the recommendations on this list as much as I did. Happy reading!
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