September 2025 reading is a wrap! How is your reading year progressing? Did you have a favorite September read?
September 2025 Reading Wrap Up
September Summary: Out of 14 books completed, I experienced two 5-star reads, six 4-star reads, five 3-3..5-star reads, and one 2-star read. I had one DNF.
My most memorable and compelling fiction reads in September were Theo of Golden (a reread) by Allen Levi and The Trouble With Heroes by Kate Messner (MG). Theo was my Captivating Character for August, and Finn (Trouble With Heroes) is my Captivating Character for September. Join the Link Party for #CaptivatingCharacters25 hosted by yours truly (details in the mentioned posts). Check it out and link up (blog post, goodreads reviews, etc.) with me!
ARC=Advanced Readers Copy (complimentary copy for review before pub date)
Theo of Golden by Allen Levi
5 Stars. (reread) Literary Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Kindness. Don’t miss this one, which will be near the top my best of year list! Theo is my Captivating Character of August.
The Trouble with Heroes by Kate Messner
5 Stars. Contemporary Fiction, Middle-Grade Fiction, Hiking, Adirondacks, Grief, Poetry. My review of The Trouble with Heroes here.
A New Recruit for the Resistance Girls by Alice G. May (ARC)
4 Stars. (ARC) Historical Fiction (WWII Home Front), Resistance Movement, Daring Women. Review available on Pub Date: 10/16/2025.
A Sea View Christmas by Julie Klassen (ARC)
4 Stars. (ARC) #4 in a series, Historical Fiction, Novella, Regency Romance, Sisters, Family Life, Christmas. Review coming soon.
Once Upon a Christmas Carol by Melody Carlson (ARC)
4 Stars. (ARC) Novella, Contemporary Fiction, Women’s Fiction, Romance. Review coming soon.
On a Midnight Clear by Tracie Peterson (ARC)
4 Stars. (ARC) Novella Collection (3), Historical Fiction, Christmas. Nativity Story. Romance. Review coming soon.
The Codebreaker’s Daughter by Amy Lynne Green
4 Stars. Historical Fiction (WWI, WWII), Wartime Intelligence, Family Drama, Secrets. Not yet reviewed.
The Paradise Petition by Carolyn Brown (ARC)
4 Stars. (ARC) Historical Fiction (1883). Women’s Rights. My review of Paradise Petition here.
Summer at the Art Cafe by Sue McDonagh
3 Stars. Contemporary Fiction, Motorcycle Romance. Not reviewed.
Have I Told You Lately by Beth Moran
3 Stars. Contemporary Fiction, Women’s Fiction, Family Drama, Romance. Not Reviewed.
Everything is Tuberculosis by John Green
3 Stars. NonFiction, Essays, Tuberculosis, Medical/Health/Medicine. Not reviewed.
Wonderscape by Jennifer Bell (MG/YA)
3 Stars. (ARC) Contemporary Fiction, Middle Grade/Young Adult, Fantasy, Gaming. Not reviewed.
Lore in Love by Kate Willis
3 Stars. Short Story, Contemporary Fiction, Sweet but Minimal Plot. Not Reviewed.
I Feel Bad About My Neck by Nora Ephron (ARC)
2 Stars. NonFiction, Essays, Reflections, (imo) Humor falls flat most of the time (although humor was the point). Not reviewed.
DNF: 15% (plus last 2 chapters)
Buckeye by Patrick Ryan
Once again, I’m an outlier. I prefer not to read books about seances and the paranormal. I did read the last two chapters to see what happened with this couple, and just as I suspected, it was rather bleak. Others have loved it, so check out the reviews.
QOTD:
Did we read any of the same books?
Did you have a favorite September read?
September Blog Posts
Flowers in the Titles [Book List]
The Weight of Snow and Regret Review
Great Western Railway Girls Do Their Bit Review
Captivating Characters of September
The Little Liar Review
Fall 2025 TBR
The Guest in Room 120 Review
The Martha’s Vineyard Beach and Book Club Review
The Tuscan Orphan Review
Books Set in the Distant Past: 1400s-1700s
Hopeful Hearts at the Wartime Hotel Review
How Far to the Promised Land Review
Could it be Magic/Winter Nights at the Bay Bookshop Reviews
A Few Good Men
A Carol for Mrs. Dickens
Meet Me in the Orchard/The Paradise Petition Reviews
Go as a River Review
Book Club Kit: Theo of Golden
Books with Occupations in the Titles
Happy Reading Book Friends!
“Ah, how good it is to be among people who are reading.”
~Rainer Maria Rilke
“I love the world of words, where life and literature connect.”
~Denise J Hughes
“Reading good books ruins you for enjoying bad ones.”
~Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
“I read because books are a form of transportation, of teaching, and of connection! Books take us to places we’ve never been, they teach us about our world, and they help us to understand human experience.”
~Madeleine Riley, Top Shelf Text
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As always a whole raft of good books. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed Nora Ephron’s Neck… I guess because I’m 63. It wouldn’t have made sense when I was younger
Well,,,I’m older than 63! Maybe it was just my mood! There were some passages I enjoyed.
Same for me–I was nodding along in some essays.
Aw, sorry EVERYTHING IS TUBERCULOSIS was just ok for you! I really enjoyed it…I listened to it via audiobook and like the author’s narration. 🙂
Maybe I should try the audio! Thanks for the encouragement!
What a fab bookish month, Carol! I’m glad I’m not the only one who didn’t enjoy I’m sorry About My Neck, I didn’t get the humour either and DNF’d early on.
Thanks for the solidarity Nicki!
14 books is a great achievement, but no chore when you love reading!
So True!
Looks like you had a great reading month! Too bad about the DNF… I’ve been seeing that book popping up everywhere and have been on the fence about it, but it doesn’t sound like a book for me.
If you like Dark Academia, you might like it! It has some good reviews! I’m an outlier as usual for these hyped books!