September 2026 reading is a wrap! Did you have a favorite September read?
September 2026 Reading Wrap Up
September Summary: Out of 9 books completed, I had five 4-star reads and four 3-3.5-star reads.
It wasn’t intentional, but four of my books were sad for various reasons. September seemed melancholy as a result.
Life: I’m also a bit distracted because I have surgery (hip replacement) coming up on September 30, so I’ve been getting ready for that (explaining this early wrap up). I’ll be taking a two-week hiatus from the blog during the first two weeks in October.
My favorite of my four-star reads is Life: A Love Story by Elizabeth Berg. If you love Arthur Truluv by the same author, you might love this new poignant story. Florence is my September Captivating Character of the month. My blog feature, Captivating Characters of the Month, is hosted by yours truly (details in the linked post). Check it out and link up (blog post, goodreads reviews, etc.) with me!
***This post contains Amazon affiliate links.
ARC=Advanced Readers Copy (complimentary copy for review before pub date)
Life: A Love Story by Elizabeth Berg
4.5 Stars. Contemporary Fiction. Mature Character. Reflective. Last Things. My full review of Life: A Love Story here.
The Best Christmas Ever by Sarah Morgan (ARC)
4 Stars. (ARC) Contemporary Fiction. Family Drama. Multi-generational. Festive. Review coming on Pub Day: 10/22/2026.
Briefly, Forever by Sarah Gray (ARC)
4 Stars. (ARC) Contemporary Fiction. Enemies-to-friends-to-more romance. Very sad. Pub Day: 3/2/2027.
The Top of the World by Ethan Joella
4 Stars. Historical Fiction. Literary Fiction. Brother and Sister. Very sad. Not yet reviewed.
The Connection in Everything by Rich Marcello (ARC)
4 Stars. (ARC) Young Adult. Reflective. Coming of age. Toxic family drama. Emotional and Physical abuse. Review coming on 10/12/2026.
Based on a Love Story by Suzanne Rindell (ARC)
3.5-4 Stars. Contemporary Fiction. Second-chance romance (f/m). Slow-burn romance (m/m). Great settings. Review coming on Pub Day: 3/30/2027.
The Big Cats Dance Party by Alexander McCall Smith (ARC)
3.5 Stars. Contemporary Fiction. Diverse Read. #27 in a series. Character-driven cozy mystery set in Botswana. My review here.
Joy to the World by Beth Moran (ARC)
3.5 stars.(ARC) Contemporary Fiction. New beginnings. Complicated family drama. Review coming soon.
Eyes on the Sky by J. Kasper Kramer
3 Stars. Middle Grade/Young Adult Historical Fiction/Science Fiction (1947). Complicated Family Drama. Not reviewed.
QOTD:
Did we read any of the same books?
Did you have a favorite September read?
September Blog Posts
Florence: September’s Captivating Character of the Month
The Booklover’s Library Review
Fall 2026 TBR
Is There a Series You Can’t Quit?
The Berlin Apartment Review
Authors I’ve Met
#NeverForget911
The Home Front Nurses Review
Authors and Their Debuts
How to Read a Book Review
Library of Forbidden Books Review
Books With Nationalities 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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Well done, 9 books is an honourable achievement.
Thanks! 🍁
Hope your hip op goes well Carol. Take it easy x
Thanks! 🍁
Aha I wondered why you posted your wrap up early, Carol. Hope everything goes really well for you, and see you back here when you’re ready! 🙏
Thanks! 🍁
I hope your hip surgery goes well and you have a speedy recovery!
Thank you so much! 🍁
Best Wishes for a Successful Hip Surgery Carol. I’m sure all will go well, as these surgeries are done so often these days. No 5 star reads this month, that’s too bad. I know when I read several sad books, I also tend to feel melancholy. Happy Fall to you.
Thanks Carla! Eager to get it over with at this point!