Books I Read in September

 My month started out so great with lots of good books and then somewhere mid-way through the month I lost all desire to read. I picked up 3 different books and made it just 10 or so pages into each one before setting them aside.  I just could not get into the story and I don't know if it was just me or if I picked out a bad batch of books or what.  I was having trouble focusing so I figured it was me and I'm not listing those that I didn't finish since I hardly even started them and really do need to give them another shot when I'm in a better reading mood.  



1. Nora Goes Off Script by Annabel Monaghan-- This was such a cute story! Nora writes screenplays for a living and when her latest screen play is picked up by a big Hollywood they want to come film a few scenes in her tea house.  When filming ends the star of the movie talks Nora into letting him stay and rest and recuperate in her tea house; offering to pay her $1,000 a day. But the extra time spent together is just enough to turn Nora's world upside down. 


2. Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid-- I finally caved and bought this book before our vacation after hearing so much hype about it... and honestly?! I didn't love it.  I thought it was a really unique writing style- the whole book is written as a series of interviews as if it's a documentary.  I thought the author did an amazing job with the story of this made up band and how they came to be before they crashed and fell apart.  But I'm not a huge "behind the scenes" fan about any band and so I found I just could not get into it. I didn't care about any of the band members individually whatsoever so their stories, while entertaining enough, were just not gripping for me.  Overall it was a very enjoyable read but I expected something completely different after hearing so much about it for so long. 


3. Open Road: A Memoir of Travel Through the National Parks by TW Neal-- I really enjoyed reading about the two separate month long trips that Toby and her husband took through the national parks.  While they in no way set a goal to visit them all they did see quite a few and had some very memorable adventures along the way. 


4. Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren-- It took me a little while to get into this sweet story but I ended up falling in love with both Macy and Elliot; the two main characters.  They meet as children shortly after Macy's mom dies and her father buys a vacation home next door to Elliot and his family. They become best friends and everything to each other but then something happens that sets them off onto separate paths until they collide nearly a decade later.  Told in two time lines from now and then it was a slow build to the big reveal of what broke them apart and they have to decide if love is worth fighting for.  It made me cry and the story was just so touching and a bit heartbreaking. 


5. Desperation in Death by JD Robb-- (Book #55 in the Eve Dallas series) I loved this book even though it was so hard to read. When Eve shows up at a call about the body of a dead girl she inadvertently stumbles upon a sex trafficking ring that is far greater reaching then anyone imagined. Hitting so close to home with her own background, Eve struggles to stand for the dead and abused without losing herself. 


6. The Bounty by Janet Evanovich & Steve Hamilton-- (Book #7 in the Fox and O'Hare series) In this book FBI agent Kate O'Hare and con man Nick Fox team up along with their dads to take down a German group known only as "the Brotherhood." Searching for a buried treasure the Nazi party hid during WWII, Kate and her team must keep the treasure out of the hand of the Brotherhood, but that is proving difficult as Interpol has a leak. Fast paced and fairly funny at times this was a good story.


7. The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling-- A cute and somewhat steamy novel; this book about witches seemed just perfect for fall.  When Vivi was just a teenager and had her first real heartbreak she cursed her horrible boyfriend; never thinking anything of it.  9 years later Rhys shows up in town and with one calamity after another following him around Vivi begins to realize that her curse actually worked and somehow the entire town is now at peril.  Thrown together Rhys and Vivi realize they still have strong feelings for one another and yet are pretty clueless on how to fix the hex.  


8. Summer on the Island by Brenda Novak-- When Marlow moves back to her family's summer home on a tiny island off the state of Florida, she brings two friends with her.  One who's reeling from the loss of her home in the California fires and one that is newly divorced and unsure what to do with her life moving forward.  Marlow is contemplating big life changes too and is also anxious to see her mother who is suffering more than usual with a "flare- up" of MS after the loss of Marlow's dad.  Striking up a romance with the boy next door was not on Marlow's radar for the summer either.  It was a cute novel and would make a nice beach read-- enjoyable but pretty predictable.  



Linking up with: Spread the Kindness, Talent- Share Tuesdays, 















Comments

  1. That is interesting about Daisy Jones- I know that many people like it. However, every time that I see it's available online through my library, I pass on checking it out. The memoir about traveling in the RV sounds really good. I may check that out!

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    1. I love reading travel memoirs; especially about the National parks as my husband and I have started trying to visit them and hope to one day make it to all (or nearly all) of them.

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  2. That's a shame that you had a batch of books that you weren't keen on. I am not a big reader but have heard good things about The Ex Hex.

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    1. The Ex Hex was really cute! Sort of a very very grown up version of Harry Potter.

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  3. Ok I definitely need to read "Nora Goes Off Script" - I think I will love it- thanks for sharing

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    1. It was so much fun. I liked that one a lot.

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  4. I HATED Daisy Jones & The Six! I hated it so bad that I stopped reading it at 65% finished on my Kindle. I disliked the writing style, the characters, the drugs, every single bit of it. I've never hated a book so much and I don't even care that I don't know how they ended. I paid full price for the book, which was why I made it that far, but I had to give it up when I kept finding myself skipping ahead. 🤣

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    1. LOL! I guess it could have been worse then.. I didn't hate it but I did keep waiting for it to get better so I could understand the hype.

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  5. You read a nice variety this month!

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  6. The Ex Hex is next on my list, I needed a Halloweenish read. I also have Nora Goes Off Script on my list too. I enjoyed Daisy Jones, but liked The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo a lot better.

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    1. I have The 7 Husbands in my basket of library reading book right now! I can't wait to read that one. The Ex Hex was perfect for Halloween since it does take place during Halloween too.

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  7. Great books this month! I also loved Nora Goes off Script. I enjoyed Daisy Jones, but was not a big fan of Malibu Rising and didn't finish Carrie Soto. So she is hit or miss for me.

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    1. I thought Malibu Rising was pretty good and I haven't tried any of her other books so so far she's hit or miss for me too.

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  8. I found Daisy Jones and the Six really hard to read, too. I hate that it was interview style. I ended up reading the whole thing, though, and I did love the ending! But I definitely wouldn't read it again and probably wouldn't recommend it either.

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    1. That's how I felt... I did think the interview style made it a much quicker read than usual.

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  9. How do you find your books Joanne?? Sometimes I feel overwhelmed when checking the library for books.
    XOXO
    Jodie

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    1. I read a lot of blogger recommendations or look up books by author; picking those who have written books I've loved in the past. Sometimes I literally just browse through the library and pick books based on their cover and jacket blurb... I tend to check out a LOT of books at a time and then challenge myself to read through them before their due dates! LOL. I do tend to stress myself out by doing that but it also helps me focus on what I really want to read so if a book doesn't grab me within those first few chapters I set it aside and try something else.

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  10. I'm impressed with how many books you read! Thanks for sharing your reviews!

    Jill - Doused in Pink

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  11. You read some fun ones this month! I am tempted by the witch one. I am in need of a 😍 read.

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  12. I really did like Daisy Jones and the Six probably because I'm more of that era! You might try Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by the same author!

    http://marshainthemiddle.com/

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    1. I have that one on my shelf for reading this month.

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  13. I haven't read all of these, but of the ones I have read, Nora as my fave! It was just what I needed and I was sad for it to end.

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    1. That was such a fun read. I'm really enjoying Book Lovers right now.

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  14. I enjoyed The Ex Hex when I read it last year. I want to read Nora Goes Off Script.

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  15. Thanks for linking up. I liked The Ex Hex okay, but it wasn't my favorite. I am curious about The Kiss Curse though.

    Lauren @ www.shootingstarsmag.net

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    1. I can't say it was a favorite but I did think it was super cute.

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  16. I love seeing what my friends are reading, and reading their reviews. I have read a lot of Janet Evonowich, but none in this series where she joins with Steve Hamilton, I must check these out!
    Jenna

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    1. It's a fun series and I like that the main character is so competent and strong.

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  17. So many awesome reads... That christina lauren was the first one i read! I'm all about the fluff these days LOL

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    1. Me too! I definitely need light and fun books.

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  18. Looks like you did a lot of reading in September. Thanks for these book recommendations,
    Thank you for sharing this post at Talent-Sharing Tuesdays Link-Up 37.
    Carol
    www.scribblingboomer.com

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  19. I haven't read Daisy Jones yet...I just added the Love and Other words book to my libby app!

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  20. I usually like the books by Taylor Jenkins Reid and my least favorite was Daisy Jones. You've read a lot of books and I'll add some to my reading list.

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    1. I have only read one other Taylor Jenkins Reid book and I did enjoy it so I'll give the 7 Wives of... a try. It sounds more my speed/ interest level.

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  21. I agree that most of us have 'reading moods' that affect what we read. I absolutely love Bill Bryson but a few months ago, I had to abandon 'The Body' saying "It's not you, Bill, it's me." Hopefully, it will appeal more the next time that I pick it up. Nora Goes Off Script sounds like a read that I would greatly enjoy. I am off to check with our local library now to see if they have a copy!

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  22. Hi Joanne it must have been the month for highs and lows with reading. I know personally I struggled with several books that I Just couldn't get into. Nora Goes Off Script is one think I've downloaded for my November reading. X

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    1. It did sound that way! Maybe it's something in the air. LOL

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  23. Thanks for joining us for WOYBS Joanne, and thanks for the review of the Daisy Jones book as I've looked at it quite often and wondered if it would live up to the hype. I value your opinion so probably won't bother now! Some other great books you've reviewed for us, thanks :)

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