September Wrap Up (2024)

 Hey guys, this is Abi here, 

And I'll be honest, I completely forgot that the end of September meant this needed to go live. 

But never mind that, because I am going to do my damnest to get this out today! 

I have a lot of books to talk about, so I think I best get on! 

I hope you enjoy. 

1. The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue (Montague Siblings #1), by Mackenzi Lee

2. The Lady's Guide to Petticoats and Piracy (Montague Siblings #2), by Mackenzi Lee

3. The Nobleman's Guide to Scandal and Shipwreck (Montague Siblings #3), by Mackenzi Lee

The Nobleman's Guide to Scandal and Shipwreck had been on my TBR list on Audible for the past three years, and even though it takes place over a decade after the events of books 1 and 2, that's still no excuse for waiting three years to read it. 

Along with that, I'd forgotten most of the finer points of Monty and Felicity's journeys from their own books, so of course I wanted to re-familiarise myself. 

It was so nice to delve back into Monty and Felicity's stories, I fell back into the world, and in love with the characters in an instant, almost with fresh eyes to be honest, I couldn't believe how much I'd forgotten! 

I loved Monty's character arc, seeing him become more caring, less egotistical but still the hilarious and amazing character he's always been. 

I've always loved Felicity as a character, seeing her be pushed away, time and time again, purely because she's a woman. That may not have happened to me, because of course, different time period, different rules, but I definitely related to the idea of feeling repressed, or not listened to, for something I couldn't help. 

As for Adrian, I really didn't know what to expect. The only time I'd met him was over a decade previously, when he was nothing more than a whimpering infant. But of course, because of Mackenzie Lee's amazing writing, and ability to craft a phenomenal story, I need'nt have worried. It was so easy to jump into his story, I could sympathise with him, because of his extreme anxiety. The worry that he was the sole heir for his family's business, taking his father's seat on the council, having to speak, when all he wanted was to be known for his writing. 

As with all of the Montague Sibling books, Adrian is thrust into an adventure trip he is in no way prepared for. Not only that, he comes to find out about two siblings he didn't he know he had. My one critique was that he didn't have a huge character arc, I didn't see him change a whole lot in terms of confidence, but I admired his resilience, just how he was able to keep going, to find out what he needed to find out, despite how afraid he was. 

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed emerging back into the Montague Siblings' journeys, and finally finding out how it all wraps up.  

~24 Hour Readathon- 18/9/2024~

I read a total of 5 books in my 24 hour readathon, which I am very happy with. I always aim for about 1000 pages, and I managed that fairly easily. I did take breaks occasionally, which helped with reading speed. Excited for the next one. 

4. The Murders at Fleat House, by Lucinda Riley 

Finished at 7:27am.

I didn't quite finish this before the 18th, so of course it was added to this as the first book to finish. Solid four stars for me. It had the same mystery and intrigue I felt when I read The Love Letter, with horrific consequences, and at some points, I felt like I couldn't put the book down, but then I got to the end, and all of it was revealed, and I just felt flat. Like, it wasn't revealed the way I wanted it to be. That's down to personal opinion, I know that, and overall it was a fantastic book, but that's why I gave it four stars, instead of 4.5. 

5. Wonder (Wonder #1), by R.J. Palacio

Finished at 12:35pm. 

It had been a long time since I had read this, and I'd been saving a graphic novel from the POV of Julian, for this readathon, so I decided I'd give this a re-read too. 

If you didn't know, Wonder is a book about Auggie Pullman, whose facial difference has prevented him from ever going to mainstream school- until now. Starting 5th grade at Breecher Prep, all he wants is to be treated like an ordinary kid- to blend in. But what Auggie is about to learn is- you can't blend in if you were born to stand out. This isn't just a story about Auggie- you read from the POV of his friends, his sister, her boyfriend, amongst others- but they all are affected by Auggie. 

It was lovely to re-read this, and here about Auggie's story, as he grows into a confident young man. 

6. White Bird (Wonder), by R.J. Palacio

Finished at 13:54pm.

A few months back, I was browsing in Forbidden Planet in Leicester, not looking for anything in particular. Then I stumbled upon White Bird: a graphic novel by R.J. Palacio. When I realised that it takes place in the Wonder world, there was no doubt in my mind, I needed it. To be honest, it could have been her shopping list, and I'd have read it. 

White Bird is a graphic novel, from the POV of Julian, who is most well-known as Auggie's bully in the original novel. It takes place after he leaves Breecher Prep, and he's asking his grandma about her time in WW II. From then on, it's her relaying the details of what she experienced, the people that lost their lives, in the hope that she might live, as a jew, trying to survive. 

There is a quote in Wonder, that states: "When given the choice between being right, and being kind, choose kind." In White Bird, the quote came to mind, but this time, I was left thinking about how kindness, could mean you would be killed, simply for trying to help someone in need. 

White Bird is a stunningly written, moving, powerful story and I am so glad I came across it all those months ago. 

7. A Monster Calls, by Patrick Ness

Finished at 15:45pm. 

So, if I thought I'd gotten emotional with Wonder, it was NOTHING compared to how I got with this. It might have been because I was pooped by 2pm in the afternoon, but I was bawling by the time I finished this. 

Jordan even stopped playing Sonic next to me because of the noise I was making. 

If you haven't read this, go and read it. If you're not a reader, go and watch the film. I don't care, but just go and experience the story, however. 

Which is what I'm about to do, as soon as I can. 

8. The Woman in Black, by Susan Hill

Finished at 20:30pm. 

How do I begin to describe what this book was like? I was emotionally drained from A Monster Calls, so what do I do? Jump into an intense horror book, considered one of the best horror books of all time. 

I was scared out of my wits! I will say, it takes two truly great books to get me feeling something like that. 5 stars, one of my favourites for 2024. 

The Woman In Black follows Arthur Kipps, a junior solicitor in London, as he makes his way to Crythin Gifford to attend the funeral of Mrs Alice Drablow, and organise the many papers that have been left after her death. The house is by a marsh that rises and falls, the villagers don't like to go near it, very few people even attended the old Mrs Drablow's funeral. 

When Arthur Kipps finds himself alone in the home, faced with a job to do, things start to go awry...

Is Arthur Kipps truly alone, or is someone else there?

~After Readathon~

9. Boys Don't Cry (Boys Don't Cry #1), by Malorie Blackman

After the 24 hour readathon, I was left at a loss as for what to read next. I had a list of books that I was meant to choose from, that I'd selected at the start of the month. But knowing that none of those books tickled my fancy at that point, I knew exactly what I was leaning towards. 

Boys Don't Cry is a book that I reach for when I want something familiar, something I can read fairly quickly. I can't remember the last time I read this, but I know I'll always be able to go back to it. 

Boys Don't Cry is about Dante, a boy waiting for the postman to arrive with his A Level Results, where he hopes to go to Uni, a year earlier than all of his friends. He has dreams and ambition, and nothing is going to stop him from achieving them. 

Then Melanie, his ex-girlfriend arrives, carrying a baby. His baby. 

She tells him she can't cope anymore, leaves the baby and runs, leaving Dante to pick up the pieces. 

This is a book that discusses teen pregnancy, teen parentage, adoption, death, grief, family, father's rights, homophobia, racist comments, violence and suicide, so it's best to be aware of those themes before you rush into this book. There are a lot of themes in this, that's true, but they're discussed in a gentle hand, and they're balanced with more light-hearted moments as well. 

I always love going back to this book, and I know the urge to pick it up will be back in a few years. Highly recommend this to people interested in Malorie Blackman's YA novels. 

10. The Women, by Kristin Hannah

After reading Boys Don't Cry so quickly, I was still in a bit of a runt as for what to read next. I had five days to pick up, and either get a good mount into, or finish another book before the end of the month. 

The Women wasn't really a consious decision I made, it was more, I wanted to dip my toe in, to see what I thought about it. What I didn't expect was to listen to two hours worth on that first day (listened to it on Audible). 

If you didn't know, The Women is about the nurses at the Vietnam war in the 1960s and 70s. We follow Frankie, a twenty-one-year-old newly qualified nurse in California. Striving to be on her father's hero war, she joins up, following her brother (who unfortunately gets shot down the day she announces her employment). 

Over the next 4/5 days, I listened to a total of 8ish hours, and I always wanted to know what happened next. 

There was more romance than I was expecting, given this is a war novel, but I never really got tired of reading about it. Thankfully, it wasn't a main part. 

The main part was Frankie, in the thick of it, doing what she could in Vietnam when they were low on staff, high in injuries, and her relationships with her sisters- the other nurses, Barb and Ethel, who helped her long after they'd left the horrors of the war. 

About half of the book is when Frankie returns to California, to her parents, and the aftermath of the war, how she feels as the war rages on. 

I have a lot more thoughts on this than what I'm saying now- so much so that I will be posting a review in the next couple of weeks- so stay tuned for that. 

Okay! Those are all the books I finished this month! No doubt it'll be my best reading month of the year, and I'm extremely happy with how much I managed to finish. 

That is everything I have for you all today, feel free to comment below what you finished this month, and I'll be back soon with my October TBR! 

I hope you have a wonderful day and I'll see you all soon! 

Byeeee! 

-Abi xxxx

Anticipated Releases (October-December 2024)

 Hey guys, this is Abi here, 

And I'm here with my Anticipated Releases for the last three months of 2024! Where has the time gone? 

I'll need to start thinking about my end of year posts before I know it! 

Anyway, time to get on. 

There aren't a lot of books I'm anticipating for these months, given to the already substantial pile I own, but that would never stop me from looking! 

Without further ado, I hope you enjoy. 

~October~

1. What Does It Feel Like? by Sophie Kinsella

Release date: 8/10/2024

"From #1 bestselling author Sophie Kinsella, an urforgettable story- by turns heartbreaking and life-affirming- of a renowned novelist facing a devastating diagnosis and learning to live and love anew." 

Eve is a succesful novelist who one day, wakes up in a hospital bed, with no memory of how she came to reside there. Filled in by her husband, she comes to understand about the operation the doctors performed to remove the malignant tumour growing in her brain. 

What follows is a ground-breaking, moving story about how she learns to walk, talk and write again- as well as how best to explain it to her children. After some time, she begins to remember what she holds the most dear: walks with her husband, family game nights, and buying the dress she likes, when she likes it. 

What Does It Feel Like is very much a telling of Sophie Kinsella's journey, but with fictional characters. And I am very interesting in reading it. 

2. Fledgling: The Keeper's Records of Revolution, by S.K. Ali 

Release date: 8/10/2024

Fledgling: The Keeper's Records of Revolution is a story about two sides of a coin. It follows Raisa, of upper earth, that believes her marriage to Lein, Crown Prince of the corrupt lower earth, will bring peace to both their lands. She has led a privileged life, and knows she must do her duty if there is to be an end to everyone's suffering. 

On the other side of the coin is Nada, of lower earth, who is fresh from a prison cell. He has found his true calling: to stop the Royal Wedding. He believes that if he allows his cousin to form an allegiance with the upper earth, it will plunge the country into an era of tyranny. 

When Raisa goes missing a week before the wedding, all eyes turn to the rebels, including Nayf- Nada's brother, a fugitive on the run. But when Nayf and Raisa meet, worlds collide- and they start to feel things that nobody is expecting. 

Okay, I love the cover, I love the feel. It reminds me so much of Legend, by Marie Lu, and it's been ages since I've read something from the Sci-fi/ Fantasy genre, so I was really excited when I came across this when I was searching anticipated releases. 

3. The Blue Hour, by Paula Hawkins

Release date: 10/10/2024

The Blue Hour:

-Takes place at an isolated island, which is only reachable 12 hours a day. 

-Was once the home of a painter, and her notoriously unfaithful husband, who disappeared twenty years ago. 

- Now home to Grace, who is content in her isolation, revelling in her alonness. 

But then, when an astonishing discovery is made in an art gallery, miles away, in London, a visitor comes calling. And all the secrets of the island emerge... 

This book keeps cropping up on my socials, it won't stay out of my head. And I was thinking just yesterday how much I want to re-read The Girl on the Train. Should The Blue Hour take it's place?

~November~

1. Flopping in a Winter Wonderland, by Jason June

Release date: 12/11/2024

I can't quite wrap my head around this plot, based on the synopsis, but I do know that this is a Christmas LGBT romance, set in Winter Wonderland, which is a big Christmas Village. Aaron wants his brother to keep away from his ex-girlfriend, and Kris wants his uncle to move back to the Christmas Village, so he can be the first gay santa. To do that, he needs to win the race, his grade's annual competition to get a guest to confess their love to them. 

Kris and Aaron agree to help eachother with their own tasks, but when they start to spend more and more time together, things go in a direction neither of them were expecting... 

I love this premise (think I've figured it out, by typing it out) cos it just sounds so damn cute! I can't remember the last time I read a winter YA romance, and I'm super hyped for it's release. 

2. Rani Choudbury Must Die, by Adiba Jaigirdar 

Release date: 12/11/2024

Of course I have to finish November with an Adiba Jaigirdar novel! I actually need to catch up on a couple of her more recently released novels, as I've only read two of her books so far, but this looked too interesting to pass up. 

Meghna Rahman is tired of constantly being compared to her ex best friend, now rival, Rani Choudbury. Everyone, with the exception of her boyfriend Zak, seem to think that nothing Rani does is wrong- even her parents. The worst part of this is the fact that Rani's projects always get accepted to the Young Scientist Exhibition- and Meghna's always seem to fall short. 

Rani is tired of feeling like she has no control in her life. Her mother always has something to say about how she thinks she should act better, or date her extremely close friend- Zak. 

When Meghna and Rani realise that Zak has been playing them both for idiots, they decide to team up, creating an app for seaking and revealing cheaters- with the idea that they can expose Zak for the traitor he is. 

I like Adiba Jaigirdrar for the funny, light-hearted tone she has with her novels. And with it being a couple of years since I've picked up one of her books- I say it's high time that I start reading them again! 

~December~

NONE AT ALL. 

I don't know what's up with me, but none of these really stick out, to be honest. 

If there's one that you're really looking forward to being released, by all means, stick it in the comments, and I'll consider it. 

Okay! Those are all the books I'm anticipating for the three final months of 2024! 

Like I said up top, if there are any books you're excited for, just comment them down below! 

Right! That's everything I have for you guys, so I will see you all soon, with my September Wrap Up (it'll be a long one, because of the readathon, so stay tuned for that.)

I hope you have a wonderful day, and I'll see you all at the end of the month! 

Byeeee! 

-Abi xxxxx

September TBR (2024)

 Hey guys, this is Abi here, 

And I'm here with my monthly TBR today! 

I'll be talking about a fair few books than I would normally include on my TBR this month, mainly because I'll be doing my own personal 24-hour-readathon in a couple of weeks! 

I hope you enjoy it, and feel free to comment below what books you think you might like to read this month- I know many of you will be jumping into your spooky, autumnal reads this month :). 

So yeah, I hope you enjoy it. 

1. The Nobleman's Guide to Scandal and Shipwrecks (The Montague Siblings #3), by Mackenzie Lee

I can't believe I'm finally getting to this! I bought this as a pre-order back in 2021, and because I'd moved on to other series' by the time of it's release, I just wasn't in the mood to read it right away. But since the start of the month, I've been marathoning the other two books, to get reacqainted with the characters and the time period. The Nobleman's Guide to Scandal and Shipwreck takes place over a decade after the first two, following Adrian Montague, who was just an infant in the first book, as he pursues his missing siblings, who have been cut from the family tree entirely. I'm only a chapter into this currently, but I already love Adrian as a character, and can't wait to see where his story takes him. 

Now, I always assumed that I would only finish The Montague Siblings series before the 24-hour-readathon I've been planning, but if this book follows books 1 & 2, I should have time to finish another novel beforehand. I have a few options I might consider picking up, so I'll tell you about them here. 

~The Ballad of Dorothy Wordsworth, by Frances Wilson~

The third and final book I bought, surrounding Lake District. A biography written by Frances Wilson, with Dorothy Wordsworth at it's centre. I have no idea what this book is like, review ratings are all over the shop with this one, but I'm excited to read a book about what she was like, what her life was like, outside of what she wrote about. That's why I purchased this book in the first place, and I hope that's what it contains. 

I know this might be difficult to get through, like the other two Lake District books were, and it might be even harder with a time limit. But I put this on here, because I would very much like to finish it in September, even if I don't choose it. 

~The Porpoise, by Mark Haddon~

I have a feeling about this book. It's a good feeling, like I know I'm going to enjoy it, but it's also an unnerving feeling, like I don't quite know what to expect with it. Basically, it's very intriguing. The Porpoise is about a motherless girl, who has grown up isolated from the rest of the world. Other than her overprotective father. 

Unable to escape the house she resides in, she seeks solace in the novels she reads. And soon it's hard to tell where she ends and the novel begins... 

I won't lie, I might not have given the blurb a second glance if it wasn't for the author. But, after reading the blurb a couple of times, I decided to take a chance on it. It's just over 300 pages, so a likely candidate to pick up after The Nobleman's Guide, if I'm in the mood for it. 

~ The Pieces of Ourselves, by Maggie Harcourt~

I bought this when I was reading Theatrical last month, because I just wanted more of Maggie Harcourt's writing to look forward to. This is a completely different story to Theatrical of course. The Pieces of Ourselves is about Flora who, after leaving school midway through her GCSE's due to an incident, (which led to her being diagnosed with Bipolar II), doesn't quite know which way's up at the moment. 

Until Hal arrives. 

He's researching a missing warrior from World War I, and he wants Flora's help. Against her better judgement, Flora accepts. 

Yet as they find themselves getting deeper and deeper into soldiers' story, she finds herself falling for Hal. Does Flora know what she's getting herself into?

There's no way this book is going to be the same fun, cutesy book that Theatrical was, but something makes me want to pick this book up. And soon. Currently edging towards this one as my next read. 

~Inkheart (Inkworld #1), by Cornelia Funke~

I read this several years ago, and I absolutely loved it, but sadly never continued on with the series. I decided that that was about to change, the minute I spied this in a second-hand bookshop way back in July. I don't remember much, except the father has a gift: whenever he reads aloud, the characters come to life, and physically come out of the book. His daughter shares this gift, and events escalade, until they become captives of the characters they're forced to bring to life. 

That's basically all I remember, but I do know that I loved it, and I'm excited to re-read this, and continue on with the series. 

Those are all the books to choose from, after finishing my CR (and I'll be choosing from them again, after 24-hour-readathon as well), but here are my choices for the 18th: 

1. Wonder, by R.J. Palacio 

Okay, so I read this several years ago, can't remember when( I'm starting to see a trend here) and I was absolutely amazed. Such a sensitive, gentle, beautifully-written novel that shows you that it doesn't matter what you look like. You don't have to be beautiful to be beautiful inside. 

What matters is what you are inside. 

Honestly, go and read this if you haven't, or even see the film if you're not a reader. 

I've added this because I recently obtained a graphic novel, from the POV of a side character in Wonder, and I wanted to re-immerse myself back into it all. 

But I honestly can't wait to pick this book up again and likely have a good cry. 

2. White Bird, by R.J. Palacio 

I came across this in a graphic novel shop in Leicester a couple of months ago, and reached for it in an instant as soon as I realised what it was. 

If you've read Wonder, you'll know Julian most as Auggie's bully. But White Bird shows a different side to Julian, as he finds out the moving and powerful tale of his grandma, who grew up during World War II. To sum up the story, Julian's grandma tells him: "It always takes courage to be kind, but in those days, such kindness could cost you everything." 

I'm sure I'm going to be in balls of tears when I read this, but a 24-hour-readathon will be the perfect opportunity to pick it up and read it. 

3. The Woman in Black, by Susan Hill 

A very creepy, very classic book. Under 200 pages, and if I can keep my eyes open, a novel I will hopefully fly through. I've seen the film, but never read the book. That changes on the 18th. 

From what people are saying on goodreads, The Woman in Black is an atmospheric book that will scare you to your wits end, and I am ready for it. We follow Arthur Kipps, a young solicitor that has come to the english moor that is The Eel Marsh House, to settle the affairs of Mrs. Alice Drablow. What he encounters next is not at all what he expects... 

You genuniely can't get any more Halloweenish than this, and I'm excited to see what's in store. 

4. A Monster Calls, by Patrick Ness

I know I'm in for some sort of emotional outburst with this one. The whole book community fell in love with this upon it's release, and I just happen to be in the minority of people that haven't read this yet. 

I know it's beautiful, I know it's sad, and I know trees come to life in it. Like the BFG, kind of. 

A Monster Calls was originally a book by Siobhan Dowd. But when she was unable to finish it, Patrick Ness was inspired to write the story himself, but with his own spin on it. I've read some of his books before, and I know he's an insanely powerful, and emotional writer. 

I can't wait to sink my teeth into this. 

5. Girl, Woman, Other, by Bernardine Evaristo

Why did I plan to read so many books this month? 

Okay focus, last one.

Girl, Woman, Other. What can I say about this? 

The blurb is simple: "This is Britain as you've never read it. 

This is Britain as it has never been told. 

It is the future, it is past. It is fiction, it is history. 

It is a novel about who we are now." 

Girl, Woman Other is a collection of short stories, all taking place at the same time, telling a whole story, a whole web. Each character gets a chapter each, and then I think they meet at the end. 

I have wanted to read this for years, along with some other titles that I'll hopefully have my hands on soon. And it's just perfect for a readathon. 

Okay! Those are all the books I hope to read this month! As always, feel free to comment what you're planning on reading this month, and we can chat about it! 

I hope you have a wonderful evening, and I'll see you all soon! 

Byeeeee! 

-Abi xxxxx