September 2020 Wrap Up

September has finally ended and we’re moving into the thick of fall! Salutations Chapterlings! I hope you all are doing well, that your days have been filled with lots of love and good health. September was such a fantastic reading month for me. I read sixteen books during September and I’m shocked. I didn’t think I read that much, yet here we are with so many books to talk about. Lately, I’ve been feeling really good about my reading and I’m keeping my fingers crossed I don’t jinx anything. But I’m so grateful that I read so much and I can’t wait to see what’s waiting for me on the horizon!

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🍂 Blanca y Roja by Anna-Marie McLemore ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
It’s very rare when a book can touch me on multiple personal levels, but this book did just that. Between the sibling bond, the blood and found family themes, and so many other important topics, this book truly touched all the soft parts of my soul. And I think I’ll always cherish this book for those reason. Plus, this retelling was just so beautiful and you know I’m a sucker for retellings!

🍂 Space Battle Lunchtime Vol. 1Lights, Camera, Snacktion by Natalie Riess ⭐⭐⭐
This was a really cute and quirky graphic novel. There’s cooking/baking, a slow burn romance brewing, and an underlying mystery at hand. An all around fun time! However, I wish we would have received more pages and details. I felt that this graphic novel would have really benefitted from those two elements had they been added.

🍂 When No One Is Watching by Alyssa Cole ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I will mention this in another part of this wrap up, but I’ve never read anything by Alyssa Cole before. This was my first introduction to her work and I was pleasantly surprised by how much I loved the writing. This is also the very first book I’ve ever read with gentrification in it and it blew me away with how accurately Cole talked about it. I did listen to the audiobook for this and if you haven’t given it a try, then I can’t recommend it enough!

🍂 Sia Martinez and the Moonlit Beginning of Everything by Raquel Vasquez Gilliland ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I went back and forth on my rating for this book for the longest time. Ultimately, I really enjoyed this book and I think it talks about so many important topics like deportation and immigration. There’s also strong family bonds and the ups and downs of friendship. So many elements that I love with my whole heart. My least favorite thing about this book is how obviously divided the book is and what I mean is the genre blending. The first half of this book is all contemporary and then the second half is scifi. It just wasn’t my cup of tea, but I still encourage readers to give this book a chance.

🍂 A Princess in Theory ( Reluctant Royals, #1) by Alyssa Cole ⭐⭐⭐⭐
As I mentioned before, I’ve never read anything by Alyssa Cole, but this book and When No One Is Watching are my two introductions to Cole’s writing. I started both of these books at the same time and I just fell in love with the writing. I thought the writing in this book was so beautifully done and I loved the way the characters were written. I’m eager to read more of this series, the novella and book two are sitting patiently on my tbr cart.

🍂 Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Buddy Read with Robin 💜
I came, I read, I thrived and lived my best life! I knew in my bones I would love this book and it would make my top books for 2020. Everything I wanted and more was delivered in this book. Aiden is going to touch so many hearts with this book and I hope everyone picks this book up this fall!

🍂 Heaven’s Design Team 1 ([Ten-De-Bu] What a strange animal! #1) by Hebi-Zou⭐⭐⭐
This was a super cute read to pass the time! This is probably the first manga I’ve ever encountered that exist to just educate the reader on a plethora of animals. Personally, I think this is going to be great for younger readers and will probably do really well as an anime. However, there’s not much of a story-line or plot to this book. So go in expecting a humorous and educational time.

🍂 The Wicker King (The Wicker King, #1) by K. Ancrum ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
No one is out here doing it the way Ancrum is doing it. If you asked me to name one book that emotionally wrecked me, made my heart crumble to dust, and leave me wanting more… it’s this book. I loved this book so, so much and this book was perfection. I’m still keeping my fingers crossed that Rina will get her own novella!

🍂 The Legend of the Golden Raven (The Wicker King, #1.5) by K. Ancrum ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Wicker King retold from the perspective of Jack! I loved this! It’ll remind you of Alice in Wonderland and the mechanics of that world. I wish this would have been a little bit longer than it was, but truly a great read.

🍂 While the Earth Sleeps We Travel: Stories, Poetry, and Art from Refugee Youth Around the World by Ahmed M. Badr ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I wish more readers were talking about this book! Youth, around the world, are our future and I can’t think of a better book that boosts some of those voices. I think this collection is very important and every reader out there needs to read this book at least once in their life. I was truly touched by this book and I think we need more books that give us a different perspective of hardships, life, and the world.

🍂 Gemini Keeps Capricorn (Signs of Love #3) by Anyta Sunday ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I promise the full review for this is coming soon! Surprisingly enough, I found myself very conflicted with this book. I thought I was going to be a bit biased because, well you know, I’m a Gemini, but that wasn’t the case. I still enjoyed this book very much, but I didn’t love it the way I loved the first two. There was something about this book that kept throwing me off and I’m still figuring out what, but I did enjoy this book. Fake engagement has always been a trope I love.

🍂 Scorpio Hates Virgo (Signs of Love #2) by Anyta Sunday ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
My heart gets all soft and squishy when I think about this book. I adored this book with my whole heart. I thought the elements of loss and grief would have an affect on my reading, but this book delivered so much to prevent that from happening. My heart was so full and I just loved this a heck-a-ton!

🍂 Leo Tops Aries (Signs of Love #1.5) by Anyta Sunday ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This was a nice steamy novella to read immediately after the first book in this series! I mean, it’s steamy from page one. It was a really enjoyable time! I can’t recommend this series enough!

🍂 Black Sun (Between Earth and Sky, #1) by Rebecca Roanhorse ⭐⭐⭐⭐
This was such a fantastic read! I’m very much a new reader to Roanhorse’s writing and I was blown away by the world and the characters she built in this world. Morally grey characters will always be a weakness of mine. My only two reasons why I couldn’t give this a full five stars was due to a lot of the dark themes throughout this book and how it impacted my mental health (check my review for detailed content/trigger warnings), and the second was the multiple povs.

🍂 Alaskan Christmas Redemption (Home to Owl Creek Book 3) by Belle Calhoune ⭐⭐⭐⭐
This was a cute holiday romance all about saving a family owned dinner! Did I read the third book in a series? Technically, yes. But I had a great time reading it and I do believe you can read this book without have to read the first two books. I will say this book does have topics of grief and loss, and talks about them often. Something to keep in mind when you pick this book up.

🍂 Wotakoi Love is Hard For Otaku, Vol. 1 by Fujita ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Buddy Read with Kayla 💜
This was such a cute and humorous read! I such a fun time reading this book and chuckling at little bits throughout this manga. I will say that there’s not much of a story-line or plot. This is just a fun and charming little read for day you need something light for the heart and mind.

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Whew! So many books, but we got through them all! Truly, I read some really great books and this might have been my best month so far this year. Come tell me what your favorite read of September was or what you loved most for the month of September! Until next time, I hope you’re being kind to yourself, a gentle reminder to stay hydrated, and as always, I love you so much! 🧡

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