September Reading Recap

A month of chunkers

September looked a bit different than my reading life usually does. I spent most of the month traveling and less time reading and the books I did bring with me were longer titles that I hoped would reward slow reading. This past month, I tackled some sweeping, meaty epics, reunited with some favorite authors, and traveled to an array of places and times. For a month that was mostly spent on the move, I’m pretty satisfied with the quality and quantity of what I read and am looking forward to an October of atmospheric and magical reads.

Not for me this month was Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood. I’ve now read two of her titles (this and The Love Hypothesis) and come to the conclusion that she’s an author who occupies a very specific niche and likes to play with a set of character types and tropes that are just not my favorites. I also wanted a bit more insight into the main characters and more of a sense of the Boston setting. (Nary a mention of Dunkin’ Donuts! I lived in Boston for nine years and trust me, there’s a Dunkin’ everywhere you look.)

Favorites of the month

Fellowship Point by Alice Elliott Dark

A sprawling, totally absorbing novel of two women's lifelong friendship and the conflict between them as they struggle with the fate of the land they both love. This feels rich and layered and detailed in a way that rewards slow and careful reading, much like the 19th-century novels I’ve seen this compared to. I loved the thorough and nuanced character development, from Agnes and Polly to every carefully rendered secondary character. The descriptions of Maine are wonderful and the world of this book feels lived-in in the best way. If you want a chunky paperback for a long weekend, look no further.

How to Tame a Wild Rogue by Julie Anne Long (The Palace of Rogues #6)

The latest installment in my beloved Palace of Rogues series is a whirlwind romance between a proper lady and a privateer, who pretend to be married during a devastating storm in order to get the last room at the Grand Palace on the Thames. I adored Daphne and her character arc, as she realizes that it's not too late for her to choose joy and choose herself, and how Lorcan is a more emotionally intelligent version of a classic historical romance hero. Every little moment between them is so perfectly written and freighted with meaning. I continue to be impressed by how Long pulls off the delicate balancing act of sparkly writing and a real depth of emotion. It’s cozy but never twee and every happy ending feels hard-won. (Open door, moderate steam.)

Knockout by Sarah MacLean (Hell’s Belles #3)

The third book in the Hell’s Belles series centers around brilliant, bold Lady Imogen Loveless and straitlaced Detective Inspector Thomas Peck, who’s taken on the impossible task of keeping her out of trouble. This book is extremely, spectacularly fun and my favorite thing MacLean has ever written. Tommy and Imogen perfectly epitomize the delightful buttoned up hero/chaotic heroine dynamic but they're also nuanced, interesting characters that feel specific in a way that transcends the trope. Their chemistry is impeccable and electric and the way that Tommy sees and appreciates Imogen is swoon-inducing. Another highlight is the marvelous group dynamics of the Hell’s Belles themselves, from their daring missions to their endlessly loyal friendship to their merciless teasing of each other. (Open door, high steam.)

Really liked

The Queen of the Night by Alexander Chee

In 1870’s Paris, soprano Lilliet Berne is feted at every turn. but when an original role is offered to her, she finds that the libretto is based on her deepest secret and her unlikely journey from a Midwestern farmhouse to the glamour of Second Empire Paris. I love a juicy, dramatic historical saga and this one was everything I wanted, with an added operatic flair. The setting is wonderfully done and I found all the opera details and pieces of real-life history fascinating. (It will give you the urge to google at least once a chapter.) I also really enjoyed the gorgeous writing and the clever five act structure that braids all the threads of Lilliet’s past together into a dizzying conclusion.

Loot by Tania James

A sweeping, globe-trotting adventure about a young Indian woodcarver’s quest to retrieve the giant tiger automation he helped create that's both fun and thought-provoking. It's creatively told through a variety of perspectives and every single one of the large cast of characters is vividly drawn. This feels both like a classic coming-of-age and adventure story and something fresh and new in historical fiction, as it examines questions of colonialism, art, and what it means to have something of your own. There's a wonderful sense of setting, memorable protagonists, and a perfectly balanced tone that swings from funny to brutal to lively to deeply felt and forms a wonderfully rendered whole. 

A Modest Independence by Mimi Matthews (Parish Orphans of Devon #2)

This gorgeous slow burn, epic adventure, and moving love story finds former lady’s companion Jenny Holloway and solicitor Tom Finchley journeying to India on a quest for a missing aristocrat. Mimi Matthews is just so good. I love the way she writes: her sense of setting, the flow of her sentences, and the precision of her prose. Unsurprisingly, this is well researched—yes, there is a historical note in the back—and it somehow feels both true to the Victorian time period and modern and fresh. Part of that is the fact that neither of the protagonists are from the nobility and part of that is Jenny’s genuine struggle with what marriage means for her independence and legal standing. It’s both clear-eyed about the restrictions of marriage for Victorian women and deeply romantic and I’m forever impressed by Matthews’ talent. (Closed door.)

The Unkept Woman by Allison Montclair (Sparks & Bainbridge Mystery #4)

I continue to really enjoy this historical mystery series set in postwar London about two women who run a marriage bureau and keep on finding themselves in the midst of crimes. The fourth installment brings Cold War intrigue, shadows from Iris' past, and a further deepening of its central characters. Gwen and Iris' emotional journeys are just as interesting as the central mystery and I'm especially intrigued to see where the series heads next. The banter is snappy and fun, the twists satisfying, the plotting tight, and the whole book zips by. An ideal one-sitting read. 

Codename Charming by Lucy Parker (Palace Insiders #2)

Another irrepressibly charming romance from Lucy Parker, about sunny palace PA Pet, stoic bodyguard Matthias, and a fake dating scheme meant to combat rumors about Pet's relationship with her boss. Parker really excels at creating couples who are both playful and sincere with each other and Pet and Matthias’ connection just feels so real. They complement each other perfectly and my heart melted at how protective of and affectionate towards each other they were. It's a bit of a slow burn, but a perfectly done one. Parker also has a madcap sense of humor that I love. There’s a specificity and a sense of playfulness to her prose that makes it instantly recognizable and unique. (Open door, moderate steam.)

Liked, with a very minor quibble

Western Lane by Chetna Maroo

A well done exploration of grief and a surprisingly fascinating look at squash about a young girl who finds a way to mourn on the squash court after the death of her mother, told in distinctive prose. I did occasionally think that Gopi sounded a little too perceptive for eleven and found myself questioning whether a preteen would pick up on some of the dynamics she observes. But she’s an endearing, memorable narrator and Maroo deftly captures all the ebbs and flows of her relationships with her sisters and with Ged, the boy she trains alongside. This isn't a weepy book but it's smart about grief and loss and written in a subtle way that makes those feelings ring true. 

Liked, with a few quibbles

The Comeback by Lily Chu

This romance between an overworked lawyer and a K-pop star features a strong sense of place, a fascinating look into the world of K-pop, and a very sweet dynamic between its leads, especially in the first part of the book where they're falling for each other. I also liked how Chu flips some of the typical romance gender dynamics, where Ari is the one struggling to express her feelings and Jihoon is the one who's much more emotionally fluent. There is a lot of back-and-forth in the latter part of the book that felt repetitive, as they keep on breaking up and getting back together. I also wanted more development of Ari's relationship with her family, particularly her strained relationship with her sister, and to her career. (Closed door.)

The Garnett Girls by Georgina Moore

A debut about a family of women with big personalities and big secrets that's uneven in parts, but also has lots of intriguing elements. I especially liked the Isle of Wight setting, complete with big ramshackle family house, and although there's some clunky dialogue, there's also some great atmospheric prose. I found myself wanting about sixty more pages to flesh out all the character dynamics and plot points, especially for oldest sister Rachel. However, the big climactic moments do land and there’s more than one dramatic party, which I’m always glad to see in my messy family stories. There's a romanticism to this book at its best and I'll be curious to see what Moore writes next. 

The Sweet Spot by Amy Poeppel

A fun, lively novel from Poeppel about three women unexpectedly thrust together that has strong New York vibes and a heaping dose of quirkiness. I enjoyed the ensemble cast and thought all the characters were memorable, although the fact that there are so many characters and character dynamics did mean that some of them got shortchanged, like Olivia and Todd's relationship. I also think the book lets Melinda off a little too easily and I wanted to see more of her evolution over the course of the story. There's a bit of a screwball energy to the writing and some of the setups that I really enjoyed and I appreciated how Poeppel skillfully draws all the various plot threads together for a satisfying ending. 

Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson

A very clever meta mystery with nods to Golden Age mystery conventions, several surprising twists and reveals, and a sharp sense of humor. I read this half on the final leg of a 25-hour long plane journey and half in the days afterward, when I was generally jet lagged and discombobulated, so I never quite got sucked in the way I wanted to and wanted some more emotional depth from Ern as our narrator. But I also thought this was a lot of fun and enjoyed the commentary on the genre, as well as the way Stevenson plays with genre elements. (Although you certainly don't need to be particularly familiar with mystery conventions to enjoy this.)

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Currently reading: Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier. I was inspired to reread one of my all-time favorites after listening to the Novel Pairings episode about Rebecca and it’s just as excellent as I remember.

What’s bringing me joy lately:

• The remastered Stop Making Sense, on the big screen. A truly transportive experience and a phenomenal piece of filmmaking.

• I finally went to see the Sweeney Todd Broadway revival and it both looked and sounded fantastic. (The 26 piece orchestra!) Annaleigh Ashford as Mrs. Lovett is a tour de force.

• A perfect day for a walk through Central Park and to my favorite destination for pie crust cookies, Janie’s Life Changing Baked Goods on the Upper West Side.