The colder it gets outside, the more I tend to hibernate inside my house with a wonderful book. I have the perfect cozy, 5-star read for you below if you too like to curl up with a blanket and read in front of a fire. My other book reviews this month include a variety of genres. I hope you find one that sparks your interest.

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The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches

Looking for a cozy, fall read? I recommend The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches. I loved it. There’s a touch of romance but it’s mostly just a sweet story that will leave you with all the good feels.

Mika Moon is a witch in Britain. Witches have been cursed for a long time in which their parents die leaving them orphans at a young age.

A rule that witches currently abide by is to isolate from one another besides a brief group meetup once in a while. Fear of being found out by mortals is ingrained in them less the past repeats itself.

Mika leads a lonely existence, moving frequently. She has a “witchy” social media channel for fun and that is how a man contacts her about becoming a tutor for three young witches.

At Nowhere House, three young girls are coming into their powers and they don’t know how to control their magic. The house is owned by a witch who is never home and has left the young witches in the care of the four other adults who live on the estate.

Mika is shocked that these girls are living together. Clearly, her mentor doesn’t know or the children would be split up immediately. Yet, Mika is intrigued and wants to help. What follows is an absolute delight.

There’s magic, a few plot twists, and a satisfying ending.

How to Keep House While Drowning

How to Keep House While Drowning was not what I expected this book to be about. I probably need to get better at reading book descriptions before adding them to my TBR pile. This book was not helpful for me at all. BUT I gave it three stars because I can see how some people could really benefit from the author’s advice.

This book is meant for people who become paralyzed by mess, especially those with ADD and/or depression. The author is a therapist who has struggled with these issues. By mess, I mean adults who truly can’t keep a house clean and don’t even know where to start. What I consider a mess in my home is vastly different from what the author considers messy. For example, she mentions needing to clean for the reason of keeping your home free from mold, bugs, etc. I consider toys left on the floor overnight messy.

A lot of the book focuses on the mental aspect of mess. The author wants you to get rid of your shame and change your attitude about your house. She insists you aren’t lazy, you just have different strengths than tidy people.

The tips are helpful because I have already been doing a number of them for years so I know they work. But I have never been the person she describes in this book. I don’t leave dishes all around my house. Keeping up with laundry is a non-issue for me.

Some of the tips actually horrified me in terms of inefficiency. Also, some of the suggestions are not environmentally friendly (like using paper plates) and I take issue with that. It talks about half-assing jobs and that just goes against everything I stand for. This is not a book for black and white thinkers and that is who I am to a core. I do think a lot of people are lazy when it comes to tidying up. I’m sorry, I do.

It’s a short, easy read, great for people with ADD. If you already make sure to clean your dishes every night, always have clean clothes to wear, and shower on a consistent basis, this book is probably not for you.

All Good People Here

This one scared me but I’m a chicken. Maybe don’t read All Good People Here before bed. I enjoyed the number of twists I didn’t see coming.

Margot is a journalist who moves back in with the uncle who raised her because he is experiencing early loss of memory. She is supposed to report on a local story of a young girl who was recently kidnapped from a playground.

This story triggers the memory of her childhood friend who was kidnapped and killed. Margot thinks it’s likely the same murderer who kidnapped both little girls but her boss and the police don’t see the connection. Margot throws herself into proving that the two cases are linked despite the decades in between.

I never do well when reading about children being killed and women being threatened. It’s a good book, just too scary for me at this time when current world events are scary enough.

The Diamond Eye

The Diamond Eye started out a little slow for me but the ending was well-paced and satisfying. You know I love a historical fiction book based on a true story. This was a unique POV for a WWII book which I appreciate.

Mila Pavlichenko becomes a famous female sniper in Russia when the Hitlerites invade her country. Mila is a small woman who became a mother at a young age. She was working towards her advanced degree in history when the war breaks out.

She takes classes to become a marksman and volunteers to join the force. Sexism and avoiding sexual assault is something she has to constantly deal with but the men who serve under her only have the highest respect for Lady Death.

The story also describes her time spent in the U.S. with Eleanor Roosevelt. Mila has to give speeches to stir up Americans’ desire to help Russia in the war.

It’s a fascinating story about a woman I didn’t know anything about. There’s action, romance, and a strong woman who isn’t the stereotypical Russian.

Looking for more book reviews? Check out my September Book Reviews!