Sometimes I reflect upon reading in general and my love for it. I can’t fathom not enjoying reading. How would I get through chores I hate without an audiobook in my ear? How could I stand to be in the car for hours without numerous books downloaded to my Kindle? Most importantly, how could I ever shut my brain down at night to sleep if I didn’t read before bed? Books are the greatest. Here are my four reviews for the month of September.

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Heartstopper

I read Heartstopper for book club this month. Graphic novels aren’t normally my favorite but this one surprised me. This story about two young high school boys starting a romantic relationship is absolutely adorable.

Charlie was bullied last year after he was outed as a homosexual at school. Life is better now but the guy he is seeing won’t even acknowledge Charlie’s presence in public. Nick is a popular rugby player at the same school and they get put in a group together. Charlie starts having a huge crush on Nick and they become fast friends. But Nick is straight. Or is he?

I’ve only read the first book (it’s really short) in the series but now I’m binging the show on Netflix – it’s fantastic!

The Wishing Game

I rarely give out five-star reviews but The Wishing Game has earned it. The story is a little hard to describe but to me, it was a bit magical without any actual magic in the story.

A reclusive author of a popular children’s series announces a contest (very Willy Wonka-esque). The winner gets the only copy of his latest book and gets to do with it what they wish – potentially getting a large six-figure payout. The four contestants are all adults who ran away to the island where the author lives when they were children.

The main character Lucy wants to win the contest to be able to afford to adopt a young boy. She met this boy as a teacher’s aide and helped him through the trauma of losing both his parents at once.

There are riddles and some romance. The story will pull on your heartstrings. It’s fantastical yet not a fantasy. I think it’s either a book you will love or hate. It’s one of my top books of the year!

Happy Place

I know it is no longer summer but a beach read can be enjoyable any time of the year. Happy Place is by far my favorite book by Emily Henry. I haven’t been as obsessed with her other books (at all) but this one I definitely recommend.

Three very different women meet in college and become best friends eventually bringing two male friends and a partner into the mix. Years later there is a reunion of the three couples. Or rather, two couples and one that broke up but didn’t tell anyone yet because they are scared of what their demise would do to their friend group.

The friends always spend time in the summer at Sabrina’s father’s “cottage” in Maine but now he is going to sell it and their happy place will be gone forever. Sabrina insists everyone come one last time for an epic vacation packed full of all their favorite activities – the local book store, sailing, etc.

Unfortunately, Harriet and Wyn broke up months ago unbeknownst to any of their friends. Being in the same place, let alone sharing a bedroom, is pure torture.

The reader is taken to the beginning of the relationship and follows along to when it breaks apart. Each woman is going through something really big in their life. Will they turn toward each other or continue to drift apart as their adult lives take them to different places?

Maame

Unpopular opinion, Maame wasn’t my favorite. I almost stopped reading this book a number of times. The end was much better than the rest of the book but in my opinion, this is one you can skip, it’s very slow and depressing. I also didn’t get anything out of it.

Maddie takes care of her sick father with no help from her brother or mother. Maddie has always been responsible for the household and herself. She’s not a fan of her job and has little to no social life.

When her mother finally returns from Ghana to England, Maddie is able to move out at the age of 25. Maddie makes a few goals to have a more enjoyable life but then she loses her job and her father’s death sends her reeling.

Themes include depression, generational/cultural differences, honesty, and finding oneself professionally and romantically. I was bored and sad the entire book until the very end.

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