I’m writing this while cozily wrapped in a big, plush robe, sipping a cappuccino, and staring out at the changing leaves on the trees in my backyard. Fall is upon us my friends, and I could not be happier about it.

September was a whirlwind. In addition to transitioning out of the oppressive heat of summer, I had a ton of things going on at home and work. At home, our poor pup was sprayed by a skunk, and then the dog and the cat both managed to contract a whole host of infections from the incident. We also spent the better part of two weeks trying to get the dog and the house to stop smelling of skunk, so that was super fun. 

I took my first international trip post-pandemic to Munich, Germany, where I spent most of my time working, but also had the privilege of participating in Oktoberfest and taking in some of the major sights. I wrote a whole post on the beauty of travel (and of coming home) here, because wow what an amazing trip it was. 

And finally, I read a lot of great books! Out of the 8 books that I read this month, half were 5-star reads, and one was a 4.5. Not bad as far as reading goes. I also added a few good ones to my TBR, so there’s a lot to look forward to as far as October goes. 

Without further ado, here’s my September wrap-up.

September 2023: Books Read

Even though I managed 8 books this month, it felt like my progress was slow. I think this is largely because I had trouble connecting with the audiobooks I read. I managed to make it through two audiobooks, but I loved neither, and I had to DNF another after a couple of hours of just not being able to get into it.

That said, progress is progress no matter how slow, and I know 8 books is still a feat. The books I managed to get through this month included:

1. Heart of Night and Fire by Nisha J. Tuli: this was an ARC and it was excellent. This book is a new romantasy series based on Indian and South Asian lore and culture with a badass FMC and a slow-burn romance that was to die for. I devoured this and loved every second, I rated it 4.5 stars and my full review can be found here.
2. Untamed by Glennon Doyle: I didn’t end up formally reviewing this book because it just didn’t resonate with me. I didn’t disagree with a lot of Doyle’s points, but I didn’t find her relatable and I didn’t think I was her audience. I rated it 3 stars.
3. The Jasad Heir by Sara Hashem: this might be my favourite fantasy book of the year. It was an Egyptian-inspired fantasy with a significant amount of politics, forbidden/lost magic, the ultimate slow burn, and a true enemies-to-lovers trope. I’m obsessed with this book, I rated it 5 stars and you can read my full review here.
4. Starter Villain by John Scalzi: it’s been a long time since a book made me laugh out loud like this one did. This was ridiculously fun from start to finish, I can’t recommend it enough if you’re looking for something highly entertaining that you can rip through quickly. I rated this one 5 stars and you can read my full review here.
5. Spare by Prince Harry: another book I didn’t do a formal review for, but for this one, it was because I actively disliked it. I appreciate that Harry has been through hard times, but the total and complete lack of acknowledgement of his privilege or any degree of self-awareness was utterly astounding. I gave this one 2 stars, it was not for me.
6. Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt: if you’re wondering if a sentient octopus could make you cry, the answer is a resounding yes. This book was so incredibly lovely and made my heart swell. I rated it 5 stars and you can read my full review here.
7. One For My Enemy by Olivie Blake: another book that ripped my heart out. I love everything Olivie Blake, but this story may be among the best love stories she’s ever written. A loose Romeo and Juliet retelling that I cannot recommend enough. I rated this one 5 stars and you can find my full review here.
8. A Curse of Blood and Wolves by Melissa McTernan: an adult Little Red Riding Hood retelling, this book was a light fantasy with an extremely spicy romance. I felt like it was a light, entertaining read that lovers of the romantic aspects of romantasy would enjoy. I rated it 3.5 stars and you can find my full review here.

TBR Lists

I didn’t add nearly as many books to my TBR list this month because honestly, I was just so damn busy. The ones I did add though I’m excited for and hopeful that I can get to sometime in this lifetime (I say, as I still desperately try to catch up with previous month’s books added to TBR….)

• The Last Hour Between Worlds by Melissa Caruso: this book isn’t even out until November 2024, but I saw Shannon Chakraborty recommend it, and I’d read the phonebook for her if she told me to. The book is a fantasy about a FMC who is a mother to a newborn, battling her nemesis in a time-bending world of magic. It honestly sounds incredible. 
• The Last Murder at the End of the World by Stuart Turton: another book not releasing until next year about the last remaining community on earth and a murder that threatens their tenuous safety. 
• Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman: I love a good book on productivity, hoping to snag this one on audiobook soon!
• Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson: a fantasy about a woman and a weaponized magic library that she hopes to master. As a book nerd, I cannot emphasize enough how much I enjoy books about books and libraries. 

What I’m Loving Right Now

I’m not going to lie, my mental health took a nose dive throughout most of September. I wish I could say there was a clearly defined event that led to it, or that at least triggered or contributed to it, but as is often the case with mental illness, it was just a brain chemistry thing. All in all, I have a great life, but my brain doesn’t always agree, and sometimes that means dealing with a long-term spiral. This meant that finding moments of joy throughout September was harder than usual and something that required a concerted effort.

Thankfully, the past couple of days I’ve been feeling like I might be coming out of the fog I’ve found myself in. I’m not going to hold my breath just yet, but I will be doubling down on the things that make me happy in the coming days in an attempt to hold onto this peace for as long as I can.

Some of the things that are making me feel joy right now include:

The 5-Minute Journal

While feeling particularly down and perusing my local bookstore (as one does when they’re not well and need a pick-me-up), I came across the 5-Minute Journal. I typically find keeping up with journaling challenging, but 5 minutes felt like little enough time that I could consistently dedicate myself to it. 

The whole principle of the 5-minute journal is to carve out 5 minutes in the morning and 5 minutes in the evening to reflect on the day coming and the day past. The questions are positively-centred and allow you to build gratitude into your daily routine.

Admittedly, I haven’t done it every single day (because life is busy and sometimes it slips my mind), but I have noticed that I feel better when I do. Something about starting the day on a positive note and ending with gratitude subtly wires my brain to be thankful and reflect more positively than I do otherwise. I’m enjoying it and would recommend the practice to anyone struggling with day-to-day gratitude. 

Seeing Somewhere New

Work travel is endlessly exhausting for a slew of reasons, but I always try to build in some time to enjoy being somewhere new, and Munich was no different. It’s the first international trip I’ve had since the pandemic and my mind is still reeling from all the new experiences I got to take in. I mean, being in Munich for Oktoberfest? Even while I was in the moment, it still felt surreal.

I won’t rant too much here since I already wrote a whole article on this, but it was a mind-bendingly awesome experience.

The Onslaught of Fall Weather

As Anne of Green Gables once said, I am so grateful to live in a world where there are Octobers. I am convinced that there is nowhere more beautiful in autumn than New Brunswick. We are almost exclusively trees and nature, which means no matter where you turn, your senses are bombarded with the gorgeousness of the changing of the seasons. The fog that hangs low in the air as the temperature shifts from summer to fall, the changing of the leaves from forest green to vibrant oranges and yellows, the pumpkin patches and corn mazes and outdoor markets where you can soak in the crisp, cool morning air with a hot coffee and some kind of local snack. It is, quite literally, unmatched in both feel and aesthetic. We’re headed into my favourite season of the year and I am fully ready to bask in it’s glow. 

So that was September! It feels like it went by in a blur, but that’s the case most months lately. Feeling a little more grateful, and a little more human heading into October, and I can’t wait to see what fall has in store for us.