A Search for Fall Reads
Five books I read September 2024
It has been a month since I’ve written any articles, and that’s because I spent the ENTIRE month reading.
The start of September is the cue for fall reading to commence. I’ve been searching for the best fall reads since last month, and I managed to curate a great balance of cozy, emotional, and thrilling reads for myself this September.
These are the five books I read in September 2024:
1. The Little Provence Book Shop by Gillian Harvey
Fiction, contemporary, magic realism
Format: digital ARC (Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books)
This was such a cozy, heartwarming read.
The story follows Adeline, who leaves London with her young daughter to spend some time searching for herself and where she belongs while working as a bookshop employee in a small French town. While it all takes place in a realistic setting, there is a touch of magic, and the power of books, language, and stories becomes a central theme in the story.
I started this book expecting a light, feel-good bookshop story, so I was pleasantly surprised by the elements of mystery sprinkled in. There were plenty of clever misdirects, and I loved the plot twist at the climax of the story!
The romance was also absolutely adorable, and I loved that it wasn’t necessarily a huge part of the story. Rather, it played into Adeline’s character development regarding her openness to connection, and I appreciated the stronger focus on the themes of belonging and family.
There was a bit of discourse on magic vs science that felt unnecessary to me, especially in the last few chapters. However, Gillian Harvey’s prose is so beautiful that the magic vs science component didn’t bother me too much.
2. How to Make Friends with the Dark by Kathleen Glasgow
Fiction, contemporary, young adult
Format: audiobook
I’m always on the lookout for an emotional story, which led me to pick up this audiobook. The story follows teenage Tiger’s grieving process and foster care journey after the death of her mother. We follow along in the first few weeks of her mourning, her normal life thrown off course as she struggles with her loss and is suddenly forced to accept a family she has never known. Ultimately, it’s a story of grief that is beautifully articulated for a young adult audience.
This book did not resonate with me like I thought it would, though it might just be because I’ve recently read several books that better fit my preferences. The beginning felt slow, it took a while to get into the actual plot where the other important characters are finally introduced. I found some of the characters frustrating and unrelatable.
However, I acknowledge that this story represents a teenage experience with a specific family background unlike mine, so it makes sense that this book didn’t necessarily speak to me as it might to readers closer to Tiger’s age.
3. Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garner
Fiction, historical, literary
Format: audiobook
This book was SO close to being a 5-star read for me (I gave a 4.75-star rating on StoryGraph). The premise is compelling: a female chemist in the 1960s challenged by sexism, single motherhood, and more. As you can imagine, this story details a revolution of sorts, in which Elizabeth Zott, the main character, fights for equality in the workplace and takes the chance to enable other women when she becomes a cooking TV show host.
Elizabeth Zott is thoroughly science-minded. She is a scientist before she is a daughter, mother, or friend. I loved this about the main character, and how it bleeds into her relationships. It is not a quirk; rather it is a core part of her being that guides her interactions with the world.
The romantic partner that Garner crafted for Elizabeth Zott just makes so much sense, and their relationship touches the heart. Other relationships she builds along the way give us insight into the 1960s train of thought while demonstrating how Elizabeth Zott’s way of life manages to make an impact one way or another. She questions the status quo in a matter-of-fact way. There is no scientific reason for women to be held back, so why should they continue to lay low?
I only had one gripe with this book: there were times when Elizabeth Zott’s science-forward approach came off as being deaf to other people’s concerns. It seemed as if she did things her way only because she was incapable of understanding why she was asked to follow certain instructions. I personally wished that instead of being portrayed as a bit socially daft, Elizabeth Zott acted with more intentionality in those moments and defied the patriarchy with a total grasp of the situation.
Regardless, this was such an impactful read!
4. Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
Fiction, literary, magic realism
Format: eBook
This time-traveling coffee shop tale is the most cozy read with a little touch of mystery throughout. Each character travels through time for a unique purpose, but their journeys stem from the same emotions: longing and regret.
I personally appreciated how each of the four chapters focused on a different character, giving the book a “short story-esque” quality. I actually read one chapter at a time, coming back to this book almost as a refresher between other longer reads.
That being said, if a book manages to make me cry, I’m sold. This one absolutely did.
5. The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides
Fiction, mystery, thriller
Format: audiobook
This book is popular for a reason. It was an excellent reentry into the psychological thriller subgenre. The story revolves around a silent patient (as you might have guessed) who is hospitalized at a psychiatric unit after murdering her husband, and is narrated by a psychotherapist who has recently accepted a position at this unit to take over her care.
The “psychological” aspect is truly what makes this book great for me. The premise naturally sets a foundation for us to dive into the psyche of the characters. This is implied for our silent patient, but I actually liked when the story focused more on the narrator and his background. You can tell from the beginning that the narrator is a bit unreliable, both as a narrator and as a character, and this becomes a focal point of the story considering his job as a psychotherapist. The more he reveals more about himself, the more you question whether he actually is unreliable or not. That’s the true thrill of this book in my opinion.
Regarding the plot: I first consumed this story by watching a YouTube video retelling it a few years ago, so I started the book with some awareness of how the story would develop. I was certain that the ending wouldn’t surprise me and even crafted several possibilities in my head. Despite this, I was thoroughly SHOCKED by the ending. After finishing the book, all I can do is appreciate Michaelides’ writing. Reading this was such a great experience.
Final Thoughts
It’s safe to say that I was satisfied by my September reads. I have quite a list of books I’m reading next (listed below), so I’ll see you in a few weeks for my October reads!
Currently reading:
Circe by Madeline Miller
The Believers: Stories by A.K Herman (ARC)
Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley
The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst
Silence: In the Age of Noise by Erling Kagge (nonfiction essays)
Upcoming reads:
James by Percival Everett
The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennet
Beautiful World, Where Are You by Sally Rooney
Once Upon a River by Diane Setterfield
The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin
Apples Never Fall by Liane Moriarty
Hammer the Sky: and other wonder tales by LL Rose
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