book reviews

Everything I Read in September 2025

1. Atmosphere

I love nearly all of Taylor Jenkins Reid’ novels and this one was no exception. She writes emotion and love so well that you can connect so much to the characters’ feelings in a meaningful way. Joan has been obsessed with space since she was a little girl and has devoted her life to her dream of working for NASA. Becoming an astronaut is her ultimate goal but Joan would be happy with any proximity to space that she can get. She finally lands her dream job of being one of the first female scientists to join NASA’s space shuttle program. The small but tight group of men and women in the program become like a family to each other. And when it’s time to finally launch, those bonds will be tested in the most powerful way.

Get your tissues out because you may shed a few tears as I did but the story is absolutely beautiful. It did take me a bit to get into it so stick with it if you aren’t immediately engrossed in the story. It builds momentum is the best way. Rating: 9

2. The Perfect Divorce

I read The Perfect Marriage and loved it so I knew the sequel would be just as great. Sarah has already endured a betrayal from her first husband. But ultimately his betrayal landed him on death row for murder. But that was more than a decade ago and Sarah has moved on with a new man and created a loving family with him. They have one daughter together and things seem perfect. Until Bob has a one-night stand that threatens to implode their happy life.

Sarah doesn’t believe in second chances. So she is moving forward with divorce proceedings, though Bob is hoping they can reconcile. Right in the middle of this, Sarah finds out that her husband Adam may not have been guilty of murder all those years ago. Of course, Sarah already knows this. But true to her calm and poised demeanor, she must play along to protect herself. There are tons of twists and turns in this book that will keep you guessing all the way until the end. Rating: 8.5

3. One Golden Summer

I usually love a romantic feel-good beach read type of novel but I could NOT get through this one. I had to abandon it at the halfway point because I was not a fan. Alice is spending the summer with her grandmother at a cottage on the lake where she spent one summer as a teen. They are back at this cottage because Nan is recovering from some health issues and Alice wants to help care for her. The cottage belongs to an old friend of Nan’s and his grandson Charlie is the one that Alice must communicate with regarding their stay for the summer. Alice and Charlie feel an instant attraction. But for some reason, Charlie is hesitant to allow the relationship to go anywhere.

It’s a typical storyline that I usually love but for some reason could not get through it. The book has been a huge hit and my review seems to be in the minority. So don’t let it dissuade you from trying it. Rating: DNF

4. Finding Grace

This book is slowwwwww but the story is fascinating so it kept me engaged the entire time. I was so invested to know what happens and how all these different dynamics between the characters will all come together. Honor and Tom have struggled to have children going through years of infertility and loss. They are finally blessed with a little girl but in one devastating moment, Tom loses both Honor and his daughter in a horrific act of terror. To make things even more devastating, they were in the middle of going through surrogacy to get a second child. Tom clings tight to his new son because it is all he has left of his former life.

One evening, while going through Honor’s things and documents, Tom comes across the information about their son’s biological mother, Grace. Called by something he can’t even explain, Tom seeks to find Grace in hopes it will help him heal his emotional wounds. But when he finally does find her, he makes the mistake of befriending her while holding back this secret of her connection to him and his son. Honestly, I couldn’t put the book down because the premise of the connection between Tom and Grace was so WILD that I had to know how it played out. Rating: 8

5. Tell Me What You Did

Meh. This book wasn’t good or bad – it was just mediocre. A good premise and storyline but ultimately it fell a bit flat for  me. Poe Webb is the host of a popular podcast show that invites people to anonymously confess their crimes on air with her. She can’t guarantee there won’t be consequences to their admissions, but her show has been top of the charts for years. This all changes when she books a guest who has a personal connection to her. This guest admits to being the man who killed Poe’s mom decades ago. But this doesn’t make any sense to Poe because she is certain she murdered that man years ago unbeknownst to anyone. Yet this caller seems to know so much about her past that no one but the killer could know.

Poe is faced with the decision of allowing this man to share his story and possibly talk with the man who could have murdered her mother or dismiss him as a crazed fan with no merit. Poe makes a decision that will ultimately put her life in danger because she has to know the truth. The storyline was great but the execution was only ok. Rating: 7

6. Razorblade Tears

A bit of violence in this book but the story and plot was an instant hit for me. Ike and Buddy Lee are both ex-cons that find themselves connected because their two sons fell in love and got married. Neither Ike nor Buddy Lee are very accepting of their sons’ union but are faced to deal with it head on when they are both murdered in a suspicious manner. When the police force don’t seem to be making this crime a priority, Ike and Buddy Lee decide to come together and get justice for their boys. It’s a very straightforward plot but there are deeper themes of racism, homophobia, complicated family dynamics which really weave together a beautiful tale. There is some descriptive violence at times but the pace of the book really kept me on the edge of my seat. Rating: 8.5

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I’ve read a ton of books this past year and there were some hits and some major misses. I thought I would round up my favorite books that I read in the first half of 2025. And please leave your book recommendations in the comments below so I can add them to my TBR list!

My Favorite Books I Read in the First Half of 2025

The Last One at the Wedding

This book was truly a wild ride in the best way!! Frank is estranged from his daughter, Maggie, but has reconnected with her after she calls him to invite him to her wedding. Maggie is marrying the son of a successful billionaire and seems so happy about her upcoming nuptials. However when Frank begins to ask Maggie more about the family she is marrying into, Maggie is very vague and does not want to share too much. When the wedding weekend arrives, Frank hopes he can connect with the fiance’s parents and get to know them better but that isn’t possible. The mother hides herself away in a hotel room and the father is very guarded and private. Frank is worried that Maggie is making a huge mistake but Maggie doesn’t see it. This story will keep you guessing until the very last page!

Kill For Me, Kill For You

There is a twist in the middle of this book that completely turned the entire story upside down! I absolutely love when that happens! Two women suffer horrific events and find themselves together in a support group hoping to find comfort and companionship. Amanda and Wendy end up meeting for drinks after group one evening and share bits of their stories to each other. A friendship begins but soon turns dangerous when the idea of killing for each other so as to give each an alibi comes up and a plan is formed. But the plan does not turn out well. And secrets are revealed that will have your mouth on the floor from surprise.

The Friend Zone

An absolute adorable rom/com type book that will make you feel all the things. I love Abby Jimenez books and this is actually a three part series that I read in succession. This is the first part of the series. Though you can read each book alone and still follow the storyline easily. Kristen is helping to plan her best friend’s wedding while becoming recently engaged herself. Her fiance is deployed. So the distance makes things difficult but they have made it work for years. That is until Kristen meets the friend of her best friend’s soon to be husband named Josh who she feels she has an instant connection with. The only problem is her relationship status andddd a major health complication that could prevent Kristen from ever having children. You will laugh and cry throughout this entire book. It’s soooo good!

The Happy Ever After Playlist

This is the second book of the series and follows the life of Kristen’s best friend, Sloane, whom she was helping to plan her wedding. Without ruining anything, it follows Sloane’s life after some tragic life events and how she finds her way back to happiness.

The Arrangement, The Amendment, The Atonement

I am part of a psychological thrillers book FB group and someone posted asking for book recommendations with twists that left your jaw on the floor. This series was recommended time and time again so I had to dive in. And let me tell you…….the twist that comes in the first book literally left me speechless!!! Whoa! It’s best to read the entire series and read them in order to really get the full effect.

Ainsley and her husband Peter have been married a long time but have hit a rough patch in their relationship. So Ainsley suggests something shocking and asks Peter if he would be ok with trying an open marriage. Each one would be allowed to date whomever they want but they must never speak about it at home. Peter isn’t sure he is ok with this. But he wants to do whatever he can to fix his marriage so he agrees to it. But shortly after each of them begin seeing someone else, an event occurs that forces them back to each other for comfort. However, that comfort doesn’t last long when a massive jaw-dropping secret is revealed. Trust me you will not guess this twist!!

When Cicadas Cry

This is a simple “whodunit” kind of story with an easy-to-follow plot line. But the ending had my jaw on the FLOOR! Wow, wow, wow! A white woman is found beaten to death in a rural church in South Carolina. A black man named Sam Jenkins was found at the scene kneeling over her body covered in her blood. Sam claims he came here to deliver documents that she requested but when he arrived she was nearly dead. He called 911 after trying to resuscitate her but was unable to save her life.

In a state and county already steeped in racial tension, Sam was instantly arrested and charged with her murder. Sam’s uncle hires a lawyer he hopes will represent Sam in the best way and provide him with the best chance at being exonerated. In most mysteries, I can normally guess the ending or the perpetrator at some point. But I was completely blindsided with this. Complete shock in the best possible way! If you love a good mystery, this book is a must read!

The Perfect Daughter

My jaw was ON THE FLOOR at the twist in this book. It took me completely by surprise in the best possible way!

Penny is a 16 year old with an unknown traumatic past and has developed multiple personalities to deal with her experiences. Penny was adopted into a loving home but still struggles with demons from her past. When Penny is found at the home of her birth mother, covered in blood and standing over her mother’s lifeless body, she has no recollection of how she got here and what happened. The evidence against her is damning but Penny’s family is fighting to give her the best possible chance of an acquittal. They hire an amazing lawyer and try to get her care from a licensed professional that can understand Penny’s mental challenges. This book will keep you hooked from the very beginning and stun you with the revelation at the end.

What Happened to Nina

This book is loosely based on the Gabby Petito case and was one of the best psychological thrillers I have read in a LONG time. Simon and Nina are a young couple in love and go away for a few days to Simon’s family’s cabin to enjoy some time together. When Simon returns home but Nina never does, Nina’s parents are frantic and want answers as to her whereabouts. Simon claims he and Nina broke up during their trip and he left her at the cabin. When Nina’s parents arrive at Simon’s house for more answers, Simon’s parents stonewall them and stand by their son’s story. The suspense in this book isn’t from the actual event in question but the search for getting justice kept me on the edge of my seat. I could NOT put this book down from start to finish!

Beautiful Ugly

I had absolutely NO idea where this book was going and was actually finding it a bit dull at times. But something told me to stick with it and I was so glad I did! The last 1/4 of the book was a whirlwind and left me speechless!

Grady is grieving the unexpected loss of his wife in a tragic car accident that is still unexplained. To deal with his grief, Grady retreats to a remote Scottish island where his book agent offers him her cottage to use to help him heal. While using this cottage, Grady is trying to write his next novel but is finding it so difficult to begin. In addition to his writer’s block, the residents of the island are quite strange and he can’t seem to figure out why he doesn’t feel welcome here. Trust me, stick with this book because the ending is totally worth it!

The Violin Conspiracy

This book is equal parts beautiful and heart breaking all at the same time. Ray is a black boy growing up in rural North Carolina with a home life that isn’t setting him up for success. His grandmother is his biggest supporter and believes he is destined for greater things. She gifts him an old fiddle that was his grandfather’s and this sparks a love of music for him almost immediately. That violin becomes his ticket away from his current life and opens doors he never knew were possible. When he decides to have the violin appraised, he discovers that it is a rare priceless model that is worth millions. And what was once seen as his key to freedom becomes the thing that could ruin him. The story explores so many difficult topics but in the most graceful and beautiful way. It’s truly a must read.

Small Great Things

This is one of those books that was absolutely beautiful from start to finish. I loved every single bit of this book and envy anyone who is reading it for the first time.

Ruth is a labor and delivery nurse at the Yale New Haven hospital in Connecticut. She has been a stellar employee for nearly 20 years and is beloved by her patients and fellow staff members. During her shift one evening, she cares for a white supremacist and his wife who demand she be taken off their care because she is black. The hospital complies with the man’s request and Ruth feels betrayed that her hospital didn’t stand behind her. But a few days later, her unit is short staffed and Ruth is left alone with the man’s child who goes into cardiac arrest. Since she has been forbidden to touch the child, Ruth must make a crucial decision. Sadly the outcome of this decision leads to a fate Ruth could never imagine.

Pictures of You

This book took a bit to get into and I was about to abandon it but I decided to keep going and finish a few more chapters. Thank goodness I did because I ended up LOVING the entire story! Evie wakes up in the hospital after a horrific car crash to find out she has lost her memory and can’t remember anything past her first 16 years of life. She doesn’t remember getting married, who her husband is and why they got into a car crash. Things are made worse when she finds out that her husband has died but doesn’t feel sadness for him because she can’t remember their relationship.

The only person who can seem to help Evie make sense of her new reality is her high school best friend Drew. She recalls how much she adored Drew and how they were so close as teenagers. But the incidents that occurred following high school up to the present day removed nearly every person she loved from her life. Evie is now trying to put the pieces back together with Drew’s help. But the reality is so much more devastating than Evie wants to know. The beginning is a bit slow and hard to follow at times. But stick with it because it all comes together in the best way!

Don’t Let Him In

This book took me a bit to get into and there are quite a few characters to keep straight but I ended up LOVING IT! I was so engrossed in the story that I was yelling at the characters throughout the book because I was so annoyed at their behaviors. Which honestly is the best because it means I am INVESTED!! Nina and her adult children are grieving the loss of her husband and their father when they receive a gift from an old coworker sending his condolences. Nina doesn’t know this man, Nick Radcliffe, but is grateful for the gesture and thoughtfulness.

Nick and Nina begin chatting after this and a casual romance develops. Nina’s daughter, Ash, while happy for her mother is wary of Nick and his intentions. Unbeknownst to her mother, Ash decides to dig into Nick’s past. And find out exactly who he is and how he knew their father. The path of discovery that Ash stumbles down will unearth a decades long con that threatens to ruin so many people’s lives if they knew the truth. This isn’t a fast-paced page turner but it kept me on the edge of my seat nonetheless!

Related: Everything I Read in August 2025, Book Reviews