September Wrap-Up and October Goals

Hello all! Once again, we’re at the beginning of another month, and we keep marching through 2018. But October means fall and Halloween and sweater weather, so I’m down for this. I can’t wait for the leaves to start changing and for it to finally get chilly and stay chilly (Ohio weather is bizarre since it was perfect fall weather just last week but now it’s 75 again.) Anyways, let’s get into what September was like for me, and what I hope October will be like!

I said in my August wrap-up/September goals post that I wanted to finish the book I had started in August and read 2 more for fun. I am happy to report I exceeded that (admittedly low) expectation, with 3:

1. The Belles by Dhonielle Clayton (started in August)(mini review here)
2. They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera (review to come)
3. The Ensemble by Aja Gabel (review to come)
4. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

My favorite of these was definitely THUG, which met all of my expectations, which were very high. I really see why this book is such a phenomenon; it’s absolutely amazing. I’m also happy to say that I have started my Strange the Dreamer reread. I don’t typically reread books ever, but I love this book and knew that I wanted to read it again, knowing how it ends. I also wanted to be sure I won’t miss a single detail when I get to Muse of Nightmares.

It’s a very short list this month (leave it to school to force a book buying ban), but I did pick up just a couple books:

1. Mirage by Sumaya Daud: Admittedly, this was the book included in the September OwlCrate box, so I didn’t expressly buy it, but I did buy the box partially because I had a feeling this was the book.
2. Vengeful by VE Schwab: I mean, of course I did. Technically, I preordered it and I don’t actually have it in my hands yet because I sent it to my home address and not my school one. BUT my parents are bringing it with them when they visit later this month, so I will have it soon.

Aaand that’s it. See? Short list. Gotta save some money somehow, y’know? (However heartbreaking)

Once again, I am really slacking on keeping up with reading everyone else’s wonderful posts. I am sorry, but also not since it means I’m actually doing homework most of the time, which is what I am supposed to be doing (I’m trying, I promise!) I did, however, manage to catch a few really good ones I want to share!

• YAPS! had an excellent post about feminist YA books, which you know I can 100% get behind. Give me all the feminist lit.
• Mara from Across the Books made a compilation of 10 books with compelling first lines, which I absolutely loved. She included some of my favorites, so maybe I’m a little biased, but she also added quite a few books to my TBR.
• Caro from The Bookcheshire Cat posted a list of underrated diverse books. As I’ve said before, I’m trying to read more diverse books and will love any and all recommendations of them, especially ones I don’t see very often. Also, she included Tash so of course I liked it.
• I love all of Fiction No Chaser’s reviews, but their review of Nevernight nearly had me on the floor laughing, mostly because of how true it was. If it doesn’t make you want to read Nevernight, like, yesterday, I don’t think anything will.

Like last month, I’m setting very reasonable goals. I am lucky that I have a couple days without classes in two weeks, which I hope to devote mostly to reading, since I don’t think that amount of work I’ll have will increase too drastically. I think managed to squeeze 2 books into the 4 days I had without classes last year, so I’m hoping to do the same. I am, however, also aware that life is only going to get busier as the semester picks up and because my swim season has started. That being said, I think I can increase my goal to 4 books for fun this month, excluding my Strange reread.

Of those 4, I am certain 2 of them are going to be Muse and Vengeful. I have been waiting on Muse for too long to not read it as soon as possible (I already have it on hold at the library and should have access to it by the end of the month). As for Vengeful, like I said, I’ll have it mid-month and want to read it right away. I may not have been waiting for 5 years like some people, but I still need to know what happens. The other 2 I don’t especially care what they will be, although I have been sitting on Gemina for a while, so maybe I’ll make a point of picking that up this month. I’ll probably just play it by ear, as usual.