September’s theme of “Classics” felt like a journey back in time. Not only because these books were written decades, or even centuries, ago, but because so many of them transported me straight back to my high school literature classes. Quite a few were assigned reading during those four years. Were any of these familiar faces from your own high school reading list?
All told, I read 11 books in September – 4 print copies and 7 audiobooks. Four of these were pre‑release previews, and I’ll link to our full reviews below, along with our Bookshop.org page if you’d like to preorder your own copies.
5 Stars
4 Stars
- All Quiet on the Western Front, Erich Maria Remarque
- The Christmas Guest, BP Walter
- Dubliners, James Joyce
- Heidi, Johanna Spyri
- The Outsiders, SE Hinton
- Poems by Emily Dickinson, Emily Dickinson
3 Stars
- Beignets and Big Feelings, Leslie Gray Streeter
- Ex En Provence, Portia MacIntosh
- Meet Me in the Afterglow, Elly McCausland
- Team of Rivals, Doris Kearns Goodwin
Top Read of September
Taking this month’s journey through the classics reminded me why I love some beloved literary staples and steer clear of others. While September featured our highest number of three-star reads so far this year, most of those came from pre-release titles and newer publications that simply didn’t live up to expectations.
Our September Book of the Month was also a pre-release read and the continuation of a series we’ve already come to love. Blending rom-com charm with supernatural mystery, the story follows a villain and a hero whose unlikely partnership continues to evolve in delightful and unexpected ways. The result is an entertaining adventure that keeps readers hooked until the very last page.
The Dark Lord’s Guide to Honeymooning (and Other Acts of Tyranny) is the second installment in Tiffany Hunt’s Guides to Villainy and Love series. This time, our newly bonded couple embarks on a honeymoon to what may be one of the most dangerous destinations imaginable. Along the way, readers are treated to deeper character development, long-buried secrets, and the revelation that their paths crossed years before they ever became allies.
Selecting this title as our September Book of the Month marks a milestone for the challenge: Tiffany Hunt becomes the first author, and Guides to Villainy and Love the first series, to earn Book of the Month honors twice. The series opener, The Dark Lord’s Guide to Dating (and Other War Crimes), was our January Book of the Month and ultimately claimed the Q1 Book of the Quarter title.
With two Book of the Month wins already under her belt, Hunt now has a chance to claim half of this year’s quarterly awards and has emerged as an early contender for our 2027 Book of the Year honors. Be sure to check back next week when we reveal our Q3 Book of the Quarter winner!
Next Month
What better time of year to dive into thrilling reads than October? With cooler temperatures, earlier sunsets, and spiderwebs appearing around every corner, it’s the perfect season for stories that keep you turning pages late into the night.
Next month, we’re focusing on Thrillers. From military suspense and psychological tension to twisty murder mysteries, this genre is guaranteed to keep readers on edge all month long. We’ll also be recognizing Banned Books Week by exploring some of the most frequently challenged and banned titles across the country, alongside a selection of exciting new releases.
Keep an eye out for our October newsletter, arriving in inboxes next week, where we’ll share more details about this month’s prompts, recommended reads, and ways to join the conversation. I’ll also be announcing a few upcoming changes to our review format and reading schedule, so stay tuned!
I invite you over to our StoryGraph reading challenges where you can follow along, check off the prompts, and see what the rest of our community is choosing for these challenges. Don’t forget you can also follow along on our social media pages like Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and Pinterest to continue the conversation!
A few sponsored books I’m reading this month:
- Tom Clancy The Coldest War, MP Woodward
- The Magic of Chamomile Cottage, Heather Webber
- Murmuration, TJ Klune
- The Confederacy Myth, Connor Williams
I can’t wait to read these great books with you – keep an eye out for the monthly newsletter next week with other great suggestions for our August prompts!
This post contains affiliate links.
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