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Everything I Read in September 2026 – Part 2

Yesteryear

This book has been on my TBR list for months though I was unsure how I would feel about it. It’s a polarizing book with people either loving it or hating it. Once I finished it, I could understand why. I loved this book but mainly because I hated everything about every character. I know that sounds strange but I want a book that makes me feel something deeply. That could be love, sadness, hatred, disgust, etc but negative feelings about characters does not always mean the book is bad. Additionally, there was a strong satirical element to this story that I have not seen before which it so much  more interesting. The premise of the book is detailing the life of a trad-wife social media influencer. It follows her life up until she wakes up one day in the 1800’s without any of the modern conveniences she is used to. She feels trapped and conflicted living in a time that she has been cosplaying in modern day. Honestly, I could write an entire essay on this book and dissect every little detail because it has so much to unpack. This was a personal favorite but I can see why so many dislike the book. Rating: 9

Two Kinds of Stranger

I’ve read another book in this series which I really loved. I did not love this one as much as the previous but it was still an entertaining read. The series follows a lawyer, Eddie Flynn, who spent the first formative years of his life as a conman committing crimes. Because of his checkered past, he brings a unique perspective to his current role as a defense attorney. Eddie is SOOOOO New York which is probably why I love this series so much. LOL Social media influencer, Elly Parker, has built her entire platform around random acts of kindness. So when she finds her fiancee and best friend in bed together, she immediately retreats from the spotlight. While trying to decide how she will rebuild her life, she offers to help a man on crutches carry his suitcase down into the subway. The simple act of kindness sets off a domino effect that will result in her being accused of murder. She retains Eddie as her defense attorney because she has heard he is the best at what he does. And she needs someone who will fight with everything to save her life. Rating: 8.5

Dissection of a Murder

This book was very different from anything I’ve read which really captivated me from the beginning. And when you finally get to the twist!!! You will be left in complete shock. Leila is trying her first murder case as a public defender. And since she is married to one of the district attorneys, she will be arguing this case against her husband. The case centers around the murder of a prominent local judge who was brutally killed in an apartment above a nightclub. Leila feels confident in her ability to try this case though her biggest hurdle is her client (the defendant) will not give her a defense. No statement, no explanation as to what happened and only a request that he be put on the stand to tell the story to everyone (including her) at the same time. A slow burn but totally worth it in the end! Rating: 9

The Anniversary

Meh. That’s my first inclination when I want to describe this book. It’s ok but nothing special. Jules and Quinn are only teenagers when they first meet but their paths would continue to cross for decades to come. The hunting of a serial killer will be what finally brings them together in hopes of finding the man that has been terrorizing a community on the first of May every single year. The story can be a tad dull at times and doesn’t build anticipation in a meaningful way. Rating: 7

The House of Eve

Sooooo many emotions went through me while reading this book. But the story was so beautiful and worth the read. The book follows two different characters living in two separate cities who seemingly have nothing in common. And their story lines remain parallel until the very end. Ruby is a young black teenager living in Philadelphia in the 1950’s. She dreams of a way out of her current life and is on track to become the first person in her family to go to college. That is until she gets pregnant. Eleanor is a young black coed attending Howard University in Washington D.C. Coming from humble beginnings, Eleanor doesn’t want to squander this opportunity that she has to be at a prestigious university. Her plans get derailed after she falls in love with a Howard University med student who comes from one of the most prominent black families in Washington D.C. They aren’t accepting of her which threatens to ruin their relationship until they find out she is pregnant. These two women seemingly living separate lives will come together in a way no one would expect. Rating: 9

The Thoroughbreds

If you need an easy fall read that gives you cozy vibes, this sequel to The Academy is a must read. It’s one of Elin Hildebrand’s first series not set on Nantucket island. It follows students living at an elite New England boarding school and the drama surrounding their lives. There are a ton of characters but she makes it easy to follow so you can keep up with each storyline. I loved it as I do all of Hildebrand’s books despite it’s new setting. Rating: 8.5

Everything I Read in September 2026

Great Big Beautiful Life

While this is not a mystery or thriller, it has a HUGE twist at the end that made my jaw drop! Alice is a writer hoping to land a life-changing book offer with her newest opportunity. She is interviewing to write a memoir for one of the biggest celebrities ever, Margaret Ives. Margaret is now in her 80’s but wants to finally tell her story. Alice is confident she could be the right person for the job until she bumps into Hayden Anderson on her way out from the interview. Hayden is a pulitzer-prize winning author who already has a successful memoir under his belt. It isn’t until Margaret tells both Alice and Hayden that she will be meeting with both of them for a month to determine who will get the job.

This seems like an amazing change until Alice realizes that Margaret isn’t sharing her full story. After fact checking some details, Alice asks Hayden if he is experiencing the same issue. They both wonder what Margaret is hiding and why she insists on keeping it from those who are wanting to tell her story. There is so much great build up in this book that I audibly gasped when I learned the truth! I love when a book leaves me shocked! Rating: 9

Nobody Knows You’re Here

There are MANY triggers in this book regarding trafficking along with violence against women and children so please be aware of that before reading. It can be upsetting at times but the premise of the story and how drawn out it is sets the tone for a lot of suspense. Beatrice’s life is falling apart. She lost her job, her relationship and now her apartment. At a point of desperation, she accepts a potential job offer from a woman she meets in a coffee shop. But when Beatrice wakes up in a strange place with no recollection of how she got there, she realizes her mistake in trusting this stranger.

The woman who offered her the job was working with an international trafficking ring and now Beatrice is being held captive in an unknown location. The intention behind her kidnapping is unclear to Beatrice until she is told that she will be the caretaker and nanny to various children being held at ransom by the “organization”. What follows is a multi-year long struggle to survive while also caring for multiple children who have been taken from their families. Beatrice doesn’t know if she can ever escape but knows she has to try. Rating: 8.5

Happy Wife

This book felt incredibly predictable from the first few chapters but was still entertaining to read. Nora is struggling to fit in with the wealthy residents of Winter Park, Florida. She is 15 years younger and the second wife to her successful lawyer husband, Will Somerset. She went from living paycheck to paycheck to never having to worry about money again. That is until Will goes missing and ultimately found dead at the nearby marina. Nora learns quickly how disliked she is when rumors begin to swirl about her involvement. With only her next door neighbor as support, Nora has to work faster than the police to figure out what happened to Will before they try to pin it on her. An easy quick read that will keep you entertained even if you guess the ending. LOL Rating: 8

Twenty Years Later

I have had this book on my TBR (to be read) list for more than a year but struggled to get through it. All the reviews were amazing but I found the first half of the book so tedious. However, once you get past the halfway point, it really picks up and speeds towards the end at warp speed. There are some great twists and turns up until the very last few sentences of the book. Avery is host of a national TV segment called American Events. While looking for a new story to cover, she learns that the NYC medical examiner’s office has just identified a person killed during the 9/11 attacks. Through new and groundbreaking technology, they were able to get DNA from a small bone fragment and identify the victim as Victoria Ford.

Avery’s plan for the story is to cover this new technology and what it could mean for the families of those lost in the tragedy. But after looking into Victoria Ford’s past as part of her investigation, she learns that Victoria was being charged with murder at the time of her death. She was facing a huge trial where she would have to fight for her innocence. The more Avery uncovers, the more she realizes that she could have a much larger story on her hands. Rating: 8

Love You More

A cutesy beach-type read that is easy to get through but wasn’t a favorite. Billie is living her dream life in NYC after working for more than a decade to achieve her goals of running a medical practice that helps women facing fertility issues get pregnant. Her boyfriend just proposed to her and she gets to work with her two best friends in the world. All seems perfect until she gets a call from her ex-boyfriend, Mick, telling her something that will change her life forever. Billie must return home to Wisconsin to deal with the fall out from this tragedy and make a decision that could threaten to break up her perfect life in NYC. And through all this she must revisit all her old feelings towards Mick and their relationship. A very predictable story but still enjoyable overall. Rating: 8

I’ll Be You

This isn’t a fast moving mystery but one that will keep you guessing throughout the entire story. Sam and Elli are twins who did everything together growing up. They became child stars together, both playing the same role on B-list show in their early teens. Sam loved the spotlight but Elli always struggled with it. As they got older, their interests began to change. Elli wanted to be a mom and wife, while Sam still wanted to work in Hollywood. And with Sam’s drug and alcohol addiction on full display, Elli was fed up with constantly trying to save her sister.

After Sam’s behavior goes too far one evening, Elli is forced to cut her off and remove Sam from her life. Because of this, Sam is shocked when her parents call and ask her to help them care for Elli’s daughter while Elli takes some time to herself at a retreat. When did Elli have a child? And where did you go on this retreat? Reluctantly, Sam agrees to help but something feels off about the entire situation. She discovers that Elli has joined a self-help movement though Sam believes it’s a cult. Sam has to find Elli before she falls farther into this group and they never see her again. Rating: 8.5

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