September is already over, the month of my summer leave from work and my birthday, but also the month that started with temperatures around 30 degrees and ended at 13 degrees. Unfortunately, I haven’t been reading that much and I hauled many books on the other hand. This is my September.
Life
As I stated in the intro paragraph, it was finally my turn to take a summer holiday. I’ve taken already one week off work in July, but we need to take at least 2 weeks off back-to-back once a year. I did that back in May already, but that was because I was moving out. Now, it was time to take another 2-week break just to rest and relax. It started of great – not – because literally on my first day off I had to make a doctor’s appointment. My ear bugged me, fortunately it was something really minor. It came back a few times during my holidays, but now it’s all fine. Also, one of my eye conditions flared up, but that’s also fine now. In short, it was time for me to actually take time off work. I spent those 2 weeks catching up on blogging (I still haven’t caught up actually, especially not on my Dutch blog), visiting friends, going to the gym and nothing that much in general. My reading suffered from it, but I had some books I struggled with. After 2 weeks it was time to go back to work and autumn was in full swing already. Last Thursday was my birthday and I had to work as well. I went for some dinner and nothing more.
The books
Read
Het weesmeisje by Anne Jacobs
This book is originally German and is published als Die Tuchvilla. Unfortunately many German books don’t have an English translation. Many of these German family saga’s get published in Dutch however, so I’ve read it in my native language. I’ve started this book back in August, but I didn’t finish it back then. Idid in the first weekend of September. Although I have been intrigued the entire time whilst reading, it felt like something was missing and therefore I didn’t enjoy it as much as books by Corina Bomann or Lucinda Riley. Nevertheless am I curious for the other books in this series. In fact, I have them alll. Rating: 3 stars.
De kleine theetuin in de zon by Anne West
Yet another book that isn’t available in English and this time because it’s an originally Dutch book. This is the second installment of a series about a little tea garden on one of the Dutch islands, Texel. All fiction of course. I needed something quick and easy and therefore I picked this book up. I finished it within a day or two. My rating: 4 stars.
Chain of Gold by Cassandra Clare
It took another week before I manage to finish another book. To top things off, this book in particular took me one month to finish. For me, that’s a long time. I have no clue why it took me so long. Is the Shadowhunters world done for me? Have I read too many books set in this world too quickly after one another? I don’t know. For me, this book felt like a chonker and a struggle. My rating: 3 stars.
The Fortunes of Jaded Women by Carolyn Huynh
Fast forward another week and I finished another book. My holidays were over and that was very noticeable in my reading. During my commute to and from work I manage to squeeze some reading in and it shows. I found out about this book through Goodreads and it really sparked my curiosity. I’ve listened to the audio and I had to get used to the way this book is narrated for a good while. However, the story kept me intrigued, even though I found some elements a little over the top. However, that’s for me as a white, western reader. My rating: 3 stars.
Babel by R.F. Kuang
This book was also responsible for my some kind of reading slump. Because I think that’s what this was, a slump. This book felt like an essay to me instead of a novel. Also, the quality of the audiobook was not that good and therefore I switched to the audiobook. I actually managed to write a review on this. My rating: 2 stars.
I Kissed Shara Wheeler by Casey McQuiston
This is the author’s first YA novel after writing two NA novels. I needed something easy af ter the two chonkers, so I picked this one up. It took me a while to finish it as well, but that’s because I wanted to finish Chain of Gold and Babel first. However, when I actually picked it up, I flew through it. My rating: 4 stars.
The Ballad of Never After by Stephanie Garber
The final book of the month is one I have been anticipating for about a year. So, when it finally released, I couldn’t wait to get started. I listened to this one on audio and because I mainly listen to audiobooks whilst travelling, it took me a good two weeks to finish this book too. This is definitely not because of the story, because that one is dark and good. My rating: 4 stars.
Bookhaul
- I wish you all the best by Mason Deaver (Dutch version)
- Huntress by Malinda Lo (Dutch version)
- Reünie in Spanje by Anna Thomas (originally Dutch book)
- IT by Stephen King (Dutch version)
- 11/22/1963 by Stephen King (Dutch version)
- Fairy Tale by Stephen King (Dutch version)
- De dochter van de apotheker by Rebekka Eder (originally German, but I got the Dutch version)
- Amari and The Great Game by B.B. Alston
- Babel by R.F. Kuang
- The Final Gambit by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
- What Lies Beyond the Veil by Adelaide Forrest
- The Ballad of Never After by Stephanie Garber (pre-order)
This was my September. I hope I manage to read more in October, but who knows. How was your month?
Laurie Is Reading 
I’ve had The Fortunes of Jaded Women on my shelf for a while. I’m hoping to get to it one of these days, but you know how that goes 😂
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