What I read this month - October 2019

October has come to an end and it went SO fast! I have decided to try a new format on my blog to present a regular selection of books to you in the style of a monthly wrap-up post where I’ll review all the books that I read during the month to give you reading ideas and hopefully get more of us to interact on the blog. This month, there has been so much variety in the books I have read, as much in quality as in subject matter which means there should be plenty for you to pick from if you’re looking to stock up for the winter!

One day by David Nicholls

‘So where will they be on this one day next year? And the year after that? And every year that follows?’

I was so captivated by this book despite the unusually long time it took me to read it and it stayed with me for a couple days after I’d finished it, so moving were the writing and the characters. It is centred around the lives of Emma and Dexter who meet on the night of their graduation as they are about to start a new life and never see each other again and we follow their story on that one midsummer’s day every year after that. It was a bittersweet but beautiful story that I highly recommend for the cosier winter months.

5 stars

White Lies and Tiaras by Marilyn Kaye

After finishing One Day, I was looking forward to a light, girly, romantic read and White Lies and tiaras seemed to promise just that with a wedding in Paris, two best friends and a former childhood sweetheart all mixed together. I was excited for a cheesy, cliched romance in the style of Anna and the French kiss, but how disappointed I was… Instead, I was met by a poorly written, badly-plotted story with shallow characters and unrealistic emotions. I feel really mean for saying that, but it had been a long time since I’d last enjoyed a book so little. I was cringing during most of it and was very disappointed having had such high hopes for this book.

2 stars

The Chocolate Lovers’ Club by Carole Matthews

It was impossible for me not to read this book when seeing the chick lit mood and humorous tone its title and blurb seemed to promise, and I am happy to say I was not disappointed at all! It could easily have been poorly written and quite basic, but I adored this book’s fast pace and witty writing, which still contained very real emotions and touching characters. It was cheesy in parts (inevitably!) but I am never against some of that if it’s well-balanced and I think it was a lovely light read. I am now only looking forward to reading the other two books in the series!

5 stars

The Wedding by Dorothy West

This book surprised me in a positive way as it is very different in genre, style, and subject matter to what I usually reach for and I really enjoyed it. I was slightly apprehensive about the way it was sold as a ‘modern classic’ and how this was reflected in the extremely detailed style of the author after having read a couple of pages. However, although I got through this book at a much slower pace than usual, I found the concept of snapshots of African American history being told through one family very interesting. I strongly recommend this book especially if, like me, it is a genre that you are not used to as it is a good way to get out of your comfort zone and explore new styles and subject-matters.

4 stars

I hope you enjoyed reading my short reviews of the four books that I read last month and that it might have made you want to read one or two of them. I’d love to know your favourite read of October and your opinion on any of these books if you’ve read any. Please feel free to leave a comment below or come and talk to me on Instagram, I would love to interact more with all my readers!

Thank you all so much for reading!