Welcome to my September 2023 Favorite Books post! This monthly post is where I share the 5 star books I’ve read so far each month. I did have a bunch of 5 star reads this month that I’m excited to share. With today and tomorrow left to read there is still a chance of another 5 star finish, in which case I will share next week! You can see the first half of my September reading here and I will share the rest next week. The Amazon links to the books I’ve read are affiliate links and if you use them and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission.
Title: Don’t Forget To Write
Author: Sara Goodman Confino
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: Lake Union, 9/1/23
Source: Get Red PR
Why I Read It: Sent to me for my review
My Rating: 5 Stars
This book takes place in 1960 and is about Marilyn, who is caught kissing the rabbi’s son in front of the whole congregation and when she refuses to marry him, she is sent to stay with her great aunt Ada, a matchmaker in Philadelphia.
“When Marilyn Kleinman is caught making out with the rabbi’s son in front of the whole congregation, her parents ship her off to her great-aunt Ada for the summer. If anyone can save their daughter’s reputation, it’s Philadelphia’s strict premier matchmaker. Either that or Marilyn can kiss college goodbye. To Marilyn’s surprise, Ada’s not the humorless septuagenarian her mother described. Not with that platinum-blonde hair, Hermès scarf, and Cadillac convertible. She’s sharp, straight-talking, takes her job very seriously, and abides by her own rules…mostly. As the summer unfolds, Ada and Marilyn head for the Jersey shore, where Marilyn helps Ada scope out eligible matches―for anyone but Marilyn, that is. Because if there’s one thing Marilyn’s learned from Ada, it’s that she doesn’t have to settle. With the school year quickly approaching and her father threatening to disinherit her, Marilyn must make her choice for her future: return to the comfortable life she knows or embrace a risky, unknown path on her own.”
Ada is not what Marilyn expected and the relationship that develops between them is a joy to read about. They head to Avalon on the Jersey shore for the summer, a setting that I loved. Ada encourages Marilyn to work on her writing and to find love on her own terms. Overall this was a great end of summer read!
Title: Wrong Place Wrong Time
Author: Gillian McAllister
Genre: Thriller
Publisher: William Morrow, 8/2/22
Source: Book Club Girl
Why I Read It: Sent to me for my review
My Rating: 5 Stars
Wrong Place Wrong Time came out last year and I heard good things but didn’t get around to picking it up till now. And I loved it! This is a mystery thriller with a time loop concept. Jen witnesses her son killing a stranger and then she is sent back in time to discover why. She uncovers all kinds of things along the way.
“It is midnight on the morning of Halloween, and Jen anxiously waits up for her 18-year-old son, Todd, to return home. But worries about his broken curfew transform into something much more dangerous when Todd finally emerges from the darkness. As Jen watches through the window, she sees her funny, seemingly happy teenage son stab a total stranger. She doesn’t know who the victim is, or why Todd has committed such a devastating act of violence. All she knows is that her life, and Todd’s, have been shattered. After her son is taken into custody, Jen falls asleep in despair. But when she wakes up…it is yesterday. The murder has not happened yet—and there may be a chance to stop it. Each morning, when Jen wakes, she is further back in the past, first weeks, then years, before the murder. And Jen realizes that somewhere in the past lies the trigger for Todd’s terrible crime…and it is her mission to find it, and prevent it from taking place.”
I loved that the story also addressed motherhood and paying attention as life passes. I did guess a few of the reveals but I really enjoyed this journey. I’m looking forward to the author’s new one now!
Title: With Love, From Cold World
Author: Alicia Thompson
Genre: Rom Com
Publisher: Berkley, 8/1/23
Source: Publisher
Why I Read It: Sent to me for my review
My Rating: 5 Stars
I loved this co-worker enemies to lovers opposites attract story about two people who had difficult childhoods finding each other as well as a found family. Lauren was in the foster care system and now lives alone. She is the Cold World (an attraction in Orlando) bookkeeper and not known for being fun. Asa on the other hand is all about having fun. When their boss asks them to come up with a new plan for Cold World, they end up working together – and falling for each other.
“Lauren Fox is the bookkeeper for Cold World, a tourist destination that’s always a winter wonderland despite being located in humid Orlando, Florida. Sure, it’s ranked way below any of the trademarked amusement parks and maybe foot traffic could be better. But it’s a fun place to work, even if ‘fun’ isn’t exactly Lauren’s middle name. Her coworker Asa Williamson, on the other hand, is all about finding ways to enliven his days at Cold World—whether that means organizing the Secret Santa or teasing Lauren. When the owner asks Lauren and Asa to propose something (anything, really) to raise more revenue, their rivalry heats up as they compete to come up with the best idea. But the situation is more dire than they thought, and it might take these polar opposites working together to save the day. If Asa thought Lauren didn’t know how to enjoy herself, he’s surprised by how much he enjoys spending time together. And if Lauren thought Asa wasn’t serious about anything, she’s surprised by how seriously he seems to take her. As Lauren and Asa work to save their beloved wintery spot, they realize the real attraction might be the heat generating between them.”
The content warnings in the beginning mentioned that this book contains Christmas content, which made me laugh, as someone who is sensitive to how Christmas centric these next few months will be. There were no Jewish characters in the book, but there was lots of LGBTQ rep. Asa is bisexual and he has dealt with homophobia and biphobia from his family. I liked the sweet ending to this book and the cover is perfectly designed!
Title: Cleat Cute
Author: Meryl Wilsner
Genre: Rom Com
Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin, 9/19/23
Source: Publisher
Why I Read It: Sent to me for my review
My Rating: 5 Stars
I hadn’t gotten around to reading this author’s previous books even though I wanted to, and I ended up loving Cleat Cute! This is a soccer centric, queer, spicy, opposites attract rom com. Grace is a quiet and private person while Phoebe is loud, fun, and very open about herself. Grace is somewhat of a celebrity to Phoebe, since she’s always looked up to Grace and even has her poster on her wall. When they meet, they quickly become “friends with benefits,” but also a lot more!
“Grace Henderson has been a star of the US Women’s National Team for ten years, even though she’s only 26. But when she’s sidelined with an injury, a bold new upstart, Phoebe Matthews, takes her spot. 22-year-old Phoebe is everything Grace isn’t―a gregarious jokester who plays with a joy that Grace lost somewhere along the way. The last thing Grace expects is to become teammates with benefits with this class clown she sees as her rival. Phoebe Matthews is too focused on her first season as a professional soccer player to think about seducing her longtime idol. But when Grace ends up making the first move, they can’t keep their hands off of each other. As the World Cup approaches and Grace works her way back from injury, a miscommunication leaves the women with hilariously different perspectives on their relationship. But they’re on the same page on the field, realizing they can play together instead of vying for the same position. With every tackle the tension between them grows, and both players soon have to decide what’s more important―being together or making the roster.”
This book is full of queer characters. It addresses social class differences and neurodivergence, has great side characters, and made me want to watch soccer. While Grace seemed clueless sometimes and Phoebe was very quick to forgive, I couldn’t help loving them and their relationship.
Title: Ellie’s Deli: Wishing On Matzo Ball Soup
Author: Lisa Greenwald
Genre: Middle Grade Contemporary
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio, 9/5/23
Source: Publisher Audio
Why I Read It: Looked like a good read
My Rating: 5 Stars
When I saw Ellie’s Deli: Wishing on Matzo Ball Soup by Lisa Greenwald as an option to listen to I knew it would be perfect for me to listen to this week leading up to the Jewish holidays. Lukshen Deli, aka Ellie’s Deli, is owned by 11 year old Ellie’s grandparents, Bubbie and Zeyda, and has been in their family for generations. When a restaurant group wants to take over, Ellie wishes on the steaming pot of matzo ball soup to save the deli. Making wishes like this has helped before! But Ellie also comes up with her own ideas to help the deli make more money and attract more customers, including having a daily prayer service for mourners to help them find community.
“When Ellie accidentally overhears that her family deli is most likely going to close, she does the only thing she can think of. She makes a wish on matzo ball soup. Eleven-year-old Ellie is feisty, determined, and a little bit anxious. She considers Lukshen Deli part of the family—after all, it’s been around for four generations, ever since her great-grandmother opened it. Along with her BFF, Ava; her sisters, Anna and Mabel; her lunch buddies, Aanya, Brynn, Nina, and Sally; and her grandparents, Bubbie and Zeyda, Ellie is determined to prove that old fashioned Jewish delis can get with the times—but if her plan doesn’t work, the deli will be sold for good.”
I loved how Jewish traditions and rituals were explained and included throughout this book and how it is obvious that while food is such an amazing part of Judaism, so is the community and the family. Ellie has lovely relationships with her friends, sisters, parents, and grandparents and that made this book special. She is also a great worrier and I loved how she made lists of goals to help keep her anxiety controlled. The narrator, Gail Shalan, did a wonderful job voicing young characters as well as seniors with unique voices. The book also includes recipes! I believe this is the start of a new series which I will be happy to continue!
Title: Reign
Author: Katharine McGee
Genre: YA Contemporary
Publisher: Random House Books For Young Readers, 8/29/23
Source: Publisher
Why I Read It: Sent to me for my review
My Rating: 5 Stars
While we received an advanced copy of Reign, book 4 in the American Royals series, I had to wait and read the finished version because my teens stole the ARC! In Reign, we catch up with all the characters in the series and meet some new ones. (Don’t read the description if you aren’t caught up with the series!)
“America’s royal family is in shambles. Queen Beatrice is in a coma and Princess Samantha has gone missing—from the look of things, she ran away with her boyfriend, Lord Marshall Davis. Which means that Prince Jefferson is currently on the throne. For some in America, it’s exactly what they wanted: a King ruling the country. And for Daphne Deighton, who has tricked Jefferson into dating her again, it’s the ultimate dream come true. Surely this is all just temporary. Won’t Beatrice wake up and reclaim her rightful place? Samantha can’t really be gone…can she? And Prince Jefferson will never truly be over his childhood crush, Nina Gonzalez. Right? For the Washington family, the stakes are higher than ever. Love might save the throne….if secrets don’t destroy everything first.”
It seems that everyone in the series ended up where they were meant to be. This one was actually my favorite of the series, although I hoped for a different reveal about one of the side plots! I still maintain that this series needs to become a TV show.
Title: Forget Me Not
Author: Julie Soto
Genre: Rom Com
Publisher: Forever, 7/11/23
Source: Publisher
Why I Read It: Sent to me for my review
My Rating: 5 Stars
I was silly and put off reading Forget Me Not because of the hype. Since I don’t usually enjoy overhyped books, I was afraid I wouldn’t like this one. But I loved it! This is about Ama, who is a wedding planner who doesn’t want to get married due to the fact that her mother has been married 15+ times. Elliot is a florist and he and Ama must work together on an influencer’s wedding – two years after their previous break up. Ama’s viewpoint is the present story while Elliot’s describes their past together.
“Ama Torres is an optimistic wedding planner who doesn’t believe in marriage. But weddings? They’re amazing. Elliot Bloom is a brooding florist who hates owning a flower shop…until a certain bright-eyed, donut-loving workaholic shows up at his door. Once upon a time, they collaborated on events by day, and by night, Ama traced the intricate flower tattoos etched along his body. Then Ama shattered his heart and never spoke to Elliot again. Now they’re working on an event that could make or break both of their careers—except neither of them has gotten over what happened two years ago. Things are not helped by the two brides, who see the obvious chemistry between Ama and Elliot and are determined to set them up, not knowing their complicated history. But as the wedding takes on a life of its own, Ama and Elliot are about to discover that some things can survive a complete catastrophe . . .”
I loved Elliot and Ama together and separately and I also enjoyed the wedding planning plot. One complaint – why do the characters on the cover look elvish? When I first saw this book I thought it was fantasy – it’s not!
Title: You, Again
Author: Kate Goldbeck
Genre: Rom Com
Publisher: The Dial Press, 9/12/23
Source: Publisher
Why I Read It: Sent to me for my review
My Rating: 5 Stars
You, Again has mixed reviews but I loved it. I’m a big When Harry Met Sally fan and while this isn’t a “retelling” of that story, it has the feel and essence of Harry and Sally’s enemies to friends story. But it’s gender swapped. Josh is a romantic while Ari is commitment adverse. They become friends while they are getting over separate relationships and aren’t in great places individually. Josh falls for Ari but she is scared to risk their friendship.
“When Ari and Josh first meet, the wrong kind of sparks fly. They hate each other. Instantly. A free-spirited, struggling comedian who likes to keep things casual, Ari sublets, takes gigs, and she never sleeps over after hooking up. Born-and-bred Manhattanite Josh has ambitious plans: Take the culinary world by storm, find The One, and make her breakfast in his spotless kitchen. They have absolutely nothing in common . . . except that they happen to be sleeping with the same woman. Ari and Josh never expect their paths to cross again. But years later, as they’re both reeling from ego-bruising breakups, a chance encounter leads to a surprising connection: friendship. Turns out, spending time with your former nemesis is fun when you’re too sad to hate each other—and too sad for hate sex. As friends-without-benefits, they find comfort in late-night Netflix binges, swiping through each other’s online dating profiles, and bickering across boroughs. It’s better than romance. Until one night, the unspoken boundaries of their platonic relationship begin to blur. . . .”
I could really feel the angst when the two were apart from one another. I liked how the depths of the characters were explored. I wondered why Josh didn’t have any friends though – just his sister. This book has Jewish rep, as well as bisexual rep.
These books range from rom com to thriller, middle grade to adult, and I loved them all. Come back next week for the rest of my September reads!
Do you have a favorite book you’ve read this month?