Tuesday, September 30, 2025

🍂 Fall Into A New Month...🍂 | September 2025

Hello, all! The 'ber months are upon us... Yay! Cooler weather is definitely one of my favorite things about the upcoming season. Anyways, I've got a lot of fun things to share with you for this month! It was a well-rounded, balanced month for me personally. Let's get into it!

The majority of the September favorites featured...


 Favorite Music (had a great round of all the different types of rock this month- not too mad about it):


Favorite Coffee and / or Tea (both of these coffees were good!):


Favorite Body Care and / or Skincare product(s):


Favorite Workout Videos:


Favorite Book(s) I've Read and / or listened to as an audiobook via Spotify: 

  • Dead Poets' Society by N.H. Kleinbaum: This told a story of these kids that were inspired by this teacher- John Keating is his name- and discovered about this secret society of where they relish and rave about poetry. It had some good messages scattered throughout the whole book, too. Enjoyed it! Link: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dead-poets-society-nh-kleinbaum/1013395713?ean=9781401308773

  • And He Shall Appear by Kate Van der Borgh: This was such a hauntingly beautiful written book from a new-to-me author- it's told in dual timelines (which confused me some) but didn't stop me from liking this read! Link: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/and-he-shall-appear-kate-van-der-borgh/1144884079?ean=9781454952619

  • The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston: This was my 2nd book of Ashley's I enjoyed! We meet Florence of who is a ghostwriter for a popular romance author, she had a deadline to meet literally the next day and gets the phone call she doesn't want- her dad has passed away. She wasn't expecting to come back home since as a kid she was picked on for being different (it states why in the book). Her family- her mom, brother and younger sister- barely hanging on by a thread trying to plan out their dad's funeral. Did I leave out the detail they run a funeral home? I guess did but not going to forget it now. Anyways, Florence not only has that to do but has a ghost of her own- the editor that gave her the deadline due the next day- Benji Andor (I also forgot she can talk to ghosts too just like her late dad in the book can). She is now navigating this ghost, her family planning her dad's funeral (plus the very unique requests her dad asked for prior to his passing), too. Florence is also trying to let go of her past while there on her visit home- she ties some loose ends up with an enemy (that surprisingly changed) from high school. Her dad's funeral happens, and Florence was given a letter from her late dad to read there and I'll admit, it did make me tear up some. By the end, we learn some surprising connections about Benji to the author Florence ghostwrites for and that ghost I mentioned? You just have to read to what happened to him (I know I know I'm not fun) by the end of the book! This was such a funny, heartbreaking, and a wonderfully told story. Also enjoyed Florence's best friend, Rose- great side character in this read! Link: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-dead-romantics-ashley-poston/1140302582?ean=9780593336489

  • The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna (library pick): This was such a wholesome & cozy read! Enjoyed the found family aspect & all the whimsy the book offered, too. Link: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-very-secret-society-of-irregular-witches-sangu-mandanna/1140555514?ean=9780593439357

  • Starling House by Alix E. Harrow (library pick): This is one fantasy book that took me on a ride! We meet our female main character, Opal, living with her brother at a run-down motel and she has these dreams of the Starling House. She enjoyed the fictional author's work, The Underland, and it seems that these dreams from her own head plus the story itself are coming to life. The writing in here was good, but I also appreciated the footnotes & illustrations, too. Link: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/starling-house-alix-e-harrow/1142827202?ean=9781250799050

  • Immortal Dark by Tigest Girma (library pick): This book had me so hooked! I've never read anything like this before- the writing, the dark academia vibes, the enemies-to-lovers trope and the vampires (all of this was great) and looking forward to whatever book #2 is gonna offer (yep, it's a series- dare I say, trilogy?). Link: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/immortal-dark-tigest-girma/1144547348?ean=9780316570398

  • The Heartbreak Hotel by Ellen O'Clover (My September 2025 BOTM Read): What a read! We meet Louisa of who got her heartbroken by her ex, Nate. She shared a house with her now ex, Nate, and it's the only thing she wanted out of the breakup. Then, Louisa has a lightbulb idea to run The Comeback Inn for those of who were recently heartbroken. She has to ask her landlord/pet doctor about this idea and he seems to be on board with this idea. Over the course of the book, Louisa runs this inn with her friend, Mei, and the idea begins to be a success. Henry and Louisa have an immediate connection from the start then a romance blossoms- it goes up-and-down as it would. We learn that the both of them are hiding things from one other in the book, too. They eventually open up to one another and it takes a turn; they eventually stay with each other by the book. I did really like this one! Link: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-heartbreak-hotel-ellen-oclover/1146743841?ean=9780593952542

  • Do Not Disturb by Frieda McFadden: This isn't my first rodeo with this author but yet again she surprised me- have a woman on the run from an unthinkable crime then she ends up staying at this run-down motel and I think she's deeply regretting going there. We also witness the owner's ailing wife across the street just casually watching- not moving at all (creepy, I know). But we get the backstory of the wife- plus her MS diagnosis- and how she met her husband (liked how all that got connected). Then we get a few secondary character POVs- one from the main female characters' sister (didn't see any of that coming with her) and the psychic (reading what this character did by the end of the book had my jaw dropped). Link: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/do-not-disturb-freida-mcfadden/1140860173?ean=9781464227288

  • Long Live the Pumpkin Queen by Shea Earnshaw (a re-read option; book 1 in the series): This book was great! Even though it does read young adult/teen, the writing in it was good. The story kept you interested and engaged the whole time- it was like watching the movie all over again (I've seen it way too much- hate to admit that part). The whimsy & magic of all the holiday realms (the doors really) I remember from the opening of the movie were wonderful to picture in my mind. Jack & Sally forever! Link: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/long-live-the-pumpkin-queen-shea-ernshaw/1147106319?ean=9781368115988

  • Hour of the Pumpkin Queen by Megan Shepherd (book 2 in the series follows up after Long Live the Pumpkin Queen): This book explored more of the realms (even the quirky characters that come with it), a dragon named Scorch (I know I know...), Sally & Luna (the “sister” she didn't know she needed) on a quest to save time and prevent Halloweentown from being gone. And we also get more of Jack & Sally's love story- such a softie with this stuff I'll hate to admit that here. It was so fun for Sally, Luna & Scorch to go on this quest and just the enjoying the journey with them as I was reading. Maybe potential for a third book? Universe, you listening? Link: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/hour-of-the-pumpkin-queen-megan-shepherd/1147115354?ean=9781368089302

  • The Four by Ellie Keel: This was the most gripping, intense, speechless kind of story- something unlike of it's kind. There are triggers in the book that didn't sit well with me personally but do look that up before you read it. It didn't stop me too much from reading this! Link: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-four-ellie-keel/1143508229?ean=9780063394384

  • The September House by Carissa Orlando (library pick): This book surprised me! We meet Margaret and Hal of who move into this house- did I forget this house has had a bit of it's own haunted history? The house has occurrences that only happen in, you guessed it, September. Hal suddenly leaves and we don't know where he went- that whole part of the story led me to a surprising ending. Do look up your trigger warnings prior to this read (touched on some heavy stuff especially with our cruel villain, Master Vale plus Margaret & Hal's relationship, too in the book). It was a mix of movie-style horror, real-life horrors, and the humor thrown into story helped easily digest some of the heavier stuff better. This book appealed to this scaredy cat over here and that is saying something for sure! Link: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-september-house-carissa-orlando/1142804229?ean=9780593548622

  • The Maidens by Alex Michaelides (library pick): This author knew how to craft a such a suspensful, dark academia thriller. It kept me so interested and hooked! I was so surprised by who the killer was by the near end of the book. Enjoyed it! Link: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-maidens-alex-michaelides/1138488921?ean=9781250304469

  • Not Quite Dead Yet by Holly Jackson (library pick): This was such a different concept of a book and quite enjoyed it! Jet is attacked on Halloween night, suffers from some horrible brain damage that could potentially cause a deadly aneursym, and she has 7 days to figure put who attacked her. Her friend, Billy, comes to the rescue and helps her out (also an aspiring musician, too). I wasn't expecting that ending at all; also just wanted some more of the side characters' connection to Jet (backstories mainly)- only slight thing I nitpicked at- but overall good read! Link: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/not-quite-dead-yet-holly-jackson/1146395864?ean=9798217092123

  • You Belong Here by Megan Miranda (library pick): This was my 4th read of Megan's and it had the signature plot twists, wonderful mystery and had a totally different feel than the others I've read of hers (which isn't a bad thing I can tell you that). I was just left confused in spots of the story (only thing I nit picked at) but otherwise a solid thriller in my opinion. Link: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/you-belong-here-megan-miranda/1146596220?ean=9781668080979


I hope you enjoyed this month's favorites- looking forward to what Fall, spooky season (if you choose to celebrate that), and Thanksgiving has to offer in the next few months. See you next month!

-Lauren-


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