October 2019 Reading & Blogging Wrap-Up

Goodbye October!

Wowza October was a whirlwind! For those of you that celebrate Halloween, I hope everyone had a wonderful evening! Here in Ohio it was 30° with bone chilling wind gusts… Let’s just say we only made it up and down our street before we called it quits on trick-or-treating.

Let’s see what I got accomplishing in October… Spoiler alert, it isn’t much lol

October is always the busiest month for my family. Our wedding anniversary is in October. My husband’s birthday, my son’s birthday, and my daughter’s birthday are all in October. We attend a lot of Halloween parties in October. Our weekends are always jam packed.

In addition to our busy social life in October, I worked almost every week day as well. It is definitely been an adjustment going from being a stay-at-home parent to working full time. How do all you working parents do it?! Work all day. Run your kids to sports & activities all evening. Social engagements all weekend. I’m exhausted! I barely have time to read let alone blog 😦

I got to attend TWO amazing author events this month: Ruta Sepetys’ book tour for The Fountains of Silence and Books by the Banks, a book festival held here in Ohio. Both were amazing events that I am very fortunate to have been able to attend. I’ll be writing up a full post for both these events soon!

» Heroine by Mindy McGinnis

Mindy McGinnis is the queen of hard-hitting YA contemporary. This book is the best portrayals of drug addiction that I’ve ever read. It was raw, gritty, and unsettling. Trigger/content warning for drug use/addiction.

» Where the Light Enters (The Gilded Hour #2) by Sara Donati

*4.5 Stars*

The second book in a spin off series to one of my favorite historical fiction series, the Into the Wilderness series. I did not love the second book as much as the first, but I am really enjoying this series overall. Sara Donati writes amazing characters that feel so real.

» Not a Drop to Drink (Not a Drop to Drink #1) by Mindy McGinnis

*3.5 Stars*

This is a solid YA dystopian fiction. While I really enjoyed the dystopian setting & the survivalist aspects to this story, the climax felt very rushed.

» The Enchanted Hour: The Miraculous Power of Reading Aloud in the Age of Distraction by Meghan Cox Gurdon

Wonderful book about the benefits of reading aloud and the science that backs it up.

» House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig

A deliciously atmospheric fairy tale retelling that is perfect for fall/Halloween time. While I loved the writing & the way Craig retold the fairy tale, it came up a bit short for me.

» Behold the Dreamers by Imbolo Mbue

This was a wonderful & heartbreaking story about the challenges that immigrants face trying to live the “American dream.”

» Tunnel of Bones (Cassidy Blake #2) by Victoria Schwab

*4.5 stars*

The second book in a MG paranormal series. I enjoyed this one even more than the first!

» The Hideaway by Lauren K. Denton

The Hideaway had many of the tropes I typically enjoy: eccentric cast, old house renovation, family secrets, etc. There was something lacking from the story for me. It also felt too cliche.

» The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson

This book was very unsettling. I’m glad I listened to it via audiobook, because I think it really enhanced the eerie elements.

Goodreads Challenge Update:

I met my 2019 Goodreads reading challenge this month! I have read 104 books so far in 2019!

#YARC2019 Update: 15 Books Read

Year of Asian Reading Challenge TBR + Progress Tracker #YARC2019

October 2019 TBR

Mini Book Reviews: September 2019 – Part 2

YOU Pick My November 2019 TBR

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