Everything I Read in October

Somehow another month had passed since my last book review post and I made it through another good stack! Here is a roundup of all the books I read in October in case you’re looking for some literary inspiration.

The Neighbor’s Secret - Here’s the basic plot - The members of the Cottonwood Book Club all have secrets they’re keeping. But when a vandal starts targeting the community the women have to decide how far they’ll go to keep their secrets and what they’ll do to protect their families.

This book definitely falls in the slow burn category which is personally a genre I love. Told through multiple POVs and flashing between current day and events 15 years ago, the story unfolds in ways you’d never expect. I loved the dynamics of all the women and learning more about the challenges of their lives (and especially about their children and how challenging parenting is), no matter how perfect they seem on the outside. It reads like a meaty drama and I actually found myself forgetting there was some type of central mystery we were working towards. As much as it is a slow burn the pace intensifies and speeds up as we get closer to unraveling all their secrets but it didn’t feel rushed or abrupt as we approached the ending. And best of all, it kept me guessing until the very end!

I really enjoyed this one and would recommend to anyone who enjoys slow burns, family thrillers, Jane Harper and Liane Moriarty books.

The Ex Hex - I skipped this one in my BOTM box and then had instant regret as I saw it popping up everywhere. It was a perfectly cute and enjoyable read I just wasn’t super drawn to it. I only managed to get through a few chapters a night so it took me over a week to get through it. 🪄🧙🏻‍♀️🔮

But here’s a fun fact for you - the author wrote this under a pen name and she is also the author of The Wife Upstairs which I loved!

While it wasn’t my personal fave, I think anyone that’s intrigued by the synopsis, enjoys Hocus Pocus or Halloweentown or enjoys seasonal spooky reads will likely enjoy this one.

Everything We Didn’t Say - It took me several days to get through because it is a slow burn and I never felt compelled to pick it up until the last third when it really picked up. While I did really like the main character Juniper, the overall plot it felt a little repetitive and although I do like slow burns I found myself wishing it would speed up. I wouldn’t put this book on my list of recommends but also think you could still enjoy it if you like family drama thrillers.

The Winter Street Series (all 4 books) - The series follows the Nantucket based Quinn family as they come together for the holidays and of course drama ensues. There’s heartbreak, cheating, secret romances, ex-spouses, you name it and it’s probably in there.

I was a fan of the series and would give it was 3.5 stars overall (I loved the first few books and enjoyed the last ones). I loved the cast of characters and got really invested in their stories. I do feel like you could tell the books were written as a series because they each ended fairly abruptly so if you’re thinking of just reading one it might not be a terribly satisfying end. Also the 4th book introduces a character from one of her other novels that I haven’t read. I could follow along but it felt a little random to include a new character so late in the series.

Rock Paper Scissors - Bookstagram made do it! And at first I was afraid you’d all steered me wrong BUT then I passed page 40 and I was all in. So if you’re reading this and not sure if you’re digging it quite yet, keep going!

I don’t think I can add anything that’s not out there already, but I will say the twist totally shocked me and involved a lot of me saying “waaaaiiit, whaaaat???” and then it got even twistier. ❄️❄️

And just in case you aren’t familiar with this one, the story follows Mr and Mrs. Wright, a couple in an unhappy marriage. In a desperate attempt to save their marriage they travel to a remote town in Scotland where they won a weekend away. However as expected in a thriller, the weekend doesn’t go as planned and secrets and lies are all revealed.

Happy reading!

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