October 2021 Reads — Like the Comet

Ah yes. October. The Harvest Month. Spooky szn, if you will.

Besides being in a wedding, my October was pretty lowkey. I ate my weight in pumpkin chocolate chip cookies, broke out all of my cozy sweaters, drank some Witches Brew wine, broke out all over my face, and read quite a few books. :)

So let’s get into these reviews!

*All summaries taken or paraphrased from Goodreads.

DUNE by Frank Herbert

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Summary: Set on the desert planet Arrakis, Dune is the story of the boy Paul Atreides, heir to a noble family tasked with ruling an inhospitable world where the only thing of value is the “spice” melange, a drug capable of extending life and enhancing consciousness. Coveted across the known universe, melange is a prize worth killing for… When House Atreides is betrayed, the destruction of Paul’s family will set the boy on a journey toward a destiny greater than he could ever have imagined. And as he evolves into the mysterious man known as Muad’Dib, he will bring to fruition humankind’s most ancient and unattainable dream.

My Thoughts: Oo-wee. Where to even start with this book? Dune was a DOOZY to say the least, and pretty complex right from the get-go. The first 100 pages are an information dumpage to the extreme and I had to keep rereading pages because it was hard to get my footing with the storyline until probably 25% into the book. In general, this book definitely serves a foundation-building purpose for the rest of the series, so take that in stride. The other aspect of Dune that made getting thoroughly invested a little tough was the style of writing. I’m not saying I didn’t appreciate it, but I’ve never read anything else like it. I realized after finishing the book that it was written in 1965, and was basically patient zero for books of the science fiction genre. So, I have mad respect for it in that regard, but whether it was the pacing, the characters, or overall storyline, I was never 100% enthralled. Like so much shit happens and so many characters are introduced throughout, there was no point in trying to hypothesize any plot twists. Am I going to go see the movie? Hell yes. Am I going to continue on with this series? I honestly haven’t decided yet. If science fiction is usually your jam, then I say go for it! If sci-fi isn’t your cuppa tea then I’d say to let this one sit until you’re in the m00d for it.

CEMETERY BOYS by Aiden Thomas

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: When his traditional Latinx family has problems accepting his gender, Yadriel becomes determined to prove himself a real brujo. With the help of his cousin and best friend Maritza, he performs the ritual himself, and then sets out to find the ghost of his murdered cousin and set it free. However, the ghost he summons is actually Julian Diaz, the school’s resident bad boy, and Julian is not about to go quietly into death. He’s determined to find out what happened and tie up some loose ends before he leaves. Left with no choice, Yadriel agrees to help Julian, so that they can both get what they want. But the longer Yadriel spends with Julian, the less he wants him to leave.

My Thoughts: All the feels, my friends. All the feels. This was the perfect book for me to kick off my sp00ky season reading list with, and absolutely stole my heart in the process. Starting with the main characters, Yadriel and Julian. Each was vibrant and complex in his own unique way, but never overpowered the other. If anything, they were the perfect serving of chaos, comfort, bravery, understanding, and selflessness. I also loved Yadriel’s cousin, Maritza, because she was Yadriel’s O.G. confidant and companion, and added sass where there needed to be. The overall storyline was beautifully written, and although the plot twist probably should’ve been more evident to me, I did not see it coming right away. Just learning so much about the brujx community and traditions was interesting enough to keep me invested. My favorite takeaway from this book, though, was learning more about the experience of a person who is transitioning, but not taking hormones. It was incredibly eye-opening about the daily adversities trans-people encounter - both in their personal and public lives - and the author wrote Yadriel’s experience in a way that made it easy to understand how to be a better ally to those in the trans community. Cemetery Boys is an empowering story that you really shouldn’t sleep on.

ISN’T IT BROMANTIC by Lyssa Kay Adams

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: Elena Konnikova has lived her entire adult life in the shadows. As the daughter of a Russian journalist who mysteriously disappeared, she escaped danger the only way she knew how: She married her childhood friend, Vladimir, and moved to the United States, where he is a professional hockey player in Nashville. Vlad, aka the Russian, thought he could be content with his marriage of convenience. But it’s become too difficult to continue in a one-sided relationship. He joined the Bromance Book Club to learn how to make his wife love him, but all he’s learned is that he deserves more. He’s ready to create his own sweeping romance. The bros are unwilling to let Vlad forgo true love - and this time they’re not operating solo. They join forces with Vlad’s neighbors, a group of meddling widows who call themselves the Loners. But just when things finally look promising, Elena’s past life intrudes and their happily ever after is cast into doubt.

My Thoughts: The Bromance Book Club series has become somewhat of a guilty pleasure read for me, and the fourth installment was no exception! I loved the different approach the author took in this one with the relationship stemming from childhood best friends who married out of convenience. We’ve seen Vlad, aka The Russian, in previous books, but all we knew about him from those was that he has stomach issues all the time. So, I really enjoyed getting to see some depth added to his character through this storyline. It gave me all the feels to watch Vlad and Elena work to be vulnerable with each other in order to save their marriage. That said, it mildly irks me when poor communication skills are the main issue in a book between two characters, and that was basically the case here. Like they never just said what they were thinking, which was so irritating because so much could’ve been addressed by having a frank conversation lol. I also wish the swoony romance parts would have been either longer or more frequent. It kind of felt like Elena’s side storyline over-shadowed that a bit when it didn’t really need to. Overall though, this was a cute read if you’re looking for something along the lines of a rom-com!

MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS by Agatha Christie

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: Just after midnight, a snowdrift stops the Orient Express in its tracks. The luxurious train is surprisingly full for the time of the year, but by the morning it is one passenger fewer. An American tycoon lies dead in his compartment, stabbed a dozen times, his door locked from the inside. Isolated with a killer in their midst, detective Hercule Poirot must identify the murderer - in case he or she decides to strike again.

My Thoughts: This was my first Agatha Christie book, and I honestly wasn’t sure what to expect, but I was pleasantly surprised in different ways than I anticipated. Firstly, I liked how she immerses you into the story at the start of the book by setting the scene, introducing you to some of the characters, etc. Then once the investigation actually begins, everything is broken down in an organized format where the chapters are titled by interviews and evidence. With twelve different characters you have to remember specific details about, I found this setup to be incredibly helpful for keeping track of everything. Especially as I was reading chunks of this book every night and not in one sitting. Overall, I really enjoyed this murder mystery and never suspected the outcome. So, if you’re looking for something quick, this would be a good book to pick up!

ONE OF US IS LYING by Karen M. McManus

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: Pay close attention and you might solve this. On Monday afternoon, five students at Bayview High walk into detention. Bronwyn, the brain, is Yale-bound and never breaks a rule. Addy, the beauty, is the picture-perfect homecoming princess. Nate, the criminal, is already on probation for dealing. Cooper, the athlete, is the all-star baseball pitcher. And Simon, the outcast, is the creator of Bayview High’s notorious gossip app. Only Simon never makes it out of that classroom. Before the end of detention, Simon’s Dead. And according to investigators, his death wasn’t an accident. On Monday, he died. But on Tuesday, he’d planned to post juicy reveals about all four of his high-profile classmates, which makes all four of them suspects in his murder. Or are they the perfect patsies for a killer who’s still on the loose? Everyone has secrets, right? What really matters is how far you would go to protect them.

My Thoughts: Remix The Breakfast Club to include a murder mystery and those are the vibes this book is serving. I literally could not put it down - it’s a certified page-turner to say the least. No surprise to anyone, the characters are what did it for me in this book. I basically loved every single one of them AND they ALL (clap) HAD (clap) SOLID (clap) CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT (clap x2). We love to see it, y’all. Besides, Nate and Cooper have both officially been inducted into the “Book Boyfriend Hall of Fame” for me, so lol. Bronwyn and Addy were absolute badasses though, so don’t underestimate them! The plot in general was thick and twisty, and although the solution to this mystery wasn’t necessarily the strongest, I definitely didn’t see it coming. So, I loved all of it nonetheless. If you’re looking for a great YA mystery/thriller, I definitely recommend getting your hands on a copy of this book!

A SPECIAL PLACE FOR WOMEN by Laura Hankin

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Summary: For years, rumors have swirled about an exclusive, women-only social club where the elite tastemakers of NYC meet. People in the know whisper all sorts of claims: Membership dues cost $1K a month. The women even handpicked the city’s first female mayor, but no one knows for sure. That is, until journalist Jillian Beckly decides she’s going to break into the club. With her career in freefall, Jillian needs a juicy scoop, and she has personal interest in bringing these women down. But the deeper she gets into this new world - where billionaire “girlbosses” mingle with the astrology-obsessed - the more Jillian learns that bad things happen to those who dare question the club’s motives or giggle at its outlandish rituals. The select group of women who populate the club may be far more powerful than she ever imagined. And far more dangerous too.

My Thoughts: Honestly? This book was as enjoyable as it was strange lol. Jillian is experiencing some tough times after losing her mom and her job within just a few months of each other. So although Nevertheless keeps getting weirder as the story goes on, she doesn’t have much else going on in life, so I understood why she was drawn back to this secret women’s club time and time again. I will say, it’s only mildly odd until about 60% and then you hit a freaking bizarre plot twist that takes everything in a wild direction lol. There’s a friends-to-lovers side plot in this that was super cute and kept everything grounded as things got v strange with Jillian’s involvement with the club. Even though the conclusion to this odd ride wasn’t as groundbreaking or juicy as I had hoped, it was still satisfying.

SHARP OBJECTS by Gillian Flynn

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: Fresh from a brief stay at a psych hospital, reporter Camille Preaker faes a troubling assignment: she must return to her tiny hometown to cover the unsolved murder of a preteen girl and the disappearance of another. For years, Camille has hardly spoken to her neurotic, hypochondriac mother or to the half-sister she barely knows: a beautiful 13-year-old with an eerie grip on the town. Now, installed in her old bedroom in her family’s Victorian mansion, Camille finds herself identifying with the young victims - a bit too strongly. Dogged by her own demons, she must unravel the psychological puzzle of her own past if she wants to get the story - and survive this homecoming.

My Thoughts: This book was dark and twisted and THRILLING. I’m going to start by saying this quick read is not for the faint of heart. There were portions of the story that literally made my skin crawl and I had to stop reading to get out of that mindset for a little bit. The main character, Camille, was the perfect unlikeable protagonist for this. She’s got a dark past and comes off as morally gray, but as you start seeing into her psyche, it’s clear why. The plot itself was creepy to say the least, and the side characters were all sorts of interesting, so I was constantly second guessing my prediction for “whodunnit” because everyone was looking a little sus. Like I said, it’s not for the faint of heart, but if you want a short book that will make your teeth clench a little bit, this is a good one. Please see the content/trigger warnings beforehand though. CW/TW: murder, self harm, alcholism, verbal and emotional abuse, gore/corpse descriptions, drug abuse, and rape.

BARBARIAN’S MATE by Ruby Dixon

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: ‘Renosance’ is supposed to be a dream - that’s when your soulmate is chosen for you. And everyone on the ice planet has hooked up with a hunky soulmate of their own except for Josie. Does she want a mate? Heck yeah. More than anything, all she’s ever wanted is to be loved by someone. Expect the soulmate chosen for her? Her least favorite person on that darn ice planet. Haedan’s the most cranky, disapproving, unpleasant, overbearing male alien. So why is it her khui sings when he gets close? Why is he working so hard to prove to her that he’s not as awful as she thinks he is? Josie hates him... doesn’t she?

My Thoughts: This book took a different direction than other books, and I found the mini adventure of it incredibly enjoyable! We follow an enemies-to-lovers trope between Josie, a talkative ball of sunshine, and Haeden, the biggest grumpy alien around. This pairing is the last two anyone ever expected to resonate with each other because they’re complete opposites. That said, I really enjoyed both going through their character developments and watching them slowly open up to each other about their pasts. It made Josie and Haeden much more empathetic and understanding of each other’s behaviors better, which in turn made their relationship so much stronger. The plot twist of Josie finding another portion of the spaceship Kira crashed was a really exciting development in the series because we’ve been following each of the human women thus far, so I was wondering what would happen to keep the series going. Overall, I sincerely liked following Josie’s and Haeden’s story - it had spice, adventure, and all the things we love to see in a sci-fi romance.

BARBARIAN’S TOUCH by Ruby Dixon

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Summary: When Lilah wakes up on the ice planet, she’s scared of everything: this place is cold, silent, and the locals look more like blue devils than aliens. To make matters worse, one of the strangers decides she’s going to be his girlfriend and kidnaps her away from her sister. Lilah is completely and utterly alone. What’s a girl to do? Well, this girl escapes. Of course, that means she goes from the frying pan into the fire, and her situation gets even more dangerous. Just when Lilah has no hope left, a new hero appears. Sure, he’s blue, horned, and has a tail. He’s also fierce, protective and thinks Lilah is perfect. But is what they have real or just a mating instinct.

My Thoughts: Y’all, this one may just be my favorite of the series thus far. Lilah is deaf and everyone, including her sister Maddie, is hoping that once her khui kicks in, it will fix the hearing issue. Everyone except the very sweet Rokan who thinks Lilah is pure perfection and views the fact that others can’t communicate with her using ASL as a flaw on their end. I loved watching their relationship grow and it was incredibly heartwarming to see Rokan trying everything he can to communicate with Lilah to build her trust. One of the cooler parts of this book was the glimpses we get to see of the Metlaks - aka Yetis. Throughout all of the other books, they’ve been described as incredibly dumb and aggressive animals. During this adventure with Lilah, she has a few encounters with one specific Metlak who uses hand signs to communicate as well, and ends up helping her during a crisis. So, it was interesting to see a new side of these creatures. For y’all who want the lowdown on the smut, there was plentyyy of spice to be had in this book lol, and I definitely recommend reading it if you’ve made it this far in the series!

THE HAWTHORNE LEGACY by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: The Inheritance Games ended with a bombshell, and now heiress Avery Grambs has to pick up the pieces and find the man who might hold the answers to all of her questions - including why Tobias Hawthorne left his entire fortune to Avery, a virtual stranger, rather than to his own daughters or grandsons. Thanks to a DNA test, Avery knows she’s not a Hawthorne by blood, but clues pile up hinting at a deeper connection to the family than she had every imagined. As the mystery grows and the plot thickens, Grayson and Jameson, the enigmatic and magnetic Hawthorne grandsons, continue to pull Avery in different directions. And there are threats lurking around every corner, as adversaries emerge who will stop at nothing to see Avery out of the picture - by any means necessary.

My Thoughts: Why do I love this YA mystery series so much? My friends, I cannot put my finger on it, but I’m invested and I don’t care who knows it. Between the teenage love triangle, the clues left by Gramps Tobias, and the insight we finally get into the missing Hawthorne’s disappearance - I was INVESTED. This book was just as fun as the first one and smoothly transitioned the story into a new puzzle Avery and the Hawthorne boys are left trying to solve. There were plot twists GALORE that left me feeling some type of way, and I was absolutely TORN between being Team Grayson and Team Jameson lol. Though this book is the second installment of what is supposed to be a trilogy by next year, I thought the ending wrapped up pretty nicely, so I’m not sure where the next book will go, but you best believe I plan to pick it up!

A TOUCH OF DARKNESS by Scarlett St. Clair

Rating: 3/5 stars

Summary: Persephone is the Goddess of Spring by title only. The truth is, since she was a little girl, flowers have shriveled at her touch. After moving to New Athens, she hopes to lead an unassuming life disguised as a mortal journalist. Hades, God of the Dead, has built a gambling empire in the mortal world and his favorite bets are rumored to be impossible. After a chance encounter with Hades, Persephone finds herself in a contract with the God of the Dead and the terms are impossible. She must create life in the Underworld or lose her freedom forever. The bet does more than expose Persephone’s failure as a Goddess, however. As she struggles to sow the seeds of her freedom, love for the God of the Dead grows - and it’s forbidden.

My Thoughts: Love us a modern day Greek Mythology retelling, do we not? Admittedly, I had to Google what the OG tea was on Persephone and Hades as I started reading this because I had no prior knowledge of them lol. Having some context helped me understand the dynamics between the characters better, but I wasn’t blown away by either of them. I wish Persephone’s development arc happened a little quicker. She was just so insecure and naive for most of the book, which led to poor decision making. Hades’ character had more depth that was slowly revealed as the plot went on, but I wish he didn’t have to keep saving our girl P. Also, this book is supposed to be spicy - which it definitely is at various times - but that doesn’t happen until almost more than 50% into the storyline. Overall, it didn’t blow me away but it’s an enjoyable quick read if you’re looking for a romance that’s a little different!

NEON GODS by Katee Robert

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Summary: Society darling Persephone Dimitriou plans to flee the ultra-modern city of Olympus and start over far from the backstabbing politics of the Thirteen Houses. But all that’s ripped away when her mother ambushes her with an engagement to Zeus, the dangerous power behind their glittering city’s dark facade. With no options left, Persephone flees to the forbidden undercity and makes a devil’s bargain with a man she once believed a myth - a man who awakens her to a world she never knew existed. Hades has spent his life in the shadows, and he has no intention of stepping into the light. But when he finds that Persephone can offer a little slice of the revenge he’s spent years craving, it’s all the excuse he needs to help her - for a price. Yet every breathless night spent tangled together has given Hades a taste for Persephone, and he’ll go to war with Olympus itself to keep her.

My Thoughts: So, I admit, I was on a Hades/Persephone retelling kick by the end of the month lol, and this book did NOT disappoint. It was the perfect balance of sweet and FREAKING SPICY. I liked that it gave a nod to the real tale of Hades “kidnapping” Persephones, but didn’t overdo the fantasy elements beyond an invisible barrier to the “Underworld” aka southside of the city. The main characters were absolutely magnetic and their development throughout the book was *chef’s kiss*. The chemistry between Hades and Persephone was utterly undeniable even an hour after they crossed paths, and that connection only grows stronger (and steamier) as the plot goes on. Personally, this was quite the page turner, but if you’re not into books that have a 50 Shades of Gray flavor to them, then this probs isn’t for you. Otherwise, enjoyyyy! :)

2021 Book Count: 88

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