Happy November! Wow, I can't believe it's November already. How did that happen? 

I started October with no plans to read a bookish book, but I somehow ended up reading four of them. All of them were enjoyable overall, although I can't say I really loved any of them. Here's what I read:

The Matzah Ball by Jean Meltzer—This contemporary romance is about a Jewish novelist with a secret passion for the most Christian of holidays. Very few people know that she is the bestselling author of a bunch of popular Christmas romances. When her editor suggests she write a Hanukah story instead, she finds herself desperately trying to embrace a holiday that seems dull and magic-less. When she's thrust into a holiday partnership with a man who once broke her heart, her life becomes even more complicated.

The Little Bookstore of Big Stone Gap by Wendy Welch—Have you ever dreamed of opening a bookstore? Then, you need to read this memoir about a married couple who decide on a whim to buy a dilapidated historic home in an economically-advantaged area and turn it into a used bookstore. The book details how they stumbled their way into success against all odds.

The Audacity of Sara Grayson by Joani Elliott—Sara Grayson is a writing teacher who pens greeting cards in her spare time. She hasn't delved into fiction since a famous editor ridiculed a draft of what was supposed to be her debut novel. So, when her mother—a bestselling mystery author—dies without completing the last book in her most popular series and leaves a request for it to be written by Sara, Sara is stunned. Now is her chance to make her fondest dream come true. Is she up to the task?

The Mystery of Mrs. Christie by Marie Benedict—This historical mystery is based on the real 11-day disappearance of iconic mystery writer Agatha Christie in 1926. No one knows why exactly she vanished, but Benedict's imagining of the events seem plausible. 

Have you read any of these bookish books? What did you think of them? Are you planning to read any bookish books in November? My reading for the rest of the year will be focused on books I need to finish in order to complete my reading challenges as well as the ones I need to read for the Cybils Awards. None of them are bookish as far as I know. The November selection for my book club is a bookish one, though:

Once Upon a Wardrobe by Patti Callahan—I've been meaning to read this historical novel ever since it came out. It's about a 17-year-old girl whose beloved younger brother is obsessed with C.S. Lewis' Chronicle of Narnia series. Bedridden because of illness, the child fixates on Narnia, so much so that his sister decides to seek out Lewis and ask him all of her brother's insistent questions about the books he loves. What ensues changes her strict, logical view on life.

I haven't started Once Upon a Wardrobe yet, but I'm looking forward to finally reading it. It seems like a magical holiday read. We'll see. 

It's October already? When did that happen? It's still warm here in Arizona, although our high today is only supposed to be 84. My husband and I have transitioned from doing our daily walk at a nearby mall to strolling in our neighborhood since it's been fairly cool in the mornings. We don't really get that lovely Fall briskness or the stunning changing leaf colors where I live, unfortunately, but I'll take the cooler weather. It's a welcome change after the unrelenting heat we've had this summer. 

I read a few bookish books in September. My Goodreads ratings are in parentheses and the title links to my review on that site:

The Matzah Ball by Jean Meltzer (3 1/2 stars)—a rom-com about a Jewish writer who has a secret career as a bestselling author of Christmas romances

Like Vanessa by Tami Charles (4 stars)—stars a young Black woman who dreams of being Miss America and loves to read, especially books by iconic Black authors like Maya Angelou, Toni Morrison, and Alice Walker

The World's Strongest Librarian by Josh Hanagarne (4 stars)—memoir by a Salt Lake City librarian who loves books and uses weight lifting as a way to control his Tourette's 

The Red Blazer Girls: The Vanishing Violin by Michael D. Beil (4 stars)—the second installment in a middle-grade series that features a group of classmates solving mysteries that always involve literary clues

I enjoyed all of these for the most part, but my favorites were Like Vanessa and The World's Strongest Librarian. Did you read any bookish books last month? Which did you like best?

With only three months left in 2023, I'm focusing on books I need to read to complete my reading challenges. None of them are particularly bookish, but I did come across two intriguing bookish books that I'll probably read for next year's challenge:

The Lost Library by Rebecca Stead and Wendy Mass—This middle-grade novel concerns the sudden appearance of a mysterious little free library in a small town. When a boy chooses two books from its depths, he doesn't realize how doing so will change his life. One of the books has to do with a past event in his town that no one wants to talk about. He starts asking questions, not realizing that he's opened a puzzling Pandora's box...

The Underground Library by Jennifer Ryan (available March 12, 2024)—Three women from different backgrounds unite to save their London neighborhood's library after it's destroyed in the Blitz in the newest World War II novel by one of my favorite historical fiction writers. 

Do you have any bookish books on the docket for October? 

It's TTT time and once again we've got a great topic—Top Ten Favorite Character Relationships—that I'm just not feeling. Since next week is all about our Fall TBR lists, I'm going to get that party started early with part one of my list. It's hard to believe, but we only have 110 days left in 2023 (not counting today). That's a little over three months to cram in all the reading I still want to accomplish this year. I've read 141 books so far, so I should have no trouble hitting my yearly goal of 200. I'm also doing well on all of my reading challenges, so I'm hoping to complete them by December 31 as well. To that end, the majority of the books on my Fall TBR are titles that I'm reading for reading challenges. 

Before we get to that, though, be sure to click on over to That Artsy Reader Girl and give our Top Ten Tuesday hostess with the mostest, Jana, some love!

1. Girlchild by Tupelo Hassman—This YA novel tells the story of Rory Hendrix, a smart, savvy girl who's desperate to prove she's not the future-less trailer trash everyone thinks she is. Told through a series of social workers' reports, arrest records, diary entries, letters, etc., it's an original coming-of-age story.

2. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid—When reclusive Evelyn Hugo, an aging Hollywood actress, finally decides to tell her life story to the press, she chooses an obscure reporter named Monique Grant. A shocked Monique listens in fascination as Evelyn reveals her incredible tale, one that—shockingly—intersects with Monique's own.

PopSugar Reading Challenge—A Book About Divorce AND the Historical Fiction Reading Challenge

3. War Girls by Tochi Onyebuchi—Set in 2172 Nigeria, this YA novel features two sisters who are determined to fight for their future on a climate-changed, war-ravaged, abandoned-for-space Earth. 

4. Last Call at the Nightingale by Katherine Schellman—The first installment in a historical mystery series, this novel features a Prohibition-era seamstress who's desperate to escape her tedious, poverty-stricken life. She finds freedom and escape at a secret dance hall where anything goes. When she discovers a dead body behind the club, she becomes embroiled in a dangerous murder investigation.

5. Sun Storm by Asa Larsson—This is the first book in a Swedish mystery series starring Stockholm lawyer Rebecka Martinsson. Our heroine returns to her hometown in spite of the disgrace she suffered there years before. Only an emergency would take her back and that's exactly what this is: her friend's brother has been viciously murdered. Rebecka will stop at nothing to find his killer.

Pick Your Poison Reading Challenge—A "Noir" Book AND the 52 Club Reading Challenge—Nordic Noir

6. The Matzah Ball by Jean Meltzer—Rachel Rubenstein-Goldblatt is a good Jewish girl. She's also secretly a best-selling author of Christmas romances. She just can't get enough of the Christian holiday with all of its magic and merriment. Hanukkah pales in comparison. When Rachel's editor insists she write a "diverse" holiday story, she turns to an upcoming Hanukkah celebration for inspiration. Working with her archenemy isn't part of the plan. Neither is falling for him...

7. Before I Called You Mine by Nicole Deese—Tired of trying to find The One so she can start a family, first grade teacher Lauren Bailey decides to pursue international adoption on her own. The adoption agency requires her to remain single for the time being, which becomes a challenge when Lauren finds herself falling for a charming substitute teacher. Does she have to sacrifice one thing her heart desires in order to get another? Or can she figure out a way to get everything she wants?

8. 1984 by George Orwell—This classic sci-fi novel features a young man who works for the Ministry of Truth in a dystopian London. When Julia and O'Brien come into his life unexpectedly, his existence is transformed forever. 

Booklist Queen Reading Challenge—Famous Author You've Avoided AND Build Your Library Reading Challenge—A Book That Is Classic Science Fiction AND Pick Your Poison Reading Challenge—An Author You Have Always Wanted to Read

9. River Sing Me Home by Eleanor Shearer—Set in Barbados in 1834, this novel is about a enslaved woman who learns that in spite of a government act declaring an end to slavery, her "owner" refuses to let any of his slaves go. She runs, driven to find her five children, all of whom have been sold by the plantation owner. No matter what she finds, she can't rest until she knows what has happened to her beloved offspring.

10. Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly—This popular non-fiction title tells the fascinating story of the African-American female mathematicians who played a crucial role in America's space program by working as "human computers" at NASA. These brilliant, intrepid women were invaluable assets in spite of all the prejudice they faced because of both their ethnicity and their gender.

There you go, ten books I'm planning to read this Fall. What are you planning to read in the next few months? If you did today's topic, what are some of your favorite fictional relationships? I'd truly love to know. Leave me a comment on this post and I will gladly return the favor on your blog.

Happy TTT!