Leta’s October Wrap-Up

I’m not sure why October ended up being my most productive reading month of the last few years, but I’ll take it! I read 17 books, beating my previous record of 15. Being in the bookish communities for the last few years, I learned to compare my reading pace to myself and no one else. That means that I focused more on reading 15+ books in a month, but it paid off.

First, a list of the books I read this month:

• The White Hare by Jane Johnson (ARC)
• Reasons Why Not to Date Your Nemesis by Melanie Munton (ARC)
• Reasons Why Not to Date Public Enemy CEO by Melanie Munton
• The Tattoo Widow by Becky Parisotto (BCR)
• The Other Side of Night by Adam Hamdy (ARC)
• A Wilderness of Stars by Shea Ernshaw (ARC)
• Boldly Go: Reflections on a Life of Awe and Wonder by William Shatner and Joshua Brandon (ARC)
• Lakesedge by Lyndall Clipstone
• Take the Lead by Alexis Daria (ARC)
• Spells for Forgetting by Adrienne Young
• Salsa by Melanie Munton
• Below Zero by Ali Hazelwood
• Unfamiliar by Haley Newsome (ARC)
• Sulfur Heart by Brooke Carter (BCR)
• Under One Roof by Ali Hazelwood
• Playing with Fire by Stacey Lynn
• Tango by Melanie Munton

I crossed some ARC’s off my list from Netgalley, got two of the BC Review books read, and crossed a fun milestone for the year: finishing 100 books!

Just like last year, I picked a special book I knew I would enjoy reading for my 100th. In 2021 I chose The Last Legacy by Adrienne Young. Spells for Forgetting by Adrienne Young fit perfectly in that slot this year since I knew I would fall in love with the mysterious Saoirse Island. It was also by far my favourite read of October. The intrigue was unmatched, and the characters shone was a magical aura that I couldn’t look away from. It blinded me while drawing me in, creating a lovely sense of fear out of the tension between Emery and August. What truly happened that night, the night of the fire? Why did August leave Saoirse? And why is he coming back now?

The two novellas by Ali Hazelwood were my least favourite reads. Below Zero wasn’t the best for romance, though the use of flashbacks worked best. Under One Roof was all the tropes I’ve ever wanted in one, but I had the same problems with this one as with the previous one. Mainly, the heroines. I can’t stand anyone who places themselves on a high horse and enjoys shoving around their knowledge. I know a couple people in my close circles who do this and it makes them hard to like. So, it’s hard for me to see a reason someone would fall in love with them. Now, real life is different since people are more complex than their major character points and there are a thousand percent things to love about everyone. But in a novel – a romance at that – I want to read about likable people. I need to be invested in the romance in order to believe the ending is true. Or to even finish the book. I picked up the final book in this novella series in November and it was my least favourite. The heroes are amazing in this series and it’s a shame that the heroines (and the writing style) is ruining it for me. I don’t think I’ll be picking up the novels by Ali Hazelwood, unless someone would like to hear my take on them!

I was so busy in October. Now that it’s the end of November, it’s hard to remember all the things that I did. Halloween was fun, of course, and finished some important planning and rearranging my novel.

Oh, I just remembered the most memorable thing that happened. My laptop died on the 3rd of October. I pulled out my ancient one and have been using it as a “desktop” with a monitor, keyboard, and mouse. Great for the things I have to do, but so uninspiring that I posted little here on the blog or on social media. However, a light at the end of the tunnel! A few days ago (as of writing this on November 27th), the laptop that my mom and gramma bought me for my birthday arrived in the mail. I’m getting used to typing on it now.

I am so grateful for my family. I’m Canadian, but I’ll borrow American Thanksgiving for a moment and say that I am so thankful. I’m inspired and energized to write – both here for all of you and on my novel now that it’s completely planned out.

Thank you so much for reading. More soon.