Man I'm so far behind on my book updates. Every time I sat down to write this post, I got distracted by something else. So here we are at almost the end of October.

Back in August, I didn't get a ton of reading done. A lot of my free time was spent planning for and playing in some softball tournaments.

September I did better on the book front. Plus I had three work trips back to back, which left me with lots of free time on airplanes.

I tore through some more Debbie Macomber books and also mixed in a couple of new authors.



Here's what I read:

Sweet Tomorrows by Debbie Macomber
This is the final book in the Rose Harbor series, and it wraps up the story of Jo Marie Rose, an inn keeper in a small town in the Pacific Northwest. After following Jo Marie's story through several books, I was glad to see her finally get closure to her story. I'll miss reading the stories set in this idyllic little town. These books were fast and easy reads -- perfect for a beach or pool day.

Last One Home by Debbie Macomber
I love the way Debbie Macomber can tackle such serious topics in a way that is not overly depressing. The main character in this books is fighting her way back to independence after leaving her abusive husband. The book is heart-warming and you really pull for Cassie as she tries to stand on her own two feet again.

The Submission by Amy Waldman
I tore through this book pretty quickly, and really enjoyed the perspective the author took on the issue of racism/Islamophobia in a post-9/11 world. The book's main storyline is about a coalition in NYC trying to choose a 9/11 memorial. In a blind competition, a Muslim man's design is chosen as the winner. The book looks at the fallout after that happens.

The Light We Lost by Jill Santopolo
I wasn't sure what to think of this book at first since it's written in the second person, which isn't my favorite style. But I quickly found myself getting pulled into the story and wanting to know what happened next between the two main characters.

Cop Town by Karin Slaughter
I have really enjoyed most of Karin Slaughter's books, but for whatever reason, I had a hard time getting started with this one. I ended up setting it down for a couple weeks, but when I came back to it, I couldn't put it down. It's set in Atlanta, right after women are allowed to join the police force, and it follows the investigation to find a killer who is targeting police officers.

The Idiot by Elif Batuman
I had such mixed feelings about this book. It's beautifully written, but I facepalmed so many times at the main character. The story is perhaps a weird love story about a freshman at Harvard who falls for a senior. The guys she falls for has a girlfriend and repeatedly tells her that, but he still spends time with her, and she still wants him to like her. It's maddening. The whole time I just wanted to shake her, and be like, "honey, he's just not that into you." Despite my frustrations with the main character, I found that I really enjoyed this book.

If Not For You by Debbie Macomber
I've largely enjoyed Debbie Macomber's New Beginnings series, but I didn't think this book was as strong/interesting as some of the others. I thought the ending was a little predictable, and about 3/4 of the way through the book, I got a bit annoyed with the main character Beth for being a nosy busy body. I think this was the first time I haven't really loved characters in a Macomber book.

Starting Now by Debbie Macomber
Since I finished reading the Rose Harbor series earlier this summer, I decided to shift to one of Debbie Macomber's other series -- Blossom Street. Again more excellent story-telling and some cameo appearances by characters from her previous books.