Happy, happy, happy Fall! There’s never a bad time to pick up a book but this time of year always feels so extra for book nerds like me. Give me all the cliche literary coziness – being snuggled on the couch with a cup of coffee or a glass of wine, folds and folds of soft blanket wrapped around me, and a book I can’t put down. Add a furry pup and I might as well be in heaven.

How did you like my summer reading list? I’m always looking for great book recommendations so please let me know what you’re reading in the comments!

I finished most of these books in September so I’ll likely do another reading list – like a Fall part 2 – in a few weeks. 

The one I read in 2 days because I couldn’t put it down…

Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell

I love a good thriller that keeps me engaged from start to finish. Missing persons cases are fascinating to me and this one checks all the boxes, with a truly bizarre twist. The story follows Laurel Mack, a mother whose nearly perfect daughter, Ellie, vanished without a trace ten years ago. Laurel refuses to believe that Ellie, who was looking forward to a bright future, would have simply run away. These days Laurel is trying to get her life back on track. She’s divorced from Ellie’s father and continues to hold out hope that the police will one day bring her some closure. One day she meets Floyd, a rather handsome and charming man at a coffee shop. Conversation leads to an eventual serious relationship. When Floyd introduces Laurel to his daughter, Laurel can’t believe what she sees. His daughter looks exactly like Ellie. It’s like she is looking right at her own daughter. New questions arise about exactly what happened to Ellie and how this strange new man could have a daughter nearly identical to the one she lost.

The scandalous classic I’ve always wanted to read but never did, until now…

Valley of the Dolls by Jacqueline Susann

I went into reading this one with zero expectations and hardly any knowledge of the story. It was just one of those books that people said to me, “you’ve never read Valley of the Dolls?!” But, I didn’t want to be persuaded into a certain mindset before I was able to formulate my own opinion. That being said, if you’ve never read it, let me warn you that it’s not a fairy tale or a glamorous tale of any kind. It’s a very sad, cautionary tale that is as much of a relatable story in 2019 as it was in 1966. Am I glad I read it? Yes. Did I enjoy it? Yes. But it left a very uneasy feeling in my gut afterwards, because we’ve all known an Anne, Neely, or Jennifer, women desperately seeking something, be it fame, money, love, or lust, who are willing to go to any length to get it. Tragedy befalls them all, and even when you think there’s hope in one character, she too eventually reaches for the comfort of “dolls,” the sleeping pills needed to forget about life for awhile. I enjoyed the time span from the 1940’s to the 1960’s, and seeing the characters develop through to the end. 

The dystopian thriller for fans of The Handmaid’s Tale…

Vox by Christina Dalcher

This book is maddening but excellent. Everyone should read it! Talk about a cautionary tale that scared me a little bit. Long story short, women lose basically all their rights and it happens pretty easily – even women don’t do anything to stop it, letting complacency and a puritan mindset dictate their lives. I’ll let you read it to discover that slippery slope. But overall, I really loved it! The story takes place in a (not so distant?) future America where women are limited to speaking 100 words per day. Every female in the nation wears a bracelet device that tracks their spoken words. Go over that 100 word allotment and you’ll feel a terrifying jolt of painful electricity. Even infants are fitted with these cruel devices. Imagine trying to silence your child from speaking their first words? Well, that was kind of the point. The government could eventually raise an entire generation of silent females. In this future America, women can no longer hold jobs and they are no longer taught to read or write. Interestingly, basic math is still taught so that women can manage the grocery shopping budget, one of their biggest responsibilities now that they are confined to the home. It was really interesting following along with the main character’s family, and seeing how the new America changes the whole dynamic of her once happy marriage and relationship with her sons.

The crime drama where the dog doesn’t get hurt…

Right Behind You by Lisa Gardner

I will not read a book where the dog gets hurt or dies (Marley & Me was an exception that I’ll never read again). So when a lovable former police dog is introduced into the story, I was a little apprehensive about finishing it. But I did and I enjoyed this one. And I’m happy to report that the dog was ok! The story starts with a scary night of domestic violence. A deadbeat drug-fueled and knife-wielding father chases his children, Telly Ray and Sharla, through the house, attempting to kill them. Nine year old Telly Ray finds a bat and murders his father to save the lives of himself and his five year old sister. Fast forward to the present and Telly Ray Nash is seen going on a shooting spree at a local gas station. Security camera footage even proves it. Or does it? His sister Sharla, now thirteen, is living with her foster parents who are both retired FBI profilers. When the call comes in about Telly Ray’s crime, Sharla’s parents are brought in to assist in the manhunt. Why would he start killing again so many years later? And what does it mean for Sharla?

The feel good read…

The Tuscan Child by Rhys Bowen

I really loved this one. I enjoyed how it goes between 1944 and 1973, revealing pieces of the mystery a little at a time. During World War II, Hugo Langley, a British airman, crash lands in the fields of German-occupied Tuscany. He is badly wounded and unable to walk without assistance. A local woman named Sofia Bartoli discovers him in the field and helps him find shelter, nursing him back to health in the process. The two eventually fall in love over the course of a few months, making a plan to flee together. But, Sofia disappears and Hugo must assume something perilous has happened to her. He returns to England where we meet his estranged daughter, Joanna, thirty years later. She is called to his estate when notified of his death. While arranging his funeral, Joanna finds an unopened letter amongst his belongings. It’s addressed to Sofia. Now on a quest to discover what really happened to her father in Tuscany, she sets out for Italy only to find more questions than answers. Did Sofia betray her father and run off with a German? Was there a child born of their love? It’s such a fascinating story! And you’ll probably want to book a trip to Italy after you finish it!

The cheesy thriller for your next flight… (sorry not sorry)

Bring Me Back by B.A. Paris

Overall, I’d recommend this book to anyone who needs a quick page-turner for their next flight or pool day. I think it had tremendous potential but the main character is a total idiot and the plot is a little too far-fetched. That being said, I’d still say give it a shot. It was definitely entertaining! Twelve years ago Finn and his girlfriend Layla are driving home from vacation when they stop at a rest area. When Finn comes back to the car from a quick bathroom break, Layla is gone. Disappeared without a trace. He told the police everything he’d seen that night, from the other man leaving the bathroom to the car that sped away. But he didn’t tell them the whole truth. Now, Finn is dating (get this) Layla’s sister, Ellen. In fact, they’re to be married soon. Scandal! But once news of the upcoming nuptials is made public, signs of Layla start appearing. She’s even been spotted by an old neighbor as well as Ellen herself. But was it really her? And why has she remained away for over a decade? Could she have been hiding in plain sight all along? Once you read this one, you can’t ever read it again because you’ll know too much. Suspend your disbelief for a while and just enjoy a cheesy thriller for what it is, pure entertainment.

What I’m currently reading…

White Fur: A Novel by Jardine Libaire

So far, this book hasn’t grabbed me like I was hoping it would. But I’m only 50 pages or so into it. What attracted me to it was the setting – gritty 1980’s New York City. All that glitzy 80’s fashion, music, and party scene is (I think) a fun backdrop for a work of fiction. The writing style is a little different, and taking some getting used to. But the “star-crossed love story” is one I always enjoy, so I will keep you guys posted. Look for this one in the next Reading List post!

Shop My 2019 Fall Reading List:

xo – Erin

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