September Round-up

Hi everyone, it's been a while! My time this year has been totally consumed by my law conversion course, but now that I've finished I'm excited to get back into reading!!

I thought I'd start by giving a rundown of the books that I've read in September since finishing the course.

The Retreat by Sarah Pearse.

This follow up to The Sanatorium was the first book that I read following my exams, and it was a perfect return to the literary world. I read The Sanatorium when it came out in 2022 and it was one of my top books of that year due to its compelling plot and highly atmospheric writing, and The Retreat is a worthy successor to the first novel Pearse continues in her talent for creating an intense and menacing atmosphere, and I particularly enjoy how the setting of every novel becomes a character (or villain) in itself.

Predictable murder mystery novels are the worst, but this is not an issue with The Retreat as Pearse has mastered the bait and switch that creates a fantastic mystery novel. She has an immense talent for keeping you on your toes, so much so that I read the entire book in a day because I was so captivated by the story.

Overall, The Retreat is a perfect follow up to the original The Sanatorium and i'm looking forward to reading the The Wilds - the final book in the series - once it is released on paperback.

everything I know about love by Dolly Alderton.

This book is the perfect read for a girl in her 20s, and hit particularly close to home since I went to the same uni as Alderton and can therefore (unfortunately) relate to all of her Exeter-related anecdotes and descriptions.

What seems to start out as the childish and comedic stories of a young woman culminates in a beautiful and profound reflection on life, love, loss, relationships, friendships. Although the title would suggest that this book revolves around romantic love (which to an extent, it does), the most profound love comes from Alderton's relationships with her female friends, setting an admirable standard for young (female) readers. Plus, Alderton gives some really strong life advice (and recipes) that everyone could do with hearing.

At a time in my life where I am well aware that I have my whole future ahead of me (and I have to cope with the intense worry that the decisions I make now will affect the rest of my life), it is immensly comforting to read the story of a woman who has made many mistakes and nevertheless leads a life filled with love and self-growth.

Yellowface by Rebecca F. Kuang.

Yellowface is a captivating departure from Kuang's usual fantasy domain. In addition to a brilliant and highly original plot, this book is beautifully written and compelling from the first page. It explores topical themes of race and diversity in publishing in an adventureous and highly effective way that has you questioning your own morals and sympathy for the narrator.

Additionally, it is an interesting insight and reflection on the publishing industry. As readers we consume so much literature but with a limited understanding of the steps taken to put the books on shelves, so I particularly enjoyed the insight into and critique of the industry provided by a bestselling author like Kuang.