MY SEPTEMBER & OCTOBER 2025 READING WRAP-UP
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Eiyo Fadneiras,
As promised in my previous post, here's my reading wrap-up for September and October 2025. During September, I had a Lisa Kleypas Wallflowers marathon. And in October, I had a Spooktober reading marathon. Okay, now let's carry on with today's objective and check out the first book I read in September ...
#1 THINGS REMEMBERED & THINGS FORGOTTEN
AUTHOR: Kyoko Nakajima
PUBLISHER: Sort of Books
GENRE: Book of Short Stories/ Slice-of-life
LANGUAGE: English
PAGES: 265 pages
THE STORY
Things Remembered & Things Forgotten (TRTF) is a book of 10 short stories. All stories are written by Kyoko Nakajima, belong to the slice-of-life genre, and take place in Japan. All stories possess deep meanings- they make us question ourselves about who we were and who we are now.
MY REVIEW
I'm glad that my mom made me read this book. This book is a brilliant read. All stories are brilliant and very intellectual. My favorite story in this book is The Life Story of a Sewing Machine. It's a story about an old sewing machine that brings fortunes to its owners. The story holds deep meaning and provides me with insight into the lives of tailors during the war in Japan. Kyoko Nakajima's writing style for all stories is very artsy yet deep. You have to read each story carefully to understand it well. Overall, I rate this book 9/10. I highly recommend TRTF to fellow bookworms who love reading stories set in Japan. Btw, some stories have steamy scenes. So this book is not suitable for those who are under 18.
#2 SECRETS OF A SUMMER NIGHT
AUTHOR: Lisa Kleypas
PUBLISHER: Avon Books
GENRE: Historical Romance
LANGUAGE: English
PAGES: 347 pages
THE STORY
Annabelle Peyton and her friends, Lillian, Daisy, and Evie, are on a quest for a husband. Annabelle is beautiful, but she doesn't have a dowry. And her family is on the brink of disaster. The only way for Annabelle to save them is to marry a wealthy man. Unfortunately, her only admirer is Simon Hunt, a handsome and ambitious entrepreneur who is so not her type.
Annabelle tries to reject Simon. But she can't deny her attraction to Simon, any more than he can resist the challenge she presents. As they try to outmaneuver each other, they find themselves surrendering to a love more powerful than they could have ever imagined ...
MY REVIEW
Secret of a Summer Night (SOASN) is the first book in Lisa Kleypas's Wallflower series. Yup, my Wallflowers marathon begins here. Hehehe ^_^ SOASN has a slow pace compared to other LK novels I've read before. The plot and storyline are also very light. But this novel is still an enjoyable read. The story captures a lot of sweet moments. And those moments give you a feel-good feeling.
I like Simon and Annabelle's chemistry. It's intense but still heartwarming. They are so perfect for each other. And I love slow-burn romance. I like the way LK portrays Annabelle's friendship with Lillian, Daisy, and Evie. It is so heartwarming and sincere. These ladies are true friends. Plus, the four of them are special in their own way. I can't decide which Wallflower girl is my favorite. Hehehe ^_^
I'm giving this novel an 8/10. It's a lovely novel to read. I highly recommend it to those who are into the historical romance genre. But this novel has some spicy scenes in it. So it is not suitable for those who are under 18.
#3 IT HAPPENED ONE AUTUMN
AUTHOR: Lisa Kleypas
PUBLISHER: Avon Books
GENRE: Historical Romance
LANGUAGE: English
PAGES: 382 pages
THE STORY
Lillian Bowman and Marcus, Earl of Westcliff, have always despised each other since they first met. To Marcus, Lillian is uncultured. To Lillian, Marcus is arrogant. They quarrel and argue every time they meet. But soon, their fight blossomed into romance. And they can't resist each other.
But Marcus's mother doesn't fancy Lillian. Lillian is rich. She's a soap heiress. But she's American. Marcus's mother wants a blue-blooded English girl as a daughter-in-law. She is willing to do anything to separate Marcus and Lillian. Is Marcus strong enough to protect and save Lillian from his evil mother?
MY REVIEW
This is the second time I've read It Happened One Autumn (IHOA). I like it more and understand the story better. IHOA is a delightful novel to read. It's romantic yet hilarious. The way Marcus loves Lillian gives me the auuuwwwww feeling. Marcus is so swooning. He'll do everything to protect Lillian. She is his priority. Every time Lillian and Marcus argue with each other, I laugh out loud. Their argument is so funny and interesting. Kudos to LK on using the enemy-to-lovers trope so well. Lillian and Marcus's chemistry is so captivating.
Lillian Bowman is always one of my favorite FLs. She's bold and unapologetically herself. She doesn't care about what others think of her, including Marcus. To Lillian, she is herself, and she can do whatever she wants. She's really a show stealer.
IHOA has an interesting and light storyline. This story also has a good moral message. It's about being yourself and being brave to make your own choice. And I've always liked LK's writing style - chic and precise.
Overall, I rate this novel 10/10. It's a stunning read. I highly recommend it to bookworms who are into the historical romance genre. However, this novel has some spicy scenes in it. So again, it is not suitable for teenagers under 18.
#4 THE DEVIL IN WINTER
AUTHOR: Lisa Kleypas
PUBLISHER: Piatkus
GENRE: Historical Romance
LANGUAGE: English
PAGES: 322 pages
THE STORY
The Devil In Winter (TDIW) tells the story of two souls who are searching for divine love. Evangeline Jenner (Evie) is desperate to be free from the clutches of her unscrupulous relatives. Evie is about to become one of the wealthiest girls in London. And that makes her relatives want to control her more.
Sebastian, Viscount St. Vincent, is desperate for money. He is on the verge of bankruptcy. On one cold night, Evie visits Sebastian with a marriage proposal. But the proposal comes with one condition: no lovemaking after their wedding night. And Sebastian agrees to Evie's proposal. Evie and Sebastian have no intention of falling in love. But as time goes by, both of them start to develop feelings for each other. Will Evie and Sebastian surrender their heart in the name of true love?
MY REVIEW
TDIW is the third book in the Wallflower series. This is the second time I've read it. The second time I read it, the more I love and appreciate the story. TDIW has the same vibe as The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks. It's so heartwarming and enduring. It makes you believe in true love.
Evie and Sebastian are twin flames. They are two halves of the same soul. When they enter each other's lives, they bring miracles to each other. Evie gained confidence and overcame her stammering problem. She steps into her divine feminine power. With Evie by his side, Sebastian's soul also awakens. He quits being a rake and transforms into a loyal, loving, and devoted husband. Sebastian realizes that he was not born as a bad person. Evie makes him see his true self, the man he is always meant to be.
TDIW is not a traditional romance story. Besides romance, TDIW is also about self-discovery and spiritual awakening. Evie and Sebastian are mirrors of each other's souls. They are the catalyst and greatest teachers for each other's spiritual growth. Being together makes Evie and Sebastian realize that they are loved, whole, and enough since the day they were born.
I'm glad that I decided to read TDIW again. I first read this novel in 2022. At that time, I didn't truly understand true love, the invisible string, destiny, and twin flames. Now that I learned about them, I love the story more.
Overall, I rate this novel 10/10. I love TDIW a lot. This novel is now listed as one of my all-time favorite reads. It's a beautiful novel to read, indeed. Plus, TDIW is a must-read novel by Lisa Kleypas. Therefore, I highly recommend my fellow bookworms to read The Devil In Winter. Trust me, you guys are going to love this novel. However, I need to be honest that there are some spicy romantic scenes in the story. So TDIW is not suitable for those who are under 18.
#5 SCANDAL IN SPRING
AUTHOR: Lisa Kleypas
PUBLISHER: Avon Books
GENRE: Historical Romance
LANGUAGE: English
PAGES: 374 pages
THE STORY
Scandal In Spring (SIS) is the last book in Lisa Kleypas's Wallflower series. Daisy Bowman is the last unmarried Wallflower. And if Daisy can't find a husband by the end of her third London season, she has to marry Matthew Swift. That's what her father says.
Daisy is horrified. Matthew is the man that she doesn't want to marry the most. A Bowman never admits defeat. Daisy will do whatever it takes to find a suitor other than Matthew. But the moment Daisy meets Matthew, her feelings towards him turn 360 degrees. The man she has always hated just might turn out to be the man of her dreams. But unfortunately, Matthew has a dark past. And the dark past could ruin their passionate love and Daisy's wildest dreams ...
THE REVIEW
Whoa! I love SIS a lot. This novel is my second favorite in the Wallflower series after The Devil In Winter. Besides romance, this story is also about friendship and family. I like the way LK portrays Daisy's relationship with her sister, Lillian. It's so heartwarming and make-believe.
Matthew Swift is such a swoon-worthy hero. I have a crush on him while reading SIS. And his chemistry with Daisy is so electrifying. They are such a lovely couple. I also like that Matthew accepts Daisy for who she is. Yup, she's fun and quirky. That's her beauty. And mostly, he supports her passion and dreams. That's a dream husband quality. Auuuuuuwwwwwwww!!!!!!!!!
This story is also about forgiving and not being judgmental of people's pasts. I like this moral message. Reading SIS also makes me fall in love with the trope 'He-falls-first-but-she-falls-harder.' All thanks to Matthew and Daisy. Hehehe ^_^
Overall, I rate SIS 10/10. I absolutely love this novel and highly recommend it to fellow bookworms who are looking for a swoon-worthy read. But like all LK novels, this one also has some spicy lovemaking scenes in it. So SIS is not suitable for those who are under 18 years old :P
#6 FOXGLOVE
AUTHOR: Adalyn Grace
PUBLISHER: Hodderscape
GENRE: YA Romantasy
LANGUAGE: English
PAGES: 449 pages
THE STORY
Foxglove is the second book in Adalyn Grace's Belladonna series. Duke Wakefield is murdered. Blythe's father is accused. Death's brother, Fate, enters the scene. Fate wants to seek revenge on Death for taking the life of his late wife, Life. Fate believes Signa is the reincarnation of Life. He vows to do anything to steal Signa from Death.
Signa and Blythe tolerate Fate's presence. They believe Fate can save Elijah Hawthrone from wrongful imprisonment. To save Blythe's father, Fate requires Signa to be his bride. Is Signa willing to marry Fate and lose Death forever to save her uncle?
MY REVIEW
Oh wow! Foxglove is just as awesome as Belladonna (the first book in the series). In fact, I like this one more ^_^ The premise, plot, and storyline are all amazing. All the mysteries in Belladonna are answered in Foxglove.
Like Belladonna, Foxglove is also an intriguing read. Every chapter ends with 'what's next?' You will have a hard time putting this novel down once you open it. Foxglove is a page-turner and fast read indeed. I like Adalyn Grace's writing style in this novel. It's sharp, unique, artsy, and very precise. Her writing style makes it easy for me to visualize the story.
I like all the characters in this novel. Signa is awesome as always. Death is swoon-worthy as always. Fate is a very sexy and witty character. And Blythe is bold, sassy, and unpredictable. Oh! I love her! I also like the world that Adalyn Grace created for her story. It's very Victorian era-inspired. Overall, I'm giving this novel a 10/10. I love it a lot, and Insya-Allah will read it again in the future. Btw, this novel makes a good Spooktober read. Hehehe ^_^
#7 GUDANG
AUTHOR: Aizat Mahadan
PUBLISHER: Fixi
GENRE: Thriller/Mystery
LANGUAGE: Bahasa Melayu
PAGES: 311 pages
THE STORY
Gudang follows three leapers: Dilman, Embun, and Rustam. The three of them were born on the 29th of February. As leapers, Dilman, Embun, and Rustam have their own calendar. They age later than anyone else and have their own unique abilities. The story of these leapers is heard by a group of elites. These elites plan to do an experiment on the leapers. They try to capture them. But these elites do not know that being a leaper also has cons ...
MY REVIEW
Whoa! I love this story! Fixi always published the best Bahasa Malaysia thriller novels. Gudang has a very thrilling and intriguing storyline. Every chapter ends with 'what's next?' This novel is a page-turner and fast read indeed.
The premise and plot of Gudang are very interesting as well. Reading Gudang got me curious about leapers. And I definitely like the moral message of this story. Aging late, living longer, and having special abilities also come with cons. And being greedy is definitely a no way! Overall, I rate Gudang 10/10. I believe it's a good novel to read for Spooktober. I highly recommend this novel to all thriller lovers.
#8 MEDUSA THE GOLDEN BLOOD
AUTHOR: Nurul Ain Syuhada
PUBLISHER: Self-published
GENRE: Dark Fantasy
LANGUAGE: Bahasa Malaysia
PAGES: 533 pages
THE STORY
This dark fantasy novel is a retelling story of Medusa. The story is set in medieval times in Europe. Medusa is a girl with ethereal beauty. Her beauty attracts King Damen of Tennera. King Damen's beautiful wife, Queen Minerva, is not happy with Medusa. Minerva and Damen recently got married. But Damen asks Medusa to be his second wife during his one-week anniversary with Minerva. Geez ... you're so bad, Damen! No woman wants to share her man with another woman. Minerva vows to do anything to get rid of Medusa. Will Medusa survive?
MY REVIEW
First of all, I salute the author for the idea, imagination, and world-building. All are super cool! Secondly, I like that this novel is a fast read. I can't believe I finished reading a novel with 533 pages in less than one week. Whoa!
When it comes to Meduva vs Minerva, I choose to be on team Minerva. As a woman, I understand how Minerva feels. So I don't blame her for hating Medusa. What King Damen did is so bad! Proposing to Medusa openly during his one-week anniversary with Minerva is so disgusting! Gosh! You're a stupid-ego young king, Damen!
And as for Medusa, I don't like her character at the beginning of the story. She's so naive, blinded by love, and easily persuaded by King Damen's sweet talk. Gosh! You're a trouble-maker, girl! Oh, how I wish Prince Zylon is not a stupid-ego character like Damen. But unfortunately, he is! But hey, I don't want to comment about Zylon that much in this review. At least, he gets what he deserves.
Overall, I rate this novel 8/10. It's quite an enjoyable read. I highly recommend this novel to those who are looking for a dark fantasy read. But I also need to be honest that there are some bloody and super-violent scenes in the story. So this novel is not suitable for those who are under 18 and have hemophobia.
Okay, so these are the books I've read in September and October 2025. Thank you for reading my reading wrap-up. I'll see you guys again in my next post. Take care ^_^
XoXo,
Fadima Mooneira ^_^
(Authorpreneur, Novelist & Crafter)
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