Hello, book friends, and happy first Wednesday in October! Cue Panic! at the Disco’s version of “This is Halloween.”
As I’ve mentioned previously, I’m taking on the task of Blogtober 2021, a challenge in which the goal is to write and post every day in October. You know, no big deal, or anything. I have to confess I was relieved to arrive at Wednesday, where I have a steady, predictable habit of these weekly posts already established.
As it is officially spooky season and I seem more excited for Halloween than usual, I’ve been getting in those witchy reads I talked about last week! Let’s dig in and get booky with it.
(Full disclosure: Book links are Bookshop affiliate links, which means I’ll earn a small commission at no additional cost to you, should you choose to purchase. Mentions of Book of the Month are referral codes that earn you a discount on your first box and earn me a free book. Thanks in advance for your support!)
Recent Reads
I am pleased to report that the Great Re-Listen of the entire Princess Diaries series by Meg Cabot has at last concluded. After the very teenage diary vibe of the initial 10 books, it was refreshing to arrive at a more grown-up Mia in Royal Wedding.
I do think the book does a nice job of aging up the heroine while still feeling true to her personality, and I enjoyed the read, even if certain aspects feel a bit like a forced way of introducing a new character into the Cabot-verse, in my opinion.
In all, a satisfying way to finish out the series, and I’m excited to get my listening time back to some nonfiction, my usual audiobook fare of choice.
Current Reads
As promised, I started The Witch Haven for my first October read. So far it does not disappoint!
The tone is darker than I expected, probably because any mention of a boarding school for magical folks sends me straight back to the Wizard School of my youth and those fuzzy feelings of the first couple books.
I find I’m actually enjoying this more practical take on magic and the way that our heroine struggles against the fact that having magic doesn’t free her from the confines of expectations about being a woman in the 1900s. Taking this a bit slowly with so much else going on in my life, but expect I’ll find time to finish over our upcoming weekend in the woods.
On audio, I’ve started Amanda Montell’s Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism. I love learning new things through my audiobooks but it’s been a bit since I’ve picked up a title like this. So, when one of my trusted podcast hosts mentioned this title, I snagged it with my October LibroFM credit. I’m only a few chapters in but I’m already learning some fascinating tidbits about the role of language in cult mentality.
Up Next
My Book of the Month box is on its way with a shiny hardcover copy of Erin Sterling’s The Ex Hex which really seems to be the Bookstagram darling of the moment.
If you’ve somehow escaped awareness, it’s billed as “Hocus Pocus but they bang” and is a witchy second-chance romantic comedy. I joined a virtual book club that will discuss this one later in the month so I expect it’ll be my next read after Witch Haven.
Also on my radar still is Payback’s a Witch by Lara Harper, which came out on Tuesday. I managed to convince my bookish longtime bestie to buddy read this one with me, so I’m excited to have my copy in hand so we can plan out our discussion schedule.
From there I hope to arrive at an acceptable season to dig through the plethora of winter holiday-themed rom coms that seem to be everywhere this year, like A Holly Jolly Diwali, The Holiday Swap, and The Matzah Ball. These give me major Hallmark movie in book form vibes. Count me all the way in on that trend!
Now It’s Your Turn
That’s my week in books, book friends! Now I want to hear from you.
What have you read recently and what are you currently reading? Any books waiting in the wings that you’re excited to dig into? Let me know so I can add more to my never-ending TBR!
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Your Book Friend 
I love that they have aged up Mia from the Princess Diaries to create a new book. It sounds like a good read. x
It definitely is worth a go if you enjoyed the original series! 🙂
I’m currently listening to The Man Who Died Twice which is the second book in a series and I’m enjoying it more than the first.
Nice! Always interesting when a sequel outshines the first book!
That’s awesome that they are aging up Mia from the Princess Diaries! Maybe I’ll have to give it a listen. I can’t wait for my copy of the Ex Hex to arrive. I am currently reading my book club pick, and I can’t wait to dive into that one when I’m done.
Sounds like we’ll be reading Ex Hex around the same time! Excited to hear what you think! 🙂
Oh, grown-up Princess Diaries sounds good. I’ve just finished reading “A beautiful Spy”, currently reading “The Survivors” and have “The Mercies” lined up to read next- I can’t wait xxx
you are right, so many people are reading The Ex Hex, which seems like a really interesting story!