What I’ve Been Reading: September 2023

Hello and happy Wednesday!

With this month wrapping up, I’m sharing the book I read in September.

I feel like I’m struggling a bit getting into a reading groove lately, but I did read three books this month.

Here are the books I read this month:

{As always, book summaries are from Goodreads…}

The Block Party:

Summary:

This summer, meet your neighbors.

The residents of the exclusive cul-de-sac on Alton Road are entangled in a web of secrets and scandal utterly unknown to the outside world, and even to each other.

On the night of the annual Summer block party, there has been a murder.

But, who did it and why takes readers back one year earlier, as rivalries and betrayals unfold—discovering that the real danger lies within their own block and nothing—and no one—is ever as it seems.

Quick Thoughts:

It has been a long time since I’ve finished a book I didn’t enjoy, but I did finish this one since it was on my summer reading list. Anyway, for whatever reason, I struggled throughout the book. I didn’t really like the characters and couldn’t connect with the writing style or plot. Two different times, I even had two different ladies at the pool ask me about the book, and I told them I just couldn’t get into it.

Have you read The Block Party? If so, what did you think?

Rating:

Look for Me There:

Summary:

In Look for Me There , Luke Russert traverses terrain both physical and deeply personal. On his journey to some of the world’s most stunning destinations, he visits the internal places of grief, family, faith, ambition, and purpose—with intense self-reflection, honesty, and courage.”—Savannah Guthrie, coanchor of Today “Look for me there,” news legend Tim Russert would tell his son, Luke, when confirming a pickup spot at an airport, sporting event, or rock concert. After Tim died unexpectedly, Luke kept looking for his father, following in Tim’s footsteps and carving out a highly successful career at NBC News. After eight years covering politics on television, Luke realized he had no good answer as to why he was chasing his father’s legacy. As the son of two accomplished parents—his mother is journalist Maureen Orth of Vanity Fair —Luke felt the pressure of high expectations but suddenly decided to leave the familiar path behind. Instead, Luke set out on his own to find answers. What began as several open-ended months of travel to decompress and reassess morphed into a three-plus-year odyssey across six continents to discover the world and, ultimately, to find himself. Chronicling the important lessons and historical understandings Luke discovered from his travels, Look for Me There is both the vivid narrative of that journey and the emotional story of a young man taking charge of his life, reexamining his relationship with his parents, and finally grieving his larger-than-life father, who died too young. For anyone uncertain about the direction of their life or unsure of how to move forward after a loss, Look for Me There is a poignant reflection that offers encouragement to examine our choices, take risks, and discover our truest selves.

Quick Thoughts:

I really liked this book. I’d seen Luke Russert promote it when it was published, and added it to my reading list last spring.

I remember when his dad, Tim, was the host of Meet the Press, and when he passed away how that impacted the show.

Anyway, I enjoyed following Luke’s journey through many countries, recalling many amazing places and people while learning life lessons along the way . His mom joined him on a few legs of his journey and their relationship, and what he’s learned from her, was also interesting. I also enjoyed the reflective parts and memories that he shared with about his father.

Rating:

The Senator’s Wife:

Summary:

In this town, anyone is replaceable. . . .

After a tragic chain of events led to the deaths of their spouses two years ago, D.C. philanthropist Sloane Chase and Senator Whit Montgomery are finally starting to move on. The horrifying ordeal drew them together, and now they’re ready to settle down again—with each other.

As Sloane returns to the world of White House dinners and political small talk, this time with her new husband, she’s also preparing for an upcoming hip replacement—the latest reminder of the lupus diagnosis she’s managed since her twenties. With both of their hectic schedules, they decide that hiring a home health aide will give Sloane the support and independence she needs post-surgery. And they find the perfect fit in Athena Karras.

Seemingly a godsend, Athena tends to Sloane, and even helps her run her charitable foundation. But Sloane slowly begins to deteriorate—a complication, Athena explains, of Sloane’s lupus. As weeks go by, Sloane becomes sicker, and her uncertainty quickly turns to paranoia as she begins to suspect the worst. Why is Athena asking her so many probing questions about her foundation—about her past? And could Sloane be imagining the sultry looks between Athena and her new husband?

Quick Thoughts:

This book seems to be a popular one right now. I really love a suspenseful book, and this one is definitely a psychological thriller. It hooked me from the first few pages with the deaths of Slone and Whit’s spouses. Throughout the plot, the reader is kind of “connecting the dots” as to what happened while also wondering about motives of other characters.

The chapters are pretty short, and this was a quick read for me.

Rating:

What books have you been reading lately?

Like last year, I set a goal of reading 40 books this year, and I’m up to 31/40 books. I’ve kind of abandoned my “ABC Reading Challenge”…this is also why I fail at book clubs…I just want to read what I want to read. haha

Happy reading!