On the final Friday of each month, I take a look back at all the things I loved and put together this list of recommendations for you: the Friday Finale. It might include the best book I read, a particularly impressive recipe I tried, or the best thing I streamed. I hope these standout moments from my month inspire you moving forward!
Happy October, witches! It’s my favorite month of the year because 1. it’s the true beginning of the end-of-year holiday season, 2. it’s when we fully settle into fall here in southwest Ohio, and 3. it’s my birth month. I’m just enough of a narcissist to admit that. This year, I turned the big three oh and am happy to report that there were no crises to be seen. Truly. I’m forever grateful for the decade that was my twenties (despite basically losing a year to Covid), but I’m also immensely excited to see what my thirties have in store!
This month’s installment of monthly favorites is really just a book list plus the best pumpkin spice creamer I’ve ever tasted. Read on to become the well-read, basic bitch of your dreams!
I’ve been excited for this book ever since I finished Sorcery of Thorns (★★★★☆) earlier this year and realized Margaret Rogerson had a new release out this fall. I had the pleasure of attending an author event featuring her at Joseph-Beth Booksellers, my local indie bookstore, and she even signed copies of Vespertine and Sorcery of Thorns for me! (FYI, I believe you can grab signed copies of her new release on the store’s website.)
Buy from Amazon Buy from Better World BooksMargaret Rogerson writes YA fantasy novels, and her worldbuilding is seriously next level. I have no idea how she comes up with the unique magic systems that she does, but it is both impressive and effective at immediately pulling you into a story. She also plays a lot with non-human characters who have less-than-human belief systems or morals, which always makes for some good twists and turns.
Vespertine follows a nun named Artemisia whose convent becomes overrun by spirits. She must align herself with a revenant, an ancient spirit that is bound to a saint’s relic, and the decision to work together with it leads her on an adventure to help save her world from magic, the likes of which it hasn’t seen for centuries. The characters are relatable and well-rounded, the banter between Artemisia and the little voice inside her head is fantastically snarky, and it will keep you guessing until the very end. I gave it ★★★★☆ (4.5) stars on Goodreads and would absolutely recommend it!
This book was my October Book of the Month selection, and it was a delightful read! It was the perfect cozy Halloween book for when you want spooky vibes but not in a horror and gore way.
When Vivienne was 19-years-old, she and her cousin Gwynn cast a curse on Rhys, the dashing, Welsh rogue who stole her heart and left town. Now, nine years later, Vivi is a professor at the local college when Rhys comes back to town for Founder’s Day and accidentally unleashes the curse on the entire town of Graves Glen, Georgia. Together, Vivi and Rhys have to work together to reverse the curse in time for Halloween.
Buy from Book of the Month Buy from Better World BooksWarning: This is very much a romance book and as such, there are some steamy scenes. In my opinion, they’re well done and true to the characters, but just a heads up in case that isn’t your thing.
My at-home coffee game has really improved since I started working from home last year. Thanks to Chobani’s pumpkin spice coffee creamer, I can even say I don’t need to head to Starbucks for a fancy autumnal coffee anymore. Instead, I can make one from my own kitchen! Typically, I’ll add a splash of this creamer directly to my French press coffee or whip it up into a foam to be enjoyed over a shot or two of espresso.
Full disclosure: I nearly didn’t buy this creamer because I haven’t been a fan of Chobani’s other flavors. The vanilla has an artificial sweetener-like aftertaste to me, and the hazelnut just tastes wrong. I love the fact that they’re made of real ingredients that you know and recognize, but until I tried this one, I was not impressed with the taste. All that is to say, if lackluster has also been your impression of Chobani’s creamers, you might end up actually enjoying the pumpkin spice one. It isn’t too sweet (I can’t even do PSLs anymore because they’re just cloying), and it has more of the yummy spice flavors as opposed to a strong pumpkin taste.
I nearly didn’t add this one to the list because I’m so behind on the hype, but both the book and the series brought me a lot of joy this month. I borrowed Normal People by Sally Rooney from a friend nearly two years ago, and it sat on my desk at work before sitting on my bookshelf at home before I finally picked it up on a whim two weeks ago. I then proceeded to finish it in less than a day and binge the series that weekend. What can I say? I’ve always had a bit of an obsessive personality.
You’ve likely heard all about it already, but Normal People is about two Irish teenagers who find themselves going in and out of each others’ lives throughout university and after. It’s a really well-written, painfully real piece of fiction, and you’ll find yourself both relating to and wanting to strangle Connell and Marianne at different moments.
Buy from Amazon Buy from Better World BooksI gave it ★★★★☆ (4.5) stars on Goodreads and then immediately jumped to Hulu to watch the series. I believe Sally Rooney was involved in the writing for at least the first half of the show, which means it’s a very true adaptation of her work. I was really impressed with her dialogue throughout the novel, and they even pulled some of her best lines word-for-word. Some things are better on the page, some elements translate better onscreen, and I think Normal People is a great example of a book and TV series that complement each other very nicely. Absolutely would recommend either/both!
What’s one thing that made October spooktacular for you?
P.S. NaNoWriMo begins on Monday! Check out my writing resources for last-minute Preptober tips.
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