Books I read in September 2025
September has seen a great mix of crime, classics, social history, and a bit of self-reflection in my reading pile. Here’s what I got through this month... You can read longer reviews for each book in my September Book Reads Blog (Amazon Affiliate Links)
After missing out on reading this last month for book club, I finally picked it up and am so glad I did. It’s an engaging mix of social history and storytelling. I learned so much and couldn’t believe I hadn’t known any of this before. This book is a really eye opening and intriguing read expertly put together to engage the reader throughout the many twists, turns, suspense, and intrigue of the Fitzwilliam family.
As always a couple of JD Kirk novels made my reading list this month. I ploughed through the next DCI Jack Logan novel One for the Ages classic Scottish crime fiction at its best. I also made time for the next Bob Hoon tale Eastgate, essentially a Scottish Die Hard complete with snow, Santas, and an airport!
One book that had come highly recommended to me was Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa so I was intrigued to venture into Japanese literature. Disappointingly I found that it didn’t really quite hit the mark for me. It was thoughtful and nicely written, but I struggled to connect with the characters, and some parts felt a little clunky, perhaps due to the translation. Overall, it was a pleasant read but not as compelling as I’d hoped.
As always a couple of JD Kirk novels made my reading list this month. I ploughed through the next DCI Jack Logan novel One for the Ages classic Scottish crime fiction at its best. I also made time for the next Bob Hoon tale Eastgate, essentially a Scottish Die Hard complete with snow, Santas, and an airport!
A brilliant and cleverly written read. Each chapter works as its own story, giving you a glimpse into the lives of suburban neighbours. Behind every net curtain lies secrets, lies, and sometimes murder! I’d highly recommend this entertaining collection for fans of clever, twisty tales.
I've been re-reading a few books recently that I orginally read as a teenager. This month I picked up Little Women by Louisa May Alcott again. I found myself appreciating it much more this time around. There’s a depth and nuance that I didn’t fully grasp when I was younger, and it was a lovely reminder of why this classic novel is so enduring.
I’d been anticipating reading Beartown by Fredrik Backman for ages, and while it delivered Backman’s usual rich understanding of character and relationships, it didn’t resonate with me quite like his other works. I'm not quite sure why, maybe it was trying to juggle too many storylines alongside the central narrative. I have the second book of the trilogy on my shelf, so I’m curious to pick that up at some point in the future and see if it lands better with me.
Perfectionism is something I see frequently when mentoring clients so when I came across Good, Great, Perfect by Dr Rebecca Ray on Audible it seemed like a worthwhile listen. It proved to be a really insightful book. It’s a practical reminder that 'good is good enough' and that chasing perfection rarely helps us lead fulfilling lives. Definitely one I’ll be recommending.
This was a beautiful, immersive story that transported me to 17th century Netherlands. I loved the way art and life intertwined and how the novella highlighted the human stories behind the famous painting. I'd not seen the film and had no pre-conceptions about this book but a few people had recommended Chevalier's work to me and this was the first of her books that I picked up. It was a real gem and I'll be looking out for more of her work.
This year has been my Kristin Hannah discovery year! This month I delved into Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah, I watched the TV adaptation a few years ago without realising it was based on a book. I loved the series, and reading the book itself was even better. Hannah’s storytelling and character development are just brilliant.
I'd pre-ordered The Impossible Fortune by Richard Osman the latest instalment of The Thursday Murder Club series and I jumped straight in when it arrived on release day! I loved stepping back into the world of Joyce, Elizabeth and the rest of the gang. This book was everything I'd hoped for, with all my favourite characters back in action and a new mystery to solve - cake, charm, and murder all rolled into one.
As we head into October, my reading pile already has a new addition that's been bumped to the top thanks to another book group I’ve joined: The Courage to be Disliked by Ichiro Kishimi & Fumitake Koga.
I have the sequel to Firefly Lane - Fly Away by Kristin Hannah cued up to listen to on Audible in October.
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Katie HR Consulting
Derbyshire, England, United Kingdom
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