September 2025 Reading Wrap-up

We are going to ignore the fact that it’s almost November and just jump right into my reading wrap-up for September. Better late than never, right? Let’s get into it.

Reading stats

Books read: 8
Pages read: 3,475
Average rating: 3.78 deer stars

Ranking

8. How Does it Feel? | 1.75 deer-stars

Yeah girl, this was a hot mess. It had so much potential too with an interesting premise but the writing was so poor and not executed well. This is the first book in a series that I will most likely not be continuing unless I am very bored and just want something silly. I will also go in with super low expectations.

7. Heat of the Everflame | 2 deer-stars

Ladies and gentlemen, this is the book that put me in a fantasy romance / romantasy reading slump. NONSENSE. Nonsense, I tell you. So disappointing considering how much I loved Glow of the Everflame. Diem, Diem, Diem. Girl, if you don’t get it together. Luther is what’s saving this book for me. However, I will be finishing this series because I am invested.

6. Sunny Disposition | 3 deer-stars

In my Abby Lee Miller voice, “you were good, but I was waiting for you to be great.”

What drew me to this book was the cover depicting a tall, black, female gamer. It’s not something you see often and I was happy for the diversity and representation. But then the FMC was essentially a maid for these college guys who appeared to all be white but I cannot confirm that (I did go back and try to check but I wasn’t able to confirm their races). And then there were some plot inconsistencies I couldn’t get past. It wasn’t a bad book, but it wasn’t my favorite.

5. Love in Bloom | 3.5 deer-stars

I was excited to read this one because it was in the small-town romance section and next to Done and Dusted, so I figured I may enjoy it. The diversity on the cover was also a plus for me too. I loved the small-town charm and sense of community, but I did have some issues with the plot and repetitive phrasing that pulled me out at times.

4. Spiral | 3.75 deer-stars

As a former dancer, I was so excited to read a book about a dancer, especially a black one. Again, love the diversity representation! Elias is the perfect book boyfriend — he cooks, he’s thoughtful, he pays attention, his love language is definitely acts of service, and ugh, what a man. What kept this book from a higher rating for me was I just wish there was more dancing. And I also wish there was more dance details: does she used skin-tone pointe shoes, how often does she replace them, how was doing the 32 fouettés in Act 3, does she have a hard time getting her textured hair in a bun, when does she rehearse, what’s her diet like? Just things like that I was hoping to have more insight on.

3. A Love Song for Ricki Wilde | 4.75 deer-stars

This was a great read. I live in New York but I learned so much about the Harlem Renaissance and about that neighborhood. It really made me want to live there. I loved the romance between Ricki and Ezra. I love that Ricki is unapologetically herself despite disapproval from her family. A story about opening a flower shop in Harlem seems so simple, but it was done so well.

2. Done and Dusted | 4.75 deer-stars

Yeehawwwwww. My first cowboy romance did not disappoint. I loved the characters, setting, story, romance. It was just a little insta-love for me, but once I got over that I thoroughly enjoyed reading this one. I enjoyed it so much that I plan on reading the next book in the series which is something I normally wouldn’t do as I don’t like interconnected standalones that much, but I just loved this setting and characters so much that I want more.

1. All the Sinners Bleed | 5 deer-stars

S.A. Cosby I was unfamiliar with your work but my good sirrrrrrrrr. You really did your thing with this one. I mean what an introduction to his writing this was. A good plot, good writing, a story that sticks with you and causes mental trauma, I mean what more can you ask for? I will definitely be reading more of Cosby’s work in the future. I just have to mentally prepare myself for it lol.

Please note some of my ratings have changed after additional thought and reflection.