Stuff I Like: Fall Reading List.

I realized that I posted about my summer reading list but never updated on my progress. Here's what I'm reading, what I've read and what I have on deck: 

Currently Reading: 

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
A few of you sang this book's praises and so far I'm very much enjoying it. I'm about a third of the way through and it's just exactly my brand of quirky. I love the characters, especially Elizabeth Zott who's the main character, and the writing is sharp. It's also funny, which I wasn't expecting! Just a delight and I was happy to see it's being adapted for a show because it really lends itself to a (hopefully good) screen adaptation. 

Four I recently finished:

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
This one has been getting a lot of press and for good reason! It was a really top notch read. I don't know that I loved every element of it but I was very invested in the story and satisfied by the ending. It's a story of friendship, grief, love and failure, and introduced me to the world of video game design which I knew nothing about. Some books I read and immediately forget. This one I'm still thinking about weeks later. Recommend. 

In a New York Minute by Kate Spencer
This book was an entertaining read but not amazing. It had a few cringe moments for me but overall I found it enjoyable and I especially loved a lot of the secondary characters. That said, I'm getting a little tired of the trope of the beautiful girl (who doesn't know it!) who's good at everything (but doesn't know it!) and thinks she's not good enough for the guy. Also, I know that this is a first effort for Kate Spencer and I applaud anyone brave enough to write a novel, so here's to hoping she keeps writing! 

Mad About You by Mhairi McFarlane 
Delightful as always. Maybe not her 100% best but it was, as always, well-written with characters who seem like real people. Anyone who's ever been in a toxic relationship will relate to this one. If you've never read Mhairi McFarlane, she's really reliably good! I've talked about her before on the blog and have never not liked one of her books. 

The Mermaid's Child by Jo Baker
This one was...weird. Part odyssey, part fairy tale, part...I'm not sure, but so beautifully written. The ending felt abrupt but probably because I wasn't expecting it to end, like, ever. It was an epic journey of a story and while it wasn't perfect, I still really enjoyed it. Jo Baker is just such a excellent atmospheric writer.

Three I've got on my "to read" list:

Shrines of Gaiety by Kate Atkinson 
Brand new Kate Atkinson!! I have loved nearly everything she's written so I'm very excited to read this. Described by Slate: "The Jazz Age London of Shrines of Gaiety is nearly as merciless as Dickens’ Victorian metropolis and even more rife with crime and intrigue.” 

Nora Goes Off Script by Annabel Monaghan
Described as: "A heartwarming and hilarious novel about a divorced romance channel screenwriter whose script about her marriage’s collapse just might help her reclaim her life and find love."

The Body Lies by Jo Baker
Described as: "A work of riveting psychological suspense that grapples with how to live as a woman in the world--or in the pages of a book--when the stakes are dangerously high"

One I DNF'd because life is too short to read something you're not into:

A Hundred Other Girls by Iman Hariri-Kia 
I wanted to love this because I really dig a story set in the fashion/magazine world but this one just didn't land for me. It feels young, the writing is a bit clunky, and some of the characters didn't seem like real, fully fleshed out people. But, it had fun NYC energy and its set in the fashion world which is always entertaining, so your mileage may vary. 

That's it for now! Please let me know in the comments how you feel about any or all of these books (or recommend something you think I might like!)