ShortBookandScribes September 2025 Reads, Book Post and Stats
Goodbye September, hello October. As expected, my reading has taken a hit now the summer holidays are over but I enjoyed everything I read in September with a nice mix of review books and books from my own TBR pile.
Viewing – I’m currently watching Coldwater (ITV1) which is hilariously bizarre and I watched The Guest (BBC1). Both reasonably good dramas but I have to say that The Girlfriend on Amazon Prime is knocking them out of the (cold)water. I’ve only watched half of the six episodes so far but I love it, especially the two female leads who are playing the possessive mother/psycho girlfriend to perfection. One of my favourite autumn series is back as well – All Creatures Great and Small (C5) which is just perfect for this time of year. What have you been watching lately?
To the books – here are my September reads:
A New Home at the Wartime Hotel by Maisie Thomas
The first in a new saga series about three women navigating their way through wartime whilst dealing with their own personal problems. A lovely easy read and I’m looking forward to book two.
A riveting story with an explosive premise which put me in the heart of a disaster scenario. What would you do if you only had 59 minutes until a nuclear missile hits?
An excellent police procedural and second in the series to feature police dog handler P.C. Lucy Halliday. A current day missing child case combined with a cold case linked to DCI Jack Ellis.
What the Wife Knew by Lia Middleton
This book combines a legal thriller with a domestic drama going on behind the scenes. Very fast-paced and full of tension and mystery.
Mix Tape by Jane Sanderson (review to follow)
I’ve been meaning to read this for the last five years – the recent BBC adaptation gave me the push I needed and I’m looking forward to watching it to see how it compares with the book. I enjoyed this story of lost first love, particularly because part of it is set in Sheffield where Daniel and Alison first met.
The Campaigners by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles
Book 14 follows on the depiction of the Napoleonic Wars up to the bloody battle of Waterloo and the defeat of Napoleon. There is much sadness in this book for the Morland family, both at home and away in Belgium and the devastation of the wars was utterly heartbreaking. Another fantastic instalment.
A Woman of Substance by Barbara Taylor Bradford
I first read this epic tale of Emma Harte and her rise from a servant at Fairley Hall to one of the most powerful women of her time many years ago. I’ve always wanted to reread it but would it live up to my memories? Well yes, it did. I read it very slowly alongside other books because of its 800+ page length and I loved being back in Emma’s world. I’ve now embarked on a reread of the sequel, Hold the Dream.
Book post received this month with thanks to the named publishers:
The Murder at World’s End by Ross Montgomery (sent by Viking)
Laws of Love and Logic by Debra Curtis (sent by Bloomsbury)
The Woman in the Cabin by Becca Day (sent by Embla)
Six Little Words by Sally Page (sent by Harper Collins)
I also bought:
Murder at the Palace by N.R. Daws
The Life She Could Have Had by Laura Pearson
Book Boyfriend by Lucy Vine
Unknown by Heather Critchlow
Bitter Sweet by Hattie Williams
Only one with spredges this month and that was Book Boyfriend.
Finally, my Storygraph stats for September:
