What to say about September? Overall it was good. I did another Hard Life Thing, but somehow still ended up reading a lot. I have to thank the SFINCS novellas for that. My reading was all over the place. There were some books I enjoyed and some I could’ve taken or left. Anyway, enough chatter…let’s get on with my September 2024 book blog wrap-up.
Book Reviews
I posted three book reviews in September. From earliest to latest they are:
Blog Statistics
Every month I share some statistics from Google Analytics because I think it helps put expectations into perspective for other micro-bloggers like me who are out there. These statistics are from Google Analytics 4.
My top five posts for total page views, as of Sunday (September 29) evening, are:
- Book Review: Assistant to the Villain by Heather Maehrer: 1,453 views
- Arthurian Retellings Reading List: 821 views
- Book Review: Fall of Ruin and Wrath by Jennifer Armentrout: 434 views
- ARC Book Review Etiquette: 295 views
- Book Review: Gild by Raven Kennedy: 290 views
September was not a month for new personal bests on the blog, and that’s ok. Traffic in general seemed a little slower even compared to July. However, I gained a few more followers and now sit at 208. Thanks to the newcomers for joining!
#BeattheBacklog
I finished three books that I’ve had on my TBR prior to 2024. Those books are WEYWARD by Emilia Hart, ONCE MORE WITH FEELING by Elissa Sussman, and FOR THE THRONE by Hannah Whitten.
Other Bookish Items
I finished 16 books in September:
- THIS WILL BE FUN by E.B. Asher (ARC)
- RISING FLUX by Jonathan Weiss (SFINCS)
- A FIRE IN THE SKY by Sophie Jordan (ARC)
- DEAR GIRLS by Ali Wong (audiobook)
- SISTAH SAMURAI by Tatiana Obey (SFINCS)
- WEYWARD by Emilia Hart (audiobook)
- ONCE MORE WITH FEELING by Elissa Sussman
- THE KING’S CURSE by Mandy Schimelpfenig (SFINCS)
- THE BOOK OF PURRS by Luis Coelho (ARC)
- STAR PATTERN TRAVELLER by Joyce Chng (SFINCS)
- A VERY PUNCHABLE FACE by Colin Jost (audiobook)
- FOR THE THRONE by Hannah Whitten
- I WANT TO DIE BUT I WANT TO EAT TTEOKBOKKI by Baek Sehee (audiobook)
- FORGET ME NOT by Julie Soto
- A NEST FOR CELESTE by Henry Cole
- ODD SPIRITS by S.T. Gibson (complimentary copy from Angry Robot)
This is probably the most books I’ve ever read in a month. I know a lot of them are novellas or shorter audiobooks, but I still set aside time to read them!
I was doing well on not buying more books. But I caved and bought a bunch from Book Outlet near the end of the month. I needed a serotonin boost, okay? This girl is going through a lot right now.
Lastly, what is up with the review requests I got this month? Is it just me or do they all seem to come in waves and then several months go by in silence? They always seem to arrive when I don’t have the mental capacity to do anything but grouse internally about it. Two of them called me by my blog name and one of them called me someone else’s name. My name isn’t that hard to find!
Non-Bookish Items
To cut straight to the chase, I did another Hard Life Thing this month. I felt like I recovered quicker this time around. Initial results were surprising (not in a good way and I have a hunch about why), but ended ever so marginally better. I find out the final results in one more week. I just need a win here. Can the universe please grant me a solid? The emotional turmoil is really grating on my mental health.
The second half of September was so dang wet and gloomy. Temperatures in the low 70s at this time of here are highly unusual. I mean, we needed the rain, but I’m allowed to say the weather felt depressing. Throughout it all, though, my vegetable garden is still pulling through. It might have slowed down, but most things remain alive and producing food.
Let’s see…to end this on a positive note, my husband had a business trip last week. That meant I got some quality time with my cat, which also meant I got lots of cuddles in bed! She doesn’t usually use me for warmth at night, but she had no other choice. 😀
And that’s it for my September 2024 book blog wrap-up! How was your September?
A Nest for Celeste sounds like the perfect read for you. I really hope that your final test results are good 🤞Sending lots of love and positive vibes your way XX
Thanks, Janette!! <3 I found out there's another "Celeste" book by the same author…I just might have to read that one, too!
I think that you definitely have to 😃
16 books!!! That’s so many. I wish that I’d managed that number this month, but no such luck. I hope you get the results that you want for whatever health stuff you are going through. And, yes. The review requests do seem to come in waves. I’m at the point now where I pretty much just ignore them. I should probably update my request policies to say I’m closed but haven’t bothered because people just ignore them anyway. lol.
I know! 16 is a first for me. I don’t think I’ll be able to repeat that very often. Thanks for the kind words about the health stuff; I find out tomorrow…trying not to think about it, ahhh.
Sadly, I ignore almost all review requests. I refuse to take my email address off my blog just because most people can’t be bothered to read my review request policy. I’ve had a handful of relevant requests and I don’t want to completely turn off that contact option.
September was weird for me too. But wow, I wish I could read 16 books in a month! I’m curious to compare notes on Odd Spirits. I haven’t read it yet but will soon. And yes, I have the same thing with review requests. I wish people would read my review policy before sending them, but I’m sure some must be bot generated. I hope your October is a good one!
Well, a lot of those 16 books were novellas haha…which still count, but obviously I can read more of them than novels in a given month. Good to know it’s not just me with respect to people not reading review request policies!!
There was a time when I felt bad for ignoring review requests, but that died a fast death when I realized most looked like batch emails and the author probably even eventually forgot they sent me a request. I really don’t understand using the wrong name, though, especially if it’s listed on the blog, even if I find it amusing now and then, so I feel a lot better about ignoring those. I hope you get some good life news soon, and yay for more cat cuddles!
I feel you–lately I’d say half are batch requests and the other half the requestor has actually looked through my reviews a little bit (but still ignores my review request policy lol). I also don’t understand how someone can miss the name of the blogger…I mean, mine is on my “About Me” page as well as on all my social media handles!
Thanks for the well wishes about the life news stuff!! <3
Sixteen books in a month is a good chunk of reading. Looks like you got through a nice mix of books too, I have heard of some of these but some others I may need to check out. I love that you share you blogging stats and which posts were the most popular. My September was fairly relaxing with lots of video game time.
I know, I surprised myself by reading that much last month! I’m glad you had a relaxing September!
It’s hard to say no to Book Outlet, or to stop going back to it for more. 🙂
Hope you get the results you want on that Hard Life Thing. And it was a wet, gloomy month for me too. I’m glad fall is coming, but I miss the bright, sunny days.
Omg it sure is hard to say no to Book Outlet sometimes!! I’m pretty good about ignoring them, but I needed a pick me up. Thanks for the kind words about my Hard Life Thing. <3
Hope all is well 💖❤️📚
Hi Momina!!! I miss you on IG!
16! Amazing. I hope you feel pretty good about that accomplishment.
September was a rough month for many folks I’m acquainted with both IRL and online, including myself. I’m terribly sorry it was hard for you, too. It’s a relief that your veggies are still kicking and you had a cuddly cat around for a bit of comfort; nice little things like that can mean so much more at times when the rest of life is difficult. Hopefully October will be an improvement!
I do! 16 is not something I’ll be able to repeat often haha.
I’m sorry to hear that September was tough for other folks you follow, too! Fingers crossed I get some good news this month. Our cuddly cat has been such a nice comfort, as you said…so thankful for her!
I’m sorry to hear that you had a bit of a tough September. I hope October is going better for you. And you read an incredible amount. I know a few are novellas but it’s still fantastic. The only book I’ve also read is Weyward but I have a few of the others on my TBR. And breaking a book buying ban to give yourself a boast is perfectly understandable. I’d do the same 😂 what did you end up buying?
September was ok, just had a big personal life thing going on that was tough. October so far has been a nice reset. 🙂 And reading that much is definitely not the nor for me!!
I bought a handful of books from Book Outlet: The Justices Behind Roe V. Wade: The Inside Story, Man Who Hated Women: Sex, Censorship, and Civil Liberties in the Gilded Age, A Midwinter’s Tail, Bliss and Blunder, Daughter of Black Lake (excited about this one because it’s set in the Bronze Age!), and Queen Hereafter: A Novel of Lady Macbeth.
I’m glad that October has been a nice reset for you so far 🥰
Oh wow that’s a lot of books 😅 I think I’ve only heard of one of them so I’ll have to look into them. I feel like the bronze age title is familiar too but I’m not sure 🤔 anyway I hope you enjoy them all. It sounds like you have plenty of new books to keep busy.