What I Read in September

Get your read on

What a nice aesthetic. Photo by Maddi Bazzocco on Unsplash

This is a new Substack, and something I want to put out monthly is a run down of what I’ve been reading. It’s something I’ve been doing over on TikTok, another one of my fledgling accounts, though, clearly that’s more of a oh-boy-Steph’s-put-on-her-posh-voice-for-the-voiceover moment, rather than the written word.

Anyway, shall we…?

No Worries If Not by

Lucy Nichol

One little word. One bad habit. One year to stop saying sorry.

I gobble up everything Lucy writes, and this is no exception. It’s warm, very northern (set in the toon), funny, and delivered the heart eye emoji moment I crave in my reading material. We have the cast of characters you’d expect from a romcom; the flawed protagonist you absolutely want to shake at times, but will root for regardless. The fit love interest (a must have! I always need to fancy the love interest. Otherwise, what is the point?) The sensible best friend you can see yourself in. The deeply horrible antagonist who gets satisfyingly taken down in the end.

No spice, but it doesn’t feel lacking. It’s a sweet, comfortable read with some larger questions baked in. Get it on your reading list!

And because authors tend to gravitate towards each other, and I was up north on holiday, I had lunch with Lucy whilst I was reading it, and she showed me places that appear in the book. And we had a great time! How lucky am I?!

The Ex Next Door by Jo Platt

After gallery owner Esme’s flat is flooded, she moves into a cottage in a village on the edge of Bristol. All is well until her ex boyfriend Elliot moves in next door, along with his perfect girlfriend Morgan, and Esme and Elliot realises their business is very much unfinished.

This was my first Jo Platt book, but it won’t be my last. It’s an easy, immersive read, and thoroughly enjoyable. I loved how questions I had at the beginning were slowly answered throughout and by the last third, my opinions on the characters had completely flipped.

And isn’t it nice when you’re reading a book and you see your own friends in the cast? My friend

Stacey Stubbs

is absolutely Cass.

Love Me Do by

Lindsey Kelk

I feel like you always know Lindsey’s books are going to be great. A while ago I was talking to my friend about Love Me Do, and she said, ‘Steph, you’ll love it. It’s so us,’ and I knew exactly what she meant. And, it pushed the book right to the top of my TBR pile.

And, if you’ll allow me a tiny meander from the point, I should say that, amongst other things, my pal and I frequently send each other instagram posts of Ben Barnes and then discuss at length about how we suspect he’d be amazing at giving you a leg shaking orgasm. And how he’d look rakish whilst you tried to get your breath back, having been sent into orbit, and knowing in your bones (and let’s be honest, your fanny) that you were ruined for anyone else. And how really it shouldn’t be allowed for a man to be so good looking.

A digression, sure, but one that should give you an idea of what I mean when she says something is so us.

And she was right. It is so us. And it has everything; sunshiney LA setting, a hot neighbour with a big heart who loves bird watching and arranging kooky dates, a faded Hollywood starlet who oozes sass, sisterly love that full on made me miss my own, cultural references for days, and so much tension. Delicious and frustrating all at once, culminating in some right tasty spice and an ending that I am not ashamed to say made me tear up.

What have you read this month?

PS: it’s my debut’s book birthday on Monday! Call Me Maybe is 4!