Monthly Round Up/What’s on My Plate: September/October
3 October 2026
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Book Reviews, Booking Ahead/Weekly Wrap Up, Books, fiction, reading, Reviewing, September/October
Here’s my round up post for September combined with my ‘what’s on my plate’ books for October. My reading has really picked up this month and whilst I didn’t manage to read everything on my shelves I feel like I made good progress. I can’t believe we’re into October already, for a strange moment I felt like I’d made a mistake and I really had to think about it – and yes, we really are in October already – spooky season is officially upon us. Without further ado lets take a look at what I read last month and what I’m planning on reading this one:
These were the books I read in September:
- Murder at the Grand Alpine Hotel by Lucy Foley
- Our Noble Selves by Kate Atkinson
- Serenity Falls by C. J. Tudor
- Exit Party by Emily St John Mandel
- Pride, Prejudice and Peril by Jessica Bull
- Worry Box by Chris Panatier
- Carry Me to My Grave by Christopher Golden
- Bodies of Magic by Freya Marske – DNF
- The Faerie Handmaid by Louisa Morgan
- A Waltz of Sinister Import by Stephanie Burgis – review yet to be posted










I had 14 books on my line up for September so realistically I didn’t think I’d be able to read them all. But, I’m quite happy with the progress made and hoping to return to pick up some of the others in the last two months of the year when my shelves are looking quite achievable at the moment. I do also have some outstanding books for August that I’m also looking to try and cram in if possible. My real aim is to read as many of the review books I’ve been given this year as possible so lets see how that goes. The best laid plans, etc, etc.
What’s On My Plate: October
- Sleepers in the Snow by Joanne Harris – read
- A Scholar’s Guide to Demonology & Other Dark Arts by Genevieve Cogman – currently reading
- The Thrice Bound Fool by Christopher Buehlman
- Royal Witch by Philippa Gregory
- The House of Cursed Daughters by C.J. Cooke
- The Bookshop Book by Mark Lawrence
- The Porcelain Sisters by Daryl Gregory







I’m hoping that I can settle down again to some solid reading like I managed to do last month. It would be great if I could squeeze in all 7 and maybe even a couple of extra books. One can but hope.
Backlist Book
For the moment I’m not tackling the list I created at the start of the year as I’d like to catch up with my review books from the last few months to get back on track.
Bookforager‘s Picture Prompt Book Bingo
And the ‘wordy’ version:
Picture Prompt Book Bingo 2026 (text version)
| 1. | 2. A set of weighing scales | 3. | 4. |
| 5. | 7. | 8. A cooking pot hanging over a campfire | |
| 9. | 10. | 11. | 12. An octopus |
| 13. | 15. A decorative water fountain | 16. |
This month I’m crossing off No.16 a pinch-clip purse which I actually have two perfect books for. Both Pride, Prejudice and Peril by Jessica Bull and A Waltz of Sinister Import by Stephanie Burgis would fit this given they’re both period pieces. I’ve gone with A Waltz of Sinister Import as it has such a lovely cover. I’m also crossing off No.5 A Hot Air Balloon using a very cheeky book to fit the theme. Murder at the Grand Alpine Hotel by Lucy Foley – my thoughts are that this is a story based up in the Alps where people come to ski and use a gondola lift to take them up to the best spots to ski downhill – a gondola lift is a means of travelling through the air so I think it loosely fits. At least that’s my logic, take a look at the cover – there is my evidence! Now, what can I possibly read before the end of the year that has an octopus!



You read a fantastic amount during September, well done 🥰 I know a few of them were hits too which is wonderful. I’m glad your reading is going so well. Mine was great in terms of quality but down in quantity so I’m hoping to do better during October 🤞
You have some fantastic sounding titles lined up for October and I cant wait to hear what you think of them all. For a second I saw Mawk Lawrence but not the title and got a little jealous thinking you had Daughter Of Ruin already 😂
You’re doing wonderfully with the bingo board. I’d say you could probably try Reliquary for the octopus if it interests you. There isn’t an octopus as such but it has sea based eldritch inclusions which I’d say is close enough. The other that immediately springs to mind is Remarkably Bright Creatures but I don’t know if you’ve read that already.
I hope you have a wonderful October and look forward to seeing all of your reviews.
Thanks for the heads up for my Octopus bingo slot. I might very well have to take you up on that suggestion.
I hope you have a wonderful October (I hope I do too – fingers crossed) but lets just decide not to stress. Easy to say eh!
Lynn 😀
Looks like you had an excellent September. I’m very worried about October because I took on way too many books and of course now I’m paying the price, lol.
I was quite happy with my reading during September. I had a silly amount of books that I was never going to manage, but, if I can keep focused I think I can play some catch up in November and December. Fingers crossed.
Lynn 😀
Weird question, but as an owner of a corgi I just have to know. Is there one in the Scholar’s Guide to Demonology & Other Dark Arts or is it just a random dog on the cover? 😀
Yes. There is an actual Corgi in the book. I’m not sure how much of a role it will have as I’m only a quarter of the way through. 😊
Fantastic! I await your full review and corgi report, lol.
The Corgi is called Faust. He’s the headteacher’s familiar and he likes sausages (don’t all dogs like sausages?)
Lynn 😀
Oh that’s adorable! I might have to check this book out now, lol. And Faust is a fantastic name for a corgi. Mine is named Thorin – King of the Dwarf Dogs 😀
Brilliant.