It kind of feels like I blinked and woke up when September ended. 😂 Most of the month was business as usual. The highlight was getting to leave Jakarta for a work retreat.
Another plus is that we’re one day closer to the upcoming “treat yourself, besties” holiday in mid-October! ☀️
But now that September is over, there are also so many things that I need to prepare for work-wise that have me sinking into my anxiety just a little bit more than usual. I signed a new contract that upped my pay, which is amazing, but it also really upped my responsibilities and I don’t know if I’m ready for that. My boss tells me it’s my lack of confidence that always gets in my way and I know she’s right, to an extent, but it’s still a lot. I’m incredibly thankful but also extremely nervous about living up to what the team needs and expects, too. Anyway, maybe I should focus on my holiday before thinking too hard about the rest of it, eh? 🫠🫣
I read 14 books in September which is pretty much the monthly average for this year. The great thing is that I had no reads below 3-stars this month! I had two 5-star reads but my favourite has to be The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna! Everyone told me I’d love it and what do you know? Everyone was right! 😂 I still haven’t posted my review but it’s coming soon—I swear.
*book covers are linked to Goodreads and text is linked to my review, if available*
*books are arranged by order read*
5 pandas
(ARC) Northranger
4.5 pandas
(TOUR) Alex Wise vs the End of the World
Bombshell
4 pandas
(TOUR) Wrapped with a Beau
The Duke Effect
3.5 pandas
3 pandas
(TOUR) A Prayer for Vengeance
I still haven’t fully updated by Goodreads Reading Challenge but my spreadsheet shows I’ve read 120 books, which means only 30 more to go reach my 150-book goal for 2023!
I’m still woefully behind on my other reading challenges like the 12 Book Challenge and I’m not slaying my overdue ARCs or backlist books either. I mean, I’m reading a lot of older books but I bought them in 2023 so (sadly) it doesn’t count! I’m just adding more books to my list. 😂 I thought there might be hope to catch up before the end of the year but I think I’m too far behind now… Let’s see!
Discussions:
- Motherhood Helped Me Love My Fat Body by Olivia Dade
- Discussion: My Unpopular Literary Opinions ⇉ Ritz @ Living, Loving and Reading
Reviews:
- ‘The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches’: Literally One of the Cutest Books I’ve Ever Read ⇉ Destiny @ Howling Libraries
- The Scarlet Alchemist by Kylie Lee Baker | ARC Review ⇉ Yolanda @ Past Midnight
- The Fragile Threads of Power by V.E. Schwab – ARC Review! ⇉ Becky @ Becky’s Book Blog
- ARC Review – Stars in Your Eyes ⇉ Chris @ Biblio Nerd Reflections
- Review: How High We Go in the Dark by Sequoia Nagamatsu ⇉ Fives @ Down the Rabbit Hole
- So This is Ever After by F.T. Lukens || Subversive Queer Fairy Tale Rom-Com ⇉ Sammie @ The Bookwyrm’s Den
Tags/Lists/Recommendations:
- The Autumn Lover Blog Tag 🍂 favorites & my bucket list ⇉ Caro @ Bookcheshirecat
- 12 Books With Mental Health Rep That You Absolutely Must Read & 12 Queer Romance Books That You’re Going to Love ⇉ Stephanie @ The Espresso Edition
- Top Ten Tuesday: If You Liked That, Try This #7 ⇉ Deanna @ A Novel Glimpse
- Comfort Reads As Dictated By Global Readers ⇉ Jennifer @ My Book Joy
- Books I’ve Read This Year with Bi+ Male Characters (2023) ⇉ Chris @ Biblio Nerd Reflections
- Upcoming Books on my Radar ⇉ Andi @ ohnobooks
And that’s it for September, friends. Can you believe we’re down to the last THREE months of 2023 now? How was your month of reading and life in September? What was your favourite read? I hope you’re all doing well and taking care!
dinipandareads 
Yeay so happy you loved the secret society of irregular witches. Its my favorite of the year so far.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s definitely up there in faves of the year! 😍 I can’t wait for the next book to come out!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for including my posts! Also, yay for more money. It sucks that it comes with more stress, but it sounds like you have a pretty supportive supervisor, which is awesome. I finally broke down and bought Northranger from Amazon. I haven’t read it yet, but I’m hoping to get to it soon.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m very glad that I have a supportive and understanding boss 🙂 I hope that I adjust well to all of this! I hope you enjoy Northranger and have a great month ahead, Chris!
LikeLike
I adore The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches. It was one of my top reads of last year, and I wouldn’t mind a reread. So glad you got to enjoy it!
That waterfall pic is beautiful. Best of luck with the new job responsibilities. And congrats on the raise!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s so good. I don’t reread a lot but I can definitely see it becoming one in the future cos it’s so cosy and wonderful! 🙂 Thanks, Ali! I hope you have an awesome month ahead!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is super cozy! I hope October is a great month for you, too!!
LikeLike
You had a wonderful month! You have me excited for The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hope you love it, Joanna! 😍 Happy reading and have a great month ahead!
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s awesome you’re getting paid more. I’m sure all of those new responsibilities will become easier the more you do them and soon you’ll forget about how worried you were about them. At least you have a vacation to look forward to! I’m glad Mandanna’s book was a hit. And thank you for sharing my post.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Deanna. It’s definitely stressful but I hope that the responsibilities will come easier once I get more time to adjust. It’s just the beginning after all… I’m glad I enjoyed Mandanna’s book as much as everyone said I would, too. 😃 I hope you have a great month ahead!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m so glad you loved the Mandanna book. As for work, your boss is right; they wouldn’t have added responsibilities if they didn’t think you could handle it. Enjoy your trip this month, and let work go while you’re there.
Pam @ Read! Bake! Create!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Pam! I’m definitely looking forward to letting work go while I’m holiday later this month 😊 I hope you have a great month, too!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Eeek! The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches is just the cutest book ever, isn’t it? I loved it so, so much when I read it last year. I’m almost tempted to reread it again this month just because it’s so adorable!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is ridiculously cute! Gave me all those good floaty butterfly feels 🥹 I don’t reread a lot but I defo can see it being a yearly comfort read!
LikeLike
Congratulations on the promotion!! ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Celeste! 💜
LikeLike
Dini – They wouldn’t give you more responsibility if they didn’t believe in you at work. I know you can do it! Why don’t I work at a place where they have such lovely retreats. You had a great reading month too. Yeah!
LikeLiked by 1 person
[…] Monthly Wrap-Up: September 2023 […]
LikeLike
Aw, thank you for the shout out! I’m still so happy you loved Secret Society. 🥰 Congrats on the raise, but I’m sorry you’re feeling so nervous! I bet you’re going to do absolutely amazing, Dini!!! ♥
LikeLike
Sorry to hear that work is stressful, I hope you still find some time to unwind and have fun during your holiday! ❤️ I really liked The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches as well, it’s the perfect cozy Fantasy 🥰 Thank you so much for sharing my post!
LikeLike