What I Read: September 2025
September ended up being a slower reading month for me. I don’t know what it was, but I just wasn’t in the mood to pick up books as often as I usually do. Maybe it was the change of seasons or just needing a bit of a break. Either way, I’m not stressing too much about it – reading is supposed to be fun, after all! That said, I’m really hoping October will bring me back into the groove because I have a stack of spooky books waiting for me. Some are old favorites I’m excited to revisit, and a few are brand new picks that I can’t wait to dive into.
Even though I didn’t finish as many books as usual, I still have some great ones to share this month.
Night Angels
I can’t remember where I first heard about this book, but I’m so glad it made its way onto my radar. I ended up really enjoying it, and it introduced me to a piece of WWII history that I hadn’t come across before.
Night Angels by Weina Dai Randel follows Dr. Ho Fengshan, the consul general of China in Vienna, and his wife Grace. Grace feels like a fish out of water in a new country where she doesn’t speak the language, while the Nazi movement begins to take over Austria. The story follows the couple as their worlds shift and they face unimaginable changes.
The book is based on the real life of Dr. Fengshan, who saved thousands of Jewish people by providing them with visas to China. I had never heard about his efforts before, and it was both fascinating and moving to learn about. Grace’s character, on the other hand, is more fictionalized since there wasn’t as much historical information available about her.
The writing really drew me in, and the characters felt so vivid. I kept imagining what it must have been like to have a foreign power sweep into the city you’ve grown up in, and suddenly find yourself a target. It was heartbreaking and powerful all at once.
London
I’ve started London by Edward Rutherfurd, but with its impressive 1,100 pages, I haven’t finished it yet. I’m about 300 pages in so far, and I’m loving it – just like all of the other Rutherfurd books I’ve read. He’s known for writing epic novels about specific cities over the course of millennia, following several families through generations and across centuries.
I really enjoy getting a peek into different time periods and meeting new characters in each chapter. I was lucky enough to visit London back in 2006, so it’s been so much fun to recognize some of the places I got to see in person.
If you’re a history lover like me, I think you’d enjoy how Rutherfurd is able to bring the city he’s writing about to life. Of course, it’s impossible to cover every single major event (especially in a city as rich in history as London), but he does a great job of hitting the big ones. Plus, the characters he creates give those monumental events a human perspective that makes them even more impactful.
Nestlings
I’m not quite halfway through Nestlings by Nat Cassidy, so I’ll hold off on a full review until next month’s roundup. But I will say that I’m hooked already. It’s written in a way that makes you want to keep reading “just one more chapter.” So far, it’s delivering that perfect creepy fall vibe.
Final Thoughts
Even though September wasn’t the most productive reading month for me, I still came across some great books that I’m glad I picked up. Sometimes reading ebbs and flows, and that’s completely okay. I’m looking forward to making October a cozier, spookier reading month with the books waiting on my shelf.
Now I’d love to hear from you – what have you been reading lately? Do you have any spooky or atmospheric reads planned for October? Let me know in the comments, and maybe I’ll add a few more to my own TBR!
