September Must Reads: Dive Into Someone Else's Turmoil
Put down your phone and give your poor thumb a rest—unless you listen to audiobooks. In that case, pick your phone back up.
Everyone loves a good story. Why do you think we are so engrossed in our Netflix series’? Sometimes, it’s nice to lose yourself in other people’s problems for a while and escape the turmoil of your own life.
I don’t know where you buy your books these days because it’s 2018 and not only is Borders deceased (R.I.P.), but libraries aren’t our only literary source anymore. We’ve got Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iTunes and I don’t even know what else but you get the point. Regardless, I know what it feels like to be totally overwhelmed when there are thousands of book titles practically reaching out and grabbing you by the arm. I’m here to help you filter out those grabs so you can focus on reading books worthy of your time and shut off your own reality for a little while.
Let’s be real for a second—books are expensive these days. I don’t know if the pages are dusted with gold or if the words are some sort of jumble that piece together the mystery of the Bermuda Triangle, but escaping reality can cost a pretty penny. There’s nothing like waddling out of Barnes & Noble with seven new books, calculating how many shirts I could’ve bought instead, only to finish all of my reads and feel disappointed in my choices.
Hopefully, this list of September Must Reads will make your book shopping experience a little less traumatic.
If you want to read about someone else’s past turmoil brought to present…
Girl Last Seen
A psychological thriller that tells the story of Lainey Moreno, formerly known as Ella Santos before her kidnapping. Lainey lives off of cigarettes and pills to numb her mind from those traumatic three years of imprisonment and rape. Until she sees a poster for a missing child and finds herself sucked back into those memories in order to help save another girl from the man who nearly destroyed her. If you’re looking for a book with a stunning plot-twist and heroic character arc, this book is for you.
If you want to read about someone else’s physical turmoil…
Sometimes I Lie
A psychological thriller told through a unique P.O.V. and with language that will grip you by the hand and force you to keep reading. This book has total Gone Girl vibes. Imagine being stuck in a lucid state in a coma, unable to move or speak or open your eyes, and unsure of how you got there. Cue: Amber. She has no idea what put her in the hospital, but as she dissects the information and conversations around her, she starts to piece together that tragic night. In all honesty, I’m not one to read a book twice, but this is the second book IN MY LIFE that broke that rule for me. If you’re looking for something that will keep you up until 3 a.m. and stun you at the end, this book is for you.
If you want to read about someone else’s familial turmoil…
Without Merit
A novel that will force you to reconsider your perception of those around you. Without Merit explores love, family, lies and ultimately, the truth. Merit Voss lives in a repurposed church with her family and their respective secrets. When she falls for a boy while shopping for trophies she didn’t win, only to learn he is unavailable, her inner turmoil causes her to see her family members in a way that may not be truthful. When the lies of her illusive happy family—that she has never felt a part of—become too much, she makes the decision to leave them behind, but not before shattering the fragile glass that is the truth. If you’re looking for a book that will make you ponder the relationship between lies, love and the truth, this book is for you.
If you want to read about someone else’s romantic turmoil…
All Your Perfects
A romance novel that is told through the alternating past and present voice of Quinn. Chapters narrated in the past explore the way she fell in-love with her husband, Graham; while the present explore the troubles of their imperfect marriage. Throughout the novel, their past and present connect to uncover the secrets and mistakes that are tearing them apart. Now, the one thing that could save their imperfect marriage is also the one thing that could send them to the point of no repair. If you’re looking for a book that will help you feel like you’re not alone in your own romantic turmoil, this book is for you.
