I can’t believe there’s only two months left in the year! Time flies, and I’m just realizing I will not get through all the books I intended to read this year. That’s nothing new though, if you know me a little. But that’s something I will talk about in a future post. For now, let’s take a look at my October 2023 book reviews.
I had a decent month reading wise, with a total of eight books. I read three arcs, listened to one book on audio, and the rest were physical books. All in all, I’m pretty satisfied with what I read, but I didn’t have a five star read in the month of October.
With that being said, let’s take a look at my October 2023 book reviews.
What Happened to Ruthy Ramirez? by Claire Jimenez
For a debut novel, the book was ok. Not great, but I enjoyed the writing style and the overall presentation. What I didn’t enjoy that much was the flat ending.
While the author built the suspense quite nicely, she did not deliver at the end. I expected a lot more by the way the story started. Unfortunately, it kind of ruined it for me. The whole book was wrapped up in one very short last chapter, which made me feel cheated. It had a lot of potential, but it didn’t live up to it. I gave it three stars on Goodreads.
The book was published on March 7th, 2023 by Grand Central Publishing.
None Of This Is True by Lisa Jewel
Oh my gosh, what a ride this book was! Jewel has a way of building a storyline that keeps you on the edge of your seat. She sets the stage for the final scene, which is dark and grim.
This psychological thriller contains many twists and turns, and by the end you’re still not sure what really happened. Jewel painted both possibilities so vividly, which leaves the reader confused. I know that either version could’ve happened, but I’m still not sure.
The protagonist is unlikable and unreliable, yet you want to know more about her.
I enjoyed this roller coaster story! I recommend it to anyone looking for a fast paced propulsive thriller that keeps you engaged until the last page.
This book was published by Atria Books on August 8, 2023.
The Breakaway by Jennifer Weiner
This book was a cute rom-com that touches on a few contemporary issues. Themes such as body positivity, girl empowerment, and the importance of having choices are among the most noteworthy. Although a work of fiction, these topics were touched upon.
I am a fan of Weiner’s writing style, and this book was equally pleasing to me. I loved Abby and her overall great attitude about life.
It made me want to know more about her and what she will finally decide to do.
Another thing I found interesting was to see how her relationship between her and her mother progressed. Once they both decided to be open and honest with each other, it transformed the tensions that have been building up for years.
A feel-good book that is easy to read. I recommend it to anyone looking for a lighter book that will help them get out of a reading slump. This book was published on August 29, 2023 by Atria Books.
Thank you Netgalley, Simon & Schuster Canada, Atria Books and Jennifer Weiner for my advanced digital copy to read and review.
The Witch Hunter by Max Seeck
The Witch Hunter is a great Nordic Noir police procedural that has some witchcraft elements present. I didn’t know how to feel about it while I was reading its description, but I surprisingly enjoyed the way the author blended it into the story. It was our Nordic Noir readalong for the months of September-October.
I am possibly the only one in our group who loved Jessica Niemi, the main investigator. She became another endearing female character I cannot wait to read more about. Her past makes her a better detective and because of the obstacles she endured, it built her character.
The only thing that I found a tad disappointing was the story with Jessica and Colombano in Venice. At times I was wondering whether it was her dreams or reality. It didn’t have an impact on the investigation, but I guess it helped with the character development. I can now understand that it did make the reader see how the experience shaped her as an adult.
The culminating point of the story was its ending, which was actually surprising and I did not see it coming. This is one book that is better to go in blind, in my opinion, so you can savor it for all it has to offer.
While it wasn’t a five star read for me, I liked it very much, and I think that it makes a perfect book for this time of year.
It was published by Berkley on October 27, 2020.
When I’m Dead by Hannah Morrisey
Thank you Netgalley, Minotaur Books and St. Martin’s Press, and of course, Hannah Morrisey for my advanced digital copy to read and review.
If you’re not familiar with Hannah’s writing, I urge you to give her a try. Her Black Harbor series is a blend of police procedural that contains lots of dark, gritty elements. If you read my previous post about the difference between mystery and thriller, then you’ll know this falls right into those categories.
Mystery Versus Thriller: The Difference Between the Two Genres Explained
When I’m Dead reads as a stand-alone, just like her previous two novels, Hello Transcriber and The Widowmaker. There are small mentions of occurrences from the first two novels, therefore you will not miss important details in order to follow the story. It has more to do with the main investigator’s previous relationship rather than the case at hand.
I find her writing is getting better and better with each book and I liked this one more than the first two books in the Black Harbor series. Personally, I find the character development and the way she lays out the story is well done, and it keeps you guessing as to who is behind the crimes.
I definitely recommend When I’m Dead to anyone looking for a dark, atmospheric book, especially for around this time of year. Publication date is October 31st, 2023.
The Lost Village by Camilla Sten
This book has been on my tbr list since it came out last year. Minotaur published it on February 22, 2022, and I finally managed to get around to it.
This dark and gory, not to mention atmospheric book is perfect for this time of year. You get all the creepy vibes that horror movies offer. It’s been compared to the Blair Witch Project since it is centered around filmmaker Alice and her group of friends. Sten is great at creating chilly descriptions and accurate observations that make you feel as if you’re right there in the midst of things.
If you’re faint of heart, I suggest you don’t read this book right before bedtime, you might get nightmares. Don’t say I didn’t warn you!
In all seriousness, if you’re looking for a thriller/ horror book that just vibes with the spooky season, then I recommend this one wholeheartedly.
The Latecomer by Jean Hanff Korelitz
I listened to this book on audio, and I managed to squeeze it in this past weekend. While it wasn’t my favorite family saga I’ve read this year, I enjoyed the strong character development. The Oppenheimer siblings were quite insufferable. But the latest addition to the family, Phoebe, is the most likable of them. She brings the triplets together and with her curious personality, manages to get them talking again.
I love the way the author weaves the complicated relationships into the story and makes it flow. The ending was tied up nicely and left me with an overall great, warm feeling.
If you’re looking for a dramatic story that shows the ups and downs of a family through the decades, then this one is a good pick. It was published on May 31st 2022 by Celadon Books.
Ruthless by Anne Mette Hancock
Thank you Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books publishers for my advanced reader’s copy for review.
Although I enjoyed the first two books in this series, this one fell a little flat for me. There’s nothing wrong with the writing, I think my issue was the uncorrected copy.
The book still offers the same atmospheric setting, like most Nordic noir novels. Despite all that, I didn’t love it. It is possibly because of formatting issues of the digital version, but it seemed like the chapters were not well transitioned.
I’m still glad I read it, but unfortunately I can’t give it more than three stars. If you started this series then it’s worth continuing. But I wouldn’t start with this one if you haven’t read the previous two books in the series.
Concluding Words
This sums up my October 2023 book reviews. Hopefully you found some books to your liking. If you’ve read any of these, I’ll be more than happy to discuss them with you in private. Leave me a comment below, or DM me on my Instagram account. Can’t wait to hear your thoughts.
Until next time, my fellow bookworms.
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