Here are the titles I gave five stars this month. A list of all the titles I read this month is at the end of this post. 

In September 2026 I read 22 books, 7 of those were picture books and 10 were audiobooks. The top genre I read was fiction, tied with cozy mystery.The longest book I read was Carter Avery’s Tricky Fourth-Grade Year at 352 pages, and the shortest book was The Pumpkin Thief at 32 pages.

Tell me – what have you read that you enjoyed?

Get A Candle On Crime by Sarah Burr (Glenmyre Whim Mysteries #4) – Read my full review on Kings River Life here. “Readers looking for a cozy winter escape set at Christmas time should make sure Get a Candle on Crime is top of their to-be-read pile! This is book four in the“Glenmyre Whim Mysteries by Sarah E. Burr and readers can jump in here if they are new to the series. Be sure not to miss books one through three, though.”

Banana Ball: The Unbelievably True Story of the Savannah Bananas by Jesse Cole – I was lucky enough to see the Savannah Bananas in STL, and I absolutely fell in love. I love a memoir mixed with a “process book” (tell me how something came about) and this was the perfect combination of both. It’s fascinating and inspiring and fun. And talk about a knock it out of the park work ethic! Highly recommend.

Something From The Oven: Reinventing Dinner in 1950s America by Laura Shapiro – I do not remember how I learned about this fascinating book, but I’m so glad I did. This is both a culinary history and a history of popular culture following WWII. I didn’t know much about the history of the food industry and I couldn’t put this down. I also wasn’t aware of many of the female figures who were a part of the food industry. I have a list of names I’d like to learn more about now.

The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion: Vol. 8 by Beth Brower – What else is there to say about the lovely Emma M Lion and Beth Brower? I loved this so much. More please! And always in my ears!

Half Double Murder by Marshall Thornton – Read my full review on Kings River Life here. “Half Double Murder is the first in the new Queer Crochet Mystery series by Marshall Thornton and after inhaling this, I am hoping readers are in for more entries. I grabbed this title in audio format, and narrator Dana P. Rowe does an excellent job bringing a large cast of characters to life.”

Busted by Dan Gemeinhart – I absolutely adored this middle-grade adventure story. It’s funny and heartfelt and touches on hard topics with a grace that had me laughing and nodding along. I love odd-ball kids and Oscar might just be my new favorite. And I also love odd-couple friendships and this book is full of them. This would be a wonderful read-aloud.

Carter Avery’s Tricky Fourth-Grade Year by Rob Buyea – Absolutely loved this! Great characters, realistic setting and yay for a middle grade book that features good adults! 

Magnolia Wu Unfolds It All by Chanel Miller – Magnolia Wu is a ten-year-old sock detective bent on returning all the lonely only socks left behind in her parents’ NYC laundromat. Another middle grade novel for the win! Love the characters, the examples of friendship and family relationships. It gave me Vanderbeeker and Ivy & Bean vibes! 

All Titles Read September 2026:

• The pumpkin thief Alice Hemming
• The Worry-Worry Whale Made 32 Mistakes Deborah Diesen
• Wish In A Tree Lynda Mullaly Hunt
• Chicka Chicka Tricka Treat Julien Chung
• Three Little Witches and the Spooky Old House Peggy Archer
• Yvonne Clark and Her Engineering Spark Allen R. Wells
• While We Wait Bee Johnson
• Magnolia Wu Unfolds It All Chanel Miller
• Quiet Girl in a Noisy World: An Introvert’s Story Debbie Tung
• Wormwood Abbey Christina Baehr
• Confessions of a Junior Spy Rosaria Munda
• Get A Candle On Crime Sarah Burr
• Opal Watson, Private Eye Brittany J. Thurman
• Sneaks Amy Tern
• Candy Corn Murder Leslie Meier
• Half Double Murder Marshall Thornton
• Banana Ball Jesse Cole
• Something From The Oven Laura Shapiro
• The Masala Chai Mystery Club M.J. Soni
• Emma M. Lion: Vol. 8 Beth Brower
• Busted Dan Gemeinhart
• Carter Avery’s Tricky Fourth-Grade Year Rob Buyea