Yes, I know it’s not officially fall yet, but it’s Labor Day and technically that means summer is over and we should all light up our pumpkin candles and cozy up in our flannel favorites with a great book, right?
I’m all about it!
In celebration of the upcoming season, I’ve rounded up a dozen books that are fresh on my to-be-read list. Hopefully, you’ll find a few goodies in the bunch. I recently joined GoodReads, so if you want to follow me there, I’d love to see what you’re reading!
“Things You Save in a Fire” by Katherine Center
This is the story of a female firefighter — the only female firefighter in her firehouse in Austin, Texas (!) and while she prides herself on being calm in emergency situations, things change when she uproots her life and moves to Boston. The new firehouse is much, much different and there’s a handsome new fireman in town… but she was told to never fall in love at work. HMMM!
It’s been awhile since I’ve read a romance and this one seems unique. Plus, I have never read a book about firefighters or firefighting!
“The Yellow House” by Sarah M. Broom
I’ve been feeling nostalgic about Louisiana, maybe because I’m heading back there at the end of the month — just for a weekend — to teach a Blogging Boot Camp. But this book surrounds a house that withstood decades in an area of the country often ignored by Big Easy tourists, contractors, property developers. It’s the story of a family who lived there for generations until it was demolished in Hurricane Katrina. This memoir encompasses the changing times in a beloved city, but one very much affected by race and class.
I cannot wait to read this one!
“The Other’s Gold” by Elizabeth Ames
Ohhhh do I love a book that takes place on a college campus! “The Other’s Gold” begins at college, where three female suite-mates meet and become inseparable friends. The story follows the ladies through college and into adulthood, each as they make mistakes in their lives. The obstacles are said to be familiar and relatable and even joyous as they test the limits of friendship.
Now I really want to know what all the mistakes are…
“The Mother-in-Law” by Sally Hepworth
Nothing like a little murder mystery to add into the fall reading list, right? The main character in “The Mother-in-Law” has a rocky relationship with her mom by marriage, but when she is found dead by an apparent suicide, something doesn’t seem right. If it wasn’t suicide, then who killed her?
Only the end of the book will tell!
“Braving the Wilderness” by Brené Brown
I am really late to the game on Brené Brown books, but hey, better late than never. This book follows Brown’s research about the current social landscape regarding a lack of spiritual connection and having the courage to stand alone when you need to. If you’re looking for a pick-me-up to get you through the rest of 2019, this could be it.
“High Achiever” by Tiffany Jenkins
I am so appreciative of anyone who is willing to share their story of overcoming addiction — these stories were my gateway into memoirs and true crime novels, and I continued to be in awe of anyone who can battle such a ruthless disease. Tiffany Jenkins gained loads of followers when she started sharing her story on social media, and now documents it in book form. I haven’t seen her social media posts, but the book sounds fantastic.
“The Islanders” by Meg Mitchell Moore
I have read a few other books by Meg Mitchell Moore and always enjoy them, so even though this is classified as a summer read, I’m putting it on the list. Maybe save it for a super cold snap when you find yourself wishing for the beach. “The Islanders” follows a former best-selling author who is trying to get back in the writing groove by renting an old beach house. Among the locals, there are secrets and possibly love… YESSSS!
“Everything is Figureoutable” by Marie Forleo
Okay, I’ve been sort of half-following Marie Forleo for a few years and I’m definitely intrigued by everything she’s accomplished, but I’m not completely sold on her just yet. I don’t know what it is, but I’m assuming I just need to read one of her books and really see what she’s all about! In “Everything is Fireoutable“, Forleo covers ways to get closer to reaching your goal, how to overcome a lack of time and money, and how to deal with criticism, among many other topics. Sounds great!
“From the Corner of the Oval” by Beck Dorey-Stein
This book had me at “Behind-the-scenes of the Obama white house” — signed, sealed, delivered. A post on Craigslist led the author to become one of President Obama’s stenographers, following him everywhere he went. But there’s also another side to this story; the author falls in love with a DC insider, gets her heart broken and discovers her own path along the way.
I mean… you can’t make this up. This sounds SO amazing, especially as we gear up for next year’s election.
“Howard Stern Comes Again” by Howard Stern
I’ll be honest, I’ve never paid much attention to Howard Stern, but I keep hearing chatter about this book on “The Morning Toast” and they talk about how great the interviews are and how inspiring this book is. The reviews are similar on GoodReads, so I think it’ll be worth checking out.
“Hope and Other Punchlines” by Julie Buxbaum
I’ve read another book by Julie Buxbaum and really enjoyed it, so I was pretty excited when I saw this. The main character of the book is given the nickname “Baby Hope” after a picture is taken of her as a child in front of one of the collapsing twin towers. She lives her life in the shadow of the terrorist attacks and is looking forward to eight weeks of summer camp, but someone she meets there has other plans. Is it just me or does this sound pretty unique for a YA novel? I am always fascinated by books that have the Sept. 11 attacks at the center of the plot.
“The Bromance Book Club” by Lyssa Kay Adams
I stumbled across this one and I’m so glad I did! The main character, Gavin, is going through some rough patches in his marriage that’s headed for divorce. He seeks solace in The Bromance Book Club, a secret group of alpha males reading romance novels. However, Gavin is determined to use the tips from the novels to save his marriage. This sounds comical… and different from the usual rom-com formula.
And there you have it, my fall reading list! What books are you looking forward to reading these next few months?
For more book recommendations, be sure to subscribe to the blog (look to the right) and follow me on Instagram @Orangejulius7– where I share more of my daily life. Live in the Baton Rouge area? I’m teaching a Blogging Boot Camp this September. If you don’t live in Baton Rouge, you can always schedule a Creative Session with me!
The Bitter Lemon 
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