October is here, and I couldn’t be more excited. Cozy season has officially begun, which means it’s time for books, blankets, and tea while the world outside does its best impression of a painting. But before we get lost in spooky, atmospheric reads, let’s talk about September—it was surprisingly solid. Sure, I had a ton of work, but I still found time to explore new restaurants, discover some cute bookshops, and even get a new tattoo. Oh, and I cried over fictional characters, which was oddly therapeutic. The best part? All the books I read were actually good.
I even revisited 1984 for the first time since high school—turns out, it’s even more unsettling as an adult. And, of course, after encountering the slightest inconvenience in life, I did what any sane person would do and decided to yet again reread All for the Game by Nora Sakavic, aka my ultimate emotional support trilogy. If you don’t know this series, let me sum it up: it's about a traumatized runaway with questionable survival instincts who joins a college sports team of misfits, criminals, and disaster gays, all while getting wrapped up in mafia drama and way too much angst.
So, without further ado, here’s what I read last month:
Salt Slow by Julia Armfield
This collection had me spiraling into strange, surreal worlds where the body and the mind play tricks on you. Salt Slow felt like drifting through a fever dream—your body’s doing things it shouldn’t, but you’re rolling with it because that’s just the reality of this new, twisted world. Armfield’s stories are haunting, visceral, and somehow tender in their weirdness. It’s the kind of book that leaves you feeling a bit off-kilter, like you’re not sure if you’re awake or still dreaming. Definitely a 4 star experience that stuck with me long after I closed the book.Hurricane Season by Fernanda Melchor
If there’s anything that hits harder than Latin American literature, I haven’t found it yet—and Hurricane Season? Whew. This book is brutal, raw, and unrelenting. Melchor doesn’t give you any breathing room, and yet, you can’t look away. It’s like watching a storm unfold—there’s devastation, destruction, and yet, a strange beauty in how it all crashes down. It’s a 4 star read that left me in awe of how powerful storytelling can be, even when it’s uncomfortable.An Apprenticeship or The Book of Pleasures by Clarice Lispector
This one feels like getting lost in an endless loop of love, questions, and existential musings. Lispector’s writing always leaves me feeling like I’m peeling back the layers of my own soul, trying to make sense of the chaos that is life and love. It’s not a straightforward narrative, but that’s what makes it such a vibe. If you’ve ever wondered what love really means while questioning the entire universe, this book gets it. A 4.5 star read for how deeply it makes you feel things.If Beale Street Could Talk by James Baldwin
This book? It shattered me, and I’m still picking up the pieces. If Beale Street Could Talk grabbed me from the first page and didn’t let go. Baldwin’s writing is so raw, so real, that you don’t just read about Tish and Fonny—you live their love, their pain, their struggles. It’s beautiful and heartbreaking all at once, and I found myself feeling everything from anger to hope to heartbreak. It’s a 5 star read because sometimes, you need a book to wreck you, and Baldwin does it so perfectly.1984 by George Orwell
Okay, so I remembered 1984 being unsettling, but re-reading it now? It hits way too close to home. Orwell’s vision of a dystopian world doesn’t feel far-off anymore—it’s like flipping on the news and realizing we’re all part of the system, whether we like it or not. This is one of those classics that’s still chillingly relevant, and honestly, that’s what makes it a 5 star read for me. It leaves you questioning everything and looking over your shoulder.Dark Rise by C.S. Pacat
Oh, Dark Rise. I don’t even know where to start with this one. Every twist felt like a personal attack, and I loved every second of it. Pacat doesn’t hold back when it comes to flipping expectations—just when you think you know where the story is headed, bam, another twist. I couldn’t stop reading, and by the end, I was fully obsessed. This is the kind of fantasy that keeps you on your toes and makes you question who’s really the hero. A 4 star ride I’d gladly take again.The All for the Game Trilogy by Nora Sakavic (reread)
Ah, my comfort chaos. Every time I return to The All for the Game, it’s like coming home to familiar heartbreak. Sure, it’s a mess, and yes, it emotionally wrecks me every single time, but that’s exactly why I love it. Neil, Andrew, and the Foxes? They’ve become my emotional support disaster. It’s not perfect, but it’s the kind of series that’s ingrained in my heart forever. 5 emotional support stars!! (I’m well aware that it’s not a five-star book in the technical sense, but it doesn’t need to be!)She’s Always Hungry: Stories by Eliza Clark
She’s Always Hungry is a wild ride with its unconventional structures and sharp, dark humor. It’s unsettling, weird, and captivating, even if it’s not as dark as Clark’s previous works. As someone who loves short stories, I found the surreal twists and bold storytelling absolutely compelling, though it might not be for everyone. It didn’t hit quite as hard for me, but it was still a 3.5 star read. (Thank you to Faber Books for the ARC!)
As September fades into memory, I’m left with a warm sense of appreciation for the stories that carried me through the month. Whether they made me laugh, cry, or simply wonder about the world, each book added a new layer to my experience. With October upon us, I can’t wait to dive into more eerie reads and cozy vibes.
“In writing, you must not fear the strange or the abnormal; it is there you will find the truth.”
Claudia Piñeiro