Caroline's Current Chapter

As the leaves turned golden and the air filled with crisp fall magic, I spent October wrapped up in stories that matched the cozy, comforting spirit of the season. From small-town romances like Fall I Want and The Honeycrisp Orchard Inn to laugh-out-loud memoirs by Lauren Graham and Anna Kendrick, each book felt like a warm blanket on a chilly day. A few YA fantasies fell short, but others—like The Let Them Theory and The House in the Cerulean Sea—truly captured my heart.

’ve found a real love for audiobooks—especially memoirs and classics. Hearing authors tell their own stories adds something special, and classics are easier to follow when narrated. Audiobooks let me “read” while cleaning, running errands, or just relaxing. Even though I don’t listen to tons each month, they’ve helped me hit my reading goals. Some say audiobooks don’t count as reading, but I believe any way you enjoy books is valid.

I’m not quick to DNF books—I like to give them a fair chance, often reading up to 60% before deciding to put one down. Sometimes a slow start turns into a great read, and that’s especially true with series, where the first book is often just setup. Still, I get that not every book is worth finishing. As my grandmother always says, “There are too many great books in the world to not enjoy what you’re reading.” It’s all about finding that balance.

Another month down, and that means it’s time for another reading roundup! September flew by, but I still managed to squeeze in a solid mix of books, from inspiring nonfiction to cozy fall romantasy reads. Some were hits, some were misses, and a few were perfect palette cleansers in between. Whether you’re looking for your next great read or just curious about what I’ve been flipping (or listening) through, here’s everything I read in September, along with my honest thoughts a

I have a very informal way of rating books, and it might not match how others do it—but it works for me! My 5-star reads are the ones I can't stop thinking about and will happily reread. Four stars means I really enjoyed it, just not quite “obsessed” level. Three stars are cute but not always something I’d recommend broadly. I rarely give 1-star ratings (I usually DNF those), and partial stars? They're for when I'm torn. Here's the full breakdown of my personal rating system.

August was full of emotional reads, cozy romances, unexpected twists, and a few books that just didn’t land. From small-town cafés to Nova Scotia, I read across genres and moods—some made me think, others made me laugh. This post includes everything I read, how I rated each book, and whether I’d recommend adding it to your TBR. Spoiler: there’s a new favorite audiobook in here! Let’s dive into my August reads.