#SBS September Monthly Wrap-Up

Welcome to our monthly feature where we talk about what we read, adopted into our libraries, and what’s on our minds. After hosting #SignedBookSundays on instagram for 4+ years, we are transitioning to this format as a way to share signed books and talk about bookish (and personal) highlights. Join us the last Sunday or last day of every month (or whatever day today is…we are busy!)!

In Case You Missed It

• We shared our prepping for Spooky Season with all our recommendations!
• Interviewed both author & illustrator of Jim Henson’s Labyrinth: Bestiary!
• Banned Books Week Feature featuring Candlewick Press.
• Featuring Diverse Retellings of Classics!
• Special feature on Spooky Season with Page Street books!
• The where to buy signed books page has been updated for October – of course I keep adding more and more when I find them…recommend bookmarking this page!
• We curate a Bookshop page with most of the YA New Releases – please consider supporting us by buying books through our links or shop, or we have a Ko-Fi!

What We Read

Kelly: I managed 9 books in September! It feels like a big win! I used to average 10-15 a month so 9 feels good. Some of my favorites of the month were:

• Padawan by Kiersten White – 5 stars – Aww poor teen Obi-Wan…wanting to prove himself but also struggling to find balance in the force. Absolutely adored his adventure and the ease of this writing a story about a character we all know and love.
• Undead Girl Gang by Lily Anderson – 5 stars – I actually own 2 copies of this book but somehow in the last 5 years since released hadn’t read it until now and it was the best kick off to spooky season reads!

Christy: 10 books this month? Yeah, that is more the norm now. Also, glad Kelly finally hopped on the Undead Girl Gang train – you should, too, if you haven’t!

• Lucas on the Line by Suyi Davies – This book answered ALL of the questions Stranger Things left hanging coming into the latest season as well as brought a Black perspective in Lucas’ personhood. I appreciated that, since the series ignores many of the struggles Lucas would have faced in a small town in Indiana in the 80s!
• To Break a Covenant by Alison Ames – This book legit scared the heck out of me.
• Dead End Girls by Wendy Heard – Wendy just kills every thriller she writes and I had no idea where this was going but I was on the train along with it all the way to the end.
• Long Live the Pumpkin Queen by Shea Ernshaw – This was ALL SALLY and I appreciate that!
• The Midnight Club by Christopher Pike – Had to revisit this wildness before the Netflix series. Let’s see how they fix all those problems…

What We Hauled

You too can be obsessed with signed books, look here for where to buy a copy from your favorite author’s local indie or preorder incentives that include bookplates.

Kelly’s Highlights

• The Edge of Being by James Brandon – Releases October 11th – Many thanks to Penguin Random House for the advance copy!
• The Witch Hunt by Sasha Peyton Smith – Releases October 11th – Many thanks to Simon Teen for the advanced copy!
• A Book That Loves You: An Adventure in Self-Compassion by Irene Smit & Astrid Van Der Hulst – Available Now – Many thanks to Workman Publishers for the gifted finished copy & gift box!
• The Sunbearer Trials by Aiden Thomas – Available Now – Many thanks to Fierce Reads for the gifted finished copy!
• Star Wars The Skywalker Saga: Collector’s Edition – Available Now – Many thanks to Titan Comics for the gifted finished copy!
• Signed Books I added to my collection this month: The Dragon’s Promise by Elizabeth Lim, Babel by R.F. Kuang, All of Our Demise by Amanda Foody & CL Herman, Nona the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir, and Love on the Brain by Ali Hazelwood!

Christy’s Highlights

• Vampire Weekend by Mike Chen – TY to Mike for sending. I am not ready (I am so ready).
• The Killing Code by Ellie Marney – Sapphic historical, say no more.
• It Looks Like Us by Alison Ames – I had the pleasure of moderating Alison’s launch and it was so lovely. She is rainbows and puppies – this book is the opposite LOL.
• The Dead and the Dark by Courtney Gould – Wednesday Books, you rock for sending me the PB!
• Raising the Horseman by Serena Valentino – Could there be a more perfect Disney spooky season read?
• Dead End Girls by Wendy Heard – Wendy knows how much I love her signed books <3
• What’s Gaby Cooking: Take It Easy & 2022 Christmas with Southern Living – I am part of Abrams Dinner Party and can’t wait to share some recipes! TY to Abrams for including me in the fall Dinner Party.

What We Hope to Read

Kelly’s TBR

Will be reading as many fall vibes/spooky season books that I can, and of course probably intersperse some library holds that come in, and some feel good books, cause I can’t be scared all the time!

You can follow my reading on goodreads and/or storygraph where I share what I just read, and some immediate reading reactions – full reviews are almost exclusively on here or instagram.

• Scouts Honor by Lily Anderson
• Big Bad by Lily Anderson
• Lavender House by Lev Rosen
• Direwood by Catherine Yu
• The Killing Code by Ellie Marney
• The Sunbearer Trials by Aiden Thomas
• Self Made Boys by AM McLemore
• Coven by Jennifer Dugan – I READ SOMETHING ON THE LIST!!
• Defend the Dawn by Brigid Kemmerer
• The Ghosts of Rose Hill by R.M. Romero

Christy’s TBR

Dark Legends is haunting (and taunting) me. I’ve had it checked out for MONTHS. Yet, on the list it remains. Also, I DEF can read all scary this month and plan to do so. Spooky season is too short and I will take advantage of it!

• Dark Legends by George Man
• Direwood by Caterine Yu
• The Honeys by Ryan La Sala
• Three Kisses, One Midnight by Roshani Chokshi, Evelyn Skye, and Sandhya Menon
• Scout’s Honor by Lily Anderson
• Big Bad by Lily Anderson
• These Fleeting Shadows by Kate Alice Marshall

On the Top of Our Minds

Kelly: 

Another month…another blah blah blah where has time gone, and pondering how I can improve my time on this earthly plane?

I am proud that I read a good number of books this month. I brought like 10 graphic novels on vacation but I only read one of them – but I was prepared. The beach was nice, not as relaxing as I expected, but had a good time.

I promise I am working on our 10 year celebration, and I am trying to make it as epic as possible, but also the less stress the better, since I am having less and less spoons as the season’s change. We are still here, and damnit that is a victory in itself.

Christy:

Hey, September was pretty decent, minus the amount of work stress I’ve had.

We went camping for 3 of the weekends this month. It’s been fun getting the most out of our RV before it gets stored for winter. Spent Labor Day weekend in Nebraska; we love state parks! The other trips have been more local but still great. When I’m not home, I don’t think about all of the things I SHOULD be doing and instead just do what I want to.

The second weekend of the month I spent at D23 (what a dud – will never be back) and at Disneyland. Went to the Halloween party twice and loved the heck out of it. Halloween is the best time at Disneyland, I dare you to argue otherwise! I wore all the outfits and ate all the things.

Started decorating for Halloween and am still not done but definitely in love with it. Finished my Wine and Dine run costumes! Got my covid and flu shots and died for 24hours after.

FINALLY did the triathlon I’ve been training for all year. I came in 6th in my division and beat my former time by 10min. Next year I am gunning for top 3 and I think I can do it!