My September 2026 Reading, made me think about books, reading, and my reading life.
I read four five star books in September. They will probably all make my list of favorites for the year.
But I also read two books that did not really work for me. Both were historical fiction books other people loved, but they just weren’t for me.
What I Read September 2026
Although I had a good reading month, my 2026 reading goals aren’t going well. I did not listen to an audiobook in September, and I didn’t read a YA book. I am hoping to make up for that in October.
Fiction
A Fall of Marigolds by Susan Meissner has been in my to-be-read stack for years. I finally decided it was time to read it before 9/11 this year. This year is about 9/11, but because it is a dual timeline, 9/11 wasn’t the book’s only focus. I loved this book. It was a five star read for me!
A World Lost by Wendell Berry is a book I read in honor of Wendell Berry. When Wendell Berry passed away in August, I knew I needed to read one of his Port William books from my to-be-read stack. It turned out to be the perfect read for a weekend trip to Missouri.
The Windsor Affair by Melanie Benjamin is a recent release that has received a lot of attention. I know a lot of people loved this book, but it was way too much fiction and not enough fact for me. This book felt gossipy to me. You might not mind that, but it wasn’t for me.
Fallen For France by Elizabeth Letts was a five star historical fiction read for me. I loved this book. It is set in WWI Morocco and France. Elizabeth Letts weaves together a string of beads, a boy, and a horse into one masterfully written book.
The Lumber Baron’s Wife by Lynn Austin is a dual timeline historical fiction book set in Michigan. This historical fiction book has received a lot of attention, especially in the Christian historical fiction world. It was not for me.
I thought it was predictable and cheesy. It read like a Hallmark movie. I don’t mind books that read like a Hallmark movie, but when it comes to historical fiction, I want it to be more realistic. I also thought it didn’t read as accurate to the late-1800s time period in several places.
Nonfiction
America’s Founding Son by Bob Crawford was a five star nonfiction read for me. This is a presidential biography about one of the lesser known presidents. I loved learning about John Quincy Adams post presidency life. He did so much in politics after he was president. I definitely think that more people need to know about his life.
Girls by Freya India is a book that hasn’t received the attention it deserves. This was a hard book to read because it deals with a topic that is a bit depressing, but it was still a five star read for me. I will be talking about this book for a long time. If you have Gen Z or younger kids, I think this book might help you understand that generation better.
Have you read any of these books? I would love to hear what you have been reading.