September 2026 Reading Review: The Books I Read This Month
September always feels like the perfect month to get back into a good reading routine. There’s something about cooler evenings, cozy blankets, and the start of fall that makes me want to have a book nearby at all times.
This month’s reading list was a fun mix of romance, contemporary fiction, magical stories, and a few books that completely surprised me. I had some five-star favorites, a few three-star reads, and plenty of opinions along the way! Looking back, it was a big month of fake dating themed books, but who doesn’t love a predictable love story!
Here’s a look at everything I read in September 2026.
📚 The Write-Off by Kara McDowell — ⭐⭐⭐
The Write-Off was a cute, easy read that had some fun moments, but it didn’t quite become a favorite for me. I enjoyed the premise and the romantic storyline, but overall, I found myself wanting a little more from the characters and plot. Two college friends that grow in and out of friendship and eventually become more than friends. Read how they were able to write their stories and connect the world with their love story.
It was a perfectly pleasant book to pick up when I wanted something light, but it wasn’t one that I’ll be thinking about long after finishing it.
My rating: 3/5
🍂 Fall Fake Out — ⭐⭐⭐
This one felt like a natural pick for September! Give me a fall setting, romance, and a little bit of fake-dating fun, and I’m interested. Ari moves back to her home town and takes a teaching job at the local high school. To help get her mom off her back about dating and to help Wade Stevenson gain a little more credibility, they decide to fake date. We all know what happens when fake dating, it always leads to a little more than that. I thought the story was cute but didn’t go to my favorites.
Fall Fake Out was a light and seasonal read that fit perfectly into my September reading lineup. While I didn’t completely fall in love with it, it was entertaining and had plenty of those cozy autumn vibes I was looking for.
My rating: 3/5
💕 The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood — ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This was my five-star read of the month!
The Love Hypothesis has so many of the things I love in a romance: great chemistry, witty banter, lovable characters, and a storyline that keeps you turning the pages.
Olive and Adam’s relationship was so much fun to follow, and I completely understood why this book has become such a popular romance recommendation. This was a reread for me as I anticipated the Amazon Prime video version of the book. It is a silly fake dating with a very socially awkward guy. It will make you laugh and fall in love with love. Plus the movie was darling a welcome back to the classic rom-com!
If you’re looking for a smart, funny, entertaining romance, this one is definitely worth adding to your list.
My rating: 5/5
🌷 No Place Like You by Jillian Meadows — ⭐⭐⭐
No Place Like You was another sweet, easygoing read. I loved the small-town feel and the cozy atmosphere, and it had plenty of charm. If you’re looking for a good fake dating easy read, this is the book for you!
It wasn’t a five-star favorite for me, but it was enjoyable and made for a nice escape. Sometimes you just need a book that feels comfortable and familiar, and this one fit that mood.
My rating: 3/5
🌴 The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren — ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I really enjoyed The Paradise Problem! This was a reread for me! I remember the first time I read it, I died of giggles. Comical and the classic fake dating story. Christina Lauren is always good at delivering an entertaining romance, and this one had plenty of humor, family drama, and romantic tension.
The tropical setting was an especially fun escape, and I loved the combination of romance and complicated family dynamics.
This was one of those books that was easy to pick up and hard to put down.
My rating: 4/5
🐎 Whistler by Ann Patchett — ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Whistler was a different kind of read from some of the romances on this list, and I really enjoyed the change of pace.
Ann Patchett’s writing gives the story a thoughtful, literary quality, and this was a book I found myself settling into rather than rushing through. This book made me realize that sometimes unexpected people can have a big impact on your life. I loved reading how Daphne’s life literally stopped when she ran into someone from her past. The impact of that one person changed her life. It was one of those books that felt short when I finished it, letting me know it must be good!
It’s always nice to have a few different genres in a monthly reading lineup, and this one added some variety.
My rating: 4/5
⭐ Theo of Golden by Allen Levi — ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Another five-star read!
Theo of Golden was one of the biggest standouts this year! This was the fourth time I’ve read it and love it even more every time I read it. It’s the kind of book that pulls you in and leaves you thinking about the story and characters even after you’ve finished. It makes you believe in the goodness of people and challenges you to see people beyond their appearance. It will be a book I recommend to every person I see.
I loved the heart behind this book, and it was a wonderful reminder of why I love discovering books outside my usual reading rotation.
My rating: 5/5
📖 The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman — ⭐⭐⭐⭐
As someone who loves books, the title alone made me want to pick this one up!
The Bookish Life of Nina Hill is a charming story about a woman whose carefully organized life gets turned upside down. Nina is a book lover, and her relationship with reading is such a fun part of the story. Imagine finding a whole family at the age of 30. Nina, a detail oriented, homebody discovers her family, from a father she never met. The book is a beautiful example of the power of coming out of ones shell and letting people into your life.
It was witty, sweet, and full of bookish charm. This was an easy one to recommend to fellow readers.
My rating: 4/5
✨ This Spells Love — ⭐⭐⭐
I always enjoy a little bit of magic mixed into a romance, and This Spells Love brought a fun supernatural element to the reading list. Is the spell real or does Gemma just get a chance to redo the past? A fun little rom-com with a little bit of magic.
It was cute and entertaining, although it didn’t quite reach favorite status for me. Still, it was a fun change of pace and an enjoyable way to wrap up my September reading.
My rating: 3/5
My September Reading Wrap-Up
September was a pretty great reading month, with nine books finished and two five-star favorites!
My standout reads were definitely The Love Hypothesis and Theo of Golden, with The Paradise Problem, Whistler, and The Bookish Life of Nina Hill also earning four stars.
I love looking back at a month’s reading list because it always reminds me how varied my reading tastes can be. One month can include a rom-com, a literary novel, a little magic, and a bookish story—and somehow they all fit together perfectly.
Now I’m looking ahead to October reads. Give me all the cozy fall books, spooky stories, atmospheric settings, and romances!
What have you been reading lately? I’d love to know what’s on your nightstand!
