Can you believe it’s already October? As usual, I’ve been trying to squeeze in as much reading as I can, and I’m excited to share the two books I finished this month: Four Weekends and a Funeral and The Au Pair Affair . Both had me hooked in completely different ways, so let’s get into it!
September Reads: Four Weekends and a Funeral & The Au Pair Affair
Four Weekends and a Funeral by Ellie Palmer
4⭐️/Really Liked It (Enemies-to-lovers, Trigger Warnings: Cancer, Death, Grief)
This one was such an emotional rollercoaster in the best way! Four Weekends and a Funeral is about a woman whose ex-boyfriend passed away unexpectedly. The twist? His family has no idea they broke up, and she ends up having to pretend that they were still together during the funeral and the gatherings that follow. If that wasn’t complicated enough, she starts to develop feelings for her ex’s best friend—who she thinks hates her.
What I loved most about this book was the tension between the characters. You can feel the weight of grief, guilt, and the awkwardness of keeping up a lie, all while these sparks are flying between her and the best friend. The chemistry is undeniable, but they’re both navigating such a tricky situation, not wanting the family to know the truth or, worse, find out about their growing feelings. Who doesn’t love an enemies-to-lovers?!?
The author does a fantastic job balancing the heaviness of loss with lighter, sometimes funny, moments. The emotional depth of the characters really pulls you in, and I found myself rooting for them to figure things out, even as they wrestled with their complicated emotions. It’s heartfelt, and gives you all the feels. If you’re looking for something with an unusual premise, this one’s definitely worth a read!
The Au Pair Affair by Tessa Bailey
3.5⭐️🌶️🌶️ Liked it (Age-Gap romance, Single-dad, Celebrity)
Tessa Bailey does it again with The Au Pair Affair, and let me tell you, it is steamy! This one follows a professional hockey player who’s feeling the weight of his career winding down due to age and his body not keeping up like it used to. Enter the nanny he hires for his daughter—cue the slow burn and intense chemistry.
This book is an age-gap romance, and the tension between keeping things professional and the undeniable attraction between them is perfection. They try to stick to their roles, but of course, feelings get in the way, and things heat up fast. Plus, Lissa thinks that her parents are going to eventually get back together. Bailey does such a great job balancing the emotional depth of a man fearing the end of his career while navigating this new and unexpected romance. You can’t help but root for these two to make it work despite all the obstacles.
And did I mention the steam factor? If you’re into a slow-burn that builds to something super intense and a single-dad, this is your book. Bailey’s known for her sizzling romances, and The Au Pair Affair is no exception.
Both books were completely different but equally enjoyable, and I love that September gave me a mix of feels—both emotional and steamy! Have you read either of these, or do you have any book recommendations for me? Let’s chat in the comments!
October Hopefuls
I’m working on creating a list of books I am hoping to read in October. Here are a few that I am really hoping to finish. I’m still working on adding some spooky thrillers to the list. Any suggestions?
How To Build A Fashion Icon: Notes on Confidence from the World’s Only Image Architect by Law Roach
Celine Dion. Zendaya. Ana Taylor-Joy. Lewis Hamilton. Venus Williams. Kerry Washington. These mega celebrities are all styled by the iconic Law Roach. I can’t wait to read this book! His fashion moments are legendary and he’s graced the cover of many magazines himself as well as contributing to magazines like Vogue. He’s an icon.
Be Ready When Luck Happens: A Memoir by Ina Garten
My Queen, Ina Garten, has finally released her memoir and I am so excited to give this a listen! I pre-ordered the audiobook and plan on starting it later today. She narrates it herself so I felt like I had to not only give it a listen, but also ordered a copy for my bookshelf.
I’m obsessed with her vibes and can’t wait to learn more about her life and her relationship with Jeffrey.
Heal Your Gut, Save Your Brain by Partha Nandi, MD
My FIL has dementia and while we try to care for him, we’re researching as much as possible. This book popped up on my advanced listening copies for October and I want to give it a listen. I find this whole concept of brain health being related to gut health really fascinating.
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