4 Books I Read in October 2023

I had another fun reading month, including four 5-star books, and one that was an almost 5-star read! For one of these books, I went to hear the author speak in person and thoroughly enjoyed hearing about her creative process and learning more about her in general. There was another nonfiction book that I listened to on audio and while I ranked it accordingly, I also cannot express how thought-provoking it was for me. Keep scrolling to see the books that I read in September with my ratings for each.

See my favorite reads from 2022 here and check out all I’ve read here.

4 Books I Read in October 2023

She Started It by Sian Gilbert

Synopsis

Annabel, Esther, Tanya, and Chloe are best friends–or were, as children. Despite drifting apart in adulthood, shared secrets have kept them bonded for better or worse, even as their childhood dreams haven’t quite turned out as they’d hoped. Then one day they receive a wholly unexpected–but not entirely unwelcome–invitation from another old friend. Poppy Greer has invited them all to her extravagant bachelorette party: a first-class plane ticket to three days of white sand, cocktails, and relaxation on a luxe private island in the Bahamas.

None of them has spoken to Poppy in years. But Poppy’s Instagram pics show that the girl they used to consider the weakest link in their group has definitely made good–and made money. Curiosity gets the better of them. Besides, who can turn down a posh all-expenses-paid vacation on a Caribbean island?

The first-class flight and the island’s accommodations are just as opulent as expected…even if the scenic island proves more remote than they’d anticipated. Quite remote, in fact, with no cell service, and no other guests. The women quickly discover they’ve underestimated Poppy and each other. As their darkest secrets are revealed, the tropical adventure morphs into a terrifying nightmare.

Meghan’s Thoughts & Rating

This has a Then There Were None or The Guest List vibe. MAJOR trigger warnings for bullying and suicide. Would say it wasn’t too unpredictable but I enjoyed it nonetheless. I would also say that if there is a sequel, I will 100% read it.
⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll

Synopsis

Masterfully blending elements of psychological suspense and true crime, Jessica Knoll–author of the bestselling novel Luckiest Girl Alive and the writer behind the Netflix adaption starring Mila Kunis–delivers a new and exhilarating thriller in Bright Young Women. The book opens on a Saturday night in 1978, hours before a soon-to-be-infamous murderer descends upon a Florida sorority house with deadly results. The lives of those who survive, including sorority president and key witness, Pamela Schumacher, are forever changed. Across the country, Tina Cannon is convinced her missing friend was targeted by the man papers refer to as the All-American Sex Killer–and that he’s struck again. Determined to find justice, the two join forces as their search for answers leads to a final, shocking confrontation.

Meghan’s Thoughts & Rating

I think this book could also be classified as a historical fiction novel in addition to a thriller. It was hard to read given the subject matter and was a slow burn for me. It is based on the Ted Bundy killings at the FSU sorority house and one of his earlier murders where two friends of victims are bonded. It was really well-written and researched and I appreciated the intentionality of using “The Defendent.” Highly recommend.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI by David Grann

Synopsis

In the 1920s, the richest people per capita in the world were members of the Osage Nation in Oklahoma. After oil was discovered beneath their land, the Osage rode in chauffeured automobiles, built mansions, and sent their children to study in Europe.

Then, one by one, the Osage began to be killed off. The family of an Osage woman, Mollie Burkhart, became a prime target. One of her relatives was shot. Another was poisoned. And it was just the beginning, as more and more Osage were dying under mysterious circumstances, and many of those who dared to investigate the killings were themselves murdered.

As the death toll rose, the newly created FBI took up the case, and the young director, J. Edgar Hoover, turned to a former Texas Ranger named Tom White to try to unravel the mystery. White put together an undercover team, including a Native American agent who infiltrated the region, and together with the Osage began to expose one of the most chilling conspiracies in American history.

Meghan’s Thoughts & Rating

Grann did a fantastic job researching this book. It was hard to keep up with all the names, so I was grateful for that section at the end of the book to reference. It was so difficult to digest all that happened and yet Grann wrote in a way that made it straightforward. Truly a gut-wrenching part of American history.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano

Synopsis

William Waters grew up in a house silenced by tragedy, where his parents could hardly bear to look at him, much less love him–so when he meets the spirited and ambitious Julia Padavano in his freshman year of college, it’s as if the world has lit up around him. With Julia comes her family, as she and her three sisters are inseparable: Sylvie, the family’s dreamer, is happiest with her nose in a book; Cecelia is a free-spirited artist; and Emeline patiently takes care of them all. With the Padavanos, William experiences a newfound contentment; every moment in their house is filled with loving chaos.

But then darkness from William’s past surfaces, jeopardizing not only Julia’s carefully orchestrated plans for their future but the sisters’ unshakeable devotion to one another. The result is a catastrophic family rift that changes their lives for generations. Will the loyalty that once rooted them be strong enough to draw them back together when it matters most?

An exquisite homage to Louisa May Alcott’s timeless classic, Little Women, Hello Beautiful is a profoundly moving portrait of what is possible when we choose to love someone not in spite of who they are, but because of it.

Meghan’s Thoughts & Rating

I had been in need of something heartwarming, and this book fit that bill for me. I really enjoyed the storylines and development of the characters. Truly a fantastic read.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️