September Wrap Up 2023 || Reviews & some fall recommendations!

[@nummy_nummers]

This is the legend... this is the icon... THIS. IS. SNOWGLOBE EMILY!

[@luckajelinkova875]

I may just be weird, but I actually really like the cover of In Company of Witches

[@__loveball]

same 😮

[@ingerreads9727]

I love it! I was considering buying it because of the cover😂

[@louisathellama]

It's nice to see Snowglobe Emily back and in the Halloween spirit 🦇

[@Aliwishes789]

I think Grady Hendrix writes women very, very well. The Southern Book Clubs Guide to Slaying Vampires is the perfect example of getting into the minds of 80s middle aged moms. I was super impressed.

[@hayleym9208]

Snow globe Emily has returned 🎉😂

[@payholaa]

Eagle eyes!

[@badfaith4u]

Snowglobe Emily is back! 🔮 Lovely video as always. Yes, people do want to see the cats. Give the people what they want. 🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛

[@NellyVilla09]

Okay but your lil fall spooky szn setup at the back is so cute 🎃✨

[@ChristelEye]

I think the cover of In the Company of Witches is pretty and would convince me to read it 😅 The house, the floofy cat, the toads, the night sky, the greenery, all winners tbh 😂

[@keycaru]

I read my first Grady Hendrix book this year, and I'm on the same page about being nervous about male authors writing certain subject matters. I read The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires. I absolutely loved it. I think the author handled all the topics well and the POV of middle aged women with humor in a way that wasn't demeaning. I will definitely be reading more from this author!

[@Rainbopagn]

I loved Horrorstor but I DNF’d Final Girls Support Group because of the way he wrote Lynette!! He made her nothing more than a paranoid agoraphobe. There was no progress in her healing even after 20 years! And I spoiled myself on the ending and I would have been PISSED had I suffered through.

[@izzzzzzzzy19]

I really recommend watching withcindy's review of yellowface!!! i was on the fence about picking up the book or not and her review convinced me not to. basically there's no nuance to the story and she goes more in depth on RF Kuang's personal experiences possibly influencing the events in the book lol

[@vintage0soul]

I haven't read Penpal but the two things that you said you had to suspend your disbelief on are things that are straight out of my childhood. lol I grew up in a pretty rural area and I would play in the woods until it was starting to get too dark to see, my parents never really cared. Their only rule was that I had to stay in shouting range so if they yelled for me I'd hear them. And I also remember sending up a balloon with my picture and a brief description of my interests and hobbies in the hopes that someone would find it and send a letter back to the school. LOL I remember being so disappointed because I never got a letter back. I think only 2 kids in my whole class did though. The next year they decided it would be better to set up a pen friend exchange with another nearby elementary school.

[@BookswithEmilyFox]

Tbh there’s a lot more but it’s impossible to share without spoiling everything 😭

[@mpkfan]

YOU READ SARAH ADDISON ALLENNN AHHHH YAYYYY WELCOMEEEEEE!!! Can’t wait for you to read all her other books!!

[@shinyswondrouslibrary]

the cover of in the company of witches is kinda cute tbh

[@mplbooks]

We actually did that balloon thing at my school in the 80s. It was kind of a trend at the time.

[@kellymanfredini3835]

I did the balloon thing in elementary school. Lol 😂😂 The 80's were crazy. I DNFed the Woman with the Knife.

[@Aliwishes789]

Encouraging you to read more by Sarah Addison Allen - She's basically the only author I will always buy new books by. Total trust in her storytelling. I'm so happy you liked Garden Spells!

[@laurenspicer2326]

I love the sweater!!!

[@Senidhr]

Because of you i've read Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents and i got to say: wow. I don't read this type of books (self help) but this one made me think a lot. Didn't cry (never cried because of a book) but i had to stop a few times and think about what was being said. Due my life i felt this book deeply (some stuff already talked about with my therapist), so thank you for showing it to me. Ah, and i'm almost finished with The Bone Witch by Rin Chupeco, think Memoirs of a Geisha plus fantasy/necromancy. So far really enjoying.

[@whatsupmara]

"And I will go fight the cats." was a bad-ass ending😂💜

[@janeb9698]

Garden Spells and In the Company of Witches went straight into my Amazon shopping cart after watching this. I need some cozy reading … I had to have one of my two beloved cats put down last weekend, and I am a total wreck. :(

[@sarahfolger5232]

Cozy covers are usually like that. A true cozy!

[@kirstymcl3425]

Hey Emily can you do a video reviewing all of your 4+ books? I’ve enjoyed everything you’ve enjoyed and it would be great to have a rundown/updated 4+ list ever!😊

[@ElenaPUcles]

You cardigan looking christmasy!!!! I love it 😊❤

[@marianabacalim1613]

The cover of "in the company of witches" is actually nice !! 👀

[@rocio9863]

Yellowface went there. The third act is not June being dumb, she's an unreliable narrator, she's making us believe she's about to confess on a tell all that makes her come on top still profiting and making her a famous controversial figure. Meanwhile she's been laying down the narrative of her own victimhood (White women tears) talking about her mental health issues (grief, anxiety, delusions) and how the asian critic stalked her and threatened her, all that appropiating the vengeful asian female spirit trope. The final plot twist, which is realistic, she can still go on spinning the narrative on her favor without confessing, is addictive, like a game she knows she can win. I love that book so much ❤

[@Shellyish]

Love your wrap ups, Emily! I want to get into cozy fantasy! ❤ I despised Yellowface! I completely agree - she could’ve went for it. I just read My Best Friend’s Exorcism a few months ago and I loved it!! 😊

[@Novaturient_Liv]

I read Garden Spells this summer and loved it as well. So glad to see you read it too

[@Raedrie]

I love Grady Hendrix! I was a little nervous when you first announced you were going to read a book by him, but I'm so happy you enjoyed him! He's not for everyone, but I find his books so fun and I like how he writes women.

[@auri2126]

Same here! I love Grady Hendrix but I was nervous about how Emily would feel about him 😂 I really love his books though, and I dont mind how he writes women at all. Although I will say I didn't like Lynette from The Final Girl Support Group that much, still liked the book though!

[@mpkfan]

AND YOU READ A MASTER OF DJINN!!! So glad you loved it!! Just beautifully written and treated, so many tasteful cultural and spiritual references.

[@coeurdequebecoise]

Salut Emily! Je te recommande le livre 'Dictionnaire critique du sexisme linguistique' si tu t'intéresses au sexisme dans le langage. Il a été écrit par l'une de mes collègues universitaires féministes. Bonne lecture :)

[@angelashepherd4429]

About "Penpal". Back in the 80s kids did stay out until dark. It was normal!

[@sapphirebre]

I’ve been wanting to find both some dark or cozy books about witches. I think you should do a video on witchy book recommendations

[@Taralovescoloring]

I think it's hilarious that we actually did the balloon penpal thing when I was in Elementary school (late 80's/early 90's) - so it was definitely a thing, mine made it two states over to some rando man's lawn 😂. I've had "In the company of witches" on my TBR for awhile, maybe I will finally get to it, it feels like the season for it!

[@Rainbopagn]

I’m slowly caressing my way through the Robot and Monk books and Piranesi! I’m just reading a bit here and there to really just indulge. I’m also listening to Sapiens. Holy goddess!! I’m only a quarter in and I can’t stop. I’ll be reading People Love Dead Jews as well

[@Angela-hy2ze]

So glad you loved Garden Spells! It’s one of my favorites! :)

[@Sarah-mh9fh]

Agreed about Our Wives Under the Sea. I thought the concept was so intriguing and the prose was very pretty but it was so vague and unsatisfying! I wanted to know what actually *happened* and we never got that. Ugh!

[@shawnatheeclecticbookworm2408]

Sarah Allen Addison is one of my go to authors!

[@arya0553]

I‘m almost done with „my best friend‘s exorcism“ and I love it so far! It really gives 80s horror movies vibes and is kinda wholesome (can you say that while talking about a horror book?). Definitely great Halloween Read! Can you tell me which two scenes you didn’t like?🙈

[@BookswithEmilyFox]

Oh it’s not that I didn’t like them!! SPOILERS The uncomfortable ones were the dog scene and the exorcism… well part one of it lol

[@kirstens1977]

​@BookswithEmilyFox what happens with the dog?? I need to know before I can read it haha. Listening to horrorstor by Grady Hendrix, really enjoying it.

[@kristina_rr]

@@kirstens1977SPOILER he dies. I can’t remember how (I read this book 3 years or so ago) but the way he dies is really upsetting.

[@kirstens1977]

@@kristina_rr thanks. I won't read it now

[@catmc663]

always love watching your wrap ups for good recommendations! last month I read razorblade tears and moi qui n'ai pas connu les hommes and really liked both of them!! très hâte à ta prochaine vidéo :)

[@ashleighpratt7290]

Based on you witchy book vibes from this, I'd recommend Weyward by Emilia Hart. I read this during September and adored it. Following 3 women over 4 centuries, witchcraft, small towns, bit of mystery. Loved it.

[@lindacasalgrandi292]

I am so glad you are watching my brilliant Friend! It is fantastic. My cousin in law is the cinematographer and he did an amazing job❤

[@mpkfan]

Also I love how you loved Garden Spells and didn’t mention that it’s magic realism 😉

[@christinacampbellbooks]

Enjoyed hearing your thoughts on all of these, Emily. I really enjoyed Our Wives Under the Sea. But I can definitely understand why people don't like it or find it just fine! ☺

[@rookstory3]

Omg that exorcism scene caught me off guard and I laughed so hard. It kind of reminded, in tone, of Cabin in the Woods. But it is up there in my favorites of the year.

[@KristinKravesBooks]

I finished the sequel to In the Company of Witches and it was almost as good as the first! I immediately went to the author's Instagram to see when the third book comes out (book two ends on a bit of a cliffhanger!) and was sad to see that Berkeley dropped her because they aren't doing mass market mysteries anymore. But it does look like there's potential for another publisher to pick up the series 🤞

[@chelsikay13]

I grew up in the middle of the woods, I was out at night all the time 😅😅

[@dejaalli]

everyone loves yellowface and i thought it was just okay! glad to hear you agree!

[@katieamarsh]

All of Sarah Addam Allen’s books are a whole lovely whimsical vibe. I suspect you would really enjoy the nonfiction book Dead Blondes and Bad Mothers: Monstrosity, Patriarchy, and the Fear of Female Power.

[@Bookswithcassandra]

I started reading “The Witches of Moonshyne Manor” and ended up DNFing it because I wanted a more serious vibe, but I think you might like it. It’s about a group of octogenarian witches living in a house together. It had good vibes in the close female friendship and the explicit feminism.

[@shellkay]

Love your book 👻 garland. I need to make one. Starting Garden Spells today & psyched for a potential 5 ⭐️ read which has been eluding me for months. 🤞

[@tinac284]

A Master of Djinn was a very pleasant surprise for me too! I loved it and I read all the short stories as well. 5/5

[@anavargas2837]

I am currently half way through When The Crow’s Away, the second one to In The Company of Witches, and I am really enjoying it as well!! I think you’d definitely like it 🥰 not gonna lie the covers are starting to grow on me hahaha Best books of September for me were: -Swimming in the Dark by Tomasz Jedrowski, a heartbreaking gay romance in the 1980s in Poland. -In The Company of Witches by Auralee Wallace, thank you for the recommendation Emily!!🧡

[@lydiataylor6405]

Strange Sally Diamond by Liz Nugent was so good! Best of the month for me!

[@surpriseitsus9622]

In The Company of Witches was good and I bought it because of the cover 😊

[@michelacarletti3671]

I SOOOOOO agree about Yellowface!

[@tamakikawaii]

Clawdia has a beauty mark 😍

[@michellec7677]

YAY! You read Wordslut!! I had a feeling you would really like that one :) Amanda Montell has a new one _The Age of Magical Overthinking,_ coming out in April 2024. Can't wait to see your non-fiction list/video!

[@Beach652]

Oh, Mary Robinette Kowal - I want to love her stuff but I was so disappointed by the Lady Astronaut series book 1 that I haven't been able to bring myself to pick up any others. The characters felt so flat and forced. I'll be really curious to see your thoughts on it if you read it!!

[@k4hdr5]

That is just the way covers go in the cozy mystery realm.

[@alldressedupformars]

Our wives under the sea - I also struggled with it but I think the ending is worth it. I gave it 4 stars in the end and it stayed with me, I still think about it sometimes though I've read it I think 2 years ago now

[@karaarmstrong5144]

I absolutely loved My Best Friend's Exorcism!!

[@0ElaEnchanted0]

I'm so glad you liked spell garden! I wanted to recommend it to you every time you said you wanted something like practical magic but I was afraid it was too magical realism woo magic for you 😅 first frost was ok, not as good as B1. I really liked lost lake from her, a little darker. Haven't read other birds yet tho.

[@cloudedsky88]

I finished Garden Spells two days ago and gave it 4 stars. Definitely found the second half more relaxing than the first half. lol I immediately bought the sequel and started reading it because the ebook was on sale. Thinking about getting more of the author's books because almost all of them are on Kindle sale rn.

[@VeraFran]

My best read this month was a reread of She Who Have Never Known Men for a book club. Second read only confirmed it as one of my favorites of all time.

[@SolitudeDayys]

Interesting what you said about the mother in Penpal! I never realized that this was not normal? I’m not from a western-like country so i was just like “well i guess thats normal in that part of the world” lmao!

[@BookswithEmilyFox]

There’s more that went with it but it would spoil things. She “hid” a lot from him under the guise of “oh I thought you knew” which made no sense :/

[@nanimaonovi2528]

80s kid here. I was totally feral, only had to turn up at home when the street lights came on, didn't talk to strangers so much as chat them up. We had better weirdo radar to survive back then.

[@nickywal]

Or in reality, paedos were covered up. I don't think helicopter parents are the answer, but there are definitely situations I look back on in the early 90s in Ireland, same thing out running the streets all day, that are scary as an adult

[@ElinWinblad]

Kids now will never know what being anonymous feels like.

[@nastya6509]

Born 1984, big city, former USSR (currently live in the US). Among other things (like syringes) found a blooded knife between garages, played with it all day with friends trying not to get in to view of adults. Then I started to play violin and piano 6d a week, and probably survived because of it LOL. Sincerely happy my child prefers drawing and competitive swimming to the hanging out between garages 😬

[@devlyn873]

Yeah growing up in the 80s absolutely meant running around like a feral creature and that was probably mild compared to earlier generations

[@nickywal]

@@devlyn873Call the midwife mid-50s, talking to one of the elderly midwives who'd been in the east end of London since WW1. Not so long ago babies would be out all day carried around on the hip of children not much older. Are they more precious now because more survive or do more survive because they are more precious? The east end of London is still a very poor area, but it took it being one of the heaviest bombed areas of Britain during the Blitz to clear out the Victorian slums. It was a major industrial area and also just the propaganda value of bombing the capital

[@ofthe_valley]

i think i might be the only person in the comment section who doesn't like how grady hendrix writes women - i think my best friend's exorcism is probably the best he's written them. for me, the final girl support group is probably the worst offender in terms of writing women well (it feels like he puts those women though insane amounts of trauma and then goes "isn't it funny how paranoid she is!"), but overall i'd say he just struggles to make his main characters actually distinct; they're all the same as each other. bit of a bummer comment, but i thought i'd chip in as someone who doesn't really like how he handles women in his stories!

[@marinwolff7031]

You're not the only one. I've only read "The Southern Book Clubs Guide . . ." And I HATED it SO MUCH that I will never read another book of his. Not only were the mechanics of the book not my cup of tea but his way of writing women was awful. That was probably the only book I've read that resulted in me feeling like I wanted to punch someone, throw up, and burn the very book I was holding.

[@sophmeowbooks7382]

if you're looking for translated thriller fiction, I have The Plotters on my TBR, you might be interested. I don't know that much about it, so I wouldn't call it a recommendation, but I think I put it on my TBR because there's like an old lady gangster in it? or something like that 😅

[@angelaroberts-757]

I recommend The God of Endings by Jacqueline Holland. Vampire book but also literary, sort of the meaning of life type of rumination

[@samuraikakashi56]

I respectfully disagree with your opinion on The Measure. I read it and gave it 4.5 stars. I thought it was a great exploration of mortality and people's reactions to suddenly be confronted by it. There could have been more chaos, but I don't think that was the point. Anyway, for others considering the book, I would recommend it

[@emilyannaparker]

Very nice video. I will try to read garden spell if I find it in Greece. I do have one question though..the pictures of the book titles were they just audiobooks or did you read them from a kindle?

[@payholaa]

Lol. The way I loved Our Wives and the way My Best Friend’s Exorcism was meh for me looool. I liked Horrorstor! It was creepy vibes.

[@rocio9863]

Lol same opinion on all those books

[@devlyn873]

I loved The Spare Man but then it gave me strong Nick & Nora from The Thin Man movies vibes which really worked for me. 😜

[@dejaalli]

grady hendrix is SO good! read horrorstor next!!

[@hopefulpolyglot3298]

I also did not love the Spare Man as much as I thought I would. I think you may really love the Lady Astronaut series, but I also recommend Mary Robinette Kowal's Shades of Milk and Honey, which is a cozy fantasy Regency book with romance. I will admit that I didn't read much further in the series, but I really liked the first one.

[@readknitwithcheryl]

Hi Emily! I read the second book in The Company Of Witches called When The Crow's Away. I loved it as much as the first book and highly recommend it. It deals with grief again but it is really good. You didn't mention the best character in the series, who is the pet crow! Lol.

[@xcsbooknook]

I felt very meh about Our Wives Under the Sea as well. The parts in the submarine actually worked for me, cause that sounds absolutely horrific, but as soon as it moved away from that I got bored. I need to find a horror story thats entirely set in a broken down submarine. Yellowface is on my TBR for this month and I am very interested to see what I think, because I've heard very mixed reviews and that R.F. Kuang used her own experiences of valid criticism etc etc I just got The Measure for my birthday and will probably read is soon, so also curious to see how I feel about that. Love that our reading tastes and opinions are very very similar

[@kristenr563]

I thought Yellowface would be a 5 star for me. It was 3. You called it “too much,” and I refer to it as heavy-handed. I think she could have condensed it to keep it interesting as well.

[@giipsyreads5039]

Because you liked that little portion of Word Slut, can I recommend you read “The Lightness” by Emily Temple. Overall, I feel like you’ll enjoy the narrative and it’s so funny you said “envelopment” because they called it “pocketing” at one point in that novel.

[@Books_BrewsandBeyond]

I will need to check out In the company of witches- I'm not a big fan of the cover either. My Best Friends Exorcism is on my current TBR for October.

[@MoJordanReads]

I know I'm late but if you haven't seen withcindy's review of Yellowface, I think you will enjoy her thoughts!

[@Sushinelucile]

I would highly recommend “Les grandes oubliées : Pourquoi l’histoire a effacé les femmes” by Titiou Lecoq if you’re liking “Who Cooked the Last Supper”! 😊

[@RyeMiArt]

oh yes, I am not alone in NOT being head over heals with Our Wives Under the Sea, I gave it 2 stars, did not care about our whiny main character and the other one was just...there. I've finished it only to see if we get ANY kind of explanation and nah, totally disappointed. Also the writing felt to me like the author wanted to put in as many short stories written on napkins during her life as possible. I just could not take this book seriously. but my best book of September was If We Were Villains by M.L.Rio. It was interesting right from the beginning and even though there was A LOT of Shakespeare and it was not an easy read for me (not native English speaker) I still absolutely enjoyed it.

[@foodbooksperfumes]

Our wives under the sea has ruined my mood every time I listened to it as an audiobook. I have finished it but I was feeling my life energy moving out of my body -.- in general, probably great that the author achieved to capture the atmosphere that well but I can never deal with it again!

[@zachreads]

I read 23 books in september (17 were for shorty september) The best "Before the Fall After the Fall During the Fall" by Nancy Kress (I Who HNKM vibes) Godkiller by Hannah Kaner Foster by Claire Keegan The Deep by Rivers Solomon A Doll's House by Henrik Ibsen The Stranger by Albert Camus (it was like Crime and Punishment but it got to the f'ing point lol)

[@thursday48]

I love Sarah Addison Allen's books and I never her people talk about them

[@cass1998]

My mom recommended me Garden Spells a couple years ago and I LOVED it. I have read a couple other books by the same author and they are not that great.

[@vaals9006]

For me, with the spare man, it was how they always wanted to have s*x at the worst possible times and worst possible places 😂 It started to get really annoying after some time

[@machinaheart]

so glad you loved wordslut and if you're into cults, amanda montell has a fun look at the linguistic peculiars of those environments. also, I hope you'll share if you find good books that go deeper into the topic :3 and, ... you just made me so happy! I am SO GLAD not to be alone with my meh-ness when it comes to "our wives under the sea". technically with these "ingredients" (sapphic, cosmic horror, under water) along with the gorgeous writing.... but it totally fell flat for me. and I just ... it gets so much praise and left me wanting. I didn't even dislike it, I was just ... so bored. :/

[@arya0553]

Ohhh is that snowglobe Emily behind you? 😍😍

[@AlyssLysie]

I LOVED master of djinn!!!! Amazing book.

[@Kronkgirl]

Shark Heart by Emily Habeck. I loved it! I laughed. I cried. I am obsessed with it. Everyone should give it a try

[@angelaarcher2355]

For woman murderer over 60, try An Elderly Lady is Up to No Good by Helene Tursten. The audio version is 3 hours and the book is tiny. Loved My Best Friend’s Exorcism, and Horrorstör is a good listen!! I tried to read How to Sell a Haunted House but was bored and didn’t finish.

[@allisonryder4781]

I’m wondering if Master of Djin would be good for a fantasy beginner who loves murder mystery?

[@deborajohnson5717]

Ordinary Birds is amazing!

[@xcsbooknook]

Aaaand another comment lol Razorblade Tears is like a top 3 all time favourite and I feel the same about his other books. All the sinners bleed was pretty good, but nowhere close to razorblade

[@JJ-rx8ym]

Hendrix does a good job writing women and mothers.

[@SkyeThreepwood]

The same for me with "Our Wives Under the Sea" it had a great premise/setting and the writing was good but it always felt like there was missing something. Maybe the plot who knows but apparently its just vibes which is fine but I start to realize that its not for me.

[@joediedavenport6079]

I really wanted to like The Spare Man also, which I've almost finished. By page 12 I wanted to fling the book across the room because because the main character and her husband were so obnoxious. Emily is right: the cute little dog is the only likeable character in the book. The only reason I'm determined to finish this book is because I spent $19.99 on it. I know I sound like an old dinosaur but when did paperback books get so expensive? Just call me Mrs. T-rex, I guess.

[@freckledklutz]

In the company of witches is so good and its sequel is just as cozy, hilarious and heartfelt. Both are cozy and witchy and wonderful. I feel like Yellowface tried too hard with its messaging like Babel I agree with you there but I also think it lacked nuance and was quite surfacey at the same time. It's frustrating as books like this need to be written but it didn't hit the way I think many were expecting it to. I would also argue too that when you are talking about diversity in publishing white women and men are the default so honestly there is a lot to unpack there too. I struggled to articulate my feelings too honestly with my review.