What I Read in September 2025

This month I was a bit more on track with my reading and the three I picked up couldn’t have been more different—and I loved them all for it. From a sharp, futuristic reality TV satire (The Compound), to a beautifully written, multi-threaded exploration of fate and identity (The Names), to a witty, feel-good debut about starting fresh and rediscovering yourself (Sunny Side Up), each one kept me turning pages for entirely different reasons.

For more recommendations, don’t forget to check out my Bookshelf page!

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The Compound by Aisling Rawle

If you’re a fan of reality TV, add this book to your TBR list immediately! Since I don’t usually watch any, I wasn’t sure I’d enjoy it—but once I started, I couldn’t put it down.

Set in a near-future world left in shambles after a series of wars, The Compound imagines a reality competition where a coveted spot inside the compound offers the chance at a secure and comfortable future—if you can survive. Twenty contestants, ten boys and ten girls, are dropped into an isolated desert location and filmed 24/7. Every move is broadcast, every interaction judged, and prizes are awarded for completing challenges. Some rewards are basic necessities like water or food, while others are luxuries—clothes, makeup, jewelry. As the producers ramp up the stakes, the tasks grow increasingly elaborate and dangerous, all in the name of ratings.

At its core, this book is a sharp commentary on capitalism, power, and gender dynamics. Rawle makes you feel like you’re in the compound with them, watching alliances form and dissolve, experiencing both the desperation and the thrill. I tore through the pages, completely immersed in the world she created.

Verdict: I devoured this book.

The Names by Florence Knap

TW: Domestic Abuse

I love a book that explores the “what ifs” of life, how one choice can change your future. The Names does exactly that, giving you three storylines in one and asking: does a name dictate who we become?

The novel follows Cora as she prepares to name her newborn son. Her affluent, abusive doctor husband expects the child to be called Gordon—his name, and a long-standing family tradition. Her daughter Maia, who’s nine, pleads for the whimsical name Bear. And Cora longs to call him Julian. In each thread of the story, we see what unfolds based on the name she chooses.

Over the course of 35 years, we follow Gordon, Bear, and Julian—three versions of one life. The trajectories differ, yet some threads remain similar. The result is heartbreaking, maddening, and deeply thought-provoking.

Florence Knapp’s writing is beautiful. I found myself falling in love with the characters in every version, feeling their triumphs and their heartbreaks. The Names is a book that lingers long after the final page, one that makes you question choice, and identity.

Verdict: I absolutely loved this book.

Sunny Side Up by Katie Sturino

I’ve been a long time fan of Katie Sturino and have followed her on social media for years (check out my #MondayMuse post I did about her!) Her voice has always been refreshing, honest, and empowering, so I couldn’t wait to see how it translated into her debut novel.

Sunny Side Up is exactly what I hoped it would be: fun, uplifting, and full of Katie’s signature wit. We meet Sunny, a newly divorced, successful entrepreneur who’s just starting to dip her toes back into the dating scene. Along the way, she’s also navigating self-love and rediscovering who she really is. It’s a story of reinvention and resilience, served up with plenty of humor and heart.

The book feels like a mash-up of Bridget Jones and Carrie Bradshaw—but modern, grounded, and empowering in all the right ways. And because I’ve been following Katie on Instagram for so long, I found myself reading the entire thing in her voice, which made it feel even more personal and authentic.

If you’re looking for a feel-good, woman-centered read about starting fresh, chasing joy, and owning your story, this one’s for you. I thoroughly enjoyed it and can’t wait to see what Katie writes next.