What's Dawn Devouring Lately?
October 2025
There’s something magical about October—the days grow shorter, the air turns crisp, and suddenly every cup of tea and flickering candle feels like an invitation to read “just one more chapter.” Sweaters come out of hiding, leaves crunch underfoot, and curling up with a good book becomes the ultimate autumn pastime. Whether you’re reaching for a cozy mystery, a heartwarming story, or a book that gives you a little shiver as the wind howls outside, October is made for reading. So grab your blanket, light a candle, and let’s fall into some great books together.
Until Next Month!
Happy Reading! 🍂🍁📚
Look Closer By: David Ellis
My calendar says it’s fall—even if the weather hasn’t caught up yet. And for me, that means it’s time to dive into psychological thrillers, mysteries, and suspenseful reads. This book checked all three boxes. At first, Simon and Vicky appear to be the perfect couple a wealthy Chicago pair who seem to have it all. But when a glamorous socialite is found dead in a nearby suburb, their carefully constructed façade begins to unravel, revealing a tangled web of secrets. The story shifts between multiple POVs and timelines, with diary entries and text messages that keep the reader guessing through every twist and turn. The present day narrative unfolds around Halloween, making this an especially fitting October pick. If you enjoy books that are wickedly clever, fueled by revenge, and keep you hanging on until the very last page, then this is a book for you. I gave it 🤩🤩🤩🤩 on the devour scale.
Awake By: Jen Hatmaker
Every once in a while, I enjoy diving into a good memoir even if I don’t know much about the author. I kept seeing this one everywhere before its release day on September 23rd, so when my library hold came through that same day, I took it as a sign to read it. After marrying young, Jen’s life comes to a halt 26 years later when she discovers her husband’s infidelity. What could have been a tell-all about a marriage ending instead becomes a story about rediscovery how Jen leaned on family, friends, and therapy to heal, grow, and find hope again. With its short chapters and conversational tone, this book feels like sitting down with an old friend—heartfelt, honest, and hard to put down. I devoured it in 3 days and gave it 🤩🤩🤩🤩 on the devour scale. FYI- I also have heard that the audio book is also excellent as it is read by Jen herself.
Life, & Death, & Giants By: Ron Ringo
"It's the good we leave behind us... that makes a life worth living." This line beautifully captures the heart of this novel. The story centers on Gabriel Fisher, a giant of a man, weighing eighteen pounds at birth, born to a young, unmarried Amish woman. As Gabriel continues to grow at an extraordinary rate, his unusual life unexpectedly transforms those around him in a small Wisconsin town. The book tenderly explores the tension between belonging and being an outsider, the weight of buried secrets, and the quiet resilience people show in the face of hardship. If you enjoy novels told from multiple points of view, with a touch of magical realism and a story you’ll want to hug when it’s over, then this is a book for you. I gave it 🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩 on the devour scale.
If It Makes You Happy By: Julie Olivia
Being a mood reader, I was thrilled to get my hands on this popular autumn romance book filled with Gilmore Girls vibes and all the tropes I love. Michelle, newly divorced and mourning the loss of her mother, suddenly finds herself in small town Copper Run helping run her parents’ charming bed and breakfast. Next door is Cliff, a single dad of two young daughters who owns the local bakery and might just be the person Michelle least expects to rely on. They couldn’t be more opposite, but sometimes opposites make the sweetest match. If you enjoy cozy fall romances, friends-to-lovers tropes, and a slow-burn build-up (with a touch of spice) then this is a book for you. I gave it 🤩🤩🤩🤩 on the devour scale. FYI: It's also just shy of 500 pages, but I found it to be fast pased.
Heart the Lover By: Lily King
I devoured this beautifully written literary fiction novel in just three days, and I know it will linger with me for a long time. The story begins when Jordan, Sam, and Yash meet in their college English program, an encounter that sparks deep friendships, a complicated love triangle, and a web of secrets that shape their futures. As the years unfold, we witness the difficult choices that alter the course of their lives and the bonds that both hold them together and pull them apart. Heartfelt and deeply moving, this is a story that may just have you reaching for a tissue or two. If you like books about friendship, coming of age stories, and that just may tug at your heart strings, then this is a book for you. I gave it 🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩 on the devour scale.
Gone Before Goodbye By: Reese Witherspoon & Harlan Coben (Audiobook)
I really enjoyed listening to this audiobook, especially with its engaging multicast narration. Having Reese herself voice the main female character made it even better. I found myself sneaking in every spare minute to pop in my AirPods and listen. The story follows Maggie McCabe, an Army combat surgeon whose life spirals into chaos after a series of devastating personal tragedies. When she accepts a high-stakes job treating a mysterious patient in a foreign country, she soon finds herself caught in a dangerous game of cat and mouse. If you like suspenseful, action-packed drama, with many twists and turns, then this is a book for you. I gave it 🤩🤩🤩🤩 on the devour scale.
Strange Sally Diamond By: Liz Nugent
Looking for a haunting read that is perfect to read in the fall? I highly recommend this book that I read back in 2023. Reclusive Sally Diamond is thrust into the media spotlight when she tries to incinerate her dead father, causing widespread outrage. Now she’s the center of attention, not only from hungry reporters and police detectives, but also a sinister voice from a past she does not remember. As she begins to discover the repressed memories of her horrific early childhood, Sally steps into the world for the first time, making new friends, big decisions, and learning that people don’t always mean what they say.
Told in alternating perspectives, we hear the story from Sally in the present and from Peter in the past. If you like family secrets, quirky female characters, and books told from different points of view, then this book is for you. I highly recommend this one. I gave it 🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩 on the devour scale.
Join a Silent Book Club
What exactly is a Silent Book Club?
According to the official main Silent Book Club site, it is defined as a gathering time for book lovers to usually read in companionable silence with others for about an hour. Afterwards, attendees can discuss what they are reading or just chat. I have attended four events put on by Macomb's Silent Book Club and have enjoyed each one. If you live in the area, here is the information if you'd like to attend one. Silent Book Club Macomb Info If you are looking for a chapter in your area, check out the link below to enter your zip code to help find one.
The Woman in Cabin 10- Movie on Netflix
Based on the bestselling novel The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware. While on board a luxury yacht for a travel assignment, a journalist (Keira Knightley) witnesses a passenger thrown overboard late at night, only to be told that it didn’t happen, as all passengers and crew are accounted for. Despite no one believing her, she continues to look for answers, putting her own life in danger. Watch Trailer Here
Mom - Season 2 (Netflix)
Single mom Christy has her hands full with two children, Violet and Roscoe, and maintaining newfound sobriety, when her passive-aggressive, recovering-alcoholic mother re-enters the picture, brimming with criticisms about Christy's life. As the daughter works to be the best mother she can and to overcome mistakes she made, she must also navigate dysfunctional relationships with her married lover -- and boss -- Gabriel, and with her irresponsible ex-husband, Baxter. Despite the uphill battle, Christy tries to be positive and to stay on the path to what she wants in life.
Since You Asked Podcast
Who doesn’t need advice—and who doesn’t love giving it? Since you asked, we’re happy to answer. Each week two friends, Gretchen Rubin, bestselling author and happiness expert, and Lori Gottlieb, bestselling author and psychotherapist, team up to take on the everyday problems we all face. Whether it’s the pet peeve that’s annoyed you for years, the question you’re too embarrassed to ask, or the dilemma you can’t solve, they'll address it all with warmth, humor, and insight. Along the way, special segments like “Unsolicited Advice” and “Wisdom of Crowds” keep things fresh, and you’ll get the chance to weigh in too. Whether this show changes your life, or just makes you laugh, Since You Asked is here for you.
Restorative Reading & Writing for Wellness
Ever since I was a little girl, I looked to reading not only to learn new things but also to escape reality. I have now learned how much reading really helps reduce your stress level and increase empathy. Reading and writing are also powerful ways to support mental health. Reading offers a relaxing escape that can lower stress, boost focus, and increase empathy by helping us see the world through different perspectives. Writing, meanwhile, helps organize thoughts, process emotions, and build self-confidence in a safe, reflective space. Together, they improve communication, ease loneliness, and remind us that stories—whether read or written—can calm, connect, and heal the mind.
Over the past couple of years, I have learned a great deal about the benefits of reading/writing from my bookish friend Stephanie Affinito and her https://www.alitlife.com/ website and podcast. Just this month, she changed the name of her podcast from Get Lit(erate) to Restorative Reading and Writing for Wellness. Linked below, you will find two of her podcast episodes that I highly recommend if you are looking to learn even more about the benefits of reading and writing.
Looking to create more of a reading habit? I also came across a Free November Reading Challenge that I signed up for. You are committing to make time each day to read for the 30 days of November. Are you up for the challenge?
