On My Shelf: Books Read September 2026

Another month, another set of books to discuss.

As usual, it was a mixed bag. I read some great books, and some that were… okay. This doesn’t factor in books I Did Not Finish (DNF); in general, I don’t tend to track those, though it would likely be interesting to see a full list of what books haven’t made the proverbial cut. Maybe an idea for next year?

(To see the rest of the books I’ve read in 2026, here are previous monthly summaries: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, and August.)

SEPTEMBER NON-FICTION

Textbook Amy Krouse Rosenthal: Not Exactly a Memoir by Amy Krouse Rosenthal *5 stars

I LOVED this quirky little book of micro-essays (I even read it twice!). Mileage will undoubtedly vary; I suspect it would elicit the exact opposite reaction from many readers.

Here’s what the book description says: “Using her distinct blend of nonlinear narrative, wistful reflections, and insightful wit, she has created a modest but mighty new work.”

Yes! All of this. It’s witty, it’s thought-provoking. This is a book where I will remember nothing specific about what I read—kind of the point, I would argue—but will remember how it made me feel.

This is a book I can see myself re-reading in the future as a feel-good, introspective, palate cleanser gem. A huge thank you to a blog reader (Diane) who recommended it.

Content warnings. A handful of swear words.

Daughters of the Bamboo Grove: From China to America, a True Story of Abduction, Adoption, and Separated Twins by Barbara Demick *5 stars

4.5 stars rounded up to 5.

The incredible true story of an unexpected reunion between two twins separated at birth (one ended up in the United States, another was raised in China). The book also provides a surprisingly insightful history lesson into the One Child policy that was in effect within China until 2015.

Content warnings. References to child abduction.

The Heart-Shaped Tin: Love, Loss, and Kitchen Objects by Bee Wilson *4 stars

I liked this book, but didn’t love it.

It’s a series of essays centred around different kitchen tools and their importance to people, history, culture, and the author herself.

The first object—and the one the book centres around—is a heart-shaped tin Wilson used to bake a cake for her groom at their wedding. We pick up the story years later, when he tells her (very suddenly!) he’s leaving their marriage. The tin becomes a symbolic representation of what has been gained, and lost, by his leaving.

The chapters go back and forth between stories of other people and their attachment to particular kitchen items, and specific experiences from the author’s own life. In a few places, it started to read a bit like a textbook, as she also devotes a number of chapters to the historical significance of certain objects. Some were interesting to me… and some were not.

But the overall narrative arc was interesting, and I thought the premise had broad appeal. We all have things in our kitchens that remind us of a particular person, place, or time in our lives. And some of the things she referenced were items I’m familiar with (rotary beaters for example, that I grew up using to prep Dream Whip; my parents still have a set in their kitchen drawer).

Content warnings. I don’t have any listed!

Family of Spies by Christine Kuehn *4 stars

This was a fascinating look at a completely unknown part of WWII history for me. I found the writing compelling, if a bit repetitive and overdone at times.

It’s always interesting to consider historical events in terms of the small events (fortunate or misfortunate) that can dramatically shape outcomes. What if the author’s grandfather hadn’t paid for a Nazi leader’s train ticket? What if the FBI had been able to arrest the German spies sooner? Would the attack on Pearl Harbour have been avoided. And, if so, would the outcome of WWII have looked dramatically different? (Almost certainly, yes!)

Content warnings. References to suicide and war violence (not graphic).

Naked Imperfection: A Memoir by Gillian Deacon *4 stars

This was a personal reflection on a breast cancer diagnosis, treatment (radiation and partial mastectomy), and the very confusing weight of being an environmental activist.

If anyone should “not have gotten cancer” it would have to be Gillian Deacon. But she did.

There are a lot of alternative health practices mentioned which I think need to be held lightly in tandem with traditional medicine, so I can see some readers being concerned by the emphasis placed on either dietary restrictions and/or extreme alternative treatment pursuits.

Content warnings. Occasional strong language. Health descriptions related to cancer treatments. References to infertility and miscarriage.

Glitter and Glue by Kelly Corrigan *4 stars

I liked this memoir, but didn’t love it. It’s an interesting look at how nannying for a family that recently lost a mother to cancer helped the author feel a deeper connection to her own mother. It reads on two completely different levels: a shallow, surface view of her experience guiding a family through a particularly painful season of life, and then a much deeper, somewhat obscure, link to her relationship with her own mother.

Content warnings. The premise is a mother dying of cancer. Occasional strong language.

Keep Moving: Notes on Loss, Creativity, and Change by Maggie Smith *4 + 5 stars

This was a re-read for me.

I enjoyed this book more when I read it back in March 2022, largely because of the life circumstances I was going through at the time. It was a 5-star read for me then, and more like a 4-star read the second time around (mostly because it’s very repetitive).

But I still found it inspiring. As someone who naturally gravitates toward collecting quotes, a book full of bite-sized advice is right up my alley. My favourite parts are the little essays sprinkled throughout the book.

This is a very quick read; less than an hour from start to finish.

Content warnings. References to miscarriage. Grief related to an unexpected divorce.

My Wife Said You May Want to Marry Me by Jason B. Rosenthal *not rated

I have mixed emotions. The main thing I enjoyed was getting to know more about Amy Krouse Rosenthal. She was an accomplished author and illustrator. Her husband’s handling his grief after her passing is the second half of the book; the first half mostly deals with their marriage.

Things seem extraordinarily perfect. It makes sense that he is writing a glowing record of his wife, who was clearly an incredibly talented human being, but it does read… a bit too perfect, in a way?

I got the sense that for the average person grieving the loss of a loved one, this would feel a bit too polished and not very raw. This is a memoir, so I think it’s wonderful that he is processing his own grief in this way, but I’m not entirely convinced it would land properly for the intended audience.

Content warnings. Discussions of cancer. Loss of a spouse and pet. Occasional strong language.

SEPTEMBER FICTION

The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway *3 stars

2.5 stars rounded up to 3 because I feel like I should; it did win a Pulitzer Prize after all.

I only finished reading this book because it’s so highly acclaimed and because it’s short. I also figured it was bound to get better. Am I not cerebral enough to get it? Maybe I just don’t like fishing.

I enjoyed the first few pages and the last few and the rest was a complete snooze fest. I think if I was studying this in school and had a better grasp on the symbolism, I might have enjoyed it more?

Content warnings. I feel like there was occasional strong language? Some peril (sharks attack!).

The Things We Never Say by Elizabeth Strout *3 stars

I loved My Name Is Lucy Barton and beyond that I just need to admit that I’m not a big fan of Elizabeth Strout.
I’m not sure how to rate this book; my gut is 3 stars. I didn’t enjoy it. That said, Strout is a talented writer (4 stars). But I found this book relentlessly sad and depressing (2 stars).

I understand and appreciate the political message she was trying to get across but it felt very out of place with the rest of the story, and heavy-handed in an off-putting way.

I really liked Artie and wished the best for him. I am also curious how Ken voted!

Content warnings. References to suicide and bullying. Strong language. References to infidelity (closed door).

The Titan’s Curse (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, #3) by Rick Riordan *4 stars

These books are highly forgettable to me, but they’re a major point of connection with my son. (3.5-stars for me; 5-star for him).

Content warnings. Children in peril, mythological violence.

Culpability by Bruce Holsinger *5 stars

4.5 stars rounded up to 5.

This book reminded me a lot of Good People in that it leaves the reader in a position of trying to determine who is telling the truth and, to a certain extent, determining who can and should assign morality to certain decisions.

I thought it was a fascinating look at the potential impacts of AI. I read this book in a single sitting and didn’t want to put it down.

Content warnings. Some strong language. Frequent references to artificial intelligence. Car accident involving death. Substance abuse.

The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion, Vol. 1 by Beth Brower *4 stars

3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

I felt… a bit Meh about this book. After all the hype, I was expecting… a bit more? I like Emma and some of her journal entries are hilarious, but it felt a bit stilted, slow, and boring to me?

The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion: Vol. 2 by Beth Brower *4 stars

I enjoyed the second book in this series a lot more than the first.

Emma is witty, and I LOVED her notes exchanged with Niall. That part was hands down my favourite part of the book and if it had all been that back-and-forth, this would have been a 5/5 for me.

It did feel a bit scattered and like there were a few too many plot points, but overall it was a very quick, enjoyable read.

The series still doesn’t feel like an absolute winner for me, but it has no questionable content and is a very calming read. This would definitely be 5-stars for a lot of people.

Lady Tremaine by Rachel Hochhauser *4 stars

**Spoiler alerts**

I have mixed feelings about this book. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

I really enjoyed learning about the backstory of Lady Tremaine. She was complicated and strong and resourceful, and I didn’t want to put the book down! I also really liked getting to know more about her daughter’s (and Elin—the “Cinderella” character).

That said, something felt off with the pacing for me, and the different story arcs didn’t always work as a cohesive unit.

I think most of my issue was the tonal escalation toward the end. For most of the book, the stakes felt primarily social and economic (marriage, money, keeping up appearances, securing a future for her daughters) and then suddenly things got VERY dark. The plot involving the prince and his sister felt like it belonged in a different book than the one I’d been reading up to that point. (Just me?) There was plenty of foreshadowing, but I wasn’t prepared for where that storyline went.

During the scene where Lady Tremaine is fighting with the prince, the vulgar language felt sudden and weirdly out of place. It was… jarring. It shows his true colours, but I felt a bit hoodwinked.

I liked the broader idea behind the ending (turning the traditional Cinderella narrative on its head), but didn’t necessarily love the way the book got there.

Content warnings. References to sexual assault and incest. Very occasional but strong offensive language near the end of the book.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians #4: The Battle of the Labyrinth by Rick Riordan *4 stars

I think I can pretty much copy and paste my thoughts from review to review in this series.

The first book held my attention, but I will admit that I zone out now while reading these to my son. I think some of it has to do with my stage in life. I bet if I’d read these as a tween I would have loved them.

He finds them highly entertaining. A 5/5 from him. A 3.5/5 from me (this particular book in the series reminded me a lot of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire). Which brings us to a 4 out of 5 star rating on average.

Content warnings. Some mild language. References to human peril; death of humans and gods.

TOP PICKS FOR SEPTEMBER

• Fiction. It wasn’t my best month for fiction. From my options, Culpability by Bruce Holsinger was definitely my favourite. Lady Tremaine would have to be the runner-up.
• Non-fiction. Apparently I’m obsessed with micro-memoirs. (My favourite non-fiction read last month was a book of micro-memoirs). For September, my favourite was Textbook Amy Krouse Rosenthal: Not Exactly a Memoir by Amy Krouse Rosenthal. I actually read this tiny book TWICE (once at the start of the month, and a second time after I read her husband’s memoir).

Your turn:

• What was your favourite book in September?
• Have you read any of the books I mention above?