Welcome to Quick Lit, where I share short and sweet reviews of what I’ve been reading lately on (or around) the 15th of the month, and invite you to do the same.
This month has been unusual for me in that my nonfiction has outweighed my fiction reading: that’s not unheard of for me, but it’s far from the norm. You’ll see that reflected below, along with a new debut romance I read when vetting titles for our Fall Book Preview, coming this Thursday, September 18. (I’ve been reading piles of new titles for that project, and am excited to share them with you on Thursday!)
I hope you find something that looks intriguing for your TBR here (and in these comments), and I look forward to browsing your recent reads below. Thanks in advance for sharing your short and sweet book reviews with us!
Welcome to September Quick Lit
The Only Plane in the Sky: An Oral History of 9/11
It’s Different This Time
A Marriage at Sea: A True Story of Love, Obsession, and Shipwreck
What have YOU been reading lately? Tell us about your recent reads—or share the link to a blog or instagram post about them—in comments.
32 comments
I’m glad you read The Only Plane in the Sky! I read it this year as well and thought it was incredible.
I had a great reading month myself — not all home runs, but a great variety and some standout reads: https://cocoonofbooks.blogspot.com/2025/09/what-ive-been-reading-lately-quick-lit.html
Broken Country. All Quiet on the Western Front. Heartwood. Stop by to discuss!
https://carolinestarrrose.com/quick-lit-what-ive-been-reading-lately-47/
This month was a mix of genres and quite a few hits! Come see what I’ve been enjoying lately!
https://neverenoughnovels.com/2025/09/15/september-2025-book-reviews/
In this month’s Literary Chatter, I’m talking about the books I polished off for The Writer’s Cottage Summer Reading Challenge.
I do love a good challenge, don’t you?!
https://lindastoll.substack.com/p/my-summer-reading-roundup-porch-195
It’s definitely a difficult read, but I loved The Only Plane in the Sky. It captures the confusion of the day so well, as we all figured out the horror of what was happening.
I had a slow summer of reading, including one that took me forever to get through–but actually ended up being really brilliant:
https://www.mindjoggle.com/july-august-2025-book-reviews/
I love Graff’s books, but the 9/11 book was extremely hard to read. (Emotionally I mean.) I’m looking forward to reading his new one this month.
Here’s what I read in August, which already feels like 100 years ago:
https://www.allthebooksihaventread.com/blog-1/2025/9/13/show-us-your-books
So far this month, I’ve read Love, Mom, Do Not Disturb, The Ex Hex and The Pumpkin Spice Cafe. I’m currently reading, The September House (because it’s only fitting, right?) and The Book of Signs: 31 Undeniable Prophecies of the Apocalypse (talk about total opposite spectrums). In light of the current events this past week in our world, this book is hitting lots of marks.
The Pumpkin Spice Cafe was so nice and light and enjoyable. The Ex Hex was great and I’m looking forward to the next in the series. The September House…woah…it is definitely a scary way to bring on October if anyone is looking for something spooky! HAPPY FALL!
Like you, Anne, I’ve hesitated to pick up All the Planes in the Sky even though I have heard wonderful things about it. For the past few months, my reading has been light and comforting, but I feel the pull for something a bit deeper, so maybe it’s time to bump it up on the TBR.
https://ourlittlebookcollection.substack.com/p/what-i-read-in-august-cozy-romance
Sorry…typing to fast *The Only Plane in the Sky 🫣
I’ve heard such amazing things about The Only Plane in the Sky, but have not been in the right mental space to read just yet. . . .
This month I’m reviewing a 5-star novel with TONS of book club potential; two books that didn’t quite live up to my expectations; a book with one of the most shocking first-chapter plot twists I’ve ever read; a lovely spiritual memoir; a few books related to homeschooling and literature; and a couple of classic Middle Grade novels that I read (and reviewed) with my kids.
https://kendranicole.substack.com/p/quick-lit-september-2025
I’ve actually been in the mood for a good survival story recently, and A Marriage at Sea sounds like the perfect fit!
Here’s what I’ve been reading: https://readeatrepeat.net/2025/09/books-in-progress-what-ive-been-reading-lately-september-2025/
This summer reinforced just how powerful a dedicated reading challenge can be! I read a great variety of books, some better than others, but it was so satisfying to be back in a steady reading rhythm.
I surprised myself with how many new releases (published in 2025) I read! See what I read: https://avikinginla.com/2025/09/what-ive-been-reading-lately-june-july-august-2025/
I am reading The Hallmarked Man by Robert Galbraith, J.K. Rowling’s pen name for the Cormoran Strike series she has penned. This 850 page doorstop is right up my alley with incredible character development PLUS such good plotting. I love a good, long read, and this one fills the bill. I snagged the first copy in both Kindle and audio from Libby – the audio is 31 hours, well narrated by Robert Glenister. For me, the book is so complicated with so many characters, clients of the detective agency, villains, allies, that for the first time in ages I found that I have to take notes. I just love this series, and it makes me so happy to dig in and hang around with Cormoran Strike and his partner Robin Elicott. Warnings for some grisly descriptions of murders, some open door scenes, a bit of anger related violence, etc. So not for the squeamish (which I usually am, so go figure).
I finished several powerful books this month that inspired me to start using notebooks again, see novels as sacred texts, and fall in love with humanity.
See all 9 books here:
https://lisanotes.com/books-inspire-reflection-personal-growth/
The Only Plane in the Sky sounds like a book I would like to read. I read both fiction and nonfiction this month. https://myviewofthehoneypot.blogspot.com/2025/09/what-i-read-september.html
A Marriage at Sea is in my stack to read. I have read so many great reviews about it. Like you, I have put off reading The Only Plane in the Sky, but I know it is one that I should read. My recent reads have included three books in the Emma M. Lion series. It has been such a fun series to read. https://fromourbookshelf.com/what-i-read-august-2025/
I just finished Amity by Nathan Harris, which makes me want to go back and try his debut, Sweetness of Water. Amity is perfect for fans of The Which Way Tree!
I also just DEVOURED Love, and Death, and Giants by Ron Rindo – why am I not seeing this more places?!!?!! This is what I wanted Buckeye to be – a small town tale filled with great characters who grow and love.
If The Only Plane in the Sky is on your TBR, I strongly recommend listening to it on audio.
I agree the audio was so powerful. I found I could only listen in small increments but it made you think it was just happening. Definitely audio on this one.
Thanks, Anne. I always love Quick Lit.
I have read The Only Plane in the Sky twice. I read it on audio first–excellent. Then ordered the book and read it again. Both times I was struck by the generosity, kindness and hospitality of the community invaded by the multiple airplanes and people in their midst without any real warning. It’s difficult subject matter and the pure humanity shines through.
This month has been so-so. I reread The Huntress by Kate Quinn and enjoyed it as much as I did the first time! I also bought A Thousand Sisters by Elizabeth Wein about the Russian airwomen in WWII. It’s next on my TBR and seems an appropriate flight pick. Looking forward to Thursday’s Fall Book Preview!
🤦🏼♀️I can be so elderly sometimes and it is soooo embarrassing ! Some how I turned The Only Plane In the Sky which I have not read into The Day the World Came to Town by JimDeFede which I have read and loved!! Oh, the joys of growing older!
I am plowing through the 1,000 page “Familiaris” and am a little more than half through. I have “A Marriage at Sea” on hold.
I’ve also been reading more non-fiction than usual lately and I am burning (pun intended) through Fire Weather by John Vaillant right now. It is gripping, insightful and timely. It’s also very intense. Highly recommend.
Just finished my favorite read of the year (so far). The Names by Florence Knapp. Sad and thought provoking.
Following the lead of so many here, I’ve started including short reviews in my monthly newsletter, recapping books I’ve reviewed more fully throughout the month. Here’s the link to a recent edition: https://michelemorin.substack.com/p/what-if-were-present-day-prophets
It’s always fun to connect here for great suggestions!
I’m reading A Marriage At Sea–it was given to me for my 70th birthday by my dear sister. A book I thoroughly enjoyed lately was Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy. It’s an amazing, dark novel and I listened to the audio version.
I had trouble finding A Marriage at Sea; it looks like it might also have been released under a different title? I’m in Australia and it looks as if its also available as Maurice and Maralyn, just in case anyone else has had trouble finding it 😊
Thank you Rita,I’m also in Australia and I have now found it under this title.
These seem like really good books. I’m reading The First Lie Wins – it’s a very quick read which is good.
What have I been reading this month? Mostly easygoing distractions such as Kills Well With Others, but I’m currently reading Karen Russel’s The Antidote and while it took a little while to get into it I am hooked now.
I just read your 9/11 story and I feel you and your panic attacks.
I was born and raised in NYC and still living there on 9/11, but I was actually up in the Hudson Valley that morning. My husband had lost his job due to the recent dot com crash (does anyone else remember that?) and couldn’t find another job in the city. He had just found a job in Albany and our offer on a house in the Hudson Valley had been accepted 9/10. My young children and I had to go back to the city as soon as it reopened to start packing up our apartment while my husband stayed upstate to start his job. It was traumatic for so many reasons. I didn’t lose anyone personally but everyone I knew had traumatic stories and just smelling tbe ash and seeing tbe missing people photos and little altars everywhere was so much. Not being home that day and planning to move upstate felt like I was deserting a close family member when they needed me most. I also feel like because so many people had it worse I can’t really complain but I know that’s not helped me. It all still feels visceral and I am not quite ready for that book but maybe soon.
A Marriage at Sea sounds so interesting…
My recent reads are:
* When The Day Comes by Gabrielle Meyer (3 stars) – I enjoyed the historical aspects of this dual timeline novel, but it had that happy-ending- tied-up-with-a-bow romance story vibe that I felt was just too neat and over-simplified for the difficulties the characters would have faced. I also felt that some of the main characters were undeveloped and one-dimensional.
* Emma Lion Journals, Volume 1 by Beth Brower (4 stars) – I love Emma! What a refreshing character and unique format. I am looking forward to the rest of this series.
* Funny Story by Emily Henry (4 stars) – I’m generally not a fan of romance novels, but Emily Henry is such a master of good plots and witty dialog. This was an enjoyable read on audio.
* The Ghostwriter by Julie Clark (5 stars) – I picked this up after hearing it discussed by Anne and Shannan (I think??) – This was a great twisty murder mystery that also explored the dynamics and long-reaching impacts of a dysfunctional family.
* The Last Flight by Julie Clark (4 stars) – I read this as a follow on to The Ghostwriter and while I enjoyed it, I found it less impactful somehow than Ghostwriter. Still an excellent read though.
Current reads are Emma Lion Volume 2, The History of Sound by Ben Shattuck, and Our Infinite Fates by Laura Steven. Happy Reading!
Books 73-81 of 2025: https://thereisnosuchthingasagodforsakentown.blogspot.com/2025/09/reading-update.html
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