Wayward Reviews

Hello, my lovelies,

October has been a bit of a wild one for me — how was yours? I’m still on track to reach my yearly reading goal, but things have been a little all over the place lately. I ended up taking some stress leave from work, which slowed my reading rhythm, but it also nudged me toward audiobooks, and honestly, I’ve loved it. I might not be turning pages as quickly, but these more flexible formats have been such a comfort and a reminder that reading can fit around life, even when things feel messy.

So that is where I am currently – but let’s dive into the wrap-up!

Here is a reminder of the books I picked for October:

Rollover Book: The Kamogawa Food Detectives by Hisashi Kashiwai

Subscription Book: The Jasad Heir by Sara Hashem

Exploding Book: The City of Dusk by Tara Sim

Interest Read: Girls just want to have funds by Camilla Falkenberg, Emma Due Bitz, Anna-Sophie Hartvigsen

Out of my entire TBR, the only book I managed to finish this month was The Jasad Heir — and I have to say, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Ironically, it was exactly the kind of book I adore, yet it had been gathering dust on my shelf for years. It’s always the ones you put off that end up surprising you the most, isn’t it? That said, while I really liked it, I’m not in a rush to jump straight into the sequel — I think I want to let this story settle a bit before diving back into that world.

I know I’m behind on proper book reviews (they’re definitely on my to-do list), but here’s a snapshot of what made The Jasad Heir stand out for me. The world-building felt wonderfully fresh, a blend of Egyptian-inspired culture set against a dystopian backdrop that felt both grounded and otherworldly. The heroine’s journey was particularly engaging; she’s living as an ordinary citizen, hiding in plain sight, while secretly being the lost heir of a war-torn kingdom.

Without spoiling too much, it’s an enemies-to-lovers story laced with tension, secrecy, and plenty of political intrigue. What really kept me hooked, though, were the morally grey supporting characters, the kind that constantly make you question everyone’s motives and loyalties. It’s layered, emotionally complex, and leaves you wondering who’s truly good, who’s bad, and who’s just trying to survive. Overall, The Jasad Heir turned out to be a captivating read, the kind that lingers long after you’ve finished the last page.

Atomic Habits was another audiobook that I had in my library. Since the last six months, I have benefited from listening to non-fiction rather than reading it – I thought why not? I can see why this was a popular book, the recommendations and tools are straightforward, easy to incorporate but also show that you can make changes, as long as you show up every time. I know I will be coming back to reference this book, time and time again to remind myself about certain tools. I really enjoyed this book, and would recommend it as a starting point for anyone wanting to build and craft their habits.

Therefore I read a total of 2 books in the month of October.

I am very happy where I am at the moment, still on track to reach my yearly reading goal – and with the potential to go past my goal! Reflecting on my year, currently I feel this book picking selection has been working out really well for me.

How did you get on in October? I would love to hear in the comments below.

Till next time.