Read With Keri: Books I Read in October

October is my favorite month of the year for many reasons, one of which is it’s the perfect weather to cozy up with a book, blanket, and hot beverage. There’s something about it that brings me so much joy!

This month was a great book month and I reached my yearly goal of 50 books in 2022, so it was a win-win. I enjoyed a mix of audiobooks and physical books, too, so it felt like the best of both worlds. Here are the books I read in October.

Know Yourself, Know Your Money — Rachel Cruze (4.5/5 stars)

Rachel Cruze, aka Dave Ramsey’s daughter, wrote this book, and when I saw it available as an audiobook, I decided, “Why not?” Luke and I are actually going through the Baby Steps, and it’s been insightful to say the least. You don’t have to be a Dave Ramsey enthusiast to enjoy this book, though. I thought it was a great balance between knowing yourself (e.g., your habits, past experiences, childhood) and understanding how that can affect your money habits (e.g., your outlook on money, saving, spending). Rachel provides great tips on how to improve certain aspects of your financial health and encourages readers with helpful prompts and next steps. This is a short but informative read, and if you can, check out the audiobook version because she narrates it!

Carrie Soto is Back — Taylor Jenkins Reid (5/5 stars)

This took me a bit of time to get into, but I stuck with it because I loved Taylor Jenkins Read’s other books: Daisy Jones and the Six and Malibu Rising. Carrie Soto is Back is a new release and worth the time to get into the storyline. I learned a lot about tennis (the character Carrie Soto is a world-renowned tennis player) and thought Taylor Jenkins Reid did a great job at describing the game and keeping my interest as a non-tennis player.

Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 — Cho Nam-Joo (3/5 stars)

I spotted this in the library and it sparked my interest because I had never heard of it, yet there were so many 5-star reviews of it on Goodreads. It’s a short read, so I finished it over the weekend. I have mixed feelings about the ending. It was definitely enlightening and thought-provoking and provided a perspective on how women are treated in South Korea.

In the Lord I Take Refuge — Dane C. Ortlund (5+/5 stars)

I’ve been reading this throughout the year and finished it this month. It is one of the best devotionals I’ve gone through, hands down. It is written by the author of Gentle and Lowly, which I read last year, and is another 5+-star book that I urge you to read if you have the chance. Each devotional focuses on a psalm and it’s a beautiful and intentional way to read through the Psalms if you’ve ever considered doing so. Highly recommend.

The Codebreaker’s Secret — Sara Ackerman (3.5/5 stars)

I finished The Codebreaker’s Secret a few days ago and debated on how to rate this because I ended up enjoying the last quarter of the book, but it took a long time to get into the storyline. I’m not the biggest fan of the author’s writing style, and I think that plays a big part in whether or not you end up enjoying a book. The concept could be amazing, but if it’s not written well, then it falls short. That’s how I feel about this book. It’s set in Hawai’i during WW2 and flips between the 1940s and the 1960s. It’s equal parts romance, mystery, and suspense, which I loved, but wish the writing style was different so I could’ve enjoyed this more as a whole.

Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear — Elizabeth Gilbert (2.5/5 stars)

I heard good things about this book, but to be honest, this was a bit of a weird read for me. I didn’t really vibe with how the author (who also wrote Eat, Pray, Love) described the creative process and the “relationship” we should have with ideas and creativity. However, I enjoyed hearing a different perspective so it wasn’t a complete waste of time in my opinion!