Emma's Reading Round-Up: September
A librarian becomes a witch, the moon turns to cheese, and Aunt Dimity does it again
Welcome to Sleuth Hero Alien! This autumn, we’re conjuring up witchy lit in all its cozy, charming forms. Subscribe to join the fun.
Dear Cozy Reader,
It’s time for my monthly reading round-up—a peek at what I’ve been reading lately, and an invitation for you to share the cozy reads you’ve been loving, too!
This month I read more than usual. I tend to average about a book a week over the course of the year, but in September I read seven. Depending on your own reading pace, that might sound like a lot or a little—but for me, it’s definitely a lot.
Two things contributed to all this extra reading. First, I’ve been taking my e-reader along on my adventures here in Portugal. I’m reading on train rides to Lisbon, at beach cafés, and in our local park. It’s been delightful! Second, I stumbled into some truly unputdownable books. I’ve been reading the way I did as a teenager—staying up late, telling myself I should be asleep, but needing to know what happens next??
I picked three books of the seven to share reviews of below. These all feature the cozy genres we love so much here on Sleuth Hero Alien.
When the Moon Hits Your Eye by John Scalzi (Charming Sci-Fi)
Bait and Witch by Angela M. Sanders (Cozy Mystery + Fantasy)
Aunt Dimity and the Family Tree by Nancy Atherton (Cozy Mystery)
And here are the other books I read this month. If you’d like to hear my thoughts on any of these, let me know in the comments!
Lessons in Magic and Disaster by Charlie Jane Anders (Fantasy)
Exit Strategy by Martha Wells (Charming Sci-Fi)
James by Percival Everett (Literary Fiction)
All the Way to the River by Elizabeth Gilbert (Memoir)
You’ll find my cozy reviews below, and I’d love to hear what you read in September. Share your favorites in the comments—I always love seeing what’s on your shelves.
Warmly,
Emma 🌿
When The Moon Hits Your Eye by John Scalzi
Charming Sci-Fi
This one’s a buzzy 2025 release. It came out in March, and if you listen to book podcasts, you’ve probably already heard it mentioned. But here’s my take: Scalzi takes a bonkers premise—the moon turns into cheese—and treats it with absolute seriousness. From astronauts to cheese shops to the Oval Office and beyond, we go deep into how one wild shift ripples through the lives of people everywhere.
What I loved:
I love a bonkers premise—it’s my reading catnip—so I was hooked from page one.
The writing was outstanding. It pulled me in right away, and I couldn’t put it down.
Each chapter follows a different person and how the moon’s transformation impacts their life. I worried this structure might feel disjointed, but instead Scalzi wove everything together so smoothly the story flowed without a hitch.
Each character felt thoughtfully written. Some stories were beautifully poignant, others made me grit my teeth, but even in just a few pages each character felt fully alive.
What didn’t work for me:
I sometimes wanted to return to characters. A few favorites popped up again later, but often I was left with that bittersweet feeling of wanting more when a storyline ended.
What made it cozy:
The coziness came from the richness of the characters—being drawn deeply into one person’s story at a time. And sometimes it was the settings: a café in Oklahoma, a cheese shop in Minnesota, the moon glowing brighter each night, a terrace overlooking the ocean in Hawaii. It was about small, everyday moments between people—sometimes high stakes, sometimes simple and tender, but always resonant.
Verdict: Highly recommend for a beautiful and memorable reading experience.
Check the StoryGraph page for content warnings.
Bait and Witch by Angela M. Sanders
Cozy Mystery + Fantasy
#1 in Series: Witch Way Librarian Mysteries
I picked this one up for our autumn witchy theme—and also to finally check it off my Cozy Reading Challenge list. It had been languishing on my TBR for way too long. I kept scrolling past it, considering it, and trying something else instead. I’m glad I finally settled in, because this turned out to be a delightful cozy mystery.
Here’s the setup: A librarian at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. gets caught up in trouble at work. She flees to a small town in Oregon to become the local librarian—but on her very first day, she stumbles across a dead body in the woods. Following the beloved trope of all cozy mysteries, she decides to solve the case herself. And to add a paranormal twist, strange and mystical things immediately begin happening to her. Part of the fun is watching her bookish witchy powers slowly unfold.
What I loved:
This one is full of bookish charm—including the library setting and the main character’s deep love of books.
Book-centered magic. I won’t spoil anything, but if you’re looking for a witch whose powers are tied to books, this one is for you.
A solid mystery that kept me guessing until the end.
Lots of great backstories—for both the main character and the quirky small-town residents.
What didn’t work for me:
The middle got a little tangled with the witchy elements, the main mystery, and a couple of subplots. But everything tied together nicely by the end, and it left me curious to continue the series.
What made it cozy:
Set in rural Oregon, the library itself is a repurposed mansion gifted to the town. Think old rooms lined with books, perched on a hill overlooking a quaint main street with its cozy diner where everyone knows your name. Add in the lush Pacific Northwest setting, and you’ve got the perfect backdrop for a witchy mystery.
Verdict: A solid first entry in a series that now has six books—plenty more to enjoy if you love libraries, small towns, and a dash of magic.
Check the StoryGraph page for content warnings.
Aunt Dimity and the Family Tree by Nancy Atherton
Paranormal Cozy Mystery
#16 in Series: Aunty Dimity Mysteries
I’ve been a big fan of the Aunt Dimity Mysteries ever since I first picked up the 24th book, Aunt Dimity and the Heart of Gold. That’s when I fell in love with the people of Finch and their wonderfully snoopy ways. I’ve been hopping around the series out of order, and at this point I think I have eight left to go!
In this long-running series, Laurie is our main character—a loyal resident of Finch, which is a picturesque Cotswold village. Like her neighbors, she adores a bit of gossip and has an insatiable curiosity. She also happens to have a very unusual confidante: Aunt Dimity, a ghost who talks to her from beyond the grave through a journal. It may sound silly or even spooky, but it’s really neither. The books are filled with comfort, as Laurie cozies up with the journal in her study to recount her days and receive Dimity’s advice.
In Aunt Dimity and the Family Tree, we get plenty of hijinks and silliness:
Sally Pyne, the tea shop owner, is hiding out in Willis Sr.’s mansion with her secret boyfriend to avoid the town gossips.
Willis Sr., tries to drive them out by serving hilariously bad cooking.
Laurie, ever the amateur sleuth, is convinced the new housekeeper and groundsman must be up to no good.
Aunt Dimity chimes in from beyond—this time egging Laurie on instead of calming her down.
The result? Pure hilarity.
What I loved:
This might actually be my favorite of the Aunt Dimity books so far—it was laugh-out-loud funny, with all the hiding, pretending, and tangled misunderstandings.
Like always, being back in Finch with its cast of quirky characters was a delight. Spending time with them feels like revisiting old friends.
What didn’t work:
Like all Aunt Dimity books, this one starts off slowly—but for me, catching up on the goings-on in Finch before the main action begins feels comfortingly familiar. If it’s your first time reading the series, though, the slower start might feel a bit too drawn out.
Laurie always has a lesson to learn. She often begins by jumping to conclusions or viewing people through the lens of wealth and privilege. That can get under my skin at times, but things usually work out in the end—especially with Aunt Dimity’s gentle guidance helping her see the error of her ways.
What made it cozy:
Finch itself is the ultimate cozy small town. Once you’ve read a few in the series, every return feels like a homecoming. The familiar faces, beloved shops, and gentle rhythms of village life create the perfect backdrop for Laurie’s sleuthing.
Verdict: A slow burn, funny, and utterly cozy entry in the series. Highly recommended if you love small-town charm and lighthearted mysteries.
Tip: If you’d like to dip into the series without starting at book one, I recommend beginning with this book or with Aunt Dimity and the Heart of Gold. Both are great entry points into the world of Finch.
Check the StoryGraph page for content warnings.
📚 Currently Reading
Here’s what I have lined up for October. At the end of the month, I’ll let you know which ones I actually finished—and what new surprises popped onto my reading list along the way!
Secrets of the Octopus by Sy Montgomery
Rise and Divine by Lana Harper — Witches of Thistle Grove #5
Murder by Cheesecake by Rachel Ekstrom Courage — Golden Girls Cozy Mystery #1
Brigands & Breadknives by Travis Baldree (Advanced Reader Copy) — Legends & Lattes #2
The Chinese Groove by Kathryn Ma
Chilling Effect by Valerie Valdes
Winter Nights at the Bay Bookshop by Jessica Redland
Have you read any of these? And what cozy books did you curl up with in September? I’d love to hear all about your reading life. Share in the comments—or feel free to ask me anything about the books in this post.
Happy reading,
Emma 🌿
Hi there! I’m Emma Veritas, your cozy reading enthusiast. I delight in escaping to small towns filled with endearing characters—and just a touch of mystery, dragons, or aliens. When I’m not sharing bookish musings here, you’ll find me reading at the beach, wandering the tiled alleys of my new hometown in Portugal, or sipping a delicious cup of hot chocolate.
👉📸📚Follow me on Instagram for photos of books and adventures at ReadingInPortugal.
You might enjoy my other bookish newsletter:
🔮Mystics Reading Society—Join us for a weekly chapter-by-chapter exploration of spiritual books, where wisdom and personal growth intertwine one page at a time. We’re currently reading When Things Fall Apart by Pema Chodron. Read the most recent post: Why We’re Reading When Things Fall Apart