Book Mail: A Roundup of the Book Mail I Received Last Week

Mid-September has a way of feeling like a fresh start, and this week’s book mail has made it downright enchanting. My TBR pile has blossomed into a little paper-and-ink wonderland, thanks to a book haul filled with new book releases that are impossible to resist. Each envelope carried book recommendations whispered from friends, bloggers, and reviewers alike, promising adventures, laughs, and a few tears along the way. Honestly, with so many titles that could easily make the list of the best books of 2025, it feels like my cozy reading nook has become the coziest little corner of the world.

Where to Buy These Books:

Shop This Stack on Bookshop.org to Support Local Bookstores

Shop This Stack on Amazon

I want to note that I do not get paid to do these posts, I just love authors and the book industry. However, they do take time and energy to create. If you want to donate a few dollars to my coffee fund, which keeps this blog going, you can do so here: https://venmo.com/AshleyHasty or here: http://paypal.me/hastybooklist.

What I Wore:

Top | Shorts | Jewelry | Makeup

In mid September, when the air carries the first whispers of fall but the days are still kissed with warmth, slipping into a green satin top with blue linen chambray shorts feels like the perfect blend of easy elegance and casual charm. Paired with your go-to gold hoop earrings, your signature herringbone necklace, and a graduated rope chain layered just right, it’s the kind of main character outfit that radiates main character energy without even trying. The look is polished yet relaxed—an ideal example of fashion for self-expression and personal style inspiration. As you flip through a fresh stack of book mail, discovering character-driven novels and books that inspire confidence, you’re reminded that both your wardrobe and your bookshelf are ways of living your main character life. This is main character aesthetic books and clothing in harmony: style for confidence and books to style your life by, all grounding you in a main character mindset that makes you feel like the heroine of your own September story.

This Week’s Book Mail Includes:

Press 1 For Invasion by J. A. Dauber - In Press 1 for Invasion by J. A. Dauber, ten-year-old Matt just wants a phone but ends up teaming with his friend and a hesitant alien lunch lady to save the world from an impending extraterrestrial invasion in this hilarious, action-packed middle grade adventure.
What Happened to Lucy Vale by Lauren Oliver - In What Happened to Lucy Vale by Lauren Oliver, a teenage girl and her mother move into the infamous Faraday House, sparking a chilling web of small-town rumors, social media obsession, and parallel mysteries that only a mother’s courage can unravel.
North of the Sunlit River by Jessica Bryant Klagmann - In North of the Sunlit River by Jessica Bryant Klagmann, grieving Eila Jacobsen embarks on a remote Alaskan research trip where a hidden discovery in her father’s journal sets her on a journey of healing, secrets, and unexpected connections.
In Deadly Company by L.S. Stratton - In In Deadly Company by L.S. Stratton, executive assistant Nicole Underwood must navigate murder, media suspicion, and haunting memories as she tries to clear her name while consulting on a film about her deadly workplace experience.
Not Yet Lost by Janis M. Falk - In Not Yet Lost by Janis M. Falk, Polish immigrant Florence fights oppressive factory conditions and her own husband’s resistance to lead a labor movement in 1937 Detroit, risking everything to find her voice and justice.
Adrift by Will Dean - In Adrift by Will Dean, a family’s isolation on a canal boat exposes bullying, marital tension, and gaslighting, leading to a suspenseful unraveling of their lives and toxic generational patterns.
The Dragon Wakes With Thunder by K.X. Song - In The Dragon Wakes With Thunder by K.X. Song, warrior Hai Meilin navigates political intrigue, rebellions, and the demands of a vengeful sea dragon, as she struggles to reclaim her agency in a world that seeks to control her.
The House of Quiet by Kiersten White - In The House of Quiet by Kiersten White, Birdie infiltrates a mysterious institution of powerful children to find her missing sister, uncovering dangerous secrets and confronting how far she’s willing to go to save her.
Vianne by Joanne Harris - In Vianne by Joanne Harris, a young pregnant woman moves to Marseille, discovers the magic of cooking with chocolate, and navigates friendship, secrets, and the price of her own hidden truths.
The Whistler by Nick Medina - In The Whistler by Nick Medina, a young man confined to a wheelchair returns to his reservation and must confront a mythological specter—and his own past—after breaking the taboo of whistling at night.
One of Them by Kitty Zeldis - In One of Them by Kitty Zeldis, two young women at post–World War II Vassar navigate friendship, secrets, and betrayal amid prejudice and societal pressures that resonate with today’s cultural issues.
Before They Were Men by Jacob Tobia - In Before They Were Men, Jacob Tobia challenges conventional notions of masculinity, arguing that men and boys are also harmed by the gender binary and patriarchy, and calls for empathy, compassion, and a radical reframing of feminism to address their unspoken struggles.
All This Could Be Yours by Hank Phillippi Ryan - In All This Could Be Yours, debut author Tessa Calloway’s glamorous book tour turns deadly when a mysterious stalker threatens to destroy her career, her family, and her life, forcing her to confront a dark secret from her past.
Once Upon a Time in Dollywood by Ashley Jordan - In Once Upon a Time in Dollywood, playwright Eve Ambroise seeks a fresh start in the Tennessee mountains, but sparks—and complications—fly with single dad Jamie Gallagher, forcing them both to confront past heartbreaks if they hope for a fairy-tale romance.
The Late-Night Witches by Auralee Wallace - In The Late-Night Witches, Cassie Beckett must embrace her magical heritage and rally her family and friends to face vampires on foggy Prince Edward Island, uncovering long-hidden secrets and discovering her own power before Halloween night ends everything.
The Formidable Miss Cassidy by Meihan Boey - In The Formidable Miss Cassidy, Scottish governess Leda Cassidy must use her extraordinary skills to navigate a series of supernatural crises—including a vampiric ghost—while protecting a family in Singapore who may be in greater danger than she first realized.
Girl Next Door by Rachel Meredith - In Girl Next Door, a young freelancer returns to her suburban hometown to investigate her childhood neighbor’s steamy bestselling novel—only to discover that fiction and reality blur in ways that stir secrets, romance, and unexpected chaos.
The Princess and the P.I. by Nikki Payne - In The Princess and the P.I., amateur online sleuth Fiona teams up with a jaded private investigator to clear her name and expose a corrupt tech start-up, sparking romance and danger along the way.
Honey and Heat by Aurora Palit - In Honey and Heat, fierce competitors Cynthia and Rohit must set aside their rivalry—and lingering attraction—to save a family business, discovering that love and ambition may be equally high stakes.
Definitely Maybe Not a Detective by Sarah Fox - In Definitely Maybe Not a Detective, Emersyn’s fake detective agency—and her chemistry with a handsome stranger—gets real when a murder lands on her doorstep, forcing her to solve the case while navigating deception, danger, and unexpected romance.
The Day I Lost You by Ruth Mancini - In The Day I Lost You, a missing child unravels the deadly secrets and hidden pasts of three adults, in this twisty, suspenseful thriller by Ruth Mancini.
Wickedly Ever After by R. Lee Fryar - In Wickedly Ever After, two long-feuding witches must fix a magically disastrous mix-up and confront a thousand years of rivalry—discovering that even the most wicked might deserve their happily-ever-after.
Wish You Were Her by Elle McNicoll - In Wish You Were Her, teen TV star Allegra Brooks seeks a quiet summer at a small-town book festival but finds herself in a rivals-to-lovers romance with the prickly local bookseller while navigating fame, misunderstandings, and unexpected connection.
The Literati by Susan Coll - In The Literati, bookish young Clemi lands her dream job at a prestigious literary nonprofit only to face a chaotic week of missing leaders, financial disaster, demanding gala prep, and complicated personal entanglements, all while questioning her literary dreams and future.
The Shattered King by Charlie N. Holmberg - In The Shattered King, healer Nym is summoned to cure the mysterious Prince Renn amid a kingdom on the brink of war, navigating a perilous court and uncovering dark secrets while finding herself unexpectedly drawn to him.
The Snake Handler's Wife by Sue Hinkin - In The Snake Handler’s Wife, Lucy must protect her son and Malibu ranch from escalating dangers linked to her partner’s unstable daughter and a charismatic, manipulative snake-handling preacher.
Devil's Hand by Lori B. Duff - In Devil’s Hand, attorney Jessica Fischer must navigate her client’s hidden secrets, a powerful abuser, and complicated family dynamics while striving to protect justice without losing herself.
The Butcher and the Liar by S.L. Woeppel - In The Butcher and the Liar, Daisy Bellon must confront the dark secrets of her past and her father’s murderous legacy when a mysterious letter and a chilling new murder force her to choose between hiding in darkness or risking everything for love and redemption.