Time for my October reading recap for the 2025 Crochet Book Blanket project! I always post a month behind, so it’s the perfect time to look back on what I read in October. The crisp autumn days made for some wonderfully cosy reading sessions, and I loved watching both my blanket and my book list grow. Who else is embracing the season with a stack of good books and a warm blanket?
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As we move into the last quarter of the year, I’m finding it a little harder to keep up – but I’m making sure to set aside some time for reading (and crocheting!) even if it’s not as prolific as earlier in the year, and posting these updates definitely helps keep me accountable.
The Vision for the Book Afghan
To maintain cohesion, I’ve used the same block pattern for the entire afghan (grab the free pattern here), working with yarn from my stash and selecting colours that reflect the book’s cover design. The ultimate goal? A warm, meaningful blanket that doubles as a literary keepsake.
Here’s what I accomplished in October:
- Total Books Read: and Squares Completed: 5 / 10
October Reads and Squares
Book 67: Apples Never Fall by Liane Moriarty
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 3.75 stars (out of 5)
Synopsis: Apples Never Fall follows the Delaney family, former tennis coaches whose lives unravel when Joy Delaney mysteriously disappears. As suspicion falls on both her husband and a strange young woman who recently entered their lives, the Delaney siblings must confront hidden family tensions and long-held secrets to uncover the truth. Not my favourite Moriarty book, but she’s still a great storyteller, and she creates great characters so I’ll continue working my way through all of her novels.
Book 68: The Couple’s Revenge by Daniel Hurst
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ 3 stars (out of 5)
Synopsis: The Couple’s Revenge is a psychological thriller about a family pushed to the brink after their teenage son is bullied – and badly hurt. When school and police intervention fail, the parents decide to take matters into their own hands. Their love and fear for their child spiral them into a dangerous path of vengeance, forcing them to confront how far they’re willing to go to protect him. I personally found the characters and plot a wee bit far fetched and quite predictable – and I felt the bully theme had been done before, but better.
Book 69: Plain Truth by Jodi Picoult
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 stars (out of 5)
Synopsis: Plain Truth centres on an Amish community shaken when a newborn is found dead in a barn and a teenage Amish girl becomes the prime suspect. A big-city defence attorney takes on the case and must navigate cultural divides, hidden trauma, and buried truths. As the investigation unfolds, everyone is forced to question guilt, innocence, and the powerful pull of belonging. Like most of Jodi’s stories I love how they all feature a complex moral dilemma, I enjoyed the provocative storyline and found the insights into Amish life really interesting.
Book 70: The Woman Who Met Herself by Laura Pearson
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 stars (out of 5)
Synopsis: The Woman Who Met Herself tells the story of two women in their sixties – Ruth Waverley and Debbie Jones – whose lives take an astonishing turn when Debbie, working as a charity fundraiser, knocks on Ruth’s door only for them to discover they look exactly alike. Shocked by the uncanny resemblance, the two strangers form a bond and begin to unravel a connection neither expected, triggering revelations about identity, family, loss and second chances. The novel explores grief, self-discovery and how sometimes startling coincidences can upend everything – even late in life. Loved the premise for this story; identical twins who have never met. Would be a lovely holiday read.
Book 71: The Devil Wears Scrubs (Dr. Jane McGill #1) by Freida McFadden
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐3.5 stars (out of 5)
Synopsis: The Devil Wears Scrubs follows first-year medical resident Dr. Jane McGill as she battles exhaustion, impossible expectations, and the notoriously cruel senior resident who seems determined to make her life miserable. Amid chaotic shifts, medical mishaps, and darkly funny moments, Jane must find her confidence, and her compassion, to survive the pressures of hospital life and prove she belongs in the world of medicine. A different book from the usual thriller from McFadden, this is a quick and easy romance. I especially enjoyed the percentage of how much Jane might quit her job at the end of each chapter.
All the books so far
Don’t want to scroll and look for all the books that I’ve read so far? Well I’ve put together a list in my Amazon storefront so you can see all the books in one place: Go to the book list
Looking Ahead to November
As we step into November, I’m looking forward to cosy winter reading sessions and seeing how these penultimate stories of the year will inspire the next squares in my Crochet Book Blanket. Each book has brought its own mood and colour to the project, and I’m curious to see whether the winter months will draw me toward tales with a frosty, festive palette.
If you’re joining in, don’t forget to share your progress with the #KCACOUKBookCAL2025 hashtag — I’ve been loving all your updates!
What’s your favourite winter or holiday read? I’d love to hear your cosy recommendations in the comments 👇
Stay tuned for next month’s updates. Until then, happy hooking and happy reading!
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