November Reading Wrap Up

If I’m being perfectly honest, November didn’t feel real. I feel like time just momentarily stopped existing. One second it was November 1st, and the next it was thanksgiving. Time in between feels like a void, a deep chasm, a maw if you will. Work took up the void and made it quite difficult actually ‘clock out’ of work mode when I got home, and my reading habits took the brunt of that unfortunately. So not only was November just a weird month, my reading was also weird this month.

So, grab yourself a beverage and let’s get into this weird November reading wrap up.

My November Hopefuls

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My November Hopefuls *

My hopefuls this month were a little bit all over the place. Two, technically three, are buddy reads, and the other two I really wanted to get into. But whomp whomp, because of my bad mood I had a total of three DNFs this month. (insert sad cry face here)

My mom and I buddy read a book every month, and this month we chose The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman, and then, we both agreed to hard DNF it before 100 page mark. We both just couldn’t get into it. Instead, we jumped into The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood. It was a way better choice.

My lovely friend from TikTok, Maggie (AKA Toast), gifted me a copy of Slewfoot by Brom which I immediately started reading, and then got into a funk and set it aside. I will be returning to it soon. This was my first ever book gift from a friend! This was a soft DNF, it was more of a see you later than a no thank you.

My third and final DNF this month was This Monster of Mine by Shalini Abeysekara. I really wanted to like this one. I heard pretty decent reviews. I knew it was a dark romance book going into it, but it was a little too dark in the wrong ways for me through the prologue. I returned my loan early to the library.

Now that the DNFs are through, let’s get to the good stuff!

Drum Roll Please

Drum Roll Please

My November Reads

I read a total of five books this month, which honestly, considering I had five hopefuls is still pretty good me.

To start the month, after DNFing our first book choice, mom and I settled into The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood. I listened to 65% as an audiobook and then when I ran out of time, I read a physical copy that I ordered online because I didn’t want to wait for my time to renew. It was a very cute read, and made me want to check out more of Ali Hazelwood’s books. They don’t call her the queen of romance for nothing.

Then, I finally finished My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh for book club. This book was divisive amongst the friend group. You either love this book, or hate it. I was the former. I have a full review, and book club guide posted on here if you wish to read more of my thoughts. I will say, if you don’t like reading about unlikeable characters, this book might not be for you.

Moving on from the buddy reads, I read an ARC just a little after its release date called Heart Check by Emily Charlotte. This was a very cute and innocent YA hockey romance. It was very much needed after reading the dark and broody vibes of MYORAR. Reading YA books can be tough for me because as much as I can enjoy them, the conflict is always difficult to relate to as a thirty year old, but I do try my best to rate them as fairly as possible from the perspective of the intended audience.

During my chaotic work weeks, I also listened to The Second Chance Convenience Store by Kim Ho-Yeon. If you’re a fan of Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi, I think you might also enjoy this as it was written a very similar way. Through the setting of a convenience store, you meet new characters in each chapter that help them learn to appreciate their talents and their lives. Personally, I preferred Before the Coffee Gets Cold as little more, just because the stories felt a little bit more heartfelt. Overall though, if you’re looking for a short and sweet audiobook (about 6 hours), I would definitely recommend checking out The Second Chance Convenience Store.

And last but not least, the final book I read in November was The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow. And wow. What a way to end the month. This book was absolutely amazing. I listened to the audiobook and read the physical copy in different reading sessions, and both were amazing. The narrators of the audiobook did an phenomenal job, and Ali E. Harrow’s writing was to die for. I ate this book us. I have a full review where I gush in a little bit more detail, but if you like lady knights and a love story that spans centuries, I would highly highly recommend checking out The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow.

A December Sneak Peek

A December Sneak Peek

Here is a little sneak peek into my December Hopefuls. I originally had a list of Ten Before The End, but quite honestly at this reading rate with work stress, and the holiday stress, I definitely won’t be getting to all ten, so from the list of ten, I have chosen three: Katabasis by R. F Kuang, Spread Me by Sarah Gailey, and We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirely Jackson.

As for the next four books on my hopefuls list, I have two that are just for fun to get into the holiday spirit, Good Spirits by B. K. Borison, and The Nightmare Before Kissmas by Sara Raasch, and I have two that will help round out all the knight books I’ve read this year, The Princess Knight by Cait Jacobs, and The Isle in the Silver Sea by Tasha Suri.

And the fifth, and final book on my hopefuls list, is the monthly buddy read with my mom! We both own a copy of A Flicker in the Dark by Stacy Willingham so we will be jumping into a thriller for the holidays.

Wish me luck! I’m really hoping I can get through most of these before the end of the year.

Thank you so much for sticking around and reading my ramblings. I hope December is good to you.

Until next time.

xx