Everything I read in November
Those who don't try, Never look foolish
It feels great to finally have had a decent reading month! I finished seven books! Hoping to ride this momentum through the holidays.
Am I now delulu enough to believe I can meet my reading goal of 100 books in 2024?!
The goal is just a number, but I feel the most optimistic I have since this summer’s slump! (fully delulu)
Anyway, like all red-blooded theatre kids, I have been obsessing over Wicked all month. So we are branching away from Taylor this week, and sticking with Wicked references.
The Good Daughter by Karin Slaughter
The biggest plot twist? That I really liked this book!
I loved how nuanced Karin Slaughter's writing was and how multi-dimensional all the characters were. A modern and TRAUMA-FILLED To Kill a Mockingbird. This made a great book club book, but definitely check out the trigger warnings before embarking.
Funny Story by Emily Henry
Funny Story reads like a love letter to Norther Michigan, and served as a reminder to me personally that I'm mad overdue for a Michigan summer. I want a library read-a-thon, and a bearded, croc-wearing, winery, bartender man!
Emily Henry's books are a like my favorite cardigan! I've had a journey with her books, and while this won't be remembered as my favorite, the writing, banter, chemistry, and THE MAN reminded me why Emily Henry is the wittiest and coolest writer in town! And don’t sleep on Julia Whelan's narration. It was perfection!
I do think this was trying to have the friends-to-lovers soul-seeing connection of People We Meet On Vacation (my personal favorite) but in 5% of the time span. Comparison is the thief of joy, and when thinking of Alex and Poppy (PWMOV), these two characters (whose names I've already forgotten) fall short, but I do think it has that same soul-mate feeling. (This woman was also a MUCH LESS relatable character to me than Poppy is.)
My primary complaint is the disappointment that was the third act conflict. But the “resolution” with an ex-best-friend in the final chapter was solid!
Check & Mate by Ali Hazelwood
The NA/YA classification is what had me putting off reaching for this book, but it delivers! It’s all “fade to black” but the chemistry (and ear biting) is off the charts. I now have a 20 year old book boyfriend, and idk how to feel about it.
Y’all know I can go on for days and days about Ali Hazelwood. So for more of my thoughts about this book check out this post!
Heartstopper Volume 4 & Volume 5 by Alice Oseman
With an indefinite wait for vol 6, I am not okay. Volume 4 is heavy on mental health and Charlie seeking help for his anorexia, OCD, and self-harm. We also get to see Nick learn to be a supportive and loving partner to Charlie.
This series as a whole is a wonderful resource for young readers to see healthy and happy queerness. I cannot recommend it enough.
Silver Foxed by Kayla Grosse
Just a smutty little novella with age-gap, forced proximity, forbidden, and a few kinks I’ll let you explore for yourself. I only ever downloaded this book because I had read Kayla Grosse’s Trick Shot as my spicy holiday novella last year, and I love her fat female leads.
What ultimately got me to read this book was the election. In the days leading up to the election and the days to follow, this was my coping mechanism. So it may not be my favorite book, I don’t even really recommend it, but I will be forever thankful it got me through the first week of November 2024.
For the Fans by Nyla K.
This book had been at the top of my TBR for well over a year, and boy did it deliver. In a strange way, it was the perfect timing to read it just after finishing Heartstopper. Ky and Avi are the older, taboo, depraved foils to Nick and Charlie.
Interestingly the first half of this book is the most explicit and the back half is where the pining and slow burn fizzle strongest. I could not put this book down and it was 546 pages.
If you want to purchase any of the books mentioned in this article, please consider using my affiliate link with my favorite independent book store, The Ripped Bodice, or using my referral link to libro.fm for an audiobook!
Hyper-fixation du jour: Ariana & Kristin agreeing that Glinda is queer
