Friday, December 1, 2023

Month in Review: November 2023

 


November was actually a pretty decent month (?) for once. It was surprisingly busy, but it was also the month that I finally feel like I started getting my life back on track. Since about February, my husband and I had been looking to potentially move, and long story short... for various reasons, we ended up not moving and we're both really happy about that decision! It's been a pretty stressful year full of uncertainty and I gotta say, when you're in limbo about where you're living for that long, it really takes its toll. All that being said, I've felt more relieved this past month than I have for a long time, haha. 

November is also Thanksgiving for those of us in the states, and I really hope all of you who celebrate had a wonderful time. My husband and I actually went to Disneyland with my family and it was such a fun time to spend the day with all of them. I also went to a concert last week for the first time in what feels like ages and it felt so good to be back, that will definitely be something I start prioritizing again. 

In reading news, it was also a great month! I read way more books than I expected and had such a great time with so many of them! Highlights include The Square of Sevens, Bunny, Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries, and Nestlings. I also started a new graphic novel series that seems very promising. All in all, I can't complain about my November reading for once–and that feels great, haha. 

So, most importantly: how was your November!?  Let me know how your month was and what you've been reading!


# books read: 16
   
Nestlings by Nat Cassidy
Source: NetGalley | Format: eARC
Thoughts: I have a review up for this one and I really liked it! It was really a pretty creepy horror story and well worth the read. 

Bunny by Mona Awad
Source: Owned | Format: Paperback
Thoughts: This was every bit as weird and f*cked up as I'd been led to believe, so I was extremely pleased about that. This really was a wild ride and I was definitely here for it. Can't wait to read more from Mona Awad!

Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries (Emily Wilde #1) by Heather Fawcett
Source: NetGalley/Owned | Format: eARC/Hardcover
Thoughts: This is just the best. I actually re-read this in preparation for the sequel and I still absolutely adore it. I cannot wait to get stared on a NetGalley eARC that has been sitting on my ebook shelf for so long.

The Square of Sevens by Laura Robinson-Shepherd
Source: Owned | Format: Hardcover
Thoughts: I was absolutely immersed in this historical fiction mystery! I loved the setting, the characters, and Robinson-Shepherd's writing style. I will be checking out more of her books as a result of how much I enjoyed this one. 


Godkiller by Hannah Kaner
Source: Library | Format: Audiobook
Thoughts: I am still not sure how I feel about this. I feel like it had everything I'd want it to have, but something about the execution didn't work for me as well as I'd hope it would. I'm still undecided on whether I want to continue the series and read the sequel, but I most likely will at some point. 

Gideon Falls, Vol. 1: The Barn by Jeff Lemire
Source: Library | Format: Ebook
Thoughts: I really enjoyed this! I've been in the mood for a new graphic novel for a while, so I was looking forward to checking this one out and it did not disappoint (and I ended up reading the next two volumes right after). 

Gideon Falls, Vol. 2: Original Sins by Jeff Lemire
Source: Library | Format: Ebook
Thoughts: This wasn't quite as good as the first book, but I still really liked it and look forward to seeing where this setup is all going. 

Gideon Falls, Vol. 3: Stations of the Cross by Jeff Lemire
Source: Library | Format: Ebook
Thoughts: I felt pretty lost through most of this installment. I'll probably still continue the series, but I have to say that this was a pretty steep drop in enjoyment compared to the previous two, especially the first one.


The Paleontologist by Luke Dumas
Source: Publisher | Format: Physical ARC
Thoughts: I have a review up for this one as well and I had a good time with the haunted museum setting. Luke Dumas is an author that I'll continue to look out for. 

Good Girls Don't Die by Christina Henry
Source: NetGalley/Publisher | Format: eARC
Thoughts: This was a fun take on horror tropes and stories while also delivering them in a fun way. It was a bit predictable at times, but overall a good time. 

The Centre by Ayesha Manazir Siddiqui
Source: Library | Format: Audiobook
Thoughts: I liked the language learning aspects of this book a lot, but other parts of it didn't click as well for me. I'll have a review up for this one next week.

Mary and the Birth of Frankenstein by Anne Eekhout
Source: Publisher | Format: Physical ARC
Thoughts: I've also just posted a review of this one and I thought it was a really beautifully written story from Mary Shelley's point of view. It's not overly plot heavy and is very much a character-driven story. 


Kagen the Damned (Kagen the Damned #1) by Jonathan Maberry
Source: NetGalley | Format: Ebook
Thoughts: I decided to reread this so I can hopefully get to the sequel finally! This is a pretty solid fantasy that leans on the grimdark side, I've really enjoyed it. 

Green Rider by Kristen Britain
Source: Library | Format: Paperback
Thoughts: This was pretty fun, sort of what I expected from a slightly older fantasy novel. I'll look forward to continuing the series, but I don't really think it'll become a favorite. 

Wrong Place Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister
Source: Library | Format: Audiobook
Thoughts: This was a fun little thriller that plays with time. I can't say it'll become a favorite, but worth a quick read. 

Riot Rules (Crooked Sinners #2) by Callie Hart
Source: Library | Format: Audiobook
Thoughts: I finally got around to reading this sequel (I think it's a standalone, but connected) and thought it was pretty fun as well. These are great for when I just need something to occupy my mind for a while. 



DNF/To-Be-Finished:
The Darkness Before Them by Matthew Ward
Source: Publisher | Format: Paperback
I definitely plan to come back and finish this sometime. It was one of those where I picked it up and started reading it and then realized that it seemed good, but wasn't something I was currently in the mood for. Hopefully I'll get to it soon!



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2 comments:

  1. AngelaDecember 2, 2023 at 10:44 AM

    I'm glad this was a great month for you, and that the living situation has been resolved! I can't imagine how stressful that would be.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Tammy SparksDecember 4, 2023 at 7:49 PM

    Wow, you read a lot! I'm glad you're happy about your decision not to move. We moved a year ago and both of us are having second thoughts about it. Or maybe we need more time to adjust...

    ReplyDelete

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