I had a solid reading month in November. I read six books and enjoyed most of them (one will easily be my favorite book I’ve read this year, and possibly of all time). I’m actually surprised I found time to read so much since I was also trying to complete NaNoWriMo and post regularly on the blog. As I always say, you make time for the things you love. I can always make time for reading, no matter how busy my schedule is.

I also managed to knock off three categories for the Book Riot Read Harder Challenge, so I may end up completing this challenge after all. I only need to complete two more categories.

This month, my favorite book was The Martian and my least favorite book was Bright Side.

Book club read: Bright Side by Kim Holden (3 stars)
I wasn’t a fan of this book, but I was in the minority in my opinions, as everyone else in my book club loved it. I just had many, many issues with the novel. I thought it wasn’t particularly well-written and could have used a good editor (an issue I often run into with self-published titles, as this one was). I thought the characters were completely stereotypical and the main character was so damn perfect that she wasn’t believable. And I thought the twist a little more than halfway into the novel was ridiculous and I didn’t understand the point of it. I guess if you’re a John Green fan (I’m not), you’ll probably like this novel, but the cheesiness of it was too much for me.

Book Riot Read Harder Challenge (a sci-fi novel): The Martian by Andy Weir (5 stars)
If I could give a book more than 5 stars, I would. I loved this novel. I couldn’t stop thinking about this novel for weeks after I finished it. (I still have residual book hangover moments, even now.) I’m not even sure why I loved it so much – was it the character of Mark Watney, who was incredibly funny and impossibly charming? Was it the fact that it took place in space and I am constantly fascinated by space and astronauts and NASA? Was it the way this story moved at a slow and steady pace, allowing you to truly sink into this crazy world, a world where a man is living on Mars? I’m not sure, but this might be one of the best books I’ve ever read. GO READ IT. And then lie to me if you didn’t love it because this is one of those books where I’m giving serious side-eye to people who don’t love it.

Book Riot Read Harder Challenge (a book that is a retelling of a classic story): A Kiss at Midnight by Eloisa James (3 stars)
This was a fun and easy story to read. It was framed as a retelling of Cinderella, though it didn’t resemble that story very much. I also found some of the dialogue to be inauthentic as to how people talked during the time period, so the novel didn’t always feel believable. I still enjoyed it, though, and I might even pick up some of James’ other fairytale retellings in the future when I need something light to read.

Book Riot Read Harder Challenge (a book that is by or about someone from an indigenous culture): The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie (4 stars)
I loved this novel! It was fascinating to read more about the Native American culture since my knowledge of this culture has been tainted by media portrayals. Some of this book was very heavy and sad, but it was written from a teenage boy’s perspective, which made it seem a little more light-hearted than you’d expect. One of my favorite quotes from the novel was this: “When anybody, no matter how old they are, loses a parent, I think it hurts the same as if you were only five years old, you know? I think all of us are always five years old in the presence and absence of our parents.” I had to stop and soak that in, tearing up as I read it, because how true is it? Oh, so true. So much wisdom and heartache in the book. I completely recommend it.

Others (read for fun!)

Savor by Monica Murphy (2 stars)
Meh… I got this book for free a long time ago, and it’s just been sitting on my Kindle. I read it during bouts on the treadmill/elliptical at the gym. Fairly mindless, but not particularly well-written.

Magic Hour by Kristin Hannah (5 stars)
Kristin Hannah is easily one of my favorite authors and no, I haven’t read her most recent novels. I’m slowly working my way through her book list and am thoroughly enjoying myself. I didn’t know what to expect from this novel – some of her books are fantastic while others fall short – but this was the former. This book is about family and setbacks and learning from your mistakes. It’s about trust and finding hope and faith in people. It’s a novel that will inspire you and leave you totally and completely satisfied. One of my favorites from Hannah.

BOOK STATS // NOVEMBER

# of books read: 6
# of pages read: 1,926
quickest read: The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian (3 days)
longest read: The Martian (8 days)
diverse: 1
formats: ebooks (4), physical books (2)

What was the best book you read in November?

October felt like an incredibly slow reading month, but I ended up finishing 5 books. For me, that’s a low month of reading, but all things considered, it was a pretty solid reading month. It’s been hard lately to focus on books so I’ve opted for a lot of easy romances, which don’t require much brainpower and I’m always rewarded with a happy ending.

So, let’s jump into my reviews!

Book Riot Read Harder Challenge (a book published by an author from Africa): Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (4 stars)
I’m so glad I finally read this book, and it’s all thanks to the Book Riot reading challenge. I hadn’t even heard of this novel before I started listening to the Book Riot podcast, but they raved about her writing and this book especially. So I went in with high expectations and I’m happy that all of my expectations were completely met. My only complaint, if I had to give one, was the length of the novel as it’s almost 500 pages long. It took me two weeks to finish, and I read pretty fast, so just be warned that this is a novel you are going to have to devote some time to. But I loved the characters and the plot, and it was such an interesting look into race and culture. This novel had an impact on me and I feel changed after reading it.

TLC Book Tours Read: Pretty Girls by Karin Slaughter (2 stars)
I reviewed this on my blog earlier this month and you can read my review here.

Others (read for fun!)

The Secret King by C.J. Miller (4 stars)
A fun Harlequin romance! This involved royalty, made-up countries, arranged marriages, a murder plot, and a sweet romance. I loved every cheesy minute I had with this novel.

To the Brink by Cindy Gerard (4 stars)
I’m rereading The Bodyguards series by Cindy Gerard because I love it so much. This story is one of my favorites. It’s a fast-paced romantic thriller that involves a kickass heroine who made me smile the whole way through this book. The characters are vulnerable and heartbreaking, and the plot keeps you on your toes from beginning to end. Love this author!

My One and Only by Kristan Higgins (3 stars)
This was probably not my favorite novel from Higgins, but it was sweet and lighthearted and romantic. I wasn’t a huge fan of the love story in this book, and the fact that their issues were never fully resolved bugs me. (I hate the “love conquers all!” concept because it’s so unrealistic.) But hey, I don’t read romance novels for realism – I read them for the escape they provide. And escape is exactly what this novel gave me.

BOOK STATS // OCTOBER

# of books read: 5
# of pages read: 1,903
quickest read: The Secret King (3 days)
longest read: Americanah (14 days)
diverse: 1
formats: ebooks (3), physical books (2)

What was the best book you read in October?

I read 6 books in September, which is a pretty low month of reading for me. But it was a busy month and reading fell by the wayside for a bit. This month, the best book I read was Accidents of Marriage, and my least favorite read was Brown Girl Dreaming. Here are my thoughts on what I read:

Book Riot Read Harder Challenge (a collection of poetry): Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson (3 stars)
I was meh on this book. I thought the writing was beautiful, but I wasn’t too keen on the poetry style (as in, the way she wrote her poems, not the poetry itself). It took me a while to finish and I was just very glad to move on to other books when I finally finished it. That said, I loved the message behind this book. It follows Woodson’s childhood as an African-American growing up in the sixties and seventies. She talks about some important issues, and it was interesting to hear her perspective.

TLC Book Tours Read: Accidents of Marriage by Randy Susan Meyers (5 stars)
I reviewed this on my blog earlier this month and you can read my review here.

Others (read for fun!)

The Royal We by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan (4.5 stars)
The first time I heard of this novel was when Jess Lively interviewed the authors on her podcast a couple of months ago. It sounded like a book that was right up my alley! Essentially, it is fan fiction about Prince William and Kate Middleton’s romance. I wasn’t someone who has followed the Royal Family too closely, but I do have mad love for Kate herself. I thought this book was impossibly cute and incredibly fun to read. I think it was a little long (464 pages!), but I didn’t mind the length too much. Definitely a wonderful book to read if you’re looking for something light and fun (and don’t mind investing some time in the novel!)

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart (3.5 stars)
This book has been getting a ton of buzz this year, and I’ve been on the waiting list on Overdrive for months and months and months. And finally! It came available! I was really excited to sink into this novel and read something gripping and engaging. Perhaps it was due to the fact that I read this book in the middle of my move, but I found it not to be as gripping as I would have liked and easy to set down. That said, I thought the writing was beautiful and the novel almost read like poetry in certain instances. I loved the mystery element and it added so much life to the story. All in all, it’s a book I might not have given a fantastic rating to, but I’d still recommend it, especially if you’re looking for a book to break you out of a reading slump or that is completely different than the books out there nowadays.

Seduce Me at Sunrise by Lisa Kleypas (4 stars)
I downloaded this book because I needed to read something light, fun, and romantic. And this is exactly what Lisa Kleypas delivers, again and again. I don’t have much to say about this novel, other than it was just what I needed to read and I highly recommend her books to historical romance fans!

Flat-Out Celeste by Jessica Park (4 stars)
After Seduce Me at Sunrise, I wanted another fun and light book to read, so I downloaded this one and I am so happy I did! It is the follow-up story to Flat-Out Love (which I read earlier this year) and takes place a few years later. This time, though, the little sister of the first novel (Celeste) is the protagonist. And goodness, this book made me so happy. I love the way Jessica Park writes, especially the way she writes characters. It’s witty and romantic and heartfelt. I’m such a fan of this author.

BOOK STATS // SEPTEMBER

# of books read: 6
# of pages read: 2,070
quickest read(s): Accidents of Marriage and We Were Liars (4 days)
longest read: The Royal We (9 days)
diverse: 1
formats: ebooks (5), physical books (1)

What was the best book you read in September?

Happy Monday and happy Labor Day! It will definitely be a day of labor for me, as I will be spending the day packing! I can’t believe my move is just a few days away now. WHAT.

Anyway, today I wanted to recap the books I read in August! I had a great reading month with 9 books read and I loved just about everything I read. My favorite book this month is Pointe (seriously – everyone needs to read this book STAT!) and my least favorite book was Hyperbole and a Half.

Book Riot Read Harder Challenge (a YA novel): Pointe by Brandy Colbert (5 stars)
This book broke my heart. It angered me. It saddened me. The characters and their struggle stayed with me long after I finished the novel. It’s a story about Theo, who is 17 and a ballet dancer. But this is not a book about ballet. At the beginning of the novel, we learn that Theo’s best friend, Donovan, who has been missing for four years has been found. It’s hard to say much more than that without giving everything away, but trust me: this book is amazing. The writing is incredible and it was a book I just sunk into with my entire body. Highly, highly recommend this novel.

Book Riot Read Harder Challenge (a book published by an indie press): More Happy Than Not by Adam Silvera (4.5 stars)
So, a few weeks ago, Adam Silvera was a guest co-host on the Dear Book Nerd podcast and, as I’m wont to do, I immediately googled him to find out more about him. And I found out he recently published a book! And it was published by an indie press! And it was available at my library! Sold. I needed to read a book published by an indie press for this reading challenge, so I was excited to get my hands on this. And I really, really loved it. I’m impressed by this novel, as this is Silvera’s debut novel but it was so darn good. I loved the language because it was rough and gritty and authentic. I loved the vulnerability of the main character, the easy pace of the plot, the harshness of the realities the characters faced. There were parts that I thought could have been better fleshed out and I wasn’t thrilled with the ending, but it didn’t take away from the true power of this book. Definitely hope there is more to come from this author.

Book Riot Read Harder Challenge (a graphic novel or memoir): Hyperbole and a Half by Allie Brosh (3 stars)
I liked this book. I didn’t love it, nor did I find it laugh-out-loud funny. I’m not a huge fan of over-the-top humor books, and this one, at certain points, went a little over-the-top for my tastes. I enjoyed the more poignant chapters, like when she talked about her depression and her thoughts and feelings on reality. All in all, an okay read.

Postal book club read: Beauty and Sadness by Yasunari Kawabata (3 stars)
I ended up enjoying this novel much more than I imagined. I wasn’t looking forward to reading it, only because it seemed like it would be a depressing read and a slow read. And I am happy to report I was mistaken on both accounts! It wasn’t a lighthearted read. It was sad and some it of felt a little hopeless, but it was also a beautiful exploration of love and devotion and family. The writing was exquisite and brought me to this calming, peaceful place whenever I cracked open the book. This is definitely a book I would have never picked up on my own, so I’m so happy I got the opportunity to read it through Kathleen’s postal book club!

Others (read for fun!)

Comfort & Joy by Kristin Hannah (3 stars)
I read this book in 24 hours, which is something I can rarely do nowadays! It was under 230 pages, so it was a super fast read. I wouldn’t say it was one of Hannah’s best novels (it was cheesier than I’m used to from her), but it was enjoyable. It follows a woman whose entire world has been shattered by her recent divorce from her husband. It’s Christmastime but she doesn’t feel like celebrating so, instead, she spontaneously decides to board a plane to the Pacific Northwest without telling a single soul. There’s some magical realism that lent a bit of charm to the novel. I think this would be such a comforting novel to read in December, that time when life is crazy and you just want to read lighthearted books that don’t make you think too much. This is definitely one of those books.

Notes from a Blue Bike: The Art of Living Intentionally in a Chaotic World by Tsh Oxenreider (4 stars)
I don’t read Tsh’s blog, but I have been a faithful listener to her podcast for the past year. So, while I know a bit of her story, I went into this book with my eyes wide open. I loved Tsh’s voice and I was really drawn to her story from the beginning. Some parts of the book were less interesting to me, like the parenting chapters, but so much of it I could relate to. I’m interested in a slower pace of life, one in which I prioritize travel and saving money and investing in deep relationships. I was truly inspired by this book, and I highly recommend it.

Slammed by Colleen Hoover (5 stars)
This was another book I finished in 24 hours – hooray for lazy weekends! Friends had been imploring me to read this book for years, and it was just a book that had been sitting on my Kindle until I was ready to read it. The novel is about 18-year-old high school senior, Layken, who moves to Michigan with her younger brother and mom following the sudden death of her father. It’s during her first weekend there that she meets Will, her next-door neighbor, and he asks her out. They have a perfect first date, but the fairy tale soon comes to an end when a shocking revelation comes to light. I devoured this book and it reminded me just how amazing Colleen Hoover is at developing characters and setting scenes. She’s easily one of my favorite authors!

The Perfect Play by Jaci Burton (4 stars)
So, I guess this book could be low-grade erotica? I wasn’t expecting there to be so much sex and so many vivid descriptions. Oy vey. Even so, I still liked the book! I thought it was well-written and I absolutely loved the characters, though the female could grate on my nerves with the way she would constantly jump to the wrong conclusions time and time again.

His Forbidden Touch by Shelly Thacker (4 stars)
This was the first medieval romance novel I’ve ever read, and I loved it so, so much! It was such a wonderfully paced story and I believed in the love story so much that I couldn’t put the book down about halfway through. I loved that the main characters didn’t conform to stereotypes and that the strife felt real and honest. The ending was a bit cheesier than I was expecting (based on how the novel had been written leading up to it), but I still thoroughly enjoyed this novel and can’t wait to read more from this author!

BOOK STATS // AUGUST

# of books read: 9
# of pages read: 2,649
quickest read(s): Comfort & Joy and Slammed (less than 24 hours!)
longest read: His Forbidden Touch (10 days)
diverse: 3
formats: ebooks (3), physical books (6)