Let’s dig into some reviews for the books I read in November, shall we? Favorite book this month was Wanderlove, while my least favorite was probably Almost Perfect.

85. Almost Perfect by Susan Mallery (2 stars)

I just didn’t enjoy this book at all. The story premise felt a bit weak and I couldn’t relate to the main character (I found her very whiny). The story involves a woman who comes back to her hometown after being away for many years. She has to come face-to-face with her past, which involves letting an old high school flame know he is a father. This is such an overused plotline in romance novels and I am really over it. It’s just not okay! I found little to like about the main character because of this. I was left wanting more.

86. Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller (4 stars)

This was a really, really good read. The writing is a bit simplistic, but I don’t mean that in a bad way. Donald Miller writes directly from the heart, he doesn’t need big, eloquent paragraphs or pretty phrases. It’s just the bare bones. He’s vulnerable and honest and I felt such a kindred spirit in him. I felt like I understood God just a little bit better after reading this book. It’s just a really great read about Christianity and spirituality and the struggles we face. It’s a book for anyone, really.

I wish I had bought this book for Kindle because I spent a lot of time transcribing quotes to my iPhone’s Notes app. This one was my favorite: “I will love God because he first loved me. I will obey God because I love God. But if I cannot accept God’s love, I cannot love Him in return, and I cannot obey Him. Self-discipline will never make us feel righteous or clean; accepting God’s love will. The ability to accept God’s unconditional grace and ferocious love is the fuel we need to obey Him in return.” (pg 86)

87. Baby-Sitters on Board! by Ann M. Martin (4 stars)

If I were to rate this as an adult, I would probably give it a generous two stars. But it’s not written for adults, it’s written for kids. I think I was in third or fourth grade the first time I read this book, actually! So, on an elementary-grade reading level, it’s a solid four stars. It’s very outdated and some of the things that happened made me itchy (like 13-year-old Claudia roaming alone in the Bahamas…) and quite frankly, it bored me a little because there were so many different plots happening at once and I didn’t find myself fully invested in any of them. But it was still fun to read and experience.

88. Wanderlove by Kirsten Hubbard (5 stars)

I am quickly becoming a believer in the YA genre. At least in the YA romance genre. This was a really well-written novel that included a lot of depth and character development. All of the characters were just very real, with honest emotions and feelings and problems and triumphs. I loved them all, but I loved the main character, Bria, the most. It’s a bit of a travel adventure story, of Bria trying to get over a breakup and do something completely out of the realm of the ordinary. There isn’t anything I can say that I didn’t love about this novel! It’s more than just a cute romance, it’s also a story about self-discovery and getting out of your own way to do things that scare you.

89. Someone’s Baby by Dani Sinclair (4 stars)

I read this in the space of 24 hours – an actually well-written Harlequin romance novel! Imagine that! The premise was a bit far-fetched, but the story still gripped me from beginning to end. I felt so invested in the characters and their love story.

90. Lucia, Lucia by Adriana Trigiani (3 stars)

I have such a writer-crush on Adriana Trigiani and the way she writes. She has a true talent, and she draws you into her world. This book was set in 1950s New York and it was the perfect setting. I loved Lucia because she was brash and brave and easily likable. She made some stupid decisions, fell for the wrong boy, but throughout it all, she was discovering herself and just exactly what she wanted from her life. It was an easy book to set down, though, and it never fully grabbed my attention like I wanted it to. I think that’s just me personally because it’s not a bad book by any means. I think most people would enjoy it because the writing is phenomenal and the characters are wonderfully written.

91. Single: The Art of Being Satisfied, Fulfilled, and Independent by Judy Ford (2 stars)

I was really hoping I would get more out of this book, but it just didn’t do it for me. I don’t think I was the target demographic, it seemed to be more suited towards older previously married women. I bought the book on Kindle and it was almost $9 so I forced myself to read the entire thing, though I’m sure I would have abandoned it if I had gotten it from the library. There were some interesting tidbits that made me think and I do love the message that singleness is not a condition to be cured. There were a few quotes that really spoke to me:

“Wasting energy wishing for something you don’t have while ignoring all that you do is a vicious mental trap.” (pg. 67)

“It’s a leap of faith to face the full reality of our single situation and being able to take it all in. We leap like that when we live with the precariousness of being single, the heartache, the uncertainty, and the loneliness, and we take the leap from doubting that love is coming to trusting with all our heart and soul that is is. Doubting that love is coming makes us uneasy and nervous. Knowing that love is coming fills us with joy.” (pg. 187)

“A wonderful life doesn’t hinge on whether or not you have a mate; it depends on your attitude toward what’s possible.” (pg. 195)

92. Undeniably Yours by Shannon Stacy (3 stars)

This was a pretty cute contemporary romance, about a one-night stand that ends in pregnancy. It had the perfect amount of humor, seriousness, and that hint of ridiculity that happens in romance novels. My only problem was that the main character, Beth, got on my nerves with her incessant need to keep Kevin, her baby’s father, at arm’s length, even though he hasn’t done anything to show he’s nothing but all in with her. I feel like I didn’t understand why Beth was the way she was… perhaps a stronger back story was needed. Still, a wonderful light read and I’ll probably check out the other books in the series.

93. These Girls by Sarah Pekkanen (4.5 stars)

Sarah Pekkanen found herself a new fan with this novel! I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The writing was fantastic, the characters had depth and believability, and I could barely put this book down for anything. It followed the stories of three girls: Cate, Renee, and Abby, roommates who live in New York and are all going through something different and life-changing. Abby’s story really gripped me the most, though I know it might turn some people away. I just felt like it was very honest and raw. The ending felt a bit rushed, and I wouldn’t have minded another 50 or so pages to dig deeper into it, but all in all, a great read!

94. The Edge of Never by J.A. Redmerski (3 stars)

This was the December pick for my book club and I think I gave it a very generous rating. One of the main problems I had with this novel was the fact that it needed a few more rounds of edits. There were so many grammatical errors that it took my focus away from the story. While I enjoyed the story for the most part, it got a little raunchy and the author threw in this weird climax that didn’t make much sense when coupled with the rest of the story. There was very little foreshadowing leading up to it, so it felt like writing whiplash. All that said, I did find myself invested in the characters and hoping they would find a happy ending somehow.

Books read in November: 10
Books read in 2013: 94

Have you recently found a new author whose writing you love? Please share! I’m always looking for new authors to check out.

78. Force of Nature by Suzanne Brockmann (5 stars)

Every time I finish a Suzanne Brockmann novel, I experience a severe book hangover. I don’t want to read another book. I don’t care about other books. I just want to dive back into the world she created for me, again and again and again. This novel is one of my favorites from hers and if I could give it more than 5 stars, I would. This one is where Jules & Robin finally get their happy ending, though it’s fraught with a lot of issues. This book has drama, mystery, intrigue, humor, love, intensity, violence, and, as always, a happy ending. I love Brockmann’s books because her voice is so distinct and unique. Each character she creates seems completely real and alive and whole. She doesn’t follow the typical conventions of writing and it always feels more natural that way. This is the way characters talk and think and feel and do. It’s not stilted or cheesy or awkward. It’s honest and authentic. Another fabulous read from her. I never get tired of her books.

79. Cowboy Comes Back by Jeannie Watts (2 stars)

A very cheesy romance novel and I felt so apathetic about this novel that I actually hoped the characters wouldn’t get together at the end. The writing was fine, but I didn’t believe in the characters or them falling in love. I always have low expectations for my Harlequin romance novels, but this one just really fell flat.

80. The Bungalow by Sarah Jio (2 stars)

Oy. This review is not going to be pretty. I have really enjoyed the two novels I’ve read from Jio, but this one was a disappointment. I spent most of the book knowing the two characters weren’t going to get their happy ending (it’s quite apparent from the book synopsis), so I felt myself trying to not get attached to either character. I didn’t want to fall in love with them, or their story, because it was going to come to an end. And this isn’t the place where I say I did fall in love with them regardless, because I didn’t. I found the story a bit contrived, the characters a bit stilted, and the whole plot just ended up making me angry. All in all, not one of her better books.

81. The Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay (5 stars)

This was the October pick for book club, due to a recommendation of one of our members. I had heard great things about the book and was really happy that I “had” to read it! In this novel, something terrible has happened to the main character (Nastya) but we, as the readers, don’t know what it is. But it has crushed her, broken her, and now she doesn’t talk. At all. She has moved in with her older sister and starts attending a new school. It’s here she meets Josh, who ends up being her savior, her rock, and the first person she deigns to speak to in over a year. Throughout the story, bits and pieces of what happened to Nastya are revealed, and as they are revealed, you see Nastya slowly start to repair herself. It’s part-mystery, part-love story, part-coming of age.

The writing is incredible, as is the character development. And the ending is just perfect. It’s not neat or tidy, but you can tell Nastya is going to be okay. A phenomenal read and one I highly recommend!

82. A Year of Biblical Womanhood by Rachel Held Evans (3 stars)

This book follows Rachel Held Evans for a year, as she attempts to live out biblical womanhood as literally as possible. I have had this book as “to be read” for a long time and finally had the chance to read it this month. I was intrigued by the concept and was interested in someone such as Evans – more liberal than most! – taking this on. I felt she would give a more honest take than someone who may be more conservative. There is a lot of criticism surrounding the book and I don’t think all of it is unfair or wrong, some people do make very valid arguments. But I’m not going to delve into those, as they get a little too deep into Christian theology for my tastes.

For me, this book was pretty good. It was engaging and Evans writes in a way that makes it easy to follow along. I even laughed out loud a few times – something that I rarely do! I do wish there was more practical application and more depth to the writing. I felt as if the author just stayed above the surface the whole time, without really digging into her emotions and her feelings. I also think I was at a disadvantage reading this, as a single girl, than as someone who is married because there was a lot I couldn’t relate to. All in all, though, an intriguing read on the role of womanhood throughout the Bible, and what it means to be a Christian woman today.

83. All Through the Night: A Troubleshooter Christmas by Suzanne Brockmann (5 stars)

Oh, look. Another Suzanne Brockmann novel and another five stars. My reviews are getting boring because how many different ways can I talk about how much I love this series? Because I love it so, so much. This book was a bit different, more of a love story and less of a thriller. (The thriller parts felt a bit weak, to be honest. But I’m not holding it against her, because I still loved this book so much.) It was the story of Robin and Jules, their wedding, and everyone getting together to celebrate them. One of my favorites in the series!

84. Certain Girls by Jennifer Weiner (2 stars)

This book was a waste of my time. I’m sorry to be so harsh but it’s just true. It is the sequel to Good in Bed, a book I reviewed over two years ago, and I held off on reading this book because I had heard it wasn’t good. But I was stubborn and still decided to read it. Bad decision. The plot was slow, the characters unlikeable, and a horrible ending that was unnecessary and made me visibly angry. I really can’t say much about it, because I don’t want to give away things that happen, but I really would not waste your time on this novel. This is not one of Weiner’s better books.

Books read in October: 7
Books read in 2013: 84

I had a very low reading month in September. Well, low for me. I read just five books, but mainly because I wasted time reading books I eventually abandoned. Oh, well. After the crazy reading spree I have been on for the past few months, I’m still ahead of my goal of reading 100 books this year. But the books I did read were (mostly) great and fantastic and made me supremely happy to be a bookworm.

73. Sloppy Firsts by Megan McCafferty (2 stars)

I was really excited to read this book because it’s been recommended to me by a few friends. And I always hate when I don’t love books I’ve been recommended. This one, though, was really just okay. It wasn’t bad, exactly, but it also didn’t engage me. I know Jessica Darling is a beloved literary character but she fell a bit flat for me. All the characters did, really. There didn’t seem to be much movement with the plot and it all seemed a bit contrived. Also, I think there was a distinct lack of continuity in the voice between Jessica’s journaling and her letters to Hope. (And Jessica was so whiny in those letters.) I found myself skimming it toward the end and I really just did not like the ending. At all. It felt very forced.

All in all, not a novel I enjoyed. And I don’t like that I didn’t like it because so many people loved it, but these are my feelings. I might pick up the second novel, but I’m not jumping up and down to read it.

74. Painted Hands by Jennifer Zobair (5 stars)

I just absolutely, positively, 100% loved this book. It captivated me from beginning to end. It was a book that met all my criteria for a perfect novel: great writing, characters to root for, conflict that made me keep turning the page, and an ending that made my heart happy. My full review of this wonderful novel is here. And now just go get this book!

75. The Wednesday Sisters by Meg Waite Clayton (4.5 stars)

This was our book club pick for September and I was excited about it! I’ve had this bookmarked as to-read for forever on Goodreads and I’m not sure I would have gotten around to it if not for my book club. I just thoroughly, thoroughly enjoyed this novel. It wasn’t a page-turner, nor a quick read, but there was just something so wonderful about this novel. Maybe it was the time period, maybe it was the characters, maybe it was the writing. Maybe it was all of that. I was just swept into this world and into the lives of these women. It was heart-breaking and heart-warming, sad and cheerful. It was a book that reminded me why I love reading so darn much.

76. My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick (5 stars)

This is easily my new favorite YA romance novel. I love love stories. I love them. I love the hopeful ones. I love the ones with complex characters who are screwed up but also so lovable. I love the ones with a male character that makes you swoon and a female character that you could see yourself befriending.

This book followed the story of 17-year-olds Jase and Samantha, who have grown up next door to each other but know very little about one another, as they have gone to different schools. Jase’s family is big and loud, while Samantha’s is small and quiet. And almost every day, Samantha climbs up to her rooftop and sits and looks out at this big and loud family. And one day, out of the blue, there is Jase. Climbing up next to her, talking to her as if they’re friends. And so begins their love story. It was beautiful and sweet and so special. This is the kind of love I want.

It’s not a predictable romance story, at least not in my opinion. It’s filled with twists and turns I wasn’t expecting, an ending that is not neatly wrapped up, and some loose ends are left for you to figure out. But I loved that. Because life is just messy and sometimes loose ends get wrapped up and sometimes they don’t and that is okay.

I am so excited about this author. She completely stole my heart.

77. Brava Valentine by Adriana Trigiani (4 stars)

This is the second book in a trilogy by Adriana Trigiani, following the world of Valentine Roncalli as she watches her grandma get married in Italy and then has to go back to New York and learn to manage her family’s shoe business by herself. Throw in some crazy family dramatics and a sexy love interest who writes her love letters and you have all the markings for a fantastic read. I truly enjoyed this novel. I love the way Trigiani writes. It feels as if I am right there in the book. She places me right next to Valentine as this poor girl tries to figure out who she is and what she wants and why she’s so scared of happiness. Valentine is a character that I loved but also wanted to shake at times because she made some really poor decisions. It was definitely a book I had a hard time putting down.

I can’t wait to read the final book in this series – which I’ll actually be reviewing for TLC Book Tours in January. Yay!

Have you ever disliked a book that came highly recommended?

So, between July and August, I read 22 books. That’s really insane. I mean, some people have a goal of reading that many books in a YEAR. There are many factors at play: it’s a free activity (and as I am trying to save money/pay off debts/generally be a better money manager, this is key), it’s my number one hobby and a lifelong passion, and I’m just a really fast reader. Plus, I tend to read very light and easy books that I can finish within a day or two. Let’s dive into these reviews, shall we? I tried to keep them relatively short since there are a bunch.

July Reads: 9

51. Adulting by Kelly Williams Brown (5 stars)

I’ve never read the Adulting blog (though it’s now in my feed!) but I know of its popularity so when I saw the blogger had a book out, I decided to see what it was all about. I devoured this book. It’s nonfiction and I generally never, ever devour nonfiction but I basically spent a Saturday sprawled on the couch reading this book. While there was some advice I skimmed (and some of it got wayyy too involved), the majority of the book is full of so much great information on “how to be an adult.” Highly recommend!

52. Unwrapping Mr. Wright by Michele Dunaway (3.5 stars)

There was something really sweet and innocent about this book. It was well-written and not too cheesy, aside from the end. But I guess the endings of most romance novels are pretty cheesy. There wasn’t much plot, other than the two characters falling in love so it felt a bit mundane at times but was still a very light, very easy read.

53. Paper Towns by John Green (3 stars)

This book was just okay for me. I was really excited to read another John Green book, after reading The Fault In Our Stars and completely falling in love with the characters and the writing. I liked all the characters but Margo in this book and some of the language and things that happened seemed a little too far-fetched for me, especially considering these kids were still in high school. A good read, but I wish there had been more to the story than Q trying to find Margo.

54. Big Girl Panties by Stephanie Evanovich (5 stars)

Loved this novel so much. It was one of those books where I finished it and just wanted to immediately reread it to bring the characters back into my life. My full review is here.

55. The Paris Wife by Paula McClain (3 stars)

I listened to this book via audiobook and I think I may have preferred to read it myself because I missed out on the language and writing (plus the reader was distracting). I really did not like either Hadley or Ernest. Hadley was whiny and Ernest was such a jerk. They made the book hard to get through because there really wasn’t anyone to root for! It was a good read, just not my favorite.

56. Bird By Bird by Anne Lamott (4 stars)

I loved this book. I love Anne Lamott. I will admit I am not that familiar with her work, but I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. It’s all about setting up a writing life, about her writing journey, and just filled to the brim with advice on writing. It’s humorous and you really get a sense of her personality throughout the book. And it really, really made me feel less alone as a writer.

57. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee (5 stars)

This was my in-person book club pick for the month of July and I was excited to reread this novel! I read it in 9th grade as required reading and all I really remembered from the book was the trial. I thoroughly, thoroughly enjoyed this novel and rereading it simply as a reader, not academically. It was a fast read and I just fell in love with Atticus, Boo, and Jem all over again. They are such lovable characters.

58. Very Valentine by Adriana Trigiani (4.5 stars)

This book was so good. So good. The imagery, the character development, the writing… I felt like I knew this family and I was inside of Valentine Roncalli’s world. It’s one of those books that completely wraps you up into a new world. It made me happy, made me sad, made me angry. It was a book that just made me feel really good when I finished it. Highly recommend!

59. Chasing Perfect by Susan Mallery (4 stars)

A really cute contemporary romance novel by one of my favorite authors. The story was predictable, slightly cheesy, but still a really solid story. I enjoyed the two main characters a lot and loved seeing their romance blossom. This is the first story in a many-book series by this author, so I can’t wait to read more!

August Reads: 13
(yep.)

60. The Moon and More by Sarah Dessen (4 stars)

This was such a fun summer beach read! I thought Emaline was a really well-written character and she was much more enjoyable to read about than most of Dessen’s characters (less angsty!). It was a quick read and I loved the storyline of her two fathers: her biological father and her adoptive father, as well as her growing relationship with her ten-year-old half-brother. The romance in it fell a little short for me (I really didn’t like Theo!), but I really loved how it all wrapped up.

61. Where’d You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple (4 stars)

I am so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so glad I finally read this book. It was such a fun book! So quirky. So lovable. So funny. I actually laughed out loud at some parts, which I rarely do. Using emails and letters and official documents, Bee pieces together what happened in the weeks leading up to her mother’s disappearance. I went back and forth between loving Bernadette and her annoying me, and the same with Bee’s father. Bee, I just loved to bits and pieces. She was an amazing character. I just loved this book.

62. 7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess by Jen Hatmaker (4 stars)

This book was the first pick for my Virtual Bible Study with a bunch of blog girlfriends. I really, really enjoyed this book. It is convicting, powerful, funny, and poignant. It made me laugh and made me cry. It made me realize there are bigger problems and bigger issues and bigger sadness in the world today, and I want my heart to break for this. I want to feel more for people.

63. The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith (5 stars)

I read this book in under a day – a day where I spent 9 hours at work. It was one of those really adorable, fun, quick reads where I sat down to read a chapter or two and wound up still reading an hour later. It’s YA lit and it’s about a girl who is flying to London to be a bridesmaid in her dad’s wedding – to a woman who basically broke up her parents’ marriage. She’s not happy about it, misses her flight by four minutes, and winds up sitting next to Oliver, an impossibly charming and handsome Brit on his way home for a funeral. Their love story is sweet and I couldn’t help rooting for them to make it somehow. It made my insides feel all gooey at the end – a sign of a great love story.

64. Texas Hero by Merline Lovelace (2 stars)

Harlequin romance that was far too heavy on the history than on the romance. I felt like the romance was an afterthought, and with the author focusing more on the historical aspect of the novel, it all felt very confusing to me. I’m not sure I even understood the point of this novel.

65. Moloka’i by Alan Brennart (4 stars)

This was a “settle in” book, if I can steal my new favorite phrase from Jessica. It’s not a quick read. It’s not an easy read. But it’s a book that sucks you in nonetheless. It’s a book you know you’re going to have to settle down into and really feel the characters and what they are going through. It’s historical fiction, taking place in Hawaii from the late 1800s to the mid-1900s. It follows the story of Rachel, a girl who was taken from her home at the age of seven because she has leprosy. From there, you are taken through a journey of her life. It’s sad and happy and heartbreaking and uplifting. While it was a hard read at times, I’m so glad I read this book. It’s a must-read, in my opinion.

66. Land of My Heart by Tracie Peterson (2.5 stars)

I really wasn’t a fan of this novel. I bought it months ago because it was free for Kindle and I usually like Tracie Peterson’s fiction, but I felt like this book was lacking a lot. The characters felt underdeveloped, the plot was boring, and it was about 100 pages too long. This is the first in a trilogy, but I can’t see myself picking up any other books.

67. Carry On, Warrior: Thoughts On Life Unarmed by Glennon Melton (4 stars)

I enjoyed this book. It wasn’t life-changing and I didn’t particularly enjoy the format (like multiple exclamation points, bolded and italicized text, etc.) but those are just personal quirks. I think Glennon has such an interesting story and she’s been through so much and she’s really such an inspiration. I’ve never read her blog, so I went into this with very little background on the author. I love the way she wrote, though. I feel like I would like her to give me pep talks from time to time, when I’m feeling low. She just makes you feel good.

My favorite quote from the book, which is an excerpt from a letter she wrote to her oldest child, Chase: “Baby, if you see a child being left out, or hurt, or teased, part of your heart will hurt a little. Your daddy and I want you to trust that heartache. Your whole life, we want you to notice and trust your heartache. The heartache is called compassion, and it is God’s signal to you to do something. It is God saying, “Chase! Wake up! One of my babies is hurting! Do something to help!” Whenever you feel compassion, be thrilled! It means God is speaking to you, and that is magic. It means he trusts you and needs you.” – pg 122

Chills, every time I read this, chills.

68. Crazy For Love by Victoria Dahl (3 stars)

This was an alright novel. There wasn’t anything spectacular about it and I’m not sure I totally believed in the romance. The dialogue felt a bit stilted, and I felt like the ending sort of dragged out. All in all, an okay read but I’ve heard her other novels are much better.

69. Violets of March by Sarah Jio (4 stars)

I read this book in less than 24 hours and it was just a story I totally fell into without any nudging. I can feel a sort of recipe to Sarah Jio’s books, now that I’ve read two of her novels, but I really love the mystery and intrigue and it keeps me turning the pages to find out what happens next. I will say that I totally did not believe the romance and I felt like the story would have been okay without it. I felt that some of the characters were underdeveloped and I wanted more from them. I do love the language Jio writes with. There’s a fluidity to her words and it just makes you feel completely, 100% in the book.

70. Good Girls Do by Victoria Dahl (4 stars)