November Reading Report
a little bit of everything
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This month’s reading report is a bit sparser than usual because I’ve been reading heaps of 2024 romance novels and keeping the titles under wraps for a special project. I’ve also been reading through a mountain of library books as Theo continues his journey as a little reader. I’ll share two of the books he’s requested many, many, many times over the last few days. Let’s get into it!
Theo’s Favorite Picture Books
Crane Jane by Andrea Zimmerman. We’ve checked out several construction truck books from the library, but Theo doesn’t really like them—except for Crane Jane, which I read three times in a row this morning. It’s a fabulous book with lots of repetition, onomatopoeia, and colorful illustrations. We also adore Firefighter Flo, the first release in the Big Jobs, Bold Women series. Either book would make a great holiday gift for little ones, ages one to five!
Bear is a Bear by Jonathan Stuzman. Cue the waterworks. This sweet story follows the relationship between a little girl and her stuffed bear as she comes of age. Eventually, she becomes a mom and resurrects Bear from her old toy chest to pass on to her daughter. Given Theo’s adorable relationship with his own stuffed bear, I tend to get verklempt when we read this sentimental book.
November Reads
Rouge by Mona Awad. This one is WEIRD, even weirder than Awad’s previous novels, if you can believe it. Belle is obsessed with her skincare routine, escaping into Youtube beauty videos for comfort and security. When her estranged mother dies, Belle travels to California to sell her mother’s home. One night, Belle slips on her mother’s red high heeled shoes and embarks on a journey to a secluded spa in the rocky cliffs. In mysterious fever-dream sequences, we learn about Belle and her mother’s relationship, Belle’s past traumas, and what is really going on at the cult-like spa La Maison de Méduse. A scathing critique of the beauty industry, a creepy fairytale, and a darkly humorous horror story, Awad’s latest novel gets repetitive at times, but I found that listening via audio helped me push through those moments and appreciate what Awad intended to do.
The Art of Scandal by Regina Black. What a strong romance debut! I read this political romance for a local book club, but I didn’t get to attend the discussion because of illness. I’m still mad I didn’t get to talk about it because the main male character bugged me, but I could not put the book down—and that’s a recipe for a great book club read. It would also make an excellent Netflix series, and I’m even more excited to read the sequel Black hinted at (second chance romance, yes please).
Love Lettering by Kate Claybourn. I cannot believe it took me so long to read this sweet-but-not-syrupy love story about a stationery/planner designer and a Wall Street analyst, set in NYC. Claybourn is an amazing writer, and I’m eager to witness the reception for her next book because I think it will really put her on the map. In the meantime, pick up Love Lettering if you enjoy books by Emily Henry and Abby Jimenez—or if you want to read a Nora Ephron-like romance novel set in the big apple.
The Golden Spoon by Jessa Maxwell. I read very few mysteries this year, but this baking show whodunnit was a favorite. Set in the Vermont countryside, the story follows the hosts and bakers in a cozy British Bake Off style show. One of the main reasons this mystery worked so well for me is that it operated on three layers. At the start of the novel, we get a flash forward, so we know someone will die but not who. So we’re working to solve the mystery of the killer and victim as we read—then another layer is added, which kept me even more hooked. Add this to your list of giftable books this season, for both bakers and mystery readers.
To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf. It felt good to dig into a challenging classic—challenging in the sense that it required my full focus, my annotations, and my English degree training to stay in the story—not challenging as in impossible or inaccessible to read. I hope our Novel Pairings episode on Woolf’s novel illuminates the work or inspires readers to pick it up.
ICYMI: November Substack Review
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You had me at Nora Ephron 😊
Thanks for the wonderful recommendations!
I loved Love Lettering and was glad to see she has a new book coming out. To the Lighthouse was a reading highlight for me in November and our discussion added even more to it. *happy sigh*