November Reading Thread 📚

[sju]

We’ll Prescribe You a Cat - DNF, cute first story but I lost interest.

The Love of My Afterlife - cute, easy read about love, found family, and living life to the fullest.

Now starting Just For the Summer by Abby Jimenez.

[eb777888]

Anybody have any cozy, holiday book recommendations? I need a break from Thrillers!

[tennisgal]

Finished All the Colors of the Dark. It was an Ok story but Felt like 600 pages was far too long. I kept losing track of all the girls names/stories
Currently about 1/4 of the the way through God of the Woods. Keeping my interest so far
ETA: I’ve got 5 on my holds list that I’m #5 or less in line so either I’m going to have to read fast or have to delay some holds

[luckystar2]

Nov 16, 2024 18:09:16 GMT -5 eb777888 said:

Anybody have any cozy, holiday book recommendations? I need a break from Thrillers!

My favorites are The Christmas Wish and Faking Under the Mistletoe

I also like - In a Holidaze, The Christmas Orphans Club, bright lights big Christmas, This time next year (new years rather than Christmas)

[skidunks]

I just started “Pack Up the Moon” the other day and omg it’s so good and so sad. I tried to look back and see if someone here recommended it but could find anyone. I can’t put it down, DH and DS2 went shopping for ski gear last evening and we were going to go to dinner afterwards and rather than go in a shop with them I sat in my car and read lol.

[7costanza]

I just finished Worst Case Scenario and I Think We’ve Been Here Before. Both about humanity ending events so not really nice light reading after last week but I ended up loving both.

[Jalapeñomel]

I started Mad Honey. It’s been a long time since I’ve read any Picoult.

[estrellita]

The last few books I read:

Margo's Got Money Troubles ***

It was ok. I kept hearing great things but I was a little disappointed. It's about a college student that ends up starting an Only Fans to make money to care for her baby. And her former wrestler dad comes to live with her. It was a little weird lol.

Hooked ****

I was interested in the premise of the book with the villain "getting the girl". I liked it, though there were some plot points I thought were unnecessary.

The River We Remember ****

I like William Kent Krueger's books in general. It's a murder mystery and was pretty good.

The Road of Bones *****

I have a major book hangover from this one, I loved it! It's about a woman on the run, and she ends up traveling with a warrior group along the dangerous road. It gave me ACOTAR vibes but Nordic. It's a series and I can't wait for book 2!

[texasharleygirl]

I started "Conclave" by Robert Harris in anticipation of the movie release. It's a little slow going but getting into it more and more.

Next on my list will be something light, maybe finish the first Bridgerton book.

[wildrice]

Nov 17, 2024 9:57:26 GMT -5 skidunks said:

I just started “Pack Up the Moon” the other day and omg it’s so good and so sad. I tried to look back and see if someone here recommended it but could find anyone. I can’t put it down, DH and DS2 went shopping for ski gear last evening and we were going to go to dinner afterwards and rather than go in a shop with them I sat in my car and read lol.

It must have been someone here, because I recently read it too and get most of my recs here (I think I finished it about 2 weeks ago). It's so sad - and the part that made me cry wasn't even until almost the end! But I thought it was also really sweet and worth reading, if you don't mind sad. 

[wildrice]

Nov 17, 2024 15:30:17 GMT -5 Jalapeñomel said:

I started Mad Honey. It’s been a long time since I’ve read any Picoult.

If you end up feeling like you want to read more of hers, her most recent book - By Any Other Name - was different from most of her books and was really good! It's partly historical fiction.

[underwaterrhymes]

I finished Code Name Helene by Ariel Lawhon and loved it (4*) and The Boyfriend by Frieda McFadden (2.5* rounded up to 3*; quick read but her usual formulaic stuff).

[Jalapeñomel]

Nov 20, 2024 9:55:06 GMT -5 wildrice said:

Nov 17, 2024 15:30:17 GMT -5 Jalapeñomel said:

I started Mad Honey. It’s been a long time since I’ve read any Picoult.

If you end up feeling like you want to read more of hers, her most recent book - By Any Other Name - was different from most of her books and was really good! It's partly historical fiction.

I follow her on TikTok and she's been very outspoken about bannin books and the horrors of a Trump administration, so it made me think I should give her another try (I hated the Other Sister---I just googled it, and it isn't Jodi Picoult, LOL!! I'm dumb).


This book is truly heartbreaking though, and I wasn't ready for it. 

[Jalapeñomel]

Nov 20, 2024 11:39:13 GMT -5 Jalapeñomel said:

Nov 20, 2024 9:55:06 GMT -5 wildrice said:

If you end up feeling like you want to read more of hers, her most recent book - By Any Other Name - was different from most of her books and was really good! It's partly historical fiction.

I follow her on TikTok and she's been very outspoken about bannin books and the horrors of a Trump administration, so it made me think I should give her another try (I hated the Other Sister---I just googled it, and it isn't Jodi Picoult, LOL!! I'm dumb).


This book is truly heartbreaking though, and I wasn't ready for it. 

Quoting myself now, I just got the title wrong, it's My Sister's Keeper I hated. 

[wildrice]

Nov 20, 2024 11:39:13 GMT -5 Jalapeñomel said:

Nov 20, 2024 9:55:06 GMT -5 wildrice said:

If you end up feeling like you want to read more of hers, her most recent book - By Any Other Name - was different from most of her books and was really good! It's partly historical fiction.

I follow her on TikTok and she's been very outspoken about bannin books and the horrors of a Trump administration, so it made me think I should give her another try (I hated the Other Sister---I just googled it, and it isn't Jodi Picoult, LOL!! I'm dumb).


This book is truly heartbreaking though, and I wasn't ready for it. 

Mad Honey is definitely heartbreaking!

Jodi Picoult is an amazing human. Some of her books are better than others, but she speaks out on a lot of things that I care about.

[sju]

Finished Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez. I liked it a lot although it seemed to drag at times. I like how the stories tie together.

While I don’t love how certain descriptions of mental health matters appear to be a copy paste from a source, I appreciate that she included them. The language is simple.

[skidunks]

Nov 20, 2024 9:53:27 GMT -5 wildrice said:

Nov 17, 2024 9:57:26 GMT -5 skidunks said:

I just started “Pack Up the Moon” the other day and omg it’s so good and so sad. I tried to look back and see if someone here recommended it but could find anyone. I can’t put it down, DH and DS2 went shopping for ski gear last evening and we were going to go to dinner afterwards and rather than go in a shop with them I sat in my car and read lol.

It must have been someone here, because I recently read it too and get most of my recs here (I think I finished it about 2 weeks ago). It's so sad - and the part that made me cry wasn't even until almost the end! But I thought it was also really sweet and worth reading, if you don't mind sad. 

I just finished it tonight and I was seriously bawling. So sad but such a great book.

[mcppalmbeach]

Nov 14, 2024 16:11:20 GMT -5 wise_rita said:

Finished The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store by James McBride because it kept popping up here. I wasn't prepared for how sad it would make me! It didn't dwell on that stuff but it got me thinking about the terrible treatment of some people in history. It REALLY went to town on side stories that had nothing to do with anything, but I did enjoy it.

Just started The German Wife by Kelly Rimmer and it is very much my jam (WWII or more accurately immediately post-WWII historical fiction). I randomly picked it up from Libby, and I'm wondering if this is an author I should be reading more.

Am I broken because I’m over 1/2 way done and I just cannot at all get into it? I want to finish but I kind of hate it and I usually like most popular books.

[mcppalmbeach]

Nov 16, 2024 19:40:04 GMT -5 tennisgal said:

Finished All the Colors of the Dark. It was an Ok story but Felt like 600 pages was far too long. I kept losing track of all the girls names/stories
Currently about 1/4 of the the way through God of the Woods. Keeping my interest so far
ETA: I’ve got 5 on my holds list that I’m #5 or less in line so either I’m going to have to read fast or have to delay some holds

I just finished All the Colors of the Dark. I really did love it, but agree it could have been shorter. it was completely improbable which it’s a book is obviously but some of it kinda made me be like enough already. Also one of the final loose end tie up twists at the end really bothered me and I wish hadn’t been included.

I have good of the woods in my TBR
Pile:

[mcppalmbeach]

Nov 20, 2024 9:55:06 GMT -5 wildrice said:

Nov 17, 2024 15:30:17 GMT -5 Jalapeñomel said:

I started Mad Honey. It’s been a long time since I’ve read any Picoult.

If you end up feeling like you want to read more of hers, her most recent book - By Any Other Name - was different from most of her books and was really good! It's partly historical fiction.

Good to know! I just grabbed this at the library. I didn’t even realize she had a new book out.

[krystee]

Since a couple weeks before the election, I’ve been alternating cozy and murdery books, and it has been working very well for me! I’m hoping to start branching back out to other areas soon. I See You by Clare Mackintosh is my most recent murder book that kept the pages turning, and A Pirate’s Life for Tea is my most recent cozy fantasy.

[wise_rita]

Nov 20, 2024 22:19:52 GMT -5 mcppalmbeach said:

Nov 14, 2024 16:11:20 GMT -5 wise_rita said:

Finished The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store by James McBride because it kept popping up here. I wasn't prepared for how sad it would make me! It didn't dwell on that stuff but it got me thinking about the terrible treatment of some people in history. It REALLY went to town on side stories that had nothing to do with anything, but I did enjoy it.

Just started The German Wife by Kelly Rimmer and it is very much my jam (WWII or more accurately immediately post-WWII historical fiction). I randomly picked it up from Libby, and I'm wondering if this is an author I should be reading more.

Am I broken because I’m over 1/2 way done and I just cannot at all get into it? I want to finish but I kind of hate it and I usually like most popular books.

Definitely not broken!

The second half does pick up as there's an actual plot that takes off, and incorporates the cast of characters you learned about in the first half. However their parts are very small compared to the attention given to them.

It's a pretty satisfying payoff to the plot, but it's not easy going getting to the end.

[wildrice]

Nov 20, 2024 22:19:52 GMT -5 mcppalmbeach said:

Nov 14, 2024 16:11:20 GMT -5 wise_rita said:

Finished The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store by James McBride because it kept popping up here. I wasn't prepared for how sad it would make me! It didn't dwell on that stuff but it got me thinking about the terrible treatment of some people in history. It REALLY went to town on side stories that had nothing to do with anything, but I did enjoy it.

Just started The German Wife by Kelly Rimmer and it is very much my jam (WWII or more accurately immediately post-WWII historical fiction). I randomly picked it up from Libby, and I'm wondering if this is an author I should be reading more.

Am I broken because I’m over 1/2 way done and I just cannot at all get into it? I want to finish but I kind of hate it and I usually like most popular books.

I was the same way. I did finish it but honestly it didn't get any better for me. Lots of people loved it so I expected it to get better. I think it's just not my type of book.

[gummybear]

mcppalmbeach I also had trouble with it. It wasnt that I didn’t like it, it was just a little arduous for me. I think I DNF bc it was due back, and I haven’t had much interest in picking it back up.

[wanderlustmom]

mcppalmbeach , I didn't like it either, I was the one that recommended it to my book club and they mostly did though. I couldn't follow all the plots and characters. I also didn't like All the Colors of the Dark and most of book club liked it too.

[chedifuen]

I just finished The God of the Woods. The writing is great but the ending absolutely ruined the book for me.

I'm in the middle of The Ministry of Time. It's also very well written but I would like a little more plot.

My book club is reading The Poisonwood Bible next. I read it when it originally came out in 1998. I'm excited to re-read it as an adult

[RoxMonster]

I finally read The God of the Woods. I’d say 4.25 stars

I wished it was like 100 pages shorter. There were places that lost my interest because of the extensive detail. But overall I did enjoy picking it up and I actually liked the ending.

[lust2hart]

Nov 3, 2024 4:26:32 GMT -5 gummybear said:

My hold for James just came in so I’m super excited!

I also just checked out Pearly Everlasting, which is newish. It’s a Novelist recc and it sounds unique so I’m looking forward to it.

I checked out I’ll Be Gone On the Dark (non-fic) for H, so I’ll prob read that too. It’s about the Golden State serial killer.

The latest ARC I grabbed is Mothers and Sons by Adam Haslett. I know I should save the ARCs for last bc they are mine to keep but it sounds sooooo good. I might bring bit with me today so I can read during down time at the meet. I don’t really like bringing library books into the wild bc I’m kind of chaotic.

James is probably my favorite book of 2024! 

[lust2hart]

I'm halfway through Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow - the team just moved from Boston to LA. I really like it!

[meanie]

Just looked at my Goodreads and I am on my 7th horror book this month, I'm surprised I haven't had any weird dreams



I just finished Bird Box by Josh Malerman, I really liked it but the ending was meh - I really wanted to know what the thing was! Sounds like the movie ends differently but I really want to watch it now.

Also finished The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James and now reading Murder Road by the same author - I would definitely recommend if you like suspense/thriller/horror with a slight supernatural twist

Really loved Diavola by Jennifer Marie Thorne, it was more on the horror side and had some jump scares

I liked We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer, it has a great premise and is suspenseful but the ending was a little abrupt

Stolen Tongues by Felix Blackwell was good, had some really scary parts

DNF Spin a Black Yarn by Josh Malerman, it's a collection of short stories. I got through 2 of them and the writing is good but the stories just didn't do anything for me.