I knew my November reading would be primarily focused on the newly released Iron Flame. However, I wasn’t expecting another new release to be my favorite read of the month! While I did love all the buzz surrounding Iron Flame and essentially buddy reading it with the entirety of the internet, it definitely didn’t live up to Fourth Wing.
Overall I read 5 physical books and listened to 3 audiobooks. I have a hard time listening to new books on audio, so I’ve continued to relisten to some of my favorites that I’ve already read. Here is a list of all the books I read in November, along with my synopsis of each book.
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1. The Cheat Sheet by Sarah Adams
Bree and Nathan have been friends since high school. After loosing touch during college, the two reconnect when they both move to LA after they graduate. Bree runs a dance studio, Nathan is a professional football player for the Los Angeles Sharks, and both are secretly in love with each other. When a video of Bree proclaiming feelings for Nathan goes viral, Nathan’s agent encourages them to fake date & do a commercial together. The two agree, and Nathan sets out to get himself out of the friend zone, while Bree is trying to shield herself from hoping that anything between them is more than an act.
See my full review of The Cheat Sheet here.
Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
2. The Wake-Up Call by Beth O’Leary
Lucas and Izzy work the front desk together at a historic hotel in New Forest, England. At first, sparks fly, but when Izzy puts her heart on the line at Christmas and Lucas laughs at her, things between the pair become contentious. They spend the next year making each other miserable. But when their beloved hotel is at risk of going bankrupt, Lucas and Izzy start working on “the ring thing” where they try to return lost rings to their owners. As the two begin to work closely again, they cannot deny their physical attraction to each other, but Izzy doesn’t know if she can get past what happened at Christmas the year before.
Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
3. Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros
Violet returns for her second year at Basgiath War College. But this year isn’t going as planned. After her experience in Resson, she knows the secrets that leadership is hiding. In order keep these secrets, Violet begins to distance herself from her squadmates. And if keeping classified information secret wasn’t enough of a challenge, Basgiath continues to put the riders through intense, often life-threatening training. Furthermore, Xaden has graduated, and Violet and Xaden only get to see each other once a week. Surviving as a first year was tough, but surviving her second year just might kill her.
You can see my spoiler free review of Iron Flame here.
Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
4. Together We Will Go by J. Michael Straczynski
Mark, a struggling writer, decides to buy a bus and take a road trip with the intent of driving it off a cliff when he reaches California. He posts an advertisement offering for others to join him. The only cost for the other travelers is that they must write journal entries and upload them to Mark’s server in order to document the trip. As they travel, everyone begins to share their stories and unlikely friendships emerge. But as the destination approaches, they run into obstacles and the group must decide how they want the trip to end.
Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐.5
5. Check & Mate by Ali Hazelwood
Mallory has sworn off chess. Even though she loves it, it is too closely associated with too many painful memories. When her friend drags her to a chess tournament, she is paired with the number one chess player in the world, Nolan Sawyer. Nolan is tall, dark, brooding, and handsome and only a little intimidating. But to everyone’s surprise, she wins. Soon, Mallory’s life takes on a new trajectory. Despite her reservations, she begins a fellowship and begins playing chess competitively. Mallory wants chess to just be a job, and she doesn’t want to get too close to Nolan for fear of getting hurt. Mallory has to face her past and stop hiding behind her responsibilities or risk losing a chance at love and a chance to do what she loves most: playing chess.
Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
6. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling
Harry can’t wait to escape the Dursely’s and return to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. After overcoming obstacles to get to school, Harry settles in for the new year. It quickly becomes clear that this year will be anything but ordinary. The heir of Slytherin has opened the Chamber of Secrets, setting a monster loose in the castle and all are in danger. Harry, Ron, and Hermione set out to solve the mystery and keep Hogwarts open.
Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
7. Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood
Elsie Hannaway is a theoretical physicist who recently graduated and is on the hunt for a full-time job. Unfortunately, she is stuck working as an adjunct— a gig that barely pays and doesn’t provide health insurance. In order to make ends meet, Elsie begins working for a fake dating app. She manages to keep these two worlds separate until the older brother of one of her clients turns out to be a renowned experimental physicist who is on the hiring committee for the job she’s applying for. What’s worse, is the attraction she feels for him despite the fact that he ruined her mentor’s career.
I will say, I enjoyed this one more the second time I read it, and the spice in this book is top notch!
Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
8. Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez
Alexis, a doctor from Minneapolis, and Daniel, a woodworker/mayor of a small, Iowan city, meet one night as Alexis is driving home. It is apparent that the two of them have a connection, and next thing you know, Alexis is sneaking out of Daniel’s apartment the following morning. Both are smitten: the only problem is that they come from very different worlds. The story alternates POVs between Alexis and Daniel, and the two of them have to figure out if they can actually make this into something real—but at what cost?
I adore this book SO much. If you have a friend who is in an abusive relationship, suggest that they read this book. Jimenez does an amazing job showing emotional and physical abuse in this one.
Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
What was your favorite read of November?