November 2025 Wrap-up
It’s tiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiime 🎄
I can’t believe it’s already December! This month has just flown by, but I’m so proud of how much I accomplished. I’ve been trying to read more because I’ve been doing horrendously with my yearly reading goal and it’s 100% my own fault 😅 I’ve been using the Netgalley app to read more graphic novels and that’s helped quite a bit. I’m also trying to actually read a little bit before I sleep every night. Therefore, I managed to finish 7 books and 1 audiobook this month!
Editing Update: I completed 2 proofreads this month, and I currently have one in progress. I was really struggling at one point because of how busy my other job has been, but I loved the story so that helped keep my motivation going. I’m really proud of myself because I’ve actually been completing my daily editing page count without procrastinating, which is what my life has been like for forever. This was just a really great month overall. I’m also really looking forward to my upcoming projects in December because the synopses are absolute fire 😍 I’m currently booking into February, so if you’re looking for someone to take a look at your manuscript, contact me.
My Library
I’ve been trying to finish some of my recent ARCs and eARCs, so my personal TBR has been put on hold. The book-buying has not slowed down, however 😂
Netgalley e-ARCs
A Quick and Easy Guide to Healthy Relationships by Mariah-Rose Marie
Review:
This is such a great guide for having healthy relationships. The artwork is fun and the explanations are engaging. This book covers topics like having healthy relationships with friends, family, partners, and coworkers. It even discusses toxic workplaces which is not something I see often in these types of books. It has a great discussion about boundaries, forgiveness, and how to handle relationships ending. I’d definitely recommend this for a quick and educational read.
5/5⭐
Pig Wife by Abbey Luck
Review:
I can’t even. This graphic novel was such a wild ride. The story was just so disturbing . . . and I loved every second of it. The premise of the hidden baby was similar to the horror movie Barbarians. I was also so conflicted about the villains because I was low-key crying for Ed by the end. They were all just flawed humans who really needed more help than they were given, and were just neglected. I was so sad with how everything turned out, but at the same time I think it was the perfect ending. I love how the backstory is revealed throughout the story as it takes you on an emotional rollercoaster and you’re really hooked to the plot, always wanting to know what’s going to happen next. The artwork was absolutely phenomenal as well. Honestly, this graphic novel could be studied in an English class. I would definitely recommend checking this out if you like something on the more disturbing side of horror.
5/5⭐
Red and the Wolves by Cherry Zong
Review:
I love Little Red Riding Hood, so I was really excited to read this retelling! This did not disappoint. I love how the villains were twisted in this version where the grandma is bad and the wolf is good. The artwork was beautiful and Sil’s wolf friends were so adorable. The personality of each wolf was unique so it was easy to tell who was who. This is a great story about finding out that everything in your life was a lie and now you have to fix things. The slow burn between Red and Sil was also really sweet and I was happy with their ending. If you like darker fairytale retellings, I’d highly recommend this!
4.5/5⭐
‘Tis Thee, Not Me: A Modern Medieval Guide to Bad Dates and Worse Decisions by Clarice Tudor
Review:
This book was FREAKING HILARIOUS. I loved every page. Everything was quite relatable and the Old English just made everything even better. The fart story was my favorite part of the book and I died laughing. This book covers some dating horror stories, as well as dating advice. I loved this book so much I’ll probably buy a physical copy and use it as a coffee table book. It’s just that great. If you need a laugh, definitely check this out!
6/5⭐
Blood Honey by Sean Peacock
Review:
This was such an intense comic. The main couple seemed a tad deranged, and they seemed to be the definition of toxic love. The plot of this comic is essentially the main couple trying to kill each other. I loved the ending because it was so ironic. The art style was also really well done with all the sharp lines and bloody red color scheme. Overall, it was quite a quick read and I enjoyed how dramatic it was. It was also pretty awesome how the FMC’s name was Vanessa 😂
4/5⭐
Other (e)ARCs
From Simon and Schuster Canada
The Second Chance Cinema by Thea Weiss
Review:
TW: Death of a family member and car accident resulting in the death of said family member
I was initially intrigued by the plot where you can watch main events in your life like a movie. The imagery and descriptions were what really pulled me into the story though. The articles written by the FMC and the descriptions of how she saw the world were beautifully written, and I felt like I was experiencing everything with the characters. This was a great book to read to escape the world for a bit. I loved how there was a Her, His, and Together section too. I definitely recommend checking it out if you love magical realism and books where you learn from your past, learn how to communicate, and have a happy ending.
4.5/5⭐
From Frenzy Books
Legendary Frybread Drive-In Anthology Edited by Cynthia Leitich Smith
Review:
I loved this anthology so much! The stories will give you all the feels, but my favorite thing was that the sense of community was so strong. Reading this anthology was like getting a warm hug. In terms of emotions, I was tearing up while reading the stories about deceased grandparents. Everything was just beautifully written and I loved bits and pieces from every story. The number of life lessons in these stories was also really great. The intertwining plotlines worked seamlessly, and I had so much fun picking out the Easter eggs from each story. The stories also covered topics from love to loss and everything in between. It’s like a slice-of-life anthology. I also loved how words from each indigenous language was just written in the story without a translation, but they still included a glossary at the end of the book to help with pronunciation. Also, the FOOD omg. I definitely don’t recommend reading this hungry because you’ll be craving all the food mentioned in this book. I’ve had frybread before and loved it, but now I want to try everything else that’s mentioned. The descriptions of food and the setting of the drive-in were so well done that I could easily imagine everything and would love to experience it. Essentially, I only have good things to say about this anthology, I highly recommend checking it out, and I will be getting a physical copy to annotate all of my favorite parts.
5/5⭐
Audiobooks
Exile by Steph Macca
Review:
TW: Sexual assault, domestic abuse, child abuse, and murder
I’m so sad this series is over, but I’m super excited because there are going to be more books about different people but still set in the same world as this series. I thought this series ended perfectly and everybody got what was coming to them. I love how everything turned out with Avery and her guys. The spice was perfection, as usual. The bit with the rings was so touching, and I love how thoughtful everyone is in the relationship. This was such a great series and y’all should check it out if you like dark romance!
4/5⭐
Are you looking forward to any holiday reads? Do you have any fun holiday traditions you’re excited about? Let me know what they are in the comments below! I’ve got my eye on a Christmas romance featuring a pig as the animal sidekick (The Christmas Cure).
Happy holiday reading ⛄
