November 2023 Wrap-Up

Happy December!

Look at me, posting my wrap-up so soon after November ended 😅 I’ve been getting better at staying on track with reading and blogging this month, except when editing projects appear and then everything is low-key derailed 😅 One of my New Year’s resolutions will definitely be improving my time management. Have you started thinking about your goals for 2024? Moving on to reading, I managed to have a great reading time for the first half of November, but that all went down the drain in the last week. I managed to finish three books and one audiobook. I’m so excited for the holidays in December where I hope I’ll get a bit more reading done. @justafellowreader tagged me in the 10 Before the End Reading Challenge, so I have ten books I’d love to read before New Year’s, but I think I’ll be lucky if I even finish three 😂 A girl can dream, though, right?

In terms of editing, I am happy to say that I’m almost fully booked until the end of the year! I have room for one more small project, so if you’re looking for a manuscript evaluation or have a short manuscript that needs editing, check out my Editing Services page and contact me for your FREE five-page sample edit!

My Library

Let Him In by William Friend

Review:

It’s very difficult for me to feel scared while reading horror, but boy did Friend deliver on all the eerie feelings! I was scared of shadows while reading this, and was reluctant to turn off the light when I finished the book. The story was so unpredictable because I was never sure if Black Mamba was just some psychological manifestation or an actual demonic presence. It really messes with your head. The horror really creeps up on you because the further I read, the more chills I felt. I loved how this book handled the topics of grief and family problems and secrets. All of the plot reveals were so captivating. I loved that we got both Julia and Alfie’s perspectives. One of the things that really resonated with me was the discussion around having kids and having one partner who’s ready for them whereas the other is not. This book is just full of great quotes and beautiful, unnerving prose. This is definitely one of my favorite horror books of all time. If you don’t want to sleep tonight, definitely pick this up and binge it!

6/5⭐

Netgalley eARCs

None at this time, but if I get some graphic novels or manga this month, I might be able to meet my 10 Before the End goal 😂

Other (e)ARCs

From HCC Frenzy

A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid

Review:

I loved Juniper & Thorn, so I was quite excited to read her newest release. It’s got dark academia vibes, which I love, and there’s also some horror mixed in too. There’s also mentions of sexual assault in the plot, so keep that in mind before picking up this book. Regarding the characters, I was glad that Effy experienced some character growth and changed her racist views about Preston and Argantians. I wasn’t a huge fan of her romance arc with Preston because I didn’t get any feels for them, and I think they would’ve been fine as friends. I think that bit was mostly just there to help Effy heal from her SA experience. On a side note, I was so confused with where her missing ring finger came from, because it just randomly comes up in the middle of the book and then readers get an explanation. There wasn’t really any suspense built up. Also, I totally called the ending around halfway through the story. The one thing I absolutely loved was the world-building. I loved the atmosphere of the cliffside and the decrepit, spooky house. I loved all the chapter headings, and I thought they were so realistic, like the texts actually existed. I loved the Faerie King arc of the story as well. Overall, I loved the vibe and aesthetic of the story, but I think the characters needed some work, and the romance needed more chemistry.

4/5⭐

From Emily Shore

Kidnapped by the Krampus by Emily Shore

Review:

If you’re looking for a fun, festive monster romance, this story is for you! There were some aspects of the story that gave me the ick or threw me off, but overall, it was a really fun read! The main thing that gave me the ick was when Krampus undresses Twyla in the beginning of the story and does some nonconsensual stuff to her while she’s sleeping. There were also a lot of Norwegian words and phrases used in the story, which was great, but Krampus kept referring to Twyla’s butt as “rumpa,” and I couldn’t read that word and keep a straight face. I was also a little confused about Krampus’s curse, and why he needed Twyla to break it, but that’s all good because I wasn’t really here for plot anyway 😅 The one thing I loved was the Krampus Christmas vibes. I loved the atmosphere of the market, and I loved all the descriptions of the decorations. The spicy scenes were definitely spicy … or should I say, sweet as eggnog 😉 I loved the scene where he decorates Tywla as a Christmas tree, and the part with the twinkle lights. Overall, this story has lots of fun spice with a cute monster cinnamon roll, and I would recommend it to start off your festive reading season!

4/5⭐

Audiobooks

The Dark One by Nikki St. Crowe

Review:

Ooooh gosh darn this book. The first half was a bit “meh,” in my opinion, but it really got spicy in the second half. We get more Vane action and oh, my heart, it is HOT. Winnie gets to make the rounds with the Lost Boys, and now she’s their Darling for sure. I loved the vine scene with Cass and Bash and Winnie. Her safe word totally threw me off though, because when I heard “crackle,” I couldn’t stop thinking about Rice Krispies 😂 I died when one of the boys was like, “that’s the sound of your defeat” though. That was HOT. I really like how we got more of the traditional Peter Pan characters like Hook, Smee, and the Crocodile. The ending was so great! The coup was so intense, and what happens with Winnie is just wiiild. I’m so excited to see how things go in the next book because sh*t’s about to go down.

4/5⭐

So that’s the end of my super quick wrap-up! If you’ve read any of these books, let me know your thoughts in the comments! If you’ve finished your NaNoWriMo manuscript and are looking for an editor, don’t forget to check out my Editing Services page and contact me 😊

Happy holiday season ☃️