Happy December, folks! I feel like December crept up on us because one minute it was Thanksgiving and the next minute it’s all about the holidays. Then again, I guess every year is like that. I think the only difference is that the weekend after Thanksgiving this year was December 1st.
While there were a few rough bumps for me personally throughout the month of November, I felt pretty successful with what I accomplished. Last month, I read nine books and with pretty bad anxiety and a whole lot of depression, I have to say that was pretty good reading. I will note that half the books I read were romances, so that usually helps.
Some things I do want to note: I abandoned my TBR. I knew the TBR thing was a short burst in time, but I thought I would surprise myself and not read by my mood. Of course, I’m not awesome. It’s not a big loss for me. I still read plenty books, but I do want to control my moods sometimes because books keep getting put on the back burner. I’ve got books I’ve pushed off for years now and it’s finally time to read them.
I also didn’t read any of the Netgalley books I wanted to read. LOL, I didn’t do so well in November. But I’m not upset because I still read nine books, enjoyed every single one of them, and I’m excited for what December has to offer.
Here’s what I read
The Bromance Book Club by Lyssa Kay Adams
Get A Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert
Christmas Wishes and Mistletoe Kisses by Jenny Hale
So I ended up reading a few more romances this month and I think it has something to do with the horror books I read. I read a few too many horror stories that I retreated into romances! All four of these were my favorite, but the one that stands out the most was Get a Life, Chloe Brown. I love the representation here and how natural Talia Hibbert wrote these characters. Also, it was pretty steamy which always gets some points in my book.
I also really loved Christmas Wishes and Mistletoe Kisses. While I’m not a huge fan of HEAs where the couple gets married and immediately have babies, it really surprised me. I was worried it would be as cheesy as the Hallmark holiday movies, but it had substance. I loved the characters and I thought that their motives made sense with the story. Very excellent read with a smattering of holiday cheer.
The Queens of Animation by Nathalie Holt
This was my only nonfiction for Nonfiction November and it was for my IRL book club. I loved this story mostly because it discusses the animators and women in animation who never got the credit they deserved. It was shocking to see how their influence made some of the most beloved Disney movies of all time, and they almost faded into the shadows. So sad! But such a great little book if you’re fan of Disney movies or if you want to know what the early days of animation looked like for women.
Next year, my friend Deedi and I plan on reading some more backlist fantasy books we dubbed “the essential fantasy.” Basically, we’ve gotten to a point in our reading where we want to explore the foundations of fantasy books. While this isn’t scientific in any way, we chose a few books to get us started next year, but we didn’t want to waste the rest of 2019. So we started with Sabriel by Garth Nix and wow, I’m so shook by how fantasy worked back in the day. I definitely loved Sabriel, but it’s completely different from what we see fantasy today. It’s a quick read that will leave you with a lot of questions (that are answered in the subsequent novels after).
From older fantasy to a fantasy book that doesn’t publish until April 2020. I’m so excited for the opportunity to read Incendiary early and absolutely loved it. Filled with royal and political intrigue, diverse characters, and all your favorite tropes, you’ll love this one if you’re a fan of high fantasy and young people always making big mistakes.
Honorable Mentions
What did you end up reading this month?
Find all my reviews on Goodreads
Simone and Her Books 
Great stack! My November total was pitiful. And yes—it went from November to December in a blink!
LikeLike
My November reading was not that good. Motivation was gone and there’s so much that I don’t know where to start. So, same as you, I threw away my tbr. Starting all over with some books I really want to get to.
LikeLike