Reading Recap: November 2024

Including a book that I know will make my favorites list this year

Dec 06, 2024

I used to do monthly reading recaps on my blog and I’m so excited to bring these back to Substack! I can’t always fit my full review in an Instagram caption, so this will be the perfect place for me to share my full thoughts with you all on the books I read each month.

In November I read a mix of literary fiction, one nonfiction book for Nonfiction November, and I kicked off holiday romance reading season. Let’s dive into the 6 books that I read in last month…

Shred Sisters by Betsy Lerner*

“No one will love you more or hurt you more than a sister.”

What a beautifully written debut novel. I love a book about sisterhood and this one was heart wrenching. This novel follows the two Shred sisters, Amy and Ollie, and their lives over the course of two decades. We see how the effects of Ollie’s mental illness and addiction ripple throughout their whole family.

I found this so engrossing and read it in two sittings. The characters were fully realized and I had to know what was happening with each of the sisters. This book is about loving people who consistently hurt you and the trauma that comes from that. Amy loves her sister Ollie, but at the same time, she knows that Ollie is not good for her.

There was something kind of timeless about this novel, even though the author does give us markers that made me believe this was set in the 1970s-1990s. You know when you finish a book and you just have to sit with it for several minutes to gather yourself? That’s how I felt when I finished this book and I was sad it was over.

Twenty-Four Seconds from Now by Jason Reynolds*

I finally read my first Jason Reynolds book and it was so good! This was a sweet and tender love story about a teenage boy’s first time and all the feelings he has around it.

I loved that this book depicted a young Black boy being vulnerable and nervous when it comes to sex instead of machismo or toxic masculinity. It was so refreshing. There’s a conversation that Neon has with his mom that kind of floored me, actually. It was an open dialogue between a parent and their kid about sex and there was no judgment or shame. What a beautiful example to see on the page, especially for someone like me who didn’t have that kind of relationship with my parents when I was younger.

Jason Reynold’s writing is very poetic and lyrical, and I can only imagine that this would be great on audio as well.

Reel by Kennedy Ryan*

I didn’t think anything could top BEFORE I LET GO, and then I read REEL. I think this just might be my new favorite Kennedy Ryan book!

Ok, where do I start gushing about this book?! It grabbed me from the first few pages and didn’t let me go. My jaw actually dropped when I read the prologues and then I was hooked from there. I absolutely loved the blend of the modern day love story between Neevah and Canon with the historical setting of the movie they’re filming together. I learned things about the Harlem Renaissance that I didn’t know before.

The way that Kennedy Ryan built up the connection and tension between Neevah and Canon was insane. It did feel like they were a perfect match because they are two artists that take their work very seriously. They believe in the power of art and the way that it can affect people.

One thing I love about Kennedy’s books is that they feature characters that feel incredibly real and deal with real problems. I thought the chronic illness representation was so beautifully and tenderly handled. Through that character, Kennedy shows that the illness doesn’t define her and that she is still beautiful and worthy of unconditional love.

Kennedy also explores various family relationships in this novel. There’s found family and the close relationship that Neevah shares with her friend Takira, who’s her ride or die. And then there’s the healing Neevah has to do with her somewhat estranged family. It seems impossible based on where things start, but then Kennedy tenderly shows how they find their way back to each. Kennedy is known to make you cry when you’re reading her books and that last 150 pages or so nearly got me!

This was such a beautiful story and I’m obsessed with these characters and this world. Thank goodness this is a series because I need more! And I WISH I could actually watch the movie about Dessi Blue because it sounds like it would be amazing. The script portions of this book were very cinematic and I could visualize how this would play out on the screen. Thank you to Kennedy for writing this incredible love letter to Black creatives and for encouraging us to keep going and to keep pursuing our passions.

Here After by Amy Lin*

“I do not know if it is possible to live without remembering but also, I do not know if I can live with it.”

What a breathtakingly beautiful memoir about grief. The author writes about the experience of losing her husband in her 30s, as well as the love and life they shared together.

This is a difficult book to read because of the subject matter and it will split your heart in two. The writing is sparse, which makes it even more poignant and impactful. I could feel the author’s grief in her raw and honest words.

What a gift this book is and it made me feel less alone. It’s a truly stunning memoir and one that I would highly recommend if you can handle the subject matter.

I’ll Be Gone for Christmas by Georgia K. Boone

When I stumbled across this holiday romance in a bookstore last month and saw that it was written by a Black author, I had to have it. This was my first holiday read of the season and it was lovely!

Both of our main characters, Clover and Bee, are on a journey of self-discovery and I enjoyed going along that journey with them. Clover has had a difficult year and is learning how to fully be herself, while Bee is suffocating from the pressure to be perfect for her parents.

This was such an enjoyable read with double the romance, lovely holiday vibes, and main characters I wanted to root for. I also thought it was quite a cozy read and it’s just perfect for this time of year.

Most Wonderful by Georgia Clark*

I absolutely loved this queer holiday rom-com! It features the three Belvedere siblings, Liz, Birdie, and Raf. Liz is the responsible eldest daughter (hello, it me), Birdie is the wild middle child, and Raf is the baby of the family (even though he’s nearly 30).

I thought the sibling dynamics in this book were so much fun. They’re close and have so much love for each other, which is lovely to see. And since there are three siblings, we get triple the romance! I was rooting for all three of them, but I especially enjoyed Liz’s and Raf’s romance stories. All three siblings are reinventing themselves somewhat, or more like stepping into their truest selves. I enjoyed following their journeys and I was especially rooting for Birdie and her character growth.

This also had the loveliest setting. Most of the book takes place in at a house in the Catskills that belongs to their famous mother, Babs Belvedere. Belvedere House sounded so beautiful and cozy. I wish I could stay there! I loved all the descriptions of the house, as well as the holiday traditions of the Belvedere family.

This book was unapologetically queer and full of boisterous and cozy holiday vibes. I could totally picture reading this cozied up under a blanket by the fire (I had to make do with my YouTube fireplace lol). This novel included so many of the things I love about the holiday season, bottled into one book. It was a delightful read!

*Gifted by the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Have you read any of these books, or are any of them on your TBR? Let me know in the comments!