Monthly TBR: November 2019

Good morning or afternoon or evening! Welcome to my To-Be-Read list for November 2019!

Last month, I had a TBR post, and I managed to read 13 books, which I’m super proud of. And so hopefully, maybe if I have a TBR for each month, I’ll be able to continue reading more, and catch up on my GR reading challenge. And maybe I’ll end up not reading anything at all, but I’m still pretty hopeful that this TBR will work.

Anyways, let’s get started!

In my last TBR post, I just dumped a bunch of books that I wanted to read, and their summaries together, but this time, I’m going to split them between the book that I’ve Already Read, Books that I’m going to Buddy Read, and Library Borrows/Holds. That should give this some semblance of order.


Already Read

  • The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. (Read: Nov. 2) This was a really great book and the end shattered me. It was a little slow, but Liesel’s adventures, her friendship with Rudy, Mama and Papa, Max, book stealing, and all the mismatched characters on Himmel Street were amazing and that ending hurt. so. much.
  • An Unwanted Guest by Shari Lapena. (Read: Nov. 4) A very good thriller that left me on the edge of my seat. I didn’t guess who the killer was at all, and the two twists at the end were really good.
  • The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater. (Read: Nov. 10) It was really heartwarming, and I loved the characters, their struggles, the theme of finding where you belong, and the magic of the water horses. Finn is adorable and a real gem, and I loved Puck and Sean’s relationship, and how it didn’t overpower the plot or consume each of their lives. Their bonds with their horses was beautiful and that ending was so peaceful, and perfect, and I’m so happy that I read this. (I also have a recipe for November Cakes and I’m so excited!!)

Books to Buddy Read

  • The Fixer by Jennifer Lynn Barnes. Buddy re-read 11/11 with Amelia (E-book)
  • The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes. Buddy re-read sometime in November

Library Borrows/Holds

I’m going to order these based on their due dates, the ones that I can renew, and the ones that I’ll be getting soon.

  • A Darker Shade of Magic by V. E. Schwab. Due 11/23, E-book
  • Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo. Due 11/24, E-book
  • Fire and Blood by George R. R. Martin. Due 11/24, E-book
  • The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman. Due 11/27, E-book
  • Beartown by Fredrik Backman. Renewable, Hardcover
  • The Lines We Cross by Randa Abdel-Fattah. Renewable, Hardcover

Chat with me

So all in all, I should probably read around 13 or 14 books this month which is a great number. What are you reading this November? Do you have a set TBR or are you a mood reader? Have you read any of the books above? If so, what did you think? Chat with me in the comments below!

WWW Wednesday #37

Hey friends! I hope you are having a fantastic day! It is time for my weekly reading update, WWW Wednesday. WWW Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Sam @ Taking On A World of Words.

The Three W’s are:

  • What are you currently reading?
  • What did you recently finish reading?
  • What do you think you’ll read next?

Let’s get started!

All covers are from Goodreads

What I Just Finished:

Assassin’s Masque was a good ending to the series, and I liked it. It’s like one of those series that you just read, not because you really like the book, but because it’s fun to read.

*spoilers for The Book Thief. You can skip over to An Unwanted Guest’s update if you don’t want to see the spoilers*

Guys. The ending of The Book Thief broke my heart. It left me crying. For over an hour. It hurt so much, and why? Why did that have to happen? Why did Death take them away? Rudy. Mama. Papa. Everybody. That beautiful and lively Himmel Street. And the fact that Death spoiled it ahead of time did nothing to prepare me, though I thought I was prepared. Even now, it still stings to think about it.

The original book that I was going to read by Lapena, was Someone We Know, but my library didn’t have that, so I picked up An Unwanted Guest instead. The suspense, the atmosphere, the characters, everything was done amazingly, and I did not guess who the murderer was at all. Also, the twist at the very end was pretty good.

What I’m Currently Reading:

I’m pretty excited to read The Scorpio Races (recommended by the lovely Meeghan). I’m only a few chapters in, but so far so good. I’m super interested in the water horses and how the races work.

I keep saying that I’m going to start Beartown, but I haven’t yet, and again, today, hopefully I’m going to start it. It’s been on my currently reading now for a few days, so hopefully I will actually start reading it.

What I Plan To Read Next:

I’ve got 5 books to read, and they are all from the library, and I’m trying to read them in order of when they are due, but that’s not working out well. I’m definitely going to pick up one of these 5 next, but I’m not sure which one (probably CK lol).

That’s it for this Wednesday. What are you reading? Have you read any of these? What did you think? Any suggestions for what I should read next? Let’s chat in the comments below! (Be sure to link to your WWW’s so that I can check them out!)

Top 5 Tuesday ~ Books On My TBR

Welcome to Top Five Tuesday!! Top Five Tuesday was created and is hosted by Shanah @ Bionic Book Worm.

Top 5 Tuesday is a weekly meme where Shanah explores different topics. If you are interested in participating, here is a list of the upcoming topics in November, and be sure to link to one of Shanah’s posts to get added to the participants list!

Today’s topic is: Top 5 books on my current TBR! (books you’re excited to read right now)

Honestly, this is gong to be a mixture of books that I have to read before my loan is over, and some of the books that I really really hope to read this November.

Let’s get started!

Beartown by Fredrik Backman

This is on my immediate TBR, and hopefully I’m going to start it later today.

Synopsis: People say Beartown is finished. A tiny community nestled deep in the forest, it is slowly losing ground to the ever encroaching trees. But down by the lake stands an old ice rink, built generations ago by the working men who founded this town. And in that ice rink is the reason people in Beartown believe tomorrow will be better than today. Their junior ice hockey team is about to compete in the national semi-finals, and they actually have a shot at winning. All the hopes and dreams of this place now rest on the shoulders of a handful of teenage boys.

Being responsible for the hopes of an entire town is a heavy burden, and the semi-final match is the catalyst for a violent act that will leave a young girl traumatized and a town in turmoil. Accusations are made and, like ripples on a pond, they travel through all of Beartown, leaving no resident unaffected.

Beartown explores the hopes that bring a small community together, the secrets that tear it apart, and the courage it takes for an individual to go against the grain. In this story of a small forest town, Fredrik Backman has found the entire world.


The Lines We Cross by Randa Abdel-Fattah

A friend recommended this to me, and I’m pretty excited to read it!! I also have the hardcover, so it’ll be nice to be reading a physical book curled up in bed.

Synopsis: Michael likes to hang out with his friends and play with the latest graphic design software. His parents drag him to rallies held by their anti-immigrant group, which rails against the tide of refugees flooding the country. And it all makes sense to Michael.

Until Mina, a beautiful girl from the other side of the protest lines, shows up at his school, and turns out to be funny, smart — and a Muslim refugee from Afghanistan. Suddenly, his parents’ politics seem much more complicated.

Mina has had a long and dangerous journey fleeing her besieged home in Afghanistan, and now faces a frigid reception at her new prep school, where she is on scholarship. As tensions rise, lines are drawn. Michael has to decide where he stands. Mina has to protect herself and her family. Both have to choose what they want their world to look like. 


Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo

I’ve been waiting for this book, and I am so nervous, and still SUPER EXCITED to read this. Though I’m so scared because I’ve heard someone dies?? Please, don’t break my heart Bardugo.

Synopsis: Welcome to the world of the Grisha.

Kaz Brekker and his crew of deadly outcasts have just pulled off a heist so daring even they didn’t think they’d survive. But instead of divvying up a fat reward, they’re right back to fighting for their lives.

Double-crossed and badly weakened, the crew is low on resources, allies, and hope. As powerful forces from around the world descend on Ketterdam to root out the secrets of the dangerous drug known as jurda parem, old rivals and new enemies emerge to challenge Kaz’s cunning and test the team’s fragile loyalties.

A war will be waged on the city’s dark and twisting streets – a battle for revenge and redemption that will decide the fate of the Grisha world.


The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

I am already 5 days late on starting this (I was going to start on the 1st of November like in the book) but I’m still very excited to read it. Oh, and that cover is absolutely gorgeous.

Synopsis: Some race to win. Others race to survive.

It happens at the start of every November: the Scorpio Races. Riders attempt to keep hold of their water horses long enough to make it to the finish line.

Some riders live.

Others die.

At age nineteen, Sean Kendrick is the returning champion. He is a young man of few words, and if he has any fears, he keeps them buried deep, where no one else can see them.

Puck Connolly is different. She never meant to ride in the Scorpio Races. But fate hasn’t given her much of a choice. So she enters the competition – the first girl ever to do so. She is in no way prepared for what is going to happen.


The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi

I’m going to be buddy reading this at the end of the month, and I’m kind of excited. I’ve heard so many great things about TGW, and I also heard that it is kind of like Six of Crows, so yes, I am 100% ready for this.

Synopsis: No one believes in them. But soon no one will forget them.

It’s 1889. The city is on the cusp of industry and power, and the Exposition Universelle has breathed new life into the streets and dredged up ancient secrets. Here, no one keeps tabs on dark truths better than treasure-hunter and wealthy hotelier Séverin Montagnet-Alarie. When the elite, ever-powerful Order of Babel coerces him to help them on a mission, Séverin is offered a treasure that he never imagined: his true inheritance.

To hunt down the ancient artifact the Order seeks, Séverin calls upon a band of unlikely experts: An engineer with a debt to pay. A historian banished from his home. A dancer with a sinister past. And a brother in arms if not blood.

Together, they will join Séverin as he explores the dark, glittering heart of Paris. What they find might change the course of history–but only if they can stay alive.

That’s it for this Tuesday! Have you read The Gilded Wolves or The Scorpio Races? What did you think? It’s also finally finally November! What are some of your most anticipated releases for this month? Let’s chat in the comments below!

(Be sure to link to your Top Ten Tuesday or Top Five Tuesday posts so I can check them out!!)

WWW Wednesday #36

Hey friends! I hope you are having a fantastic day! It is time for my weekly reading update, WWW Wednesday. WWW Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Sam @ Taking On A World of Words.

The Three W’s are:

  • What are you currently reading?
  • What did you recently finish reading?
  • What do you think you’ll read next?

Let’s get started!

All covers are from Goodreads

What I Just Finished:

I finished The Lovely and the Lost over the weekend, and it was a good book. I was a bit disappointed, because I was expecting more (JLB is one of my favorite authors) of a mystery, but this was more like a search and rescue book. It was still pretty good nonetheless.

What I’m Currently Reading:

I’m on page 334/416 of Assassin’s Masque, and this is definitely the most thrilling book out of the trilogy. The twists, the politics, everything is very delicate right now and it’s kind of like waiting for the timer to tick down to the moment of doom.

I am 12% into The Book Thief, and I love Papa and his relationship with Liesel. It’s definitely so sweet, and Rudy is hilarious, Rose is terrifying but also funny at times, and I’m so excited to continue!

What I Plan To Read Next:

Next up is Beartown by Fredrik Backman or The Lines We Cross by Randa Abdel-Fattah.

That’s it for this Wednesday. What are you reading? Have you read any of these books? What did you think? Let’s chat in the comments below! (Be sure to link to your WWW’s so that I can check them out!)

Tag Thursday – The Netflix Book Tag

Hi all!! I hope you are having a great day! It’s been a while since I’ve done a tag, but I shall finally catch up! Thank you so much to Siobhan @ Siobhan’s Novelties for tagging me!!

Without further ado, let’s get started!

Recently Watched | The Last Book You Finished

I finished this a few days ago, and I loved it, and I 100% recommend it, and I really hope you love it if you read it!


Top Picks | A Book That Has Been Recommended to You Based on What You’ve Previously Read

At first, I didn’t want to read this, but now I kind of do. This has been recommended to me by one certain friend (who is determined to make my TBR insurmountable) because I like brooding broken boys and also because it is an adventure.


Recently Added | The Last Book You Purchased

So, I don’t buy books. I haven’t bought a book since forever. Actually I don’t think I’ve ever bought a book. I’ve been gifted books, I live and breathe library books, but I haven’t bought any. Anyway, this is the latest book that I’ve added to my TBR!!


Popular on Netflix | Books That Everyone Knows (Two You’ve Read, and Two You Have No Interest in Reading)

Two I’ve read: Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo and The Wicked King by Holly Black. The hype for SOC is real guys. It was absolutely awesome, and I will never stop talking about Kaz and the rest of the crew. TWK was great, definitely a whole lot better than The Cruel Prince.

Um, I can’t think of two? Only one book that I can think of, which is Caravel. It just doesn’t not seem like it’ll be my cup of tea.


Comedies | A Funny Book

This book will always end up as one of the funniest I’ve read. It was awesome, hilarious, and just so relate-able (even though I am not a mother of a toddler or an infant…)


Dramas | A Character Who Is a Drama Queen/King

Cardan is definitely the biggest drama king around. Like really. But he’s also a really great guy in the end, I hope…


Animated | A Book with Cartoons on the Cover

I haven’t read any book with cartoons on the cover, and I don’t have any in my TBR


Watch It Again | A Book or Series You Want to Reread

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardguo is my new favorite book, so I really really want to read it again. I have Crooked Kingdom on hold, so I’ll probably try to read SOC again before CK comes in.


Documentaries | A Nonfiction Book You’d Recommend to Everyone

I don’t read a lot of non fiction outside of what is necessary for school, so I honestly can’t recommend any book.


Action and Adventure | An Action-Packed Book or Series

It’s a series about kids who are spies, so there’s a lot of adventure and action! There are 10 books, I think, in this series!


New Releases | A Book That Just Came Out or Will Be Coming Out Soon That You Can’t Wait to Read

Everybody, and I mean everybody, seems to be excitedly waiting for this book. And I am too! I just really hope that it doesn’t disappoint me.

Tagging/Nominating:

Meeghan @ Meeghan Reads | Xandra @ Starry Sky Books | Zoe @ Zoe’s Library

Ruqs @ Many Things Bookish | May @ My 1st Chapter | Aria @ Book Nook Bits

P.S. No pressure. If you don’t want to do the tag. That’s absolutely fine. If you’ve already done it, please share the link so I can check it out!

And that’s it for today! Have you done the Netflix Book Tag? Have you read any of the books above? What is your most anticipated book for 2019? Let’s chat in the comments below!