After a month of reading mostly sad, dark, spooky or suspenseful books in October, I am ready for some lighter fare. My November reading won’t be all light and fluffy, because that’s just not me, but I do believe some romance is in order.
Here’s this my November reading list that’s a mix of romance, feel-good, and even a dose of social justice.
Lighthearted Romance
The Happy Ever After Playlist by Abby Jimenez. A romance where two people are brought together by a sweet dog? Count me in. Sloan is trying to get her life together after losing her fiance two years ago, and finding Tucker seems to be a step in the right direction. She tries to contact his supposed owner, but has no luck. Yet a few weeks later, his owner (a musician on tour in Australia) finally reaches out and wants his dog back—but Sloan isn’t ready to give up Tucker just yet. You see where this is going, right? I do, and I can’t wait.
Next Installment in a Series I Love
The Long Way Home by Louise Penny. I believe there are now 17 books in the Chief Inspector Gamache series by Penny, but I’m only up to book 10. I’ve been slowly making my way through the series over the last few years, which is how I prefer my series: spaced out. (I realize I’m in the minority here.) I think this is the perfect series to read in the fall and winter, so I read book 9 last month, I’ll read #10 this month, and #11 in December.
A Cozy Feel-Good Book
Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand by Helen Simonson. I’ve had this on my to-be-read list for a long time, and it sounds like the perfect thing to read this time of year. It’s a book about an unlikely friendship featuring older protagonists, two things that often pique my interest when it comes to novels.
Social Justice Reading for Nonfiction November
How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi. I’ve mostly been in the mood for fiction lately, but I wanted to read at least one nonfiction work this month for Nonfiction November. Last year I loved Stamped, the YA version of Kendi’s Stamped from the Beginning, and I think this sounds like an excellent and important book to follow that one.
A Fun Holiday Romp
A Magical New York Christmas by Anita Hughes. This holiday romance set in the Plaza Hotel in New York City was this month’s book club pick for my local bookstore, and it sounds like the perfect thing to read as the holidays approach. I know this will be a busy month shopping for gifts and getting ready for the holidays, so I look forward to escaping into a little romance.
What are you in the mood to read this month?
