November started out pretty rough for me reading-wise. Books I was sure would be great reads turned out to be the opposite (Ali Hazelwood has finally let me down) but thankfully, a five star read turned it all around!
Cruel Winter with You by Ali Hazelwood
Read: 2/11/25 – 3/11/25
I’d never thought I’d say this about an Ali Hazelwood book, but I didn’t like this. Like at all. Hence why I haven’t bothered to take a picture of it. The only reason why I finished it at all was because it’s a novella. If this was a full length novel I would have been really disappointed.
There’s a bit of a weird age gap between the main characters in the flashback scenes. There’s nothing wrong with a two year gap as adults but when it’s a 15 year old and a 17 year old it feels a bit wrong. Also adult Marc has 17 year old Jamie as his phone wallpaper which is extremely creepy.
Synopsis: All newly minted pediatrician Jamie Malek wants is to borrow a roasting pan for Christmas dinner. Unfortunately, that requires her to interact with Marc—her best friend’s troublemaking brother, who’s now a tech billionaire. He’s the one who got away. She’s the one who broke his heart. Outside, a howling blizzard. Inside, a crackling fire. Suddenly, being snowbound with the man she never expected to see again might not be such a bad way to spend a winter’s night.
Love Under Contract by Cassie Connor
Read: 5/11/25 – 7/11/25
Yet another book that has let me down. I’d planned to read this book during November a long time ago, so long ago that my expectations for it were sky high. This book is pure smut to the point that there isn’t really a plot, you can tell it was written purely for smutty purposes. Which is fair enough, but that’s not really my thing. I don’t mind a bit of spice, but I like plot and character development. This book didn’t really have either.
Synopsis: When you can’t find the perfect date for the holidays you hire him!
Hotshot lawyer Rebecca Madison is dreading the annual family Thanksgiving break where the question on everyone’s lips will be ‘why are you still single?’.
When it comes to her career, she’s the best of the best, hired for her take-no-prisoners approach and sharp instincts. But when it comes to her love life…well, she hasn’t found the loophole for happy ever after yet.
So when she has a one night stand with a gorgeous stranger she meets in a bar, Becca decides to do what she does best: make a deal with Mr One Night to be her Mr Right (just for the holidays).
With an iron-clad contract setting out the terms for their fake relationship, Becca has one important point. Clause 1.a. No kissing, no sex (as mind-blowing as it was), and absolutely no emotional attachment!
But five thousand miles from home and spending every waking moment in the company of a man who makes her feel things she’s never felt before, just how easy will it be for Becca to stick to her own rules…
The Ballad of Never After by Stephanie Garber
Read: 7/11/25 – 16/11/25
I picked up this book at the perfect time. I was just starting to get fed up with reading as everything I’ve read lately has been pretty sub par, but Stephanie Garber is legitimately yet to let me down. I adore her books.
Synopsis: After Jacks, the Prince of Hearts, betrays her, Evangeline Fox swears she’ll never trust him again. Now that she’s discovered her own magic, Evangeline believes she can use it to restore the chance at happily ever after that Jacks stole away.
But when a new terrifying curse is revealed, Evangeline finds herself entering into a tenuous partnership with the Prince of Hearts again. Only this time, the rules have changed. Jacks isn’t the only force Evangeline needs to be wary of. In fact, he might be the only one she can trust, despite her desire to despise him.
Instead of a love spell wreaking havoc on Evangeline’s life, a murderous spell has been cast. To break it, Evangeline and Jacks will have to do battle with old friends, new foes, and a magic that plays with heads and hearts. Evangeline has always trusted her heart, but this time she’s not sure she can.
The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang
Read: 16/11/25 – 18/11/25
I’m not sure if this will be the type of book that I really enjoyed reading at the time but then the more I think and talk about it, I’ll realise that it wasn’t that good. One of the main reasons why I enjoyed The Kiss Quotient so much was because it has a neurodivergent main character, which is something I can relate to. I did give this book a very positive review and I will stand by it, for now.
Book Review: The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang
Synopsis: It’s high time for Stella Lane to settle down and find a husband – or so her mother tells her. This is no easy task for a wealthy, successful woman like Stella, who also happens to have Asperger’s. Analyzing data is easy; handling the awkwardness of one-on-one dates is hard. To overcome her lack of dating experience, Stella decides to hire a male escort to teach her how to be a good girlfriend.
Faced with mounting bills, Michael decides to use his good looks and charm to make extra cash on the side. He has a very firm no repeat customer policy, but he’s tempted to bend that rule when Stella approaches him with an unconventional proposal.
The more time they spend together, the harder Michael falls for this disarming woman with a beautiful mind, and Stella discovers that love defies logic.
Overemotional by David Fenne
Read: 19/11/25 – 23/11/25
I haven’t written my review for this book yet so I’m entirely sure how I feel about it. Usually when I write a review I’ll start with one opinion of a book and then switch to something completely different. I think this is very much a middle of the road book for me. The notes I made while reading it are a mix of negative and positive so it’s probably a very average three stars. I weirdly view three stars as a middle of the road rating.
Synopsis: Sometimes, emotions can be a little too powerful…
Seventeen-year-old Steven has a big problem… Whenever he feels intense emotions, weird things happen. Like when he kissed a boy for the first time, and the boy’s head literally exploded.
Fleeing to the miserable town of Grunsby-on-Sea, Steven is determined to not hurt anyone else – but he doesn’t count on his best friend Freya, her boyfriend Marcus and American friend Troy following him. And when agents from the mysterious DEMA organisation show up talking about “neutralisation”, Steven realises that Grunsby-on-Sea might not be the safe haven he’d hoped for…
Spectacular by Stephanie Garber & Rosie Fowinkle (Illustrator)
Read: 23/11/25 – 24/11/25
This book was stunning. I don’t think the plot is particularly strong, especially not for how much I adore Stephanie Garber’s books, but it’s a lovely little addition to the Caraval series. Even if the kidnapping part was a little weird. Well, the writing of it wasn’t weird, the illustrations are what made it a little risque. Which is fine, but probably a bit much for a YA book.
Synopsis: Snowflakes are falling.
Invitations are arriving.
And holiday magic is swirling in the Capital City of the Meridian Empire.
It’s Great Holiday Eve Eve. Scarlett Dragna is planning a spectacular Holiday celebration for the city.
Donatella is searching for the perfect gift. Julian is looking ridiculously handsome in green.
And Legend . . .
Well, sadly Legend is not a fan of the Great Holiday. Tella is hoping her perfect gift will change his mind. Unfortunately, she hasn’t found this perfect gift just yet. But it is Great Holiday Eve Eve . . . surely there’s some holiday magic swirling around.
Welcome, welcome back to the world of Caraval, where even holidays are not as they seem.
Set after Stephanie Garber’s #1 New York Times bestselling Caraval series, this delightful novella will take readers on the ultimate holiday adventure, full of clockwork boys, poisoned candy, impish snow globes, merriment, and-if Tella gets her way-love.
Snowflakes and Sparks by Sophie-Leigh Robbins
Read: 24/11/25 – 27/11/25
I knew the risk I was taking when I decided to pick up a free book, but my god was this just painfully ok. I wouldn’t say it was a completely bad read but not a lot really happens and the main character/author is pretty fatphobic but they try to hide this through ‘characters wanting to better themselves’. Gross.
Synopsis: One small town. One hot neighbor. One second chance at love.
The best fake snow decorations in L.A.? Done by me.
About to get a promotion? Also me.
Sent to a sleepy small town right before Christmas to save a bookstore? Unfortunately, me again.
Old Pine Cove was the one place on earth I had sworn I’d never return to. Then my boss asked me to manage one of our bookstores there. I wanted to tell her no way, but that would definitely lower my chances of being promoted once I returned to L.A. So I sucked it up. Besides, it was only supposed to be temporary. What could possibly go wrong?
Gosh, how naïve of me.
Alex Denverton opening the door with that smoldering look of his, that’s what went wrong. It had been ten years since I crashed his truck and made a run for it. And now he was back in my life. How was I supposed to focus on work knowing he was right next door? And why did I ever agree to organize the annual Winter Walk with him?
One thing was certain, though. If I wanted to have a magical Christmas, I couldn’t ask Santa to make it happen. It was up to me to decide: go big or go home.
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Like this post? Why not read this one too: Book Haul: November 2025
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