November was another very fast month! It had bad times with work, and some good times with at least a day of teaching all day, as well as standing up for myself, and being validated that I was being lied to/gaslighted by my boss, at least for myself, even if I can’t do anything about it at work. It started with a long break after parent conferences, no students for 4 days. And it ended with a full week off for Thanksgiving. It was another month of having to be careful not to let slip to my niece and nephew about our Disney Cruise next July. I’m so excited for them to find out at Christmas and all of us start talking and planning with them!
At work I basically gave up on having a clerk in the library with me. And I told my AP that, and that I wasn’t going to take on another thing of helping her with testing like she tried to get me to do. I let her know that my mental health had been really struggling, I’ve tried switching depression/anxiety medications, and might still be having to up the dose on that new one.
It was a pretty decent reading month with the extra time off, and I even had some books I just sat and basically read almost the whole thing in a day, which I rarely have time for anymore.
I got 19 books finished, that’s 4 more than last month. And one was a reread to get ready for the new Passionflix movie based on the Kylie Scott book Lick.
Here is my fun monthly wrap-up image I like to make in Canva.
Here are my StoryGraph stats for November in the graphic they now provide. The only thing it’s missing from what I like to share when I get each graph separately is actually the different star ratings and how many of each, it just gives the average. Which is enough I guess!
My Reviews
Of the 18 specific titles listed last month, I got 11 read and reviewed, 1 DNFs, 2 e-galleys I didn’t get to, and 1 e-galley I thought I might get – but didn’t end up getting. I did get 2 audiobooks for the Gateway nominee list finished – but two others that I DNFed – not because they were bad just because I knew they weren’t my type of read. And one started for that, but I had to fit in an audio-e-galley for a blog tour. I didn’t get to the 2 Beat the Backlist titles I listed, but instead read some others for the Ho-Ho-Ho Readathon that ends this first week of December.
- [1 Nov] Wolf and Bare It by Anne Marsh ★★★★½
- [2 Nov] The Prince & the Apocalypse by Kara McDowell ★★★★★
- [2 Nov] Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross ★★★★
- [2 Nov] The Big Bang Theory: A Matter of Friendship by Ivan Cohen, Jen Taylor ★★★★
- [5 Nov] My Darling Jane by Ilsa Madden-Mills ★★★★½
- [9 Nov] Fortune's Kiss by Amber Clement ★★★★★
- [12 Nov] Head Over Feels by Emma Lee Jayne ★★★★★
- [14 Nov] If You Need Me by Helena Hunting ★★★★★
- [16 Nov] The Whispering Night by Susan Dennard ★★★★½
- [19 Nov] Santa Maybe (The Duchess Hotel Book 1) by Carla Luna ★★★★
- [19 Nov] Merry Kissmas by Piper Rayne ★★★★★
- [22 Nov] Inherited Holiday by M. Robinson ★★★½
- [23 Nov] All Folked Up by Penny Reid ★★★★★
- [26 Nov] Royal Blood by Aimee Carter ★★★★½
- [26 Nov] Buffy the Vampire Slayer by Jason Rekulak, Kim Smith ★★★★
- [26 Nov] Garden of the Cursed by Katy Rose Pool ★★★★★
- [29 Nov] Christmas Eve Love Story by Ginny Baird
- [29 Nov] Borrow My Heart by Kasie West
- [29 Nov] Rez Ball by Byron Graves
- [30 Nov] PS: I Hate You by Lauren Connolly ★★★★★
Challenge Check-In
My goal is 24 for the year using the prompts that are listed, and I did get a few more done with the Ho-Ho-Ho Readathon. But I’m still behind!
- Prompt: On your TBR 5+ years – Five Minutes Late by Rich Amooi
- Prompt: Anthology or omnibus edition – The Natural History Novellas by Erin Mallon
- Prompt: We all scream – horror – The Dead List by Jennifer L. Armentrout
- Prompt: Walk through history – Something Wilder by Christina Lauren
- Prompt: Writing about writing – The Nerd and the Neighbor by Lainey Davis
- Prompt: STEM stan – Co-Wrecker by Meghan Quinn
- Prompt: 4 Word title – Getting Lucky Number Seven by Cindi Madsen
- Prompt: Coffeehouse Reads – Cleave by Boyd Bauman
- Prompt: Creature Feature – Paperbacks from Hell by Grady Hendrix
- Prompt: These Woods Hold Secrets – Dating and Dismemberment by A.L. Brody
- Prompt: – Door on the cover – Buffy the Vampire Slayer (picture book) by Jason Rekulak & illustrated by Kim Smith
- Prompt: Share the Love – Naughty and Nice by Helena Hunting
- Prompt: Small town vs. big city – Kiss Me In The Snow by Rich Amooi
- Prompt: Character name is a color – Studmuffin Santa by Tawna Fenske
My goal was 6 for the year, and I finished up with my 6th post this month.
- [6 Mar] Discussion Post: Just Can’t Get Enough or Do You Also Want All the Special Editions and Book Boxes?
- [22 Mar] Discussion Post: Give It Away, Give It Away, Give It Away Now, or Do you still host giveaways on your blog or enter on other blogs?
- [14 May] Lisa Loves to Discuss #1: Do you listen to podcasts?
- [16 Jul] Lisa Loves to Discuss #2: Do You Dog Ear?
- [8 Oct] Lisa Loves to Discuss #3: Do You Talk About Personal Stuff on Your Book Blog?
My Goodreads and StoryGraph Goals were met this month as I passed 150 books, and got to 164 so far. I set my goal lower this year, because I just want to reach it and not be stressing at the end of the year if I don’t. I’m also still trying to keep my Netgalley percentage above 80%, and I did get it back up to 81% this month, but then I dropped to 80% again when a publisher sent me several for next year.
I decided to do the Chapter Break Bingo Challenge for November, and here are my books that fit each spot, I did not get all the squares this month.
- My Darling Jane – In a series
- Lick – Amnesia/memory issues
- Wolf and Bare It – Special Abilities
- Royal Blood – Missing person/object, Audiobook
- If You Need Me – Book club read
- Fortune’s Kiss – Not in a series, wish, object on the cover
- Garden of the Cursed – Library book
- The Whispering Night – Read an ebook
- Grouch-ish – different platform
- Buffy the Vampire Slayer Picture Book – read a physical book
- Merry Kissmas – free book
- All Folked Up – new release
- Naughty & Nice – Shelf love
- Christmas Games – family drama
- P.S. I Hate You – Sarcasm, Travel-time/space/distance
- Studmuffin Santa – Bully
- Kiss Me In the Snow – Family dinner/meal
What to Expect in December
Once again I have less review books scheduled for December. Well, after the first week where I have a lot it seems.
Here is my proposed TBR for December
- Under Loch and Key by Lana Ferguson – I’ve been wanting to read this author since The Fake Mate, and this one set in Scotland sounds perfect. I got denied an e-galley on Edelweiss which is unusual for me, but then the publisher sent me a link on Netgalley. I started it this past week, but didn’t get it done before the end of the month.
- Forever the Highlands by Samantha Young – reading an e-galley of this for the author’s review team and should post the review on the 5th.
- How to Get a Life in Ten Dates by Jenny Howe – I got this e-galley clear back in June or July I think. Should have a review posted on the 9th
- The Only Way Out by Sarah Daniels – I loved the first book in this series, that I got a physical ARC. of. The second book didn’t come out till over a year after it, so I got the e-galley, but I’m having trouble getting into it. We’ll see if I finish it or not.
- For One Night Only by Jessica James – This is another e-galley I got from the publisher, and it comes out the first week of January, but I’m going to try to get it in this month sometime.
- Still working on the audiobooks for the Gateway possible nominees as I get time and they become available through the library app Libby. I think I will finish the one I started last month, Warrior Girl Unearthed for sure.
- Hoping to get some BTB books done this month since I haven’t planned any other review books. I had ones planned, but will probably try to do more holiday reads just because. Also I want to try to FINALLY read Fourth Wing. To see if I get what all the fuss is about.
- I do have a few reviews lined up in January already, so may try to get some of those read, specifically one is After Life by Gayle Forman, since I already have the e-galley, so might get on the path of being ahead for a change!
- Not sure if I will skip the rest of the Gateway nominees to listen to a bunch of the Christmas audiobooks – Under the Mistletoe series – I downloaded for cheap from Audible.
Final Thoughts
Right now I’m looking to refinance my house and maybe get credit cards paid off with equity. At this time of the year it won’t happen till January though.
December is a quick month, but the weeks go by slow with the kids. But only three weeks till winter break! Then two straight weeks off, I can’t wait!
My author friend has another book event that I am going to go help her with, a sports romance one this time, so I’m excited for that!
What are you planning or looking forward to in December?
Giveaway
Still have a big ARC pile, so continuing another giveaway this month. Will keep it basic again, only open to US since I’m going to have to ship. You can pick 3 books from my giveaway pile in the pictures below. By the end of the month there might be more or different ones. And I’m going to have two winners again like I ended up doing last month. Just fill out the Rafflecopter below the picture.
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Great job with reading this month! So glad you got some time off and put your foot down on tasks which aren’t part of your job.
Yeah, I’ve just figured out that I have to do that if I’m going to have any peace and get through this year. I’m such a people pleaser though, and always want to be overachieving so that people will “like” me, so it’s a hard thing to do!
19 books is fantastic! Sorry it hasn’t been the best work year, but hopefully things will either change or improve. I’m already enjoying a less stressful blogging month😁
Yeah, so far December, well, after this week anyway, will be less stressful for reviews as I didn’t sign up for any and am doing pretty good about not signing up for reviews, but maybe blitzes instead. Glad your month is less stressful right now too!
You are doing pretty good with your reading and challenges! I have three weeks of work, too (but I’m part time). I’m excited because my daughter is done with her first semester in a week and will be home until mid-January! My son comes home over a week after her and we’ll all head to my sister’s for Christmas. I love this time of year!
Yay! That will be so nice to have your family home for Christmas. My sister is coming home from Scotland on Christmas Eve with her boyfriend, so looking forward to seeing them!
Happy to hear you put your foot down with your AP on extra work that’s not your responsibility! Especially, when you aren’t getting the clerk you’re supposed to have. Nice that you have two weeks of vacation to look forward to!
Just have two weeks and two days left to make it to those two weeks of break!
This was the first November in which I didn’t get my Christmas tree up Thanksgiving weekend. We were just too busy taking my daughter back to college and helping her plan out her senior art project display for the school gallery. My birthday was yesterday and we went to see Les Miserables which was fantastic. Today we’ll be watching the Lions take on the Bills which hopefully will end with a W for Detroit.
We were rooting for your Lions because their win would have helped our Chiefs, looks like it was a close game though! How much fun to go see Les Miserables! I got mine up over Thanksgiving break this year, but in the past year or two I’d done it at the beginning of November.
You are doing great on all these challenges!
I’m doing okay on most of them thankfully! One or two I won’t get finished.
Thanks for always coming by and commenting when you have time on my blog. Your the only conistent one on that. I made an exciting bookish purchase for myself using my swagbucks paypal money. I getting my first offical personalized digital planner. I tried using a physical one numbeous times and i think with the fact that i do so much on my ipad all ready for blogging and reviewing having the planner on here to will be very helpful. Hope you have a merry christmas.
Yay! I hope your new planner works out for you! I am old fashioned and need a paper one to keep me on track, lol.
Great job on bingo, Lisa! Keep it up!
Will probably end up about the same this month as last. No nonfiction!
I get that! You can blame Julie for the non-fiction square. She’s doing a non-fiction challenge.
Well, I should probably try to read more nonfiction, lol
Hi Lisa, Congrats on another stellar reading month! I think it’s good that you stop reading books when you realise they’re not for you. I tend to keep going to the end, but there’s probably not much point most of the time. Love the festive look of your site, by the way! Happy New Year!
Thanks! Happy new year to you as well!