What I Read in November 2023

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Hello everyone! I hope you all had a happy Thanksgiving, a nice Black Friday, and a lovely Cyber Monday. I read 20 books this month, which I'm very happy with. I know the holidays can be a very busy time for people, so the fact that I even had the time to read 20 books this month is kind of astounding to me. I'd love to break 200 before the end of the year though, but I was one book short this month. I'm not gonna lie, I think I've had more misses this month than I've had all year. My ratings have been all over the place generally, but there are definitely more 3, 2, and 1-star ratings this month than I've had all year, and that says a lot. With all of that said, let's get started!

- Wreck the Halls by Tessa Bailey: I rated this book 5/5 stars and finished it on November 2nd. This is her newest release and the perfect Christmas romance. I loved everything about it honestly; I thought it was funny, the characters were very likable, and the minimal spice was great too. I also loved that their names were Beat and Melody, I thought that was adorable. I recommend this to anyone who loves Christmas romances.

"Melody Gallard may be the daughter of music royalty, but her world is far from glamorous. She spends her days restoring old books and avoiding the limelight (one awkward tabloid photo was enough, thanks). But when a producer offers her a lot of money to reunite her mother's band on live tv, Mel begins to wonder if it's time to rattle the cage, shake up her quiet life... and see him again. The only other person who could wrangle the rock and roll divas. Beat Dawkins, the lead singer's son, is Melody's opposite--the camera loves him, he could charm the pants off anyone, and his mom is not a potential cult leader. Still, they might have been best friends if not for the legendary feud that broke up the band. When they met as teenagers, Mel felt an instant spark, but it's nothing compared to the wild, intense attraction that builds as they embark on a madcap mission to convince their mothers to perform one last show. While dealing with rock star shenanigans, a 24-hour film crew, brawling Santas, and mobs of adoring fans, Mel starts to step out of her comfort zone. With Beat by her side, cheering her on, she's never felt so understood. But Christmas Eve is fast approaching, and a decades-old scandal is poised to wreck everything--the Steel Birds reunion, their relationships with their mothers, and their newfound love."

- Beach Read by Emily Henry: I rated this book 5/5 stars and finished it on November 2nd. I actually purchased this book sometime in September and had been annotating it while I was reading, that's why it took me so long. It was worth it though, as I really enjoyed it. I liked Augustus and January as individuals but I also liked their stories together which is important. I'm not sure who I'd recommend this to, but I'd definitely say to read it around this time of year.

"Augustus Everett is an acclaimed author of literary fiction. January Andrews writes bestselling romances. When she pens a happily ever after, he kills off his entire cast. They’re polar opposites. In fact, the only thing they have in common is that for the next three months, they’re living in neighboring beach houses, broke, and bogged down with writer’s block. Until, one hazy evening, one thing leads to another and they strike a deal designed to force them out of their creative ruts: Augustus will spend the summer writing something happy, and January will pen the next Great American Novel. She’ll take him on field trips worthy of any rom-com montage, and he’ll take her to interview surviving members of a backwoods death cult (obviously). Everyone will finish a book and no one will fall in love. Really."

- Happy Place by Emily Henry: I rated this book 3/5 stars and finished it on November 4th. *sigh* To say I was disappointed in this book would be an understatement. It didn't make any sense to me. I couldn't wrap my head around why I didn't like it, but I also thought maybe it would get better as I went along. Spoiler alert, it didn't, hence why it's a three-star read. I really wanted to like this too, you know? I'd heard great things about it, people were saying this was their new favorite Emily Henry novel and I was ready to hop on that train with them...until I wasn't. Harriett and Wyn were so unlikable, it's not even funny. Actually, I didn't really like any of the characters. I thought they all sucked. I wouldn't recommend this to anyone, unless you like a deceiving cover/title, then I'd recommend it to you. As I said in my review of this book, there was nothing happy about it. Nothing.

"Harriet and Wyn have been the perfect couple since they met in college—they go together like salt and pepper, honey and tea, lobster and rolls. Except, now—for reasons they’re still not discussing—they don’t. They broke up six months ago. And still haven’t told their best friends. Which is how they find themselves sharing the largest bedroom at the Maine cottage that has been their friend group’s yearly getaway for the last decade. Their annual respite from the world, where for one vibrant, blue week they leave behind their daily lives; have copious amounts of cheese, wine, and seafood; and soak up the salty coastal air with the people who understand them most. Only this year, Harriet and Wyn are lying through their teeth while trying not to notice how desperately they still want each other. Because the cottage is for sale and this is the last week they’ll all have together in this place. They can’t stand to break their friends’ hearts, and so they’ll play their parts. Harriet will be the driven surgical resident who never starts a fight, and Wyn will be the laid-back charmer who never lets the cracks show. It’s a flawless plan (if you look at it from a great distance and through a pair of sunscreen-smeared sunglasses). After years of being in love, how hard can it be to fake it for one week… in front of those who know you best?"

- Have I Told You This Already by Lauren Graham: I rated this book 4/5 stars and finished it on November 5th. I thought it was cute! I love Lauren Graham, which is partly why I picked this out. The other one I read by her (which I'll talk about next) was definitely my favorite out of the two. I'm not sure I'd recommend this to anyone really, unless they like essay books.

"With her signature sense of humor and down-to-earth storytelling, Lauren Graham opens up about her years working in the entertainment business—from the sublime to the ridiculous—and shares personal stories about everything from family and friendship to the challenges of aging gracefully in Hollywood. In "RIP Barneys New York," she writes about an early job as a salesperson at the legendary department store -- and the time she inadvertently shoplifted; in "Ne Oublie" she warns us about the perils of coming from an extremely forgetful family; and in "Actor-y Factory" she recounts what a day in the life of an actor looks like (unless you’re Brad Pitt). Filled with surprising anecdotes, sage advice, and laugh-out-loud observations, Graham's latest collection of all-new, original essays showcases the winning charm and wit that she's known for."

- Talking as Fast as I Can by Lauren Graham: I rated this book 5/5 stars and finished it on November 5th. This is the other book by her I read this month that I ended up enjoying a lot more. I'd recommend this to anyone who loves Gilmore Girls, or anyone who enjoys the other shows she's been in (like Parenthood).

"In Talking as Fast as I Can, Lauren Graham hits pause for a moment and looks back on her life, sharing laugh-out-loud stories about growing up, starting out as an actress, and, years later, sitting in her trailer on the Parenthood set and asking herself, “Did you, um, make it?” She opens up about the challenges of being single in Hollywood (“Strangers were worried about me; that’s how long I was single!”), the time she was asked to audition her butt for a role, and her experience being a judge on Project Runway (“It’s like I had a fashion-induced blackout”). In “What It Was Like, Part One,” Graham sits down for an epic Gilmore Girls marathon and reflects on being cast as the fast-talking Lorelai Gilmore. The essay “What It Was Like, Part Two” reveals how it felt to pick up the role again nine years later, and what doing so has meant to her. Some more things you will learn about Lauren: She once tried to go vegan just to bond with Ellen DeGeneres, she’s aware that meeting guys at awards shows has its pitfalls (“If you’re meeting someone for the first time after three hours of hair, makeup, and styling, you’ve already set the bar too high”), and she’s a card-carrying REI shopper (“My bungee cords now earn points!”). Including photos and excerpts from the diary Graham kept during the filming of the recent Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life, this book is like a cozy night in, catching up with your best friend, laughing and swapping stories, and—of course—talking as fast as you can."

- Jasper Vale by Devney Perry: I rated this book 4/5 stars and finished it on November 8th. This is the fourth out of six in the Edens series. Eloise and Jasper! ELOISE AND JASPER!! I'm not sure why I waited so long to read this one, I think I wanted to read it closer to the Sable Peak release date (December 5th) so I was mentally/emotionally prepared for it. I got Jasper Vale and Crimson River for my birthday in July but I've been waiting to read them and the wait was definitely worth it. I've never been a fan of the fake dating/fake marriage trope but Eloise and Jasper definitely make it work. It's really well done, and the ending set up really well for the intro of Crimson River, which I'm going to talk about next. I recommend this to anyone who's read the first three in this series.

"Eloise Eden’s pride and joy is her family’s hotel in Quincy, Montana. Her lifelong dream is to own The Eloise Inn. All she has to do is prove to her parents that she’s the epitome of responsible. That her days of being duped and making reckless decisions are history. She’s so close she can taste it. Until after one weekend in Las Vegas, she comes home married to a stranger. Jasper must have put her under a spell with those soul-deep eyes because after a single night together, they woke up husband and wife. Her only hope is to keep this marriage a secret until it’s annulled. Then she’ll pretend it never happened. Except Jasper begs her to stay married. To fake it for three months so she can accompany him to a wedding. Maybe she’s lost her mind to agree. But her brooding husband seems desperate. It’s only three months, right? Then she’ll say goodbye to Jasper Vale, and with any luck, hello to her new hotel."

- Crimson River by Devney Perry: I rated this book 5/5 stars and finished it on November 8th. This is the fifth out of six in the Edens series. As I just mentioned above, the epilogue in Jasper Vale perfectly sets up Lyla's first chapter in Crimson River. It was a very exciting read, and I felt like I got to see Mateo the most in this book before his story comes out next week in Sable Peak. I loved Lyla, I loved Vance, and I loved the twists that came at the end, both in Lyla and Vance's narrative but also in Mateo's. I loved being able to get a glimpse into his world before his book even comes out, I thought that was super cool. Again, I'd only recommend this book if you've read the others in the series, but I'd definitely recommend the entire series.

"Lyla Eden has spent the last few years watching her siblings fall in love. Meanwhile, she’s married to her job. It’s on her hundredth consecutive workday that her sister stages an intervention, kicking Lyla out of her own coffee shop. With nothing else to do, Lyla sets out on her favorite hiking trail. It’s there that she spots a man washing blood from his hands in a stream. One moment she’s staring at the jagged scar on his face. The next, his hand is around her throat. But by some miracle, he lets her go. Shaken to her core, Lyla reports the incident to the local police. Two days later, Vance Sutter arrives in town, armed with endless questions and a tarnished badge. Vance may be ruggedly handsome but he’s as mysterious as the man he’s hunting. And he’ll be gone from Quincy in a blink. Yet Lyla’s crush is impossible to stop. No matter how hard Vance tries to ignore it, there’s no denying the chemistry between them. And avoiding Lyla is not an option. After years of chasing dead ends, she’s his only lead to closing the case that haunts his career. So together, they’ll retrace her steps. To find the scarred man she met beside a crimson river."

- Brain Damage by Freida McFadden: I rated this book 2/5 stars and finished it on November 10th. This was definitely my least favorite book by her I've read so far. I'm actually convinced it gave me brain damage with how awful it was. The biggest letdown in this book for me was how it seemingly got better out of nowhere. Like, everything was going slow as normal, and then *poof* she's suddenly making miraculous progress after not being able to for months? No. That's so unbelievable as a reader. I didn't like it. I wouldn't recommend this one to anybody. Sorry, Freida.

"After years of hard work, Dr. Charly McKenna finally has it all. Prosperous career as a dermatologist? Check. Spacious apartment overlooking Central Park? Check. Handsome lawyer husband? Double check. Then one night, a bullet rips through the right side of her skull and she loses everything. As Charly struggles to recover from her brain injury, she begins to realize that the events of that fateful night are trapped in the damaged right side of her brain. Now she must put the jigsaw pieces together to discover the identity of the man who tried to kill her... before he finishes the job he started."

- Consider Me by Becka Mack: I rated this book 2/5 stars and DNF'd it 40% of the way through on November 10th. This is the first book in the Playing for Keeps series. I don't think there's anything inherently "wrong" about this book. I liked the characters, I liked the plot, I just didn't like the length. This book is almost 500 pages. A 500-page hockey romance should be unacceptable with the amount of slow burn that's happening. Pucking Around by Emily Rath is 750 pages and at least 1/4 of it is good smut. This, however, had none of that. I was almost halfway through when I decided to call it quits, and nothing spicy had happened. Definitely a letdown, definitely wouldn't recommend it.

"Carter Beckett is the NHL's resident badboy, top player both on the ice & in the bedroom, and quite possibly the sexiest man to ever grace my field of vision. But worst of all? He knows it. He’s arrogant, self-centered, and the man doesn’t seem to know what a filter is, let alone how to use one. He’s had everything served to him on a silver platter, including endless strings of women, and apparently, I’m up next. His only problem? I have no intention of falling for his shi—um, charm. I have the solution to all my sexual frustrations in a drawer at home, and it’s far less complicated than Carter Beckett. Sure, he may be pretty, but he’s also a walking, talking reminder for you to wrap it before you tap it. But then I start letting my guard down, and he starts showing me pieces of himself I had no intention of seeing. The bricks surrounding me may be tumbling down one by one, but I’m not sold yet, which means for the first time in his life, Carter’s the one begging. For my time, my trust, for a single chance. For me to just…consider him."

- Good Bad Girl by Alice Feeney: I rated this book 3/5 stars and finished it on November 15th. Earlier this year, I read Bunny by Mona Awad. I felt like I was in a fever dream the entire time I read that book. How I felt after finishing this one, was kinda similar. I wouldn't go so far as to say it felt like a fever dream, but I definitely felt like I was in the Twilight Zone for a little while. It was very confusing toward the end and not the vibe I was hoping for at all. I wouldn't recommend this one.

"Twenty years after a baby is stolen from a stroller, a woman is murdered in a care home. The two crimes are somehow linked, and a good bad girl may be the key to discovering the truth. Edith may have been tricked into a nursing home, but at eighty-years-young, she’s planning her escape. Patience works there, cleaning messes and bonding with Edith, a kindred spirit. But Patience is lying to Edith about almost everything. Edith’s own daughter, Clio, won’t speak to her. And someone new is about to knock on Clio’s door…and their intentions aren’t good. With every reason to distrust each other, the women must solve a mystery with three suspects, two murders, and one victim. If they do, they might just find out what happened to the baby who disappeared, the mother who lost her, and the connections that bind them."

- The Coworker by Freida McFadden: I rated this book 4/5 stars and finished it on November 16th. Earlier in this post, I talked about Brain Damage and how I thought it literally gave me brain damage. This book felt the opposite, thank goodness. This is her newest release and to me, it felt like a job well done. I loved Dawn and Natalie, and I felt like I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. The ending caught me by surprise too which was awesome. I'd recommend this one to everyone. Well done, Freida.

"Dawn Schiff is strange. At least, everyone thinks so at Vixed, the nutritional supplement company where Dawn works as an accountant. She never says the right thing. She has no friends. And she is always at her desk at precisely 8:45 a.m. So when Dawn doesn't show up to the office one morning, her coworker Natalie Farrell—beautiful, popular, top sales rep five years running—is surprised. Then she receives an unsettling, anonymous phone call that changes everything… It turns out Dawn wasn't just an awkward outsider—she was being targeted by someone close. And now Natalie is irrevocably tied to Dawn as she finds herself caught in a twisted game of cat and mouse that leaves her wondering: who's the real victim? But one thing is incredibly clear: somebody hated Dawn Schiff. Enough to kill."

- I Will Find You by Harlan Coben: I rated this book 5/5 stars and finished it on November 17th. I've heard a lot about this author in the past, about how well-written his thrillers are. I decided to hop on the train and I'm not getting off anytime soon. Yep, I'm happy to say I'm a Harlan Coben stan. Yay! Anyway, I liked this a lot! It kinda felt like I was on a roller coaster with all the twists and turns that took place, but I loved it anyway. I recommend this to anyone who's new to the genre and doesn't want something too gruesome or anyone who's a fan of John Grisham. I think they're in the same genre of thrillers.

"David and Cheryl Burroughs were living the dream life when tragedy struck. Now, five years after that terrible night, Cheryl is remarried. And David is serving a life sentence in a maximum-security prison for the brutal murder of their son. Then Cheryl’s sister, Rachel, arrives unexpectedly during visiting hours and drops a bombshell. She’s come with a photograph that a friend took on vacation at a theme park with a boy in the background who has a familiar, distinctive birthmark … and even though David and Rachel realize it can’t be, they both just know. It's David’s son, Matthew, and he's still alive. David plans a harrowing escape from prison, determined to do what seems impossible–save his son, clear his own name, and discover the real story of what happened that devastating night."

- It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover: I rated this 1/5 stars and finished it on November 17th. This book was definitely not the move for me. I wanted to give it a shot though, because I know how popular it's been. I wanted to see if it was as bad as people really said it was. Unsurprisingly, they were right. I did want to like this though. I tried really hard to like it too but I just couldn't. The abuse Lily endures shouldn't even be allowed in a book. It's not okay. I wouldn't consider anything about that a romance, absolutely none of it. Maybe if the author had prefaced the book BEFOREHAND with the warning she put at the end, I would've enjoyed it more. I wouldn't recommend this to anyone.

"Sometimes it is the one who loves you who hurts you the most. Lily hasn’t always had it easy, but that’s never stopped her from working hard for the life she wants. She’s come a long way from the small town in Maine where she grew up — she graduated from college, moved to Boston, and started her own business. So when she feels a spark with a gorgeous neurosurgeon named Ryle Kincaid, everything in Lily’s life suddenly seems almost too good to be true. Ryle is assertive, stubborn, maybe even a little arrogant. He’s also sensitive, brilliant, and has a total soft spot for Lily. And the way he looks in scrubs certainly doesn’t hurt. Lily can’t get him out of her head. But Ryle’s complete aversion to relationships is disturbing. Even as Lily finds herself becoming the exception to his “no dating” rule, she can’t help but wonder what made him that way in the first place. As questions about her new relationship overwhelm her, so do thoughts of Atlas Corrigan — her first love and a link to the past she left behind. He was her kindred spirit, her protector. When Atlas suddenly reappears, everything Lily has built with Ryle is threatened."

- It Starts with Us by Colleen Hoover: I rated this book 1/5 stars and DNF'd it 30% of the way through on November 18th. This is the sequel to the book I just talked about, It Ends with Us. The thing is, I wouldn't say there's anything inherently wrong with it. I just didn't like how it was written. It was kinda boring and wasn't worth the read. Again, wouldn't recommend it.

"Lily and her ex-husband, Ryle, have just settled into a civil coparenting rhythm when she suddenly bumps into her first love, Atlas, again. After nearly two years separated, she is elated that for once, time is on their side, and she immediately says yes when Atlas asks her on a date. But her excitement is quickly hampered by the knowledge that, though they are no longer married, Ryle is still very much a part of her life—and Atlas Corrigan is the one man he will hate being in his ex-wife and daughter’s life. Switching between the perspectives of Lily and Atlas, It Starts with Us picks up right where the epilogue for It Ends with Us left off. It reveals more about Atlas’s past and following Lily as she embraces a second chance at true love while navigating a jealous ex-husband."

- Built to Move by Kelly and Juliet Starrett: I rated this book 5/5 stars and finished it on November 21st. I think I meant to read this last month, but I couldn't find the time, so I read it this month instead. This one felt similar to the Anxiety Healer's Guide I read last month. It was very informational, and I'll definitely get good use out of it! I'd recommend this to anyone who wants to get into exercise but isn't sure where to start, and/or people who enjoy reading self-help books.

"After decades spent working with pro-athletes, Olympians, and Navy Seals, mobility pioneers Kelly and Juliet Starrett began thinking about the physical well-being of the rest of us. What makes a durable human? How do we continue to feel great and function well as we age? And how do we counteract the effects of technology-dependence, sedentary living, and other modern ways of life on our body’s natural need for activity? The answers lie in an easy-to-use formula for basic mobility maintenance: 10 tests + 10 physical practices = 10 ways to make your body work better. The book offers: It’s full of foundational wisdom for everyone from beginners to professional athletes and everyone in between. Built to Move introduces readers to a set of simple principles and practices that are undemanding enough to work into any busy schedule, lead to greater ease of movement, better health, and a happier life doing whatever it is you love to do—and want to continue doing as long as you live. This book is your game plan for the long game."

- Four Thousand Weeks by Oliver Burkeman: I rated this book 4/5 stars and finished it on November 21st. I wasn't really sure what to expect with this one. I think I thought it was going to be filled with time management skills, since part of the title is called "time management for mortals", but that wasn't the case. It was very informative though, and short too which I liked. I'd recommend this to anyone who likes nonfiction, leaning more into the self-help genre.

"The average human lifespan is absurdly, insultingly brief. Assuming you live to be eighty, you have just over four thousand weeks. Nobody needs telling there isn’t enough time. We’re obsessed with our lengthening to-do lists, our overfilled inboxes, work-life balance, and the ceaseless battle against distraction; and we’re deluged with advice on becoming more productive and efficient, and “life hacks” to optimize our days. But such techniques often end up making things worse. The sense of anxious hurry grows more intense, and still the most meaningful parts of life seem to lie just beyond the horizon. Still, we rarely make the connection between our daily struggles with time and the ultimate time management problem: the challenge of how best to use our four thousand weeks. Drawing on the insights of both ancient and contemporary philosophers, psychologists, and spiritual teachers, Oliver Burkeman delivers an entertaining, humorous, practical, and ultimately profound guide to time and time management. Rejecting the futile modern fixation on “getting everything done,” Four Thousand Weeks introduces readers to tools for constructing a meaningful life by embracing finitude, showing how many of the unhelpful ways we’ve come to think about time aren’t inescapable, unchanging truths, but choices we’ve made as individuals and as a society—and that we could do things differently."

- Wildfire by Hannah Grace: I rated this book 5/5 stars and finished it on November 22nd. This is the second book in the Maple Hills series. I was super excited to read this! It definitely became my highlight of the month for sure. I liked Icebreaker a lot, I just wish it had been about 100 pages shorter. Wildfire though? Perfection. I loved Aurora and Russ so much. They had such good chemistry together, and I loved how open they were with their miscommunication every time it happened between them. Reading this got me much more excited for Daydream (the third in the series, I believe it comes out in May/June of next year). I'd recommend this to anyone who loves hockey romance, and/or anyone who went to summer camp as a kid.

"Maple Hills students Russ Callaghan and Aurora Roberts cross paths at a party celebrating the end of the academic year, where a drinking game results in them having a passionate one-night stand. Never one to overstay her welcome (or expect much from a man), Aurora slips away before Russ even has the chance to ask for her full name. Imagine their surprise when they bump into each other on the first day of the summer camp where they are both counselors, hoping to escape their complicated home lives by spending the summer working. Russ hopes if he gets far enough away from Maple Hills, he can avoid dealing with the repercussions of his father’s gambling addiction, while Aurora is tired of craving attention from everyone around her, and wants to go back to the last place she truly felt at home. Russ knows breaking the camp’s strict “no staff fraternizing” rule will have him heading back to Maple Hills before the summer is over, but unfortunately for him, Aurora has never been very good at caring about the rules. Will the two learn to peacefully coexist? Or did their one night together start a fire they can’t put out?"

- Dark Notes by Pam Godwin: I rated this book 1/5 stars and finished it on November 24th. I would like to preface this review by saying I've read my fair share of crappy books this year. Not everything can be a 4 or 5-star read, and I totally get that. However, I don't think I've ever read a book as horrific as this one. I kinda knew going in that it wasn't going to be great, but I never would've guessed how truly awful it would be. This book deserves jail time. Pam deserves to be in jail for writing this monstrosity of a book and publishing it. I actually don't think I have enough negative words to say about this book or I'd be here for hours. There were just so many things (too many things for that matter) wrong with this book. It made my eyes and my brain bleed, and I'm convinced I'm currently rotting from the inside because of how awful this book was. Since starting this blog, I haven't had the opportunity to dig into a book for its awfulness...until today. The worst part is that it put me in a slump, and I haven't been able to read anything since. Please don't read this. I don't want to be responsible for any potential brain damage you endure by reading this.

"They call me a slut. Maybe I am. Sometimes I do things I despise. Sometimes men take without asking. But I have a musical gift, only a year left of high school, and a plan. With one obstacle. Emeric Marceaux doesn’t just take. He seizes my will power and bangs it like a dark note. When he commands me to play, I want to give him everything. I kneel for his punishments, tremble for his touch, and risk it all for our stolen moments. He’s my obsession, my master, my music. And my teacher."

- The New Guy by Sarina Bowen: I rated this book 4/5 stars and finished it on November 29th. This is the first book in the Hockey Guys series and I kinda loved it. I thought Hudson and Gavin had a great story together. I could also understand how he felt like he had to come out to make a point, which was cool. Nothing bad to say really. I'd recommend this to anyone who loves hockey romance.

"My name is Hudson Newgate, but my teammates call me New Guy. That was my nickname in Chicago, too. And Vancouver. That’s what happens when you keep getting traded. Brooklyn is my last chance, especially after my poor performance last season. But I can make this work. The new guy knows to keep his head down and shoot the puck. The new guy puts the game first. What he doesn’t do is hook up with the other new guy—a hot athletic trainer who lives in my building. Gavin needs this job with my team. He’s a single dad with responsibilities. We can’t be a couple. My arrogant agent–who’s also my father–will lose his mind if I’m dating a dude. And my team needs me to score goals, not whip up a media circus. Too bad Gavin and I are terrible at resisting each other…"

- I'm Your Guy by Sarina Bowen: I rated this book 5/5 stars and finished it on November 29th. This is the second book in the Hockey Guys series and somehow I loved it even more than the first one. I think because I liked Tomasso more and how he didn't feel the need to come out. He's a very private person and unlike Hudson, he didn't need to announce it for everyone to know. I loved Carter too, his character was great. I'd definitely recommend this one to all my hockey romance lovers out there, but more on the side of fluff and character development for both of them. Neither are super spicy which I liked a lot.

"Tommaso: The furniture district is my personal hell. I don’t know my ass from an ottoman. But when a hot designer comes to my rescue, I realize my problems are bigger than the house I’m trying to furnish. A scorching kiss over fabric samples makes me question all my choices. But is it too late to change my entire life to get more of them?"

"Carter: I need this gig, but my cocky new client leaves out a couple crucial details: He doesn’t mention that he's a famous hockey player. And he doesn’t own up to the way he’s always trying to undress me with his dark, broody eyes. The man throws out more mixed signals than a broken traffic light. I've never been more sexually frustrated in my entire life. I need to back away before I do something stupid, like lose my heart. Oops. Too late."

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That's everything I read in November! Hopefully, I won't have nearly as many misses next month as I did this month. That was a little unsettling for sure. I'll probably be back between Christmas and New Year's Eve, but I doubt it'll be as long as this one. The holidays are the busiest time of the year for me, but especially December more than anything. Also, I'll be posting something at the beginning of January talking about all my six-star reads from this year, so keep your eyes peeled for that. Happy holidays everyone!