Reading Wrap-Up: November 2025
This month, I had a genuinely fantastic reading month… but it also confirmed something for me: I don’t think I’m setting a reading goal next year. Every time I pick a number, it suddenly turns reading into a weird competition with myself. I start side-eying page counts, mentally calculating how many short books I could squeeze in, and pretending I don’t care… even though I kind of do? I guess?
And honestly? Reading is the one thing I don’t want to gamify. I want to reach for the books I’m excited about, not the ones with the lowest page count. So next year, no goals. No scoreboard. Just vibes, stories, and whatever I can fit between writing, parenting, and, you know, basic survival.
Here’s what I read in November!
Top Tier Favorites (5 Stars)
📘 Gray After Dark by Noelle West Ihli – A total standout this month! Sharp, gripping, and packed with tension that actually pays off. One of those thrillers that feels airtight in structure and still manages to surprise you. 5 stars!
Excellent Reads (4–4.5 Stars)
📙The Measure by Nikki Erlick – Thought-provoking without beating you over the head, and eerily believable in how society might respond if this premise were real. Not a white-knuckle read, but consistently engaging with some genuinely wise moments. 4.5 stars!
📘 The Friend Zone by Abby Jimenez – Real, layered characters with heart and humor. It had a few repetitive beats, but the emotional payoff and realism made it easy to love. 4.5 stars!
📗 We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer – Weird, unnerving, and compulsively readable. The kind of psychological creepiness that sticks with you after you close the book. 4.5 stars!
📕 The House of My Mother by Shari Franke – Heart-wrenching and raw. A memoir that’s equal parts vulnerable and reflective, and written with a clarity that lingers. 4.5 stars!
📙 Happy People Are Annoying by Josh Peck – Insightful, surprisingly relatable, and full of honest reflections on weight, addiction, and reshaping your definition of success. You don’t have to know him to enjoy the story. 4 stars.
📘 My Story by Elizabeth Smart – Important and powerful, especially in audio. Her account is heartbreaking and direct, (though I hear it reads more simply on the page… glad I did audio). Still, the strength and personal experience behind her voice carries it. 4 stars.
Solid Reads (3–3.5 Stars)
📕 The Best of Friends by Lucinda Berry – A decent, emotionally messy thriller with strong themes, but it never fully landed the impact I hoped for. More “good enough” than gripping. 3 stars.
📙 The Housemaid’s Wedding: A Short Story by Freida McFadden – Quick, entertaining, and very Freida. Not essential to the series but fun addition if you’re already in the world.
Not My Favorites (2–2.5 Stars)
📗 One in Four by Lucinda Berry – The reality-show angle had promise but ended up barely relevant. Not enough twists, not enough payoff, and it felt strangely unfinished. Like a draft that needed more time. 2.5 stars (and that’s generous).
Looking Ahead: December TBR
📘 Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon – I carried this one over from November because it still has me hooked on vibes alone. Historical mystery + winter atmosphere feels perfect for December.
📗 Hello Stranger by Katherine Center – Center’s books are basically warm blankets for the brain, and I’m ready for something heartfelt, funny, and soothing.
📕 Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah – My pick for Brady & Rosie’s Book Club on Patreon. I know this one is going to emotionally demolish me in the best Kristin Hannah way.
📙 You’ll Never Know by Caleb Stephens – Kurryreads’ Fable pick, and I’m… cautiously approaching. I’ve read Stephens before and he can go dark, so I’ll be bracing myself and keeping snacks nearby.
📘 The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally Carter – A cozy holiday mystery recommended by so many people. Feels like the perfect festive palate cleanser.
📗 The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden – Wintry folklore, icy forests, and witchy magic? December is literally begging for this one.
📕 That’s a Great Question, I’d Love to Tell You by Elyse Myers – I adore her, so this memoir is an instant “yes.” Absolutely expecting humor, heart, and maybe a few “wow, same” moments.
📙 Shady Hollow by Juneau Black – Cozy woodland murder mystery with animal characters? Sounds adorable. Also, I bought it for my niece for Christmas, so I should probably read it first before we start a tiny two-person book club.
📘 Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid – I’ve been hoarding this like dessert I don’t want to finish. TJR is a favorite, and apparently I have commitment issues when it comes to reading my favorite authors.
📗 The Gift by Freida McFadden – A quick Christmas novella that sounds fun and chaotic in classic Freida fashion. Perfect for breaking up heavier reads.
📕 The Santa Suit or Bright Lights, Big Christmas by Mary Kay Andrews – I can’t decide yet, but either one feels like the right holiday vibe. Small-town charm, twinkle lights, and mild chaos await.
And yes… I’m fully aware this is a hefty list. But if I somehow manage to read 11 books in December, I’ll hit my yearly goal—which, in theory, doesn’t matter… but also, you know, it kind of matters. The good news is I always read way more once the weather turns cold and I’m almost caught up on photo editing from the crazy fall season. :)
Let me know what you read this month or what’s on your December list—I’m always down for new recs!
“A great book should leave you with many experiences, and slightly exhausted at the end.”
