Hey, and welcome back to my blog! You may remember me as someone who used to blog? Yeah, it’s been busy, but at least I’m finally getting around to posting this! I read 8 books in November, ranging from children’s classics that I read for work, to ARCs, to recently published books I’d been dying to get to! Let’s jump in.
#1. The Secret of The Old Clock (Nancy Drew #1) by Carolyn Keene, 3/5 stars
One of the places I volunteer at is a vintage and antique bookstore that I’ve mentioned a few times on my blog, Books On Bay. Part of working there is relating with the customers who are remembering their favorite childhood books, and reading those books helps me to relate to them. Now, I’ve read and reread all of the Nancy Drew books more times than I can count, but I hadn’t reread this one since I was 13 years old. I also hadn’t read the Original Text (OT) version, the version that was originally published and sold before it was eventually given a much needed face lift to be made more appropriate to the times (aka less racist, less rambling, better plot, etc). So I read it, and wow was it a trip down memory lane (from when I read these books) and the “good ol’ days” (aka the racist days). It was something else to read, that’s for sure.
#2. The Tower Treasure by Franklin W. Dixon (Hardy Boys #1), 4/5 stars
While I loved Nancy Drew, I just never really got into the Hardy Boys. This was my first time reading this one, and I actually really enjoyed it! It definitely wasn’t as racist as the Nancy Drew book, but it had it’s moments. Maybe one day I’ll read the other books in the series!
#3. By The Light of The Study Lamp by Carolyn Keene (Dana Girls #1), 4/5 stars
I also really enjoyed this book far more than I thought I would. It makes me wish I had discovered these when I was still deep into my Nancy Drew phase so I could read and be obsessed with these as well. I am definitely planning on trying to read more Dana Girls in the future.
#4. Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo (Alex Stern #1), 4.5/5 stars
I had been looking forward to this book all year and it did not disappoint! I’m so glad I finally got around to reading this. It would have been a 5 star if I hadn’t wanted to skim over some of the school history stuff, but that’s just me. There were some things, like the descriptions of the assault on Alex when she was young and the description of the assault on Mercy, and also the whole Bryce-toilet-thing, among others, that made me feel sick. There was a point a little over 2/3ds into the book where it got very sad when you find out that one character seems like a lost cause. I like how the ending was left off in a way where Leigh could totally come back and write a sequel, but it would also make sense for Alex and Dawes to go off and do that on their own, ‘without us’. There were times when I was confused about the story line and character plots, but the historical stuff. I don’t do well with timeline jumps. But again, that’s a me problem.
#5. The Lucky Ones by Liz Lawson- 4/5 Stars
This book was intense. Survivors guilt is horrific, and losing your twin like that in such a horrific way is unfathomable to me. If I ever lot my twin like that, I would probably become a lot like May.
This book was well written in the sense that in general, it was a good book, and in the sense that the author did her research. It sucks that people like David exist in this world. I was full on crying at the last 10% if the book. You definitely need trigger warnings for this one, and I hope they get put at the front of the book when it gets published.
#6. Capturing The Devil by Kerri Maniscalco- 5/5 Stars
Given how I felt about the previous books in the series, I didn’t have high hopes for this one but as it turns out, I loved it. I think I just needed the romance that this book provided after 3 books of will they/won’t they and the drama. I really can’t think of a thing I didn’t like about this book, and I’m sorry to see Cressworth off.
#7. The Devouring Gray by Christine Lynn Herman- 5/5 Stars
Is anyone really surprised? I’ll probably read it again before March in preperation for The Deck Of Omens.
Also, keep an eye out for my Christine Lynn Herman Author Appreciation Week coming up for the release of The Deck of Omens!
#8. Darkdawn by Jay Kristoff/4.5/5 Stars
Wow. What a finale. I loved the relationship between brother and sister, and the insertion of the series within the series😂
I think that this was a good wrap up for the series. The ending was a tad confusing, but that could have just been me trying to process everything that was happening. I was very overcome with emotions.
I read a lot of good books for November! What did you read? Anything fun? Holiday themed? Sad? I want to know!
Some Books & Ramblings 