November Reads

I love that November reading is such a mix between Christmas books and regular books. So many good ones in each category! 

Let’s start with Christmas-set stories! 

A Very Barrie Christmas by Rachael Bloome

I loved this final novella in the Poppy Creek series, maybe especially because it took some inspiration from one of my favorite Christmas movies—Christmas in Connecticut! (Yes, the old Barbara Stanwyck version.) Such a sweet story, so full of Christmas. But since the Poppy Creek series also begins with a Christmas story (The Clause in Christmas), I suggest you start there if you haven’t read any of them yet! 

The Christmas Book Flood by Roseanna White

What a charming story, incorporating Iceland’s lovely tradition of giving books for Christmas and reading them on Christmas Eve. I also loved the insight into the experience of Icelanders during World War II. So much I didn’t know! 

One Last Storm by Susan May Warren

Alaska Air One Rescue doesn’t take a break over Christmas! This is a non-stop novella with so many of your favorite Alaska Air One Rescue characters—and it leads us into a new series coming next year! Yay! 

A Sea View Christmas by Julie Klassen

The end of the On Devonshire Shores series. I have loved this story of sisters who are forced to open a boarding house. This Christmas novella was an interesting look at various celebrations of the Christmas season during the Regency period. But my favorite part was Sarah getting her happy ending with her Scotsman. 

Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan

Wow. I wanted to read this last year, even ordered it from Amazon, but for some reason, the order was canceled, and I never received it. This year, I bought it on one of my Barnes and Noble trips! It’s a very small book. Less than two hours to read. But such a sweet story, set at Christmas, about what it means to be a Christian and love your neighbor instead of turning and looking the other way when you encounter someone who is hurting. A Good Samaritan story, of sorts, but even more than that. Lovely.

Snowed Inn by Ashley Clark

This felt like a Hallmark movie in a novella! Loved it so much!

Palm Trees and Poison by Tracy Higley

Okay, so set right before Christmas, but really just an Agatha Christie-style mystery set in 1923 Egypt (with a free novella that is actually set at Christmas!) It did keep me guessing! 

Now for some non-Christmas novels: 

Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

Jeff and I listened to this one together. Joanne Frogget (From Downton Abbey) did a great job with the narration, but I will confess, it’s been a while since I read this, and so many parts of it are just disturbing! There is so little redemption and almost no change in the characters. So very, very different from Jane Eyre, which I love. And yet, as a teen, I thought Heathcliff so romantic. Ugh. 

The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

I don’t think I’d ever read this one before. I saw the movie when it was released when I was in high school, but I wanted to read the book before we attended the new musical. The musical and movie are both good and pretty faithful to the book, but of course, the book has so much more to it. I loved the story and the characters. 

Counterfeit Hope by Crystal Caudill

Really good book, but a hard story in so many ways. I was thankful for the mystery, which kept me reading through some of the harder parts, and the ending made it all worthwhile! 

Through Each Tomorrow by Gabrielle Meyer

Book six of the Timeless series! Oh, how I love these historical romance/time travel stories! This one vacillates between the 1880s and the 1560s. But what twists this one is that there are several different time travelers, not just one or two! And a couple of fun surprises at the end. 

The Perfect Rom-Com by Melissa Ferguson

Oh my goodness! I loved this grumpy/sunshine friends-to-lovers story so much! So many laugh-out-loud moments. And just a perfect ending. Sigh. 

Rules for Ruin by Mimi Matthews

I confess, I put off reading this one because I was afraid I wouldn’t like it, even though I’ve enjoyed Mimi’s other books. And even while I was reading, I reserved judgment until the end. Why? Because I didn’t want to root for a bad guy! But I should have trusted Mimi’s storytelling. She does a great job with character arc, especially in this one! 

One non-fiction book, which we used in our ladies’ Bible study this fall at church: 

Worthy by Sinclair Ferguson

This tiny, five-chapter book is packed full of spiritual insight and truth. I especially loved the final chapter, which was extremely thought-provoking and practical when considering how we can live, as Paul encouraged in several of his letters, a life worthy of the gospel of Christ. 

That’s it! Lots of great books. And I still have more in my Christmas queue for December! 

What did you read in November that you enjoyed most?