Bi-monthly Recap | Oct-Nov

Life lately

I swear, I blinked and November was over! It's been a fun two months though. I had my first real vacation since the pandemic started, NYC days either on my own or with friends, a day trip to Cold Spring, going out for dinner, and of course, Thanksgiving! Technically there was Halloween too, but I've never cared much for that holiday, except now I like seeing my nephew Ian in his costumes. Time just flies when you're having fun, super busy (and stressed) at work, and trying to find time to do the dozens of things I want to do. Which is a mixture of house stuff (the cleaning never ends), hobbies (my Animal Crossing obsession has re-started), and relaxing. At this point, I'm just counting down to Christmas so I can be on yet another staycation. 

Oct-Nov Superlatives

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On the blog

Book Reviews When Sparks Fly by Helena Hunting Aristotle and Dante Dive Into the Waters of the World by Benjamin Alire Saenz The Donut Trap by Julie Tieu The Wedding Ringer by Kerry Rea Love, Lists, and Fancy Ships by Sarah Grunder Ruiz Fastest Way to Fall by Denise Williams Bookish Paranormal Book Club: Unearthly Nightcap with the Huntress: Series Review + Favorites

Features Link + Loves (Oct) Link + Loves (Nov) Recent Purchases I'm Obsessed With What I've Watched | Downton Abbey, Only Murders in the Building, Maid Life Lately / Personal Roadtrip to Vermont Harry Potter + Cold Spring, NY Dior, Bookstores & Ice Cream Happy Thoughts | Thanksgiving Edition

One-sentence reviews

These are books (physical + ebooks) from my TBR or the library aka the non-review books.

• It Ends With Us by Colleen Hover (⭐⭐⭐⭐): I wanted to see if this book lived up to the hype and I did end up liking it but wow, it wasn’t what I expected at all. 
  
  
• A Natural History of Dragons (The Memoirs of Lady Trent, #1) by Marie Brennan (⭐⭐⭐💫): I really enjoyed this alternative reality where "dragon naturalists" are a real thing. 
  
  
• Archangel's Light (Guild Hunter, #14) by Nalini Singh (⭐⭐⭐⭐💫): I don't know how Singh does it but every installment is consistently good and this was no exception! 
  
  
• Out of Love by Hazel Hayes (⭐⭐⭐💫): While I enjoyed the concept of moving backwards in time through these characters’ relationship, it was hard to connect when I never once rooted for the couple. 
  
  
• Love in Focus, Complete Collection by Yoko Nogiri  (⭐⭐⭐⭐💫): This slice of life manga about a girl who loves photography was exactly the kind of feel good story I needed. 
  
  
• It Happened One Summer (Bellinger Sisters, #1) by Tessa Bailey (⭐⭐⭐⭐): I'm a sucker for city girl/townie guy romances and this was cute, heartfelt, and steamy.  
  
  
• The Tropic of Serpents (The Memoirs of Lady Trent, #2) by Marie Brennan (⭐⭐⭐): I actually listened to this and I think the writing lends itself really well to audio. 
  
  
• Arsène Lupin, Gentleman-Thief (Arsène Lupin, #1) by Maurice Leblanc (⭐⭐⭐): I've been wanting to read this since watching Lupin on Netflix but I have to admit, the show was definitely better even though there were a couple stories in here I quite liked. 
  
  
• Heard It in a Love Song by Tracey Garvis-Graves (⭐⭐⭐💫): The cover and knowing the story involved music reeled me in but while I did like the book, I didn't fall in love with it the way I hoped I would. 
 

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How's your month been?