November was a quieter reading month for me, I was working on some cool stuff but I also struggled to find the energy to sit down and read rather than scrolling YouTube and not really having to think.

So, my focus for the month was mostly shorter books and poetry collections that I could easily follow while ticking a few books off of the massive TBR pile.

This Winter – Alice Oseman

It’s no surprise that I adore the Heartstopper graphic novels (see reviews here for volumes one, two and three!), pre lockdown I picked up this signed edition in my local Waterstones to get me in the mood for winter.

It’s a short story set on Christmas day centring on family and some of the more stressful times celebrating Christmas can bring, but ultimately ended up being lovely and adorable. It was also the only thing I could read in the first week of November.

A quick, lovely 5 star read.

Blood and Honey – Shelby Mahurin

The follow up to one of my favourite books of the year Serpent and Dove. This one took a little longer for me to get into than the first in the series but once I was in I couldn’t stop.

I enjoyed seeing the development of Reid in particular and his choices following the ending of the first novel. There’s so much I want to say but I don’t want to spoil it. Two words though – that ending!!! We now have to wait until August 2021 to get the ending to the trilogy.

This one was 4.5 stars for me.

Sorry I Haven’t Texted You Back – Alicia Cook

I only realised that Alicia Cook had release a new collection thanks to the Goodreads Choice awards. I absolutely loved her previous two collections so put in an order for this as soon as I heard about it.

This follows Alicia’s signature style of having an a and b side, creating two different poems from the same words and written to a song. This very much looks at the depths of depression and how it feels.

A 4 star read for me.

Home Body – Rupi Kaur

It’s no secret that I’m a Rupi Kaur fan and pre ordered my signed edition as soon as it was announced. I found this collection to be different, initially I wasn’t as in love with the first half of the collection but as soon as we hit the second half I felt, once again, like Rupi had taken the thoughts and feelings in my head and put them on a page.

A 4 star read for me.

I Kissed Alice – Anna Birch

This was perfect for a chilled Saturday. A female/female enemies to lovers story involving rival artists and a shared love for Alice in Wonderland. Illiana and Rhodes absolutely despise each other, but what they don’t know is that they’ve actually been communicating, falling in love and collaborating on an Alice In Wonderland space comic together without ever meeting.

The suspense! The drama! I loved this book, it was also a super quick and easy read if you’re in the mood for something lighter. Also the novel is beautifully illustrated by Victoria Ying.

I’d love to hear more about what happens after the end, no spoilers of course! A 4 star read for me.

Have you read any of these or are they on your to read list? Let me know in the comments below!