November Books 2023
November Books 2023: 9 Books I Read this Month
By: Brittany Shields
So the year is almost up and I realized I was super super far behind on my reading challenge because I kept distracting myself with other books! So this month and next month I’m cracking down on getting more prompts checked off.
This month I completed five prompts for the Shelf Reflection’s 2023 Reading Challenge, 1 for the 2022 Goodreads Choice Awards Reading Challenge…
PLUS one from my list of Most Anticipated Books of 2023.
Of course, even if I don’t finish this year’s reading challenge, I will still begin next year’s reading challenge come January! I’d love for you to join me!
Here is the link to Shelf Reflection’s 2024 Reading Challenge which is a list of 45 fun prompts that I came up with, albeit strategically because I need to do some damage on my to-read list. It functions similarly to the PopSugar Reading Challenge if you’re familiar with that. There are printables and links to ways of tracking so check it out!
1. Straight Shooter by Stephen A. Smith
Genre: Memoir
[On my list of Most Anticipated Books of 2023]
“Do anything but bore them or lie to them, and you’ll be okay.”
Stephen A. Smith. An ESPN household name. Accurately self-described as bombastic, you’ll typically come across Stephen A. yelling— I mean speaking passionately— about all matters of things, not just sports, and giving you his hot take, ready to defend everything he says.
He tells all in this book and walks us through his childhood, his college years, his first jobs, his big break, his suspension, his return, and everything in between.
Even though I can only take him in small doses, I gotta respect a guy who is willing to tell it like it is.
Read my full review to see my favorite part of the book, the things I liked and didn’t like, and what Stephen A. says is the key to his success.
2. Brilliant Maps for Curious Minds: 100 New Ways to See the World by Ian Wright
Genre: Nonfiction
This isn’t really a book that you ‘read’ as it’s basically just a book of interesting maps. But I still counted it for my reading challenge, so sue me.
Ian Wright maintains a popular website called Brilliant Maps in which he creates and compiles interesting maps. This book comes from there and includes 100 color maps organized by category (Geography, History, National Identity, Nature, etc).
Even though there are not many words to read, you’ll still learn a lot in studying this book!
See my full review for a picture of my favorite map and some of the other ones I liked.
3. The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles
Genre: Historical Fiction
“‘Well that’s life in a nutshell, ain’t it. Lovin’ to go to one place and havin’ to go to another.’”
I really enjoyed Towles’ book, A Gentleman in Moscow. I didn’t like The Lincoln Highway as much. Still a good read, but what I liked about A Gentleman in Moscow was getting to know the primary character, his wit and charm and mischief and because The Lincoln Highway had a larger cast of characters, the whole vibe of the book was different.
The Lincoln Highway is essentially the story of a group of youths who are trying to find their place in the world and all the mishaps that keep them from making their big journey across the Lincoln Highway to California.
Read my full review to see a cast of characters, the two biggest downsides of the book, notes on the formatting, and my recommendation on who should read this book.
4. The Good Doctor by Jessica Payne
Genre: Suspense/Thriller
“There’s nothing between us but secrets and threats.”
I really liked Payne’s book The Lucky One so I was excited to read another one by her. I didn’t like this one as much as that one, however it had a lot less swearing in it which is a plus.
This is a book set in the hospital where the number of patient deaths is increasing and it may be a doctor as the ‘angel of death’ scenario going on. There is much discussion on Physician Assisted Suicide (PAS) in this book if that’s a trigger for anyone.
Read my full review to see a list of my annoyances and some commentary on (PAS).
5. The Spy Coast by Tess Gerritsen
Genre: Suspense/Thriller
“It’s the story of my life. Leave the bodies behind and move on.”
Tess Gerritsen is known for her Rizzoli and Isles series, of which I’ve read a couple. This is apparently her first swing at an espionage thriller.
I thought it was a really good book with some good characters! I wouldn’t say there was a huge shocking reveal or anything, but it had some nice twists/ mysteries that I didn’t have completely figured out. I think it’s a series I would continue to read.
The basic premise is: retired CIA agents living in rural Maine get pulled back into the field as someone from their past comes knocking.
Read my full review to see which character I had mixed feelings about and more information on how the author got the idea for this book.
6. Please Tell Me by Mike Omer
Genre: Suspense/Thriller
“She needed to get home, where it was… safe. Where there were no bad men, and where Mommy and Daddy could hug her and her doll.”
I read and really enjoyed Mike Omer’s Abby Mullen series. Please Tell Me is a stand alone novel with quite a different vibe than the Mullen series.
This book is intense and had a nice twist, but it’s a bit darker and it won’t be for all readers.
It’s the story of a little girl, escaped from her kidnapper, now mute from the trauma, and how her therapist, using information from their play therapy, tries to help the police find her kidnapper before they come back for her.
Read my full review to see a list of trigger warnings, comments on the story, and my ultimate recommendation for other readers.
7. Gallant by V.E. Schwab
Genre: YA/Fantasy
[This was on my list of Most Anticipated Books of 2022]
[Winner for ‘Best YA Fantasy’ category of the 2022 Goodreads Choice Awards Reading Challenge]
“‘Last night I went beyond the wall. And I met Death.’”
The only other V.E. Schwab book that I’ve read is The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue. My opinion on that book was a bit unpopular. I concluded in my review of that book that nothing really happened.
And that’s my assessment of this book as well.
The basic premise is: an orphan girl has a journal from her mother with warnings to stay away from Gallant. But then she receives a letter of invitation to the very place she was warned about, and she makes the decision to go there which sends her into a place that won’t let her leave.
Read my full review to see what unique character trait Schwab used, see some of my thoughts about the story, and read why this book will be a hit or miss for readers.
8. Five Lies of Our Anti-Christian Age by Rosaria Butterfield
Genre: Nonfiction/Cultural
“The gospel message hurts our pride in life-giving ways, and for that I praise God.”
Rosaria’s newest book is a Bible-saturated and bold truth-telling book that the world needs right now. Her personal experience and background gives her every right to say the things she does.
“This is a book about dismantling the idol of our times— the world of LGBTQ+ that I in my sin helped build.”
Fully based on Scripture, Rosaria’s book exposes the ways the church has compromised truth, with good intent or not, and calls us as Christians back to the truth— the full truth— even if it goes against our feelings and what the culture has deemed ‘nice’.
Though it’s sure to be a controversial book, it’s one I recommend everyone read and wrestle with.
Read my full review to see what lies she writes to dispel, notes on the tone of the book, see the strengths of the book, my critiques, some thoughts on Preston Sprinkle, more quotes, and a list of other relevant reading.
9. Wrong Place Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister
Genre: Suspense/Thriller
[Nominee for ‘Best Mystery/Thriller’ category of the 2022 Goodreads Choice Awards Reading Challenge]
“How sinister it is to relive your life backward. To see things you hadn’t at the time. To realize the horrible significance of events you had no idea were playing out around you.”
So this book opens with a mom seeing her son stab a guy. And my first thought was- ‘I’m not sure if there is ever a right place or right time for that. But you know what Gillian? I’m gonna hear you out.’
And then the mom wakes up the next day… but it’s actually two days IN THE PAST and the stabbing hadn’t happened yet. And I was like- ‘Ohhhhh. Okay Gillian. I see what you did there.’
And proceeded to read and enjoy this time travel, crime solving novel.
Read my full review for more notes on the plot, the things that bothered me, some time travel thoughts, some British vernacular, and the one thing I most wish was different about this book.
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