What I Read in November 2024
and why I'm launching a paid subscription next year
Can I be honest with you for a minute? The last quarter of this year has not looked anything like I imagined. As a planner, I’m not ashamed to admit that it’s hard for me to pivot. There have been a lot of personal challenges (and illnesses) behind the scenes this past month and I’ve struggled to keep up. My body is stressed and forcing me to take a break.
While this wasn’t my favorite month of reading, I did manage to get through quite a few books. I reread an old favorite, Night by Elie Wiesel, finished a book I started at the beginning of the year, French Riviera and Its Artists by John Baxter, read a couple of children’s books, and my first two official holiday romances of the season. I’m hopeful and excited for what December will bring.
I migrated my website from Squarespace in November 2022 and started with just 11 subscribers and I can’t believe there are now over 550 of us here. 🤩Because I’m intentional with how I spend my time on the Internet these days, and because I value the community we’ve built here on Substack over the past couple of years. I’m planning to officially launch a paid subscription tier in January. While almost all of my content will remain free, paid subscribers will have exclusive access to The Rereading Project moving forward. I am invested in this project and it’s something I’d like to devote more time to in the New Year.
I’m taking a huge leap of faith and I hope you’ll pledge your support as I continue writing. As modern humans, I think we’re conditioned to think we need to get a physical product for our money but amazing subscribers like those who have already pledged their support without me even making an official announcement have proven me wrong. Overbooked Mama remains my hobby, not my job. It brings me so much joy to share my love of books with you and to have conversations about them in the comments. I hope having the option to financially support my work will make you feel proud to be a part of the OBM Substack community too.
For now, let’s get on to what you really opened this email for… the reviews!
November Book Reviews
French Riviera and Its Artists: Art, Literature, Love, and Life on the Côte d'Azur by John Baxter
⭐⭐⭐
Genre: Nonfiction
Pages: 280
Format Read: Physical Copy (owned)
I started this book at the beginning of the year and had every intention of reading a chapter a week. That didn’t happen. It’s very informative and I learned a lot about some of my favorite artists’ ties to the French Riviera but it was a dull read. Baxter’s writing reads like a textbook. This is very much a book I might have been assigned for one of my art history courses.
Masters of Death by Olivie Blake
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 349
Format Read: Kindle (owned)
Olivie Blake’s writing is quirky and hard to follow at times, but I had fun reading about this unusual cast of characters—ghosts, vampires, demons, and the Devil himself. The dialogue was humorous and layered with meaning. I found myself questioning my own morality and mortality at the same time. If you’re searching for a novel with a meandering plot, this could work for you.
Why Am I Like This? by Gemma Styles
⭐⭐⭐
Genre: Self-Help
Pages: 324
Format Read: Kindle (DRC from NetGalley)
While this book reads like a college research paper at times, it’s an honest and open look at mental health and neurodivergence in an era of technological co-dependence. It came at the right time for me as my non-fiction November pick in the wake of a contentious Presidential election. Gemma’s thoughts on parasocial relationships and slacktivism in particular resonated with me. The book was relatable and reassuring, even as an adult (I’m around the same age as the author). I’d recommend this book to any young adult struggling to fit in as an introduction to how the brain, our feelings, and emotions work.
Pickleballers by Ilana Long
⭐⭐⭐
Genre: Romance/Women’s Fiction
Pages: 368
Format Read: Audiobook (borrowed from the Library)
I know absolutely nothing about pickleball and was honestly surprised at how much time the ins and outs of the game took up in this romance. Some sports romances are light on the sports but this one delivered. I liked the small-town setting and felt drawn to the MMC’s job as an environmental consultant, so I was secretly hoping for more exploration of his career. If you enjoy women’s fiction, you’ll appreciate the FMC’s friendships.
Cruel Winter With You by Ali Hazelwood
⭐⭐⭐
Genre: Holiday Romance
Pages: 73
Format Read: Audiobook (Prime Reading)
I’m a sucker for the best friend’s brother trope because of course they were always meant to be together! This novella from Ali Hazelwood is the perfect book to get you in the winter spirit. She’s able to build some tension and angst using alternating past and present timelines and it works well.
Two Twisted Crowns by Rachel Gillig
⭐⭐⭐
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 481
Format Read: Physical Copy/Kindle (owned)
I think I’m one of the few people who enjoyed this second book more than One Dark Window. The entire time I read it I questioned why Elspeth took up so much of the first book just for us to only see glimpses of her in the second. It was a fairly predictable fantasy novel and all the loose ends tied up neatly. The Shepherd King duology is dark and atmospheric and I enjoyed the tree theme even if the books dragged a bit.
The Holiday Honeymoon Switch by Julia McKay
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Genre: Holiday Romance
Pages: 352
Format Read: Audiobook (borrowed from the library)
I enjoyed this Christmasy romance and it gave me something to look forward to while I was home sick this month. BFFs Holly and Ivy switch holiday trips after Holly’s scumbag fiance calls off their wedding. Of course they both get their chance at a holiday romance when Aiden and Oliver come along. It had just the right amount of fluff for a romcom and I loved the depth of Holly and Ivy’s friendship so much that their cheesy names didn’t even bother me! A strong contender if you’re debating which Christmas romance to pick up this season.
Impossible Creatures by Katherine Rundell
⭐⭐⭐.5
Genre: Children’s Fantasy
Pages: 368
Format Read: Audiobook (borrowed from the library)
Impossible Creatures is a great Middle Grade book for fantasy readers. I initially picked it up after my husband saw it on the Barnes & Noble shelves as their Children’s Book pick of 2024. I’d recommend it for 4th grade and up or at least more advanced elementary readers. It is very similar to His Dark Materials. The two books share similar characters and themes with Rundell adding some messaging about environmental issues. I enjoyed this book on audio and thought the narrator was brilliant but I’d love to revisit it when my physical copy arrives. I hope to share it with my children someday as I truly think they’re the target audience.
The Rereading Project Update
In January, I challenged myself to reread 12 books from my childhood that made a significant impact on my life as a reader. You can see my full list in the post linked below!
The Rereading Project
I briefly mentioned in my last newsletter that I’m embarking on a personal rereading project. I’m finally ready to share more about it with you today. I’ve been a little nervous to put this out into the world because I know it means I’m opening myself up to a bit of accountability to commit to it and finish.
Reminder: If you’re following along on Storygraph, I extended the challenge to end December 2025.
Night by Elie Wiesel
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Genre: Memoir
Pages: 120
Format Read: Audiobook (borrowed from the library)
There's a reason why this book is required reading in many schools. While the horrors endured by the Jewish people are gruesome to read, there's an overwhelming comfort in the strength of the human spirit and the acts of compassion Elie recounts. What strikes me most about Elie's writing is how he grapples with his faith. Through his despair, he never loses his sense of self.
Karen's Kittycat Club: A Graphic Novel by Ann M. Martin
⭐⭐⭐
Genre: Children’s
Pages: 144
Format Read: Physical Copy (owned)
In this spin-off of The Baby-Sitters Club, Karen, her best friend Hannie, and her neighbor Amanda all have cats. Karen decides if she can’t babysit like her big sister, Kristy, then she can start her own Kittycat Club! I think this book did a great job of showing how kids can work together towards a common goal and overcome obstacles (including friendship gripes) along the way.
What’s up next in December
It’s the time of year when my reading intentionally begins to slow down.
Nothing gets me in the mood for Christmas quite like a Jenny Bayliss novel. I bought her latest book, Kiss Me at Christmas, a few weeks ago on a Target run and started reading it Thanksgiving week. It’s been a long time since I’ve read 100 pages before bed. I was immediately sucked into the characters and the plot. I’m excited to see where it goes.
My daughter and I are currently working our way through two read-alouds: Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever by Jeff Kinney and Dawn and the Impossible Three: A Graphic Novel by Ann M. Martin.
We were able to shop in-person on Small Business Saturday and visited our local indie bookseller, The Book Tavern. If you’d like to support them, you can shop through Bookshop.org. My kids picked out two new books for our holiday book collection: Christmas at Hogwarts and Bluey: Jingle Bells.
Hoopla has a great selection of holiday audiobooks so I borrowed a few to get me into the holiday spirit. I’m not sure how many I’ll be able to cross off my list but I downloaded A Very Irish Christmas by Debbie Johnson, The Christmas You Found Me by Sarah Morgenthaler, Five Gold Rings by Kristen Bailey, and Christmas With the Lords by Hannah Langdon. I think that’s more than enough to keep my ears busy!
I pre-ordered a few books while Target had a Buy One Get One sale and I’ve moved Is She Really Going Out With Him by Sophie Cousens and Under Loch and Key by Lana Ferguson to the top of my physical TBR list.
You can keep up with my reading journey in real time on Goodreads or The Storygraph!
Tell me, do you find that your reading slows down in the Fall and Winter? What are your must-read books this holiday season?
In the spirit of slowing down and embracing more time with my family, I’m not planning to post any holiday-specific content in the coming weeks, but please check out the archive for a bit of backlist inspiration!
Happy reading,
I’ve linked to Bookshop.org where titles are available. If you purchase using the links above, I may receive a small commission at no cost to you. Bookshop.org supports Independent Bookstores! It’s a win-win.
I’m so glad you are launching a paid tier, I wholeheartedly support it!
I've got a copy of pickleballers waiting to be read! I'm from the Seattle area where it's set, so it's always fun to read about home :)