Happy November and Wicked release month! I am all in for this movie and make no apologies about it; it’s my favorite musical! I saw the original Broadway cast 20 something years ago; my autographed by Idina Menzel poster is still hanging in my house. My daughter is excited for it too, so it’s been sweet to watch The Wizard of Oz together and share this with her.
Besides Wicked, November is also Native American Heritage Month. I curated a list of amazing recent (2021 or later) YA novels written by Native and Indigenous authors; if you missed it you can check it out here!
What have you been reading this month?
Book Buzz
A special sequel theme this month! I have read all of the following initial books and loved them, so I am really excited for these 5 books to come out this month!
Releasing on November 5:
Where the Library Hides by Isabel Ibañez. I have had this book pre-ordered since it was announced! Sequel to What the River Knows, a historic adventure set in Egypt that ended on a surprise cliffhanger. Dying to find out what happens next!
Releasing on November 12:
Games Untold by Jennifer Lynn Barnes. The latest in the Inheritance Games series.
Heiste Royale by Kayvion Lewis, the sequel to Thieves’ Gambit, about a competition involving some of the greatest heist families around the world. A perfect blend of adventure and mystery.
The Davenports: More Than This by Krystal Marquis, sequel to The Davenports, “... featuring escapist romance and a wealthy Black family in 1910s Chicago”.
A Queen’s Game by Katherine McGee. Not a sequel, but is a historic and European version of McGee’s American Royals series. So for fans of that series, this book will serve as a good second series to start.
From the Librarian’s Desk
Currently reading…
Wicked by Gregory Maguire. I read it in 2003, before seeing the musical, but since that was 21 years ago I figured I’d reread it. Something to note: this is not a book for kids. There are some spicy moments so I’d recommend older teens and up.
YA books read last month…
Under the Same Stars by Libba Bray (will be published Feb. 4, 2025). A historical fiction novel about secrets from events in WWII, alternating between three time periods- 1940’s Germany, 1980’s West Germany, and 2020 NYC. (ARC courtesy of NetGalley and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group).
Adult books read last month…
The Favorites by Layne Fargo (will be published Jan.14, 2025). Feeling much like a Taylor Jenkins Reid novel, this book follows ice dancer Katarina Shaw and her quest to become an Olympic champion with her partner (and love) Heath Rocha. Drama, skating, a love story … I loved it. (ARC courtesy of NetGalley and Random House).
Sandwich by Catherine Newman (published June 18, 2024). Middle aged Rocky confronts some of her past secrets on a week long vacation with her husband and grown children. A little bit of a melancholy read.
Society of Lies by Lauren Ling Brown (published Oct.1, 2024). A solid mystery/thriller set in a secret society at Princeton. Alternates between Maya’s experience with that of her little sister, Naomi, who follows in her footsteps but ends up murdered.
The Really Dead Wives of New Jersey by Astrid Dahl (will be published Jan.14, 2025). A mystery satire of The Real Housewives, I think this novel will likely only be entertaining for fans of the franchise. It was fine but I’d recommend passing it. (ARC courtesy of NetGalley and Simon & Schuster).
Beyond the Pages
I had missed the original release date, but since its Native American Heritage Month it seems relevant to post that Rez Ball by Byron Graves has been made into a Netflix movie.
I saw a photo of someone using a phone grip on the back of their Kindle- maybe I’m late to the game, but never thought about it! And obviously you need a book themed grip; there are some really cute ones on Etsy including the two pictured above from The Tiny Bookshelf and Crafty Chels Made.
A number of books that I read this month were ARCs (advanced reader’s copy) through NetGalley. Anyone can sign up on the site to get access to browse and request to read advanced digital copies of books, for free. While I do get more access to books due to being a librarian there are still a lot of books to choose from!
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