Our November Favorites!

November was full of fun reads for us! With new releases in preparation for the holiday season and books checked off our TBR that were added ages ago, our November reads span fiction and nonfiction alike. These were our favorites from Turkey season.

What Wakes the Bells by Elle Tesch- Maggie

4 / 5 Stars

Based on a legend from Prague, this story follows Mina, who is one of the keepers of the bells in her city of Vaiwyn, Her family has been working with the bells for years, and the bells are what keeps the city alive. Her job? To make sure it never rings thirteen times.

When she misses her cue to cut the clapper, therefore allowing the bell to ring the cursed thirteenth time, she is unsure what she has released into the world. Now she and her love interest Max are thrown into a world of old Gods, some of which have been holding a grudge for centuries. But in order to save the city, both Mina and Max have to find who the God took over, and figure out a way to kill him before everyone else in the city suffers,

I absolutely adored this book and it took me entirely too long to get to reading it. It is a great young adult gothic fantasy with really unique lore.

Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas - Allison

4/5 Stars

I had put Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas on my TBR list years ago, but after having so much fun with the Sunbearer Duology, I moved it up in an effort to finish it for Halloween. While I didn't hit that deadline, this book was still one of the most enjoyable reads this month. The story centers on Yadriel, a trans teenager trying to prove to his Latinx family that he is indeed a brujo by completing a secret ceremony dedicating his magic to Death. While in the midst of a family crisis, Yadriel accidentally summons the ghost of his classmate Julian, a bad-boy-type with compulsion and anger issues. The two boys bond as they search for answers about Julian's death, the disappearance of Yadriel's family member, and what it means to be feeling this way for one another.

These were some of the best written YA characters that I have read in a while! The side characters were fantastic, but Yadriel and Julian absolutely stole the show. Their friendship and blossoming romance was sweet, realistic, and downright adorable. The emotions each boy has about living a hard life or experiencing death felt complex and deep. I recommend this book for anyone looking for a ride!

Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid- Maggie

4 / 5 Stars

Another hockey romance for the pile in November! This one was highly talked about online due to the recent drop of the TV adaptation (hold for review of that).

This book follows two hockey players from their rookie year until 'present' while they fight to figure out their places on their teams and also their feelings for each other. Shane Hollander knows he shouldn't have feelings for Ilya Rozanov, especially since they have been painted as enemies and rivals by the league.

The problem is, since the first time they met they were drawn to each other, even if it never left the privacy of either of their hotel rooms. But now the feelings are becoming real, and they both worry what that could mean for their chances in the NHL and in the world in general. This book was a quick read, like I ate it up, and I'm excited to see how the TV show adapts this book, because wowy it is a spicy one. Also, I just really like a queer hockey romance and having there be success in queer romance for sports romance.

Sally Ride: America's First Woman in Space by Lynn Sherr - Allison

4/5 Stars

Sally Ride was my hero growing up. I did an entire presentation on her for a speech class in high school. I had been wanting to learn more about her for ages, but hadn't come across any books about her in audiobook format. My library recently acquired this biography by friend of Sally Ride, Lynn Sherr, and I was so excited to read it!

Sally Ride was America's first female astronaut in space- and yes, the part about the male astronauts not knowing how many pads to send up with her was true. But Sally was also a fierce tennis player (she was good friends with Billie Jean King!), a dedicated scientist, a investigator for various NASA mess-ups, and an advocate for girls aged 8-12 maintaining interest in STEM fields. To top it all off, she had a complex relationship with her sexuality, not letting NASA, her friends, or her family know that she was in a committed relationship with her long-time partner, Tam, until her obituary came out. This also made her the first known LGBTQIA+ person in space, which only made her that much cooler in my eyes when I learned about it. If you want an out-of-this-world biography of a truly inspirational person, this one is for you.

Did you read any of these books? Have anything we should add to our TBRs?