November was a funny/weird month for me. I finished uni and did pretty well, and I spent the rest of the month in a hangover-like daze. I read quite a bit, watched a bunch of tv shows, hung out with friends, and worked a bit too. I see myself working a lot more now that it’s Christmas soon. Ugh.
Books Read
20 reads + 2 rereads: 13 books, 4 short stories, 1 graphic novel, 1 webtoon, 1 comic.
Books Reviewed
Off the Ice was an amazing book. I am still freaking out over how awesome it was a month later. The characters, the plot, the writing … everything was perfect. If you’re looking for a sweet sports romance, check out this wonderful novel!
Unmasked is the saddest Anyta Sunday book I have read from her (usually she writes fluff). But it was still a great novel: the plot is angsty and tragic, but the characters were fantastic.
Ugh. I did not like Legacy of Kings, and I’m upset because I really thought I would. I expected an epic adventure story with a queer relationship … but I got none of those things. Not only was the historically canon queer relationship erased, the characters were two-dimensional and boring/irritating.
My review of It’s Not Like It’s a Secret was a little different from my standard review process: I wrote about 5 secrets about the novel that would (hopefully) entice people to read the book. The novel is super sweet and talks about important issues too.
Book of the Month
Wow, okay, so the third book in the Signs of Love series was AMAZING. Like, I still can’t get over the perfection of this book – but honestly, what else would I expect? It’s Anyta Sunday. Gemini Keeps Capricorn is such a cute novel: it features an oblivious, quirky protagonist who has been crushing on his super serious college resident hall supervisor. They’ve been semi-flirting and bantering for years, but are they finally going to get together like everyone in the hall has been betting they would? You’ll have to read to find out! I’m also part of the release blitz for this book, so keep an eye out for my review sometime in December.
Monthly Disappointment
Ugh. This book.
This book.
Gross doesn’t even begin to cover it. I found Merry Gentlemen to be overly fetishising and low-key racist. That’s all I really want to say about it.
Tags and Awards
This month I participated in a few tags! Take a look at the tags to see my answers and who I tagged in turn.
Hocus Pocus Book Tag
My Name in TBR Books Book Tag
I was also nominated for an award!! Yay!! Click on the award button on the side to see who I nominated in turn. 💕
Extra Content
This month, I attended the Fence comic release party and I wrote up a transcript of the Q&A with the author of the comic, C.S. Pacat! Please take a look at the post by clicking on the image below. The Q&A reveals some awesome information about the creation of the comic, and upcoming issues. Also, please consider buying the comic! It’s fantastic. My review will also be up sometime in December.
In December, I’m joining TWO read-a-thons (hahah, help me). The first is the #LoveOzYA Bingo Challenge, a month long read-a-thon dedicated to reading Australia YA, and the second is the SapphicAThon, a two-week long challenge dedicated to reading f/f romance books.
Here’s my TBR for the #LoveOzYA challenge and here’s my TBR for the SapphicAThon.
I was also involved in a few blog tours this month! These include:
- Instagram Tour for Off the Ice
- Blog Tour for Unmasked
- Release Blitz for Merry Gentlemen
- Secret Blitz for Leo Loves Aries
- Blog Tour for This Mortal Coil
ARCs
I’ve already read Gemini Keeps Capricorn (and loved it), and I am currently reading Chainbreaker (and loving it). I haven’t heard many good things about Runebinder, so I’m kind of hesitant to read it, but I’ll get to it eventually.
Purchased Books
(Hahahahaha stop me.)
Non-Bookish Stuff
I did quite a bit this month!
My siblings and I saw Thor: Ragnarok and it was AMAZING! I can’t deal with how perfect that movie was, but I’m seeing it again VERY soon.
We also watched Justice League, and while it was a lot better than I thought it would be, it wasn’t the best. Literally the best part of the movie was the after-credits scene, so if you see the film, make sure you stay!
I also went to see another Shakespearean performance at the Melbourne pop-up Globe. Last month, I watched Much Ado About Nothing, and this month I saw As You Like It with my best friends. While I didn’t enjoy As You Like It as much as Much Ado, it was still amazing and hilarious. For all my Melbourne peeps, if you get the chance, please go watch one of the plays at the pop-up Globe! It’s incredible! Here’s a couple of photos:
Looking Forward: December
I don’t know how active I’ll be in December, only because I know I’m going to be working heaps. Christmas is such a busy period, but I’m hoping I have enough energy to continue to post frequently.
Blog Tours:
- Release blitz: On Your Knees, Prospect by K.A. Merikan
- Blog tour: Gemini Keeps Capricorn by Anyta Sunday
Tentative TBR: (Not including the two read-a-thons)
That’s a wrap!
How was your November? What books did you read? What shows did you watch? If you’re in Melbourne, did you have the chance to go to the pop-up Globe? Let me know!
thebookcorps 
You are determined to do both readathons this month! I really wanted to do the #LoveOzYA bingo but I decided to give it a miss this year. SapphicAThon is my priority, and I have an international friend visiting AS WELL which is going to cut down on my reading time.
I will live the OZ readathon through you vicariously though!
And what did you think of All the Crooked Saints? One of the books, that have split people down the middle and I’m super intrigued (I’ll admit, I 1-starred it…)
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I honestly have no idea how I’m going to go, but I’ll give both my best shot!! I hope you manage to finish SapphicAThon!! Hahah you can live through me vicariously 😂
I was so surprised by how much I enjoyed All the Crooked Saints. I’ll be posting my review either today or tomorrow (depending on how soon I finish it), but I really liked it. I found it’s very different from her other work. Couple of issues, but for the most part it was great 😀 you didn’t like it??
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My TBR for SapphicAThon is way overly-ambitious but we will see how we go 😂
I just really struggle with that style of writing to be honest. Reminded me a lot of Series of Unfortunate Events (which I also couldn’t get into). Maybe something about the focus of the story being around the narrator? Oh well, can’t win them all.
I’m glad you liked it though! Will be interested to read the review since we had such different opinions of the book.
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I’m going to check out your TBR now!!
Yeah I have always struggled with Maggie’s writing – actively hated it in The Raven King – but aside from a few annoyances, it wasn’t as bad as I thought.
Almost finished my review 😀
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See but that’s where we are different! 😀 Because previously I haven’t minded her writing style but this book I just struggled. I honestly nearly DNFd it, but wanted to finish and review because so many people were talking about the book. It’s funny how one book can have so many people developing polar opposite opinions.
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Wow, it sounds like you had a great reading month! I loved Nimona and the first Never Never installment (although I’ve honestly still not read the third). I’ve heard a lot of good things about It’s Not Like it’s a Secret and All the Crooked Saints. Did you enjoy ATCS?
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Thank you!! Nimona was amazing, and I liked Never Never, but I got spoiled somehow for the ending so I can’t be bothered reading the rest lol. It’s Not like It’s a Secret was great, and I surprisingly loved ATCS! My review for ATCS will go up in the next few days – I really enjoyed it 😀
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Yay! I thought it was so adorable and hilarious. Awe, that’s too bad! I honestly still don’t know what happens, and I think I actually still have the ebook… I should deifnitely pick that up, haha!
Yay, I’m so glad to hear it! I’ll have to be on a lookout for that. 🙂
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You definitely seem to have had an amazing month, Laura! I really hope December is just as good to you 🙂
I loved Thor as well!! I mean, that opening sequence with Led Zeppelin playing in the background was absolutely AMAZING and set the tone for the entire movie – so much so that the whole thing ended up being just as epic. My only complaint was that it was a bit cheesy? Especially the humor? But otherwise it was super great.
Amazing post! ^^
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Thank you Sophie!!!
Thor was amazing, I’ve been wanting to watch it again actually. LOL I loved how cheesy it was, but it was definitely different from all the other Marvel films.
Thank you!!! 💕
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Yeah, I felt a really big Guardians of the Galaxy vibe there… Not that I’m complaining though hahaha
You’re very welcome! ^^
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Whoa you had such a great month, Laura!! The pop up Globe sounds so cool and I REALLY need to watch Thor: Ragnarok!! I keep hearing SO many good things about it.
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Thank you Lauren!! Yes please watch Thor, it was awesome 😀
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