Monthly Wrap-Up: November 2024

Personally, this was a terrible month. I feel better now emotionally/mentally... still not 100% and probably won't be for the next 4 years. IYKYK. Reading-wise it was a pretty good month though! I read 9 books, which is about 2757. That's about 500 pages more than the previous month!

• 5 were full-length novels and 4 were manga
• 8 were part of a series, and 1 was a standalones
• I started 1 series, finished 1, and abandoned another
• 8 were finished copies and 1 ARC
• 6 were physical books and 3 were an ebooks
• 4 were 5-star books, 4 were 4-star books, and 1 was a 3-star read
• 1 was indie published and 8 were traditionally published
• 2 were by a new-to-me author and 7 were by authors I've previously read
• 4 were adult books and 5 YA
• 3 were sci-fi horror, 1 supernatural horror, 4 action adventure, and 1 romantic fantasy

Sci-Fi Book Recommendations (Part 3)

Here is the last part of my sci-fi book recommendations (and here is part 1 and part 2)!

Review: Book Love by Debbie Tung

Title: Book Love

Author: Debbie Tung

Genre: Adult, nonfiction, comic

Publication date: January 2019

Published by: Andrews McMeel Publishing

Source: Purchased hardcover

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Buy it: Amazon | B&N | Thrift Books

Synopsis: Book Love is a gift book of comics tailor-made for tea-sipping, spine-sniffing, book-hoarding bibliophiles. Debbie Tung’s comics are humorous and instantly recognizable—making readers laugh while precisely conveying the thoughts and habits of book nerds. Book Love is the ideal gift to let a book lover know they’re understood and appreciated.

My rating: ★★★★★

Another book about books!

(Listen, I know Dean is being sarcastic in this gif because he hates doing research, but let’s just pretend he actually does like books 😆)

End of the Year TBR

I've been craving some high fantasy lately, which is a rare mood for me, but I'm going to embrace it while it lasts. Lol. I thought I'd put together a list of books I would like to read before the year is over. Now, this is a LONG list so I won't get through all of these, but there are 7 books on this list that I would like to read for sure. But I'm a mood reader and I needed other options just in case 😆

Review: Symbiont (Parasitology #2) by Mira Grant

Title: Symbiont

Series: Mira Grant

Previous book in this series: Parasite

Author: Parasitology #2

Genre: Adult, sci-fi, horror

Publication date: November 2014

Published by: Orbit

Source: Borrowed form library

Add it on Goodreads

Buy it: Amazon | B&N | Thrift Books

Synopsis: THE ENEMY IS INSIDE US.

The SymboGen designed tapeworms were created to relieve humanity of disease and sickness. But the implants in the majority of the world's population began attacking their hosts, turning them into a ravenous horde.

Now those who do not appear to be afflicted are being gathered for quarantine as panic spreads, but Sal and her companions must discover how the tapeworms are taking over their hosts, what their eventual goal is, and how they can be stopped.

My rating: ★★★★☆

I always swore that I was going to do great things with my life, things that would change the world in a way that could never be undone. Well, I guess I got my wish. I brought an end to the Age of Mankind.
-Dr. Cale

I really enjoyed this sequel to Parasite! I'm just really enjoying the unique concept and the good mix of sci-fi and horror. Although the concept of the implanted tapeworm trying to take over its human host is unique (to me at least), the end result is not, but that's not a bad thing! This book was giving zombie apocalypse, except instead of the undead we got parasites, and honestly, I was here for it! I liked it!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #395: I Think I'm Done with Horror (For Now, Not Forever Lol)

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly meme hosted by Book Date and Unleashing Reads.

Sunday Post #429: Getting Books to Make Myself Feel Better

Welcome to The Sunday Post hosted by Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer, where I talk about what is going on in life and the blog, and show you all the bookish things I got that week!

Sci-Fi Book Recommendations (Part 2)

So I ended up splitting this into three parts. This is part 2, part 1 is here, and I'll post part 3 next week! Lots of sci-fi to talk about! 😅

Review: Book Nerd by Holly Maguire

Title: Book Nerd

Author: Holly Maguire

Genre: Adult, nonfiction

Publication date: December 2020

Published by: Workman Publishing Company

Source: Purcahsed hardcover

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Buy it: Amazon | B&N | Thrift Books

Synopsis: You know you’re a Book Nerd when…

—You have a minimum of 5 books on your night table.

—You never once thought the movie was better.

—Your favorite mug says “I’d rather be reading.”

—You use words like librocubicularist in casual conversation (though no conversation about books is ever "casual”).

—You wear a T-shirt that says—what else?—"Too many books, too little time."

Charming, affectionate, and unabashed in its celebration of book nerdiness, this little love letter is for every avid reader. Every page is packed with bright, playful, intricately detailed illustrations by Holly Maguire, and wonderful mottoes, definitions, relatable moments, and more.

My rating: ★★★★★

This was a book about loving books and it was as cute and relatable as it seems!

Review: Parasite (Parasitology #1) by Mira Grant

Title: Parasite

Series: Parasitology #1

Author: Mira Grant

Genre: Adult, sci-fi, horror

Publication date: October 2013

Published by: Orbit

Source: Borrowed form library

Add it on Goodreads

Buy it: Amazon | B&N | Thrift Books

Synopsis: A decade in the future, humanity thrives in the absence of sickness and disease.

We owe our good health to a humble parasite - a genetically engineered tapeworm developed by the pioneering SymboGen Corporation. When implanted, the tapeworm protects us from illness, boosts our immune system - even secretes designer drugs. It's been successful beyond the scientists' wildest dreams. Now, years on, almost every human being has a SymboGen tapeworm living within them.

But these parasites are getting restless. They want their own lives...and will do anything to get them.

My rating: ★★★★☆

Mira Grant is an author I am very happy to have found because I just really like the stories she writes. Plus the blend of horror and sci-fi is SO good! And this book was no different! I really enjoyed it! It was intriguing and genuinely horrifying 😰

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #394: Cruise Ships, Desolate Planets, and Parasites

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly meme hosted by Book Date and Unleashing Reads.

Sunday Post #428: The Horror Persists, But So Do I

Welcome to The Sunday Post hosted by Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer, where I talk about what is going on in life and the blog, and show you all the bookish things I got that week!

Sci-Fi Book Recommendations (Part 1)

I keep seeing that November is sci-fi month, I'm not sure how true that is, but we're just gonna go with it 😆 I thought I would make a list of some of my favorite sci-fi reads, but it turns out that I have many recommendations so I'm gonna be splitting this into two parts, maybe three.

I haven't done a sci-fi list before so I'm bringing out books I read over 10 years ago 😅 Forgive me if I don't have much to say about those older books because it has been a loooong time since I read them. Lol. So while I remember that I love them, I may not necessarily remember why. Lol. But I will link the books to my reviews. Though be warned, those older reviews... yikes 😅 They are excitable and... obnoxious, in my opinion. I did write them back when I wasn't as dead on the inside 😆 I'm JOKING (mostly... 👀🤣) Also, they are seriously lacking in gifs, and that may be the worst crime of all 🤣 You have been warned. Lol.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #393: Finally Some Good Things in My Life

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly meme hosted by Book Date and Unleashing Reads.

Sunday Post #427: The Week Where Everything Went Wrong

Welcome to The Sunday Post hosted by Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer, where I talk about what is going on in life and the blog, and show you all the bookish things I got that week!

November 2024 Super Stocking Stuffer Giveaway Hop

This month I have a fun YA sci-fi duology to give away (Note: the first book is an advanced reading copy).

Spooky Season TBR Update

Spooky Season is sadly over, so it's time to look at how I did on my TBR. Overall, I think I did pretty good. Especially considering I had 18 books on my TBR 😂

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #392: Spooky Season is a State of Mind

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly meme hosted by Book Date and Unleashing Reads.

Sunday Post #426: Life & Death & Halloween

Welcome to The Sunday Post hosted by Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer, where I talk about what is going on in life and the blog, and show you all the bookish things I got that week!

Review: Only Cold Depths (Galactic Bonds #4) by Jennifer Estep

Title: Only Cold Depths

Series: Galactic Bonds #4

Previous books in this series: Only Bad Options (#1) | Only Good Enemies (#2) | Only Hard Problems (#3)

Author: Jennifer Estep

Genre: Adult, sci-fi, fantasy

Publication date: October 29th 2024

Published by: Jennifer Estep

Source: eARC from the author for review

Add it on Goodreads

Buy it: Amazon | B&N | Kobo

Synopsis: A WOMAN WHO CAN’T CONTROL HER POWER . . .

Everyone knows the name Vesper Quill. I used to be a lowly lab rat working in a Regal-owned corporation, but thanks to my truebond with Kyrion Caldaren, I’m now one of the most wanted fugitives in the Archipelago Galaxy.

Kyrion and I have spent the last few weeks avoiding bounty hunters, along with the Arrows, the elite Imperium warriors tasked with capturing us. Now we’ve journeyed to a distant planet that’s supposed to be a refuge for truebonded couples, but when new enemies appear, we’re once again in grave danger.

As a seer, inventor, and engineer, I’m skilled at figuring out how things work, but I can’t quite understand my growing magic and newfound psionic abilities. The clock is ticking, and if I don’t figure out how to tap into my power, I’ll doom myself to a gruesome fate, along with Kyrion.

A MAN WHO CAN’T LET GO OF HIS FEAR . . .

As Kyrion Caldaren, I’m used to being respected and feared, especially given my telekinesis, telepathy, telempathy, and other powerful psionic abilities. What I’m not used to is being on the run, but as a rogue Arrow, I’ll do anything to protect Vesper.

Just when I think we’ve finally reached a safe haven, trouble finds us again, reigniting all my fears about losing Vesper.

When the cold depths of our enemies’ plan are finally revealed, the truth is more terrifying than anything I could imagine. Soon Vesper and I are fighting for our lives again, but even with our growing truebond power, this is one battle we might not survive.

My rating: ★★★★★

It probably goes without saying, but I loved this book 😆