November 2025 Reading Wrap Up

So, what did I even read this month?

Let's dive into the reviews!

The Poppy War by Nikki Erlick - ★★★★★

I lost track of the amount of times I said “oh sh*t” while reading this book. The twists and connections that are weaved throughout the book are intriguingly written.

The book is about a facility called The Poppy Fields where people go to sleep for a month or two to help get past the hardest parts of their grief and wake up on the other side. You’re taken on a journey by people who are connected to the poppy fields in different ways. I really enjoyed this because it shows people’s thoughts on the poppy fields from different perspectives.

Throughout the book you see the controversy and doubt surrounding the treatment, but also the success stories and how many people have benefitted from the treatment. It shows all sides of grief and what shapes it can take. And I especially liked how it shows that everyone’s path through grief is different, and the same treatment is not going to work for everyone.

A masterwork of reflective literature, this book made me think of life and love and how they show up in different people.

Cinderella is Dead by Kalynn Bayron - ★★★☆☆

This was a really interesting take on a fairytale retelling. Rather than rewrite the original tale, it looks 200 years later and poses the question: "What if that tale was a lie?"

The writing was well done, and I really liked Sophia. She is headstrong and willful, which is exactly what the story needed. I was happy that she could finally be free to be herself and love freely.

The romance with Constance seemed to come out of nowhere at the beginning. I think it would have been better if they had taken more time to build a liking for each other, rather than it being immediately apparent.

And I did not see the twist at the end coming! But at the same time, I wonder if it really made sense or not...

Lights Out by Navessa Allen - ★★★★☆

“Smash! Next question.”

I never thought my first stalker romance would have me giggling and kicking my feet, but here we are. I grabbed the audiobook thinking I’d just dip a toe in—see what the hype was about—and suddenly I’m fully submerged, clutching my headphones, and refusing to come up for air. It hooked me so fast I barely had time to question my life choices.

The vibe of this book is exactly what I didn’t know I needed. The romance is spicy, the plot moves like a breeze, and the tension stays perfectly balanced between fun, flirty, and “omg what is happening right now.” Ally is bold, self-assured, and genuinely easy to root for, while Josh is this funny, soft-hearted chaos gremlin with an emotional chokehold on me. The way they bounce off each other feels effortless, entertaining, and addictive in the best way.

I loved every minute with these two—the banter, the heat, the surprises, all of it. For a trope I was nervous to try, this book made me a believer.

The Magician's Nephew by C.S. Lewis - ★★⯪☆☆

Cute book and the audiobook narration was good. Definitely brings back nostalgia for Narnia.

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis - ★★☆☆☆

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The Horse and His Boy by C.S. Lewis - ★★★☆☆

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Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury - ★★★★☆

This book is definitely worthy of the title “classic”. It is beautifully written to make you think about oppression and what it means to think for yourself. And it wonderfully portrays how Montag’s thinking changes as his perception and situation changes.

Kaiju No. 8, Vol. 14 by Naoya Matsumoto - ★★★★★

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Rereads

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J Maas - still ★★★★☆

Bonded by Thorns by Elizabeth Helen - still ★★★★★