What I Read in November and December
A new favorite YA series plus a few of the buzziest books of 2024
Happy New Year(ish), book besties 🖤
I love the end of the year in online book communities. I love reading all the best of lists going around the internet (LitHub’s roundup of best books list is my favorite), including those from my favorite online book influencers. I love perusing lists of the most anticipated 2025 releases and adding them to my TBR. And of course, I love watching fellow stationery-loving bibliophiles set up their 2025 reading journals.
But before I get to my best of list for 2024 (which I’m still mulling over) or my 2025 reading journal setup (which I’m still working on), let’s talk about November and December reads. Both November and December were great reading months for me. In fact, half of my (tentative) top 10 books of 2024 were ones I read in the last two months. (Yes, of course, it may be recency bias, but let’s not dwell on that!) I read 20 books in November (8) and December (12), including a few of my most anticipated 2024 releases; I also rediscovered a love for YA fantasy and dipped my toe into some holiday romances.
New Favorites
Legendborn by Tracy Deonn (The Legendborn Cycle #1) | YA fantasy
This book blew me away. The story follows 16-year-old Bree Matthews who enrolls in an early college program for gifted high school students at UNC-Chapel Hill a few months after her mother dies in a car accident. Things take an unexpected turn after she witnesses a demon attack her first night on campus. Bree then learns of a secret society that protects the mortal world from such attacks, and soon discovers her own magic. I won’t say more to avoid spoilers but I loved everything about this book. I loved Deonn’s affecting portrayal of a young girl learning to live with the grief of losing her mother. I especially loved the way Deonn weaves together Arthurian legend with elements from African spiritual traditions into a rich narrative that explores themes of post-colonialism and white supremacy. It took me a while to settle into the story. I found the rules of the magic system and the titles of the secret society members hard to keep track of at first. But once I found my footing, I was utterly captivated. I cannot wait to read the next books in the series and see how Bree’s story unfolds.
Magical/Realism: Essays on Music, Memory, Fantasy, and Borders by Vanessa Angélica Villarreal | Memoir and cultural criticism
I loved this genre-bending collection of essays that are part memoir and part cultural and political critique. Villarreal’s writing is evocative and incisive. Across essays covering a wide array of topics, Villarreal explores themes related to memory and the archive, fantasy and magic, and post-colonialism and white supremacy. A central question that Villarreal returns to again and again:
“What if that grief is an ancient, generational, epigenetic scar that is wounded and re-wounded by state violence? What does the constant state of loss after colonization, enslavement, and dispossession do to the collective imagination? How does it affect our stories?” (pg. 36)
I especially loved the essays that veered more towards cultural criticism— I thought about Kurt Cobain, Selena, and Game of Thrones differently after reading this book. Villarreal’s many discussions of the expectations placed on her as the eldest daughter of Mexican immigrants (or an “encyclopedia of all the daughters I couldn't be”) resonated with me in ways I was completely unprepared for. It was the type of reading experience that often left me staring out the window (and I mean that in the best of ways). I was in awe of Villarreal’s talent and creativity on display in this work. (I started this book on audio but found that its’ structure lent itself better to a physical reading experience.)
James by Percival Everett | Literary fiction
James is a retelling of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn told from the perspective of Jim, the enslaved man who accompanies Huck in Mark Twain’s canonical novel. I had bad memories of reading Huck Finn the first (and only) time I read it. I was too young and read it under the direction of a not-very-good English teacher. So, I was hesitant to read James, unsure whether it necessitated a re-read of Huck Finn to fully appreciate. It absolutely does not! (I did read this great primer on Huck Finn in the Fiction Matters newsletter which I found helpful.)
This novel was so damn good. It is subversive, inventive, heartfelt, and funny while also tackling serious, heavy topics. (The violence of chattel slavery is, of course, present, though Everett rarely lingers on violent scenes which I appreciated.) It is also fast-paced and propulsive. I couldn’t put it down once I started it. And once I finished it, I listened to the audiobook (which is also excellent! and yes, the book was so good I read it twice!). Everett creates an incredibly layered and memorable character with James— who is kind and tender, smart and shrewd, and ruthless when necessary. I loved the unexpected philosophical musings and the absurdist humor of some scenes. James is so worthy of all the praise and accolades its received. I can’t wait to read more from Percival Everett’s extensive backlist.
Good Material by Dolly Alderton | Contemporary fiction
An anti- romantic comedy about Andy, a washed up comedian in his mid-30s who is unexpectedly dumped by his long-term girlfriend, leaving him without a partner or a home. This is a story about love and romance (though it is not a romance novel), heartbreak, friendship, and reckoning with what it means to be approaching middle age. I loved Alderton’s writing and her incisive, witty insights and musings on love and relationships, friendship, and gender. Alderton captures the emotional range of breakups so well. I especially loved the narrative structure of the novel, and how a more complex breakup story came into view through the late shift to Jen’s perspective (Andy’s ex). There were also some musings about motherhood toward the end that very much resonated with me (and that I would love to see represented in more literature and media). Overall, I had a great time reading this, and I can’t wait to pick up some of Alderton’s earlier work.
Colored Television by Danzy Senna | Contemporary fiction
A dark comedy about Jane, a writer and college writing professor who decides to sell out in Hollywood after she fails to sell the epic literary novel she’s been working on for almost a decade. We follow Jane as she attempts to sell the next great TV comedy about “mulattos” while navigating motherhood, her professional and literary ambitions, and her family’s precarious financial situation, alongside her aloof, artist husband. I loved how messy Jane is as a character. And how despite her many cringe-worthy choices, I still found myself rooting for her. This story is a smart and funny exploration of what it means to be mixed-race Black-White (or “mulatto”—Jane and Senna’s preferred term) in America, social mobility among Black Americans, and marriage and motherhood, with sharp critiques of Hollywood, academia, and the literary establishment sprinkled throughout. I can’t wait to check out some of Senna’s backlist titles. (Her first novel Caucasia is now high up on my TBR.) I also loved this interview with Danzy Senna on The Stacks podcast.
In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado | Memoir
A haunting, experimental memoir about domestic abuse in queer relationships. Carmen Maria Machado is such an incredibly talented writer and the inventiveness of this memoir blew me away. This is a memoir, but it’s also a collection of essays and stories that explore the idea of the archive— whose narratives get told and retold, and which are excluded—and the consequences of such discrimination for how we understand ourselves and each other. The narrative structure that Machado employs—with each chapter exploring different metaphors for the Dream House, or the cabin she periodically shared with her ex-partner—captures the complexities and contradictions of abusive relationships so well. The sentence-level writing is exquisite— poetic and exacting. The experience of listening to the audiobook, which is excellent, was haunting and unsettling. Though, I wish I had a physical copy to re-read and annotate.
Loved
Our Share of Night by Mariana Enríquez | Literary horror
A literary horror novel that follows Juan and his son, Gespar, after their wife and mother dies in an accident. From the beginning of the story, it’s clear that her death is not what it seemed. I loved so much about this novel. Enríquez tells an expansive, richly layered story about the occult that explores themes around imperialism and post-colonialism in Argentina in the 19th and 20th centuries. The plotting was intricate, and the characters were vivid and compelling, and always morally grey. There were only a few truly horrific scenes, though enough that it took me a while to work through this doorstopper of a novel (588 pages) because I couldn’t read it at night. I loved the creepy and atmospheric feel of the book. I especially enjoyed the slow way the full picture of cult’s history and motivations unfolds and the multiple point of views the story is told from. Overall, this was a big yes for me. I read the e-book and listened to large portions on audio (it’s available on Spotify for those who have Spotify premium!) and enjoyed the audio version as well.
Defectors: The Rise of the Latino Far Right and What It Means for America by Paolo Ramos | Nonfiction
An incredibly insightful piece of reported journalism that explores the various factors that have contributed to the rise of the Latino far right. It is a profound experience when a writer so adeptly describes phenomena you’ve observed but had insufficient context and language to describe. And that was the feeling I had again and again as I was listening to this book. I especially appreciated how Ramos excavates relevant Latin American histories and current events to help the reader understand how Latin America’s history with colonialism (and subsequent foreign interventions) and authoritarianism have shaped how Latinos in the US understand social problems, democracy, and racial hierarchies. This book, published before the November election in which Trump’s gains with Latinos (especially Latino men) were known, felt prescient in its warnings. I received a physical copy of Defectors for Christmas and I can’t wait to re-read it with all my annotation tools in hand (there were so many quotes I wanted to underline). Though, I did enjoy the audiobook.
Really liked
A Secret History of Witches by Louisa Morgan | Historical fiction
A multigenerational story of Romani witches that starts in 17th-century France and ends in London circa World War II. The craft (and the power necessary to harness it) is passed down from mother to daughter over five generations. I came for a story about witches and witchcraft and stayed for what was ultimately a story about mothers and daughters and the ways women, and particularly women who are members of a historically marginalized group, can access status and power in a patriarchal society. While I found it frustrating where the author chose to end each heroine’s story (just as it was getting interesting!), I also loved seeing how their story unfolded through their daughter’s perspective. And I loved where and how the author chose to end this multigenerational tale. My main critique is that I wanted more backstory— on witchcraft in this world, and the family and their unique powers. Though, overall, I really enjoyed this book. I listened to the audiobook and it was the perfect cozy fall vibes.
A Dish Best Served Hot by Natalie Caña (Vega Family Love Stories #2) | Romance
A second chance love story about two high school sweethearts— Saint Vega, a widow and single dad devoted to his large, traditional Puerto Rican family, and Lola León, a social justice advocate—who reconnect after their feuding grandfathers nearly get kicked out of their retirement homes for pulling pranks on each other. I loved Lola’s brash, yet kind and caring character. I also loved the sweet relationship Lola develops with Saint’s 4-year-old daughter. Caña writes about Puerto Rican culture and history exceptionally well and I loved getting to spend time with the larger Vega family again (Abuelo Papo is a hoot!).
A Merry Little Meet Cute by Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone | Holiday romance
This was my first foray into holiday romance novels and it was a delightful romp. A Merry Little Meet Cute features Bee, a plus-size adult film star who is somewhat accidentally cast as a lead in a Hallmark-style Christmas movie opposite her co-star, Nolan, a former boyband member trying to revitalize his dying Hollywood career. Bee attempts to keep her career in the porn industry a secret. Though, as it turns out, Nolan (who also happens to be Bee’s teenage crush) is a big fan of Bee’s work, and because it’s a romance novel, next thing you know, a secret affair ensues. Even though the premise of the story strained credulity, I had a great time. The fact that both Bee and Nolan had long fantasized about each other made for a really fun dynamic and great chemistry. I loved both character’s development arcs and the grand gesture at the end left me swooning.
Out on a Limb by Hannah Bonam-Young | Romance
A one-night stand and a surprise pregnancy brings Win and Bo, two perfect strangers who had a casual hookup after meeting at a Halloween party, together in this tender and heartfelt story. As someone who is typically very anti- pregnancy trope in romance novels, Out on a Limb is now the exception to my rule. I loved how earnest, kind, and tender Bo is as a male main character. I loved how careful and intentional they were with each other as their friendship developed. I also appreciated Bonam-Young’s nuanced depiction of characters with limb differences. Overall, I was a big fan of Win and Bo, and their love story.
An Ember in the Ashes and A Torch Against the Night by Sabaa Tahir (An Ember in the Ashes series #1 and #2) | YA fantasy
I started the first book in this YA fantasy series on a whim after realizing the e-book was available to borrow immediately through Libby. Fast forward a few days and I’m sneaking away from a holiday family gathering to finish the last 50 pages. This is an epic fantasy story set in a violent Roman Empire inspired world. The first book is told from two perspectives: Laia, a slave from the oppressed scholar people, and Elias, one of the finest soldiers at the Martial Empire’s military academy who wants to escape the tyrannical government he’s been trained to defend. Laia and Elias’ paths cross after Laia is sold as a slave to the academy’s sadisitic leader as part of a scheme that includes her serving as a spy to the Resistance. The first book’s plot was propulsive, especially the second half. I loved the morally grey characters Tahir writes and the world she builds. While I liked how additional perspectives were included in the second book to expand the plot and fantasy world, I thought the second book was too plot heavy, with insufficient character development. Overall, I’ve been enjoying this series. And at this point, I’m too curious to see whether Tahir sticks the landing not to finish.
Not Another Love Song by Julie Soto | Romance
Two rival string musicians— Alex, a musical prodigy and nepo baby, and Gwen, an unconventionally trained but exceptionally talented musician— compete for First Chair of the orchestra they work for. This romance has been getting a lot of hype in the romance corners of Bookstagram and BookTok, and I’m here to add my praise. Soto writes such great yearning and angst. As someone with remarkably little musical literacy or talent, I found Soto’s prose about music and making music both clear and incredibly evocative. Also, that cello scene!
Liked, but didn’t love
Dating Dr. Dil by Nisha Sharma (If Shakespeare Was an Auntie #1) | Romance
Dr. Prem Varma, a love skeptical cardiologist, and Kareena Mann, a quirky sweater-vest loving lawyer, fake date (for reasons) and fall in love. I found parts of this story too silly and unserious for my taste. Though, I also loved many of its elements and found the overall reading experience enjoyable. Both main characters are enmeshed in a large Indian-American community in north NJ, and Sharma captured those dynamics exceptionally well. I felt like I was watching the first season of Bravo’s Family Karma, and it was a great time. Sharma also writes some pretty great sex scenes. I’ll definitely be continuing along in this series.
A Proposal They Can’t Refuse by Natalie Caña (Vega Family Love Stories #1) | Romance
A childhood friends-to-enemies-to-lovers story featuring two scheming octogenarians who attempt to set up their grandchildren by blackmailing them. Kamilah has her heart set on revitalizing her family’s Puerto Rican restaurant and Liam has been working towards taking over his family’s distillery for years. Their grandfathers threaten to sell the building housing both businesses unless they marry each other. While I had a difficult time with this absurd premise, I enjoyed the chemistry between Kamilah and Liam and each of their character development arcs. Without giving away any spoilers, I didn’t love the ending of this book. The grand gesture didn’t feel true to the characters, and the epilogue felt more focused on setting up the second book in the series rather than giving us a satisfying conclusion to Kamilah and Liam’s love story.
Full Moon Over Freedom by Angelina M. Lopez (Milagro Street #2) | Romance
A second chance love story between two former childhood best friends (and one-time lovers) whose paths cross unexpectedly one summer. The chemistry between the two main characters is electric. I loved seeing how Gillian, a recently divorced single mother, figures out how to rebuild her life on her own terms. I also enjoyed the elements of magical realism featured in this story, though I would have loved to see that storyline developed more. Overall, this was an enjoyable read, though not my favorite from this author.
The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally Carter | Holiday romance
I saw this one all over BookTube and BookTok and succumbed to the hype. This book had a fun premise, but it didn’t stick the landing for me. It’s a rivals-to-lovers story of two crime writers who find themselves at the center of a real-life mystery unfolding in a remote English estate after their host (also a famous crime writer) disappears unexpectedly. I enjoyed elements of this book— the cozy mystery plot, and the atmosphere and setting. That said, the romantic storyline and pacing didn’t work for me. The FMC’s pivot from hate to love felt too sharp (and unrealistic) for me.
Only Santa in the Building by Alexis Daria | Holiday romance
A cute, though not very memorable, holiday romance novella about two neighbors who finally get together after their building’s holiday party months of mutual pining.
What I’m currently reading
Tastes Like Shakkar by Nisha Sharma (If Shakespeare Was an Auntie #2). I’m enjoying this one a lot. Sharma writes really fun, vivid characters.
Legendborn by Tracy Deonn. 🎧 As soon as I finished reading Legendborn, I knew I wanted to re-read it—both to see if I could pick up on any easter eggs and to prepare for Bloodmarked (#2). I’m listening to the audiobook and having a great time.
Challengers: A True Story of Heroism and Disaster on the Edge of Space by Adam Higginbotham. 🎧 I love good narrative nonfiction and narrative nonfiction dissecting bureaucratic failures is right up my alley. I’m almost done and have been totally captivated by this history of NASA leading up to the 1986 Challenger explosion.
Democracy in Chains: The Deep History of the Radical Right’s Stealth Plan for America by Nancy MacLean. This is a work of narrative nonfiction about the intellectual progenitors of the modern far right movement. Reading this often leaves me infuriated, so it’s been slow going.
Blood Over Bright Haven by M.L. Wang. I just started this standalone fantasy novel that’s been getting a lot of buzz in the corners of BookTube I hang out in. So far, I’m very intrigued by the magic system and the world Wang is building. I’m excited to see where this goes.
P.S. Let’s be friends on Storygraph and Goodreads!