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Books in November - Book recommendations
- The Little Bookshop
- Nov 1
- 8 min read
Hello November, we are ready for some new books! To transition smoothly out of the spooky season, we have only one new horror and one new thriller book selected in our list. And as you can see our first Holiday title is on the list as well… which means… the hidden Holiday books can finally go on the tables ^^ Let's take a look at our November selection, shall we?
Contemporary
The Place Where They Buried Your Heart by Christina Henry (4 November)
Because even after Halloween we need some spooky books
On an otherwise ordinary street in Chicago, there is a house. An abandoned house where, once upon a time, terrible things happened. The children who live on this block are told by their parents to stay away from that house. But of course, children don’t listen. Children think it’s fun to be scared, to dare each other to go inside. Jessie Campanelli did what many older sisters do and dared her little brother Paul. But unlike all the other kids who went inside that abandoned house, Paul didn’t return. His two friends, Jake and Richie, said that the house ate Paul. Of course adults didn’t believe that. Adults never believe what kids say. They thought someone kidnapped Paul, or otherwise hurt him. They thought Paul had disappeared in a way that was ordinary, explainable. The disappearance of her little brother broke Jessie’s family apart in ways that would never be repaired. Jessie grew up, had a child of her own, kept living on the same street where the house that ate her brother sat, crouched and waiting. And darkness seemed to spread out from that house, a darkness that was alive—alive and hungry.
The Dinner Party by Viola van de Sandt (4 November)
Because I saw the Netherlands…
Franca left the Netherlands behind to start her new life in England with Andrew. Andrew, whose parents lived in South Kensington but had a flat their son could 'borrow' nearby. Andrew, an old-fashioned British gentleman, who encourages her not to work but to instead focus on her writing. Andrew who suggests a dinner party with his colleagues to celebrate their big upcoming launch. A dinner party that Franca must plan and shop and cook and clean for. A dinner party during a heatwave, when the fridge breaks, alcohol replaces water and an unexpected guest joins their ranks. A dinner party where everything she once was and everything she now is comes together and she feels like she might implode.
I, Medusa by Ayana Gray (20 November)
Because I enjoyed this one very much!
Meddy has spent her whole life as a footnote in someone else’s story. Out of place next to her beautiful, immortal sisters and her parents—both gods, albeit minor ones—she dreams of leaving her family’s island for a life of adventure. So when she catches the eye of the goddess Athena, who invites her to train as an esteemed priestess in her temple, Meddy leaps at the chance to see the world beyond her home. In Athens’ colorful market streets and the clandestine chambers of the temple, Meddy flourishes in her role as Athena’s favored acolyte, getting her first tastes of purpose and power. But when she is noticed by another Olympian, Poseidon, a drunken night between girl and god ends in violence, and the course of Meddy’s promising future is suddenly and irrevocably altered…
Within the Space of a Second by Elise Helliwell (27 November)
Because it's recommended after 'The Seven Year Slip'
Every morning, Mariella Adams wakes with a strange electrical energy buzzing beneath her skin. Terrified she has inherited her late mother’s mental illness, she tells no one, but when she discovers her mother’s lost journals with an entry dated after her death, she’s desperate for answers. Mariella’s confusion grows when she’s approached by Rose and Parker, who claim to be time travellers from the future. Communicating with the past – and Mariella – is forbidden, but she holds the key to restoring Parker’s ability to time travel before they’re caught in this forbidden timeline. Shocked, Mariella agrees to help them. They might hold the answers she’s looking for, and the more time she spends with them, the more she finds herself drawn to Parker. As she fights to uncover the mysteries of her past and the secrets of his future, will Mariella discover the truth before time runs out – and Parker disappears forever?
YA Books
House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig (6 November)
Because I'd like to read it ^^
In a manor by the sea, twelve sisters are cursed. Annaleigh lives a sheltered life at Highmoor with her sisters and their father and stepmother. Once there were twelve, but loneliness fills the grand halls now that four of the girls' lives have been cut short. Each death was more tragic than the last--the plague, a plummeting fall, a drowning, a slippery plunge--and there are whispers throughout the surrounding villages that the family is cursed by the gods. Disturbed by a series of ghostly visions, Annaleigh becomes increasingly suspicious that her sister's deaths were no accidents. The girls have been sneaking out every night to attend glittering balls, dancing until dawn in silk gowns and shimmering slippers, and Annaleigh isn't sure whether to try to stop them or to join their forbidden trysts. Because who--or what--are they really dancing with? When Annaleigh's involvement with a mysterious stranger who has secrets of his own intensifies, it's a race to unravel the darkness that has fallen over her family--before it claims her next.
Girls Who Play Dead by Joelle Wellington (6 November)
Because thrillers are always nice!
When Mikky Graves left his small, stifling hometown of Prophets Lake to live with his estranged mother, he thought nothing could ever make him return for good. Until his sister Kyla’s best friend, Erin, is murdered. Mikky never worried about leaving Kyla behind at their family-owned funeral home so long as she had Erin. But when Mikky heads home, determined to help Kyla grieve, the sister he encounters barely resembles the one he remembers. Mikky decides, then and there, to do the one thing that seems even more impossible than returning: stay. As Kyla spirals further into her rage and secrets, Mikky realizes the only thing that can help his sister is finding the truth about who killed Erin. But the more he investigates, the further he’s pulled into other ugly mysteries of Prophets Lake and the beauty brand that is its lifeblood. The town’s rot runs deep, and everyone has something to hide. Perhaps no one more than Kyla herself.
A Knight Before Christmas by Cara Stout (6 November)
Because we slowly start with Holiday books
Just like Romeo, he’s falling for Juliet. Juliet Ripley doesn’t believe in love. She’s witnessed more than her fair share of tragic endings and has sworn off the cursed thing for good. But when Beeloved, the dating app her overbearing mum runs, needs a PR boost, she agrees to help create a reality dating show. Garrick Walton keeps love at arm’s length but when asked to take part in the dating series as the shows Knight in Shining Armour he can’t say no. Flirting is his forte and the theme park his family runs could use some good press after the charity fraud fiasco. Except it’s not the contestants that have caught his eyes, it’s the brutally honest producer, Juliet, he’s really drawn to. The more time they spend together, the harder it becomes to deny their feelings. Will they risk it all for their own happily-ever-after?
MindWorks by Neal Shusterman (20 November)
Because I enjoyed 'Scythe' and this sentence: "the only thing that is truly certain is nothing is certain"
This collection of unforgettable and uncanny stories could only come from the mind of award winner Neal Shusterman. Compiled for the first time in one epic volume, these stories both classic and brand-new will stretch your imagination from terror to the sublime and back again. Explore a world where bats block out the sun, where soup is a trap for your soul, or where the life-force of a glacier can bring back the dead. Journey to a place where the wind can be captured, time can be crafted into infinite attic space, or a hot tub can house an ancient monster. And revisit the Arc of the Scythe universe for two all-new tales of gleaning. In this collection, the only thing that is truly certain is nothing is certain.
Children’s Books
The Tale of the Obsidian Maze by Carlos Sanchez (6 November)
Because we all loved the first one!
Chiri and Dai are levelling up their sword fighting and spellcasting skills in the land of Puddin', and with the Shadow King safely imprisoned in his bottle, they decide to go to one of Puddin's most exciting events - a huge market filled with wonders and treats. They can't catch a break, however, and when a troupe of skeletons causes havoc and delivers a mysterious invitation to the duo, they find themselves in more danger than ever before. The invitation is to the Obsidian Maze, the terrible place where Bruno Puddin sealed the first and most dreaded Darkness after it wreaked havoc on the land. Since the Shadow King is one of the Darkness' first children, Chiri and Dai are forced to come to terms with the fact that he's not the only bad guy after them now. The MidKnight is another of these children, and he wants to bring the battle to the Obsidian Maze and deal with these wretched children once and for all!
Fia and the Last Snow Deer by Eilish Fisher (6 November)
Because this story takes place in Ireland and there's friendship
Born under the same solstice sky thirteen years ago, Fia and her snow deer Solas have always had a powerful and unbreakable connection. But as Fia's village face a seemingly eternal winter, they turn their sights to Solas and an ancient prophecy that promises the return of sunlight and life, if the ultimate sacrifice is made… Refusing to allow the worst to happen, Fia and her cousin Mish run from the village with Solas, seeking out the Deer Mother - the mythical being who wakes the sun at the winter solstice and who might be their only hope. But the wilderness is harsh and shadows lurk at every turn. Can they make it to the Deer Mother? And, if they do, what choices will Fia face to bring back the sun and save her village?
Robot's First Snow by Billy Sharff (7 November)
Because this looks just so cute!
All day in the factory, Robot sorts and stacks. At night, he wishes the other bots could play, but they're programmed to work, and work, and work. But one day, when the humans don't show up, and something strange is falling outside, Robot's sensors detect SNOW. Robot wants to go out there. And feel the snowflakes in the air. Can he convince his fellow robots that playing has a purpose? Will Robot get to have a snow day too?
This Book is About Nothing by Marco Anderson (25 November)
Because this looks funny and it's the debut picture book from a 14 year old author (impressive!)
Rio, our main character, is adamant that their story will be peaceful and uninterrupted. The only thing is ... more and more characters want to come into the book, leading to, of course, chaos! From dragons with magician's hats to unicorns who can play the piano, this hilarious story has an important post-pandemic social message of making friends as an introvert and having fun with others.
We hope you enjoyed our little list and that it gave you some book inspiration!
Looking to pre-order one of these books? Just follow the path! 👇
This blog post is written by The Little Bookshop, your bookshop for English books in Rennes.
