Tuesday, November 25, 2025

Gobble It Up! | November 2025 Monthly Favorites

 How fast has this year gone by? Too fast if you ask me! Anyways, this month has been a bit better mentally, emotionally & physically. Celebrated another trip around the sun & had a lot of good reading happening, too. But without further ado, let's get into the monthly favorites because that's what we are here for am I right?



November, you were good to me!


Favorite Music (had a good mix of different types of rock this month):


Favorite Coffee and / or Tea:


Favorite Body Care and / or Skincare product:


Favorite Workout Videos:


Favorite Book(s) I've Read and / or listened to as an audiobook via Spotify:

  • Dear Reader by Tate James (library pick): My first experience with dark romance and it was a solid read! We were getting the mushy-gushy-spicy (yes I did say that- it does go there in spots just wanted to warn others of that by the way) stuff and then we learned of this mystery that happened on this university from this one girl's POV that endured it. The buildup of the mystery aspect was well done- curious to what the next two will touch on... yes I did say two more in the series. However, the one big pinpoint with this read I didn't love: the childish things that occurred in the book plus some of the wording placement with the writing (even it though it was good) confused me a bit at times. That pinpoint didn't stop me from enjoying it- also funny in bits, too. I'll link it: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dear-reader-tate-james/1146486862?ean=9781464237072

  • His & Hers by Alice Feeney (library pick): This is my 3rd book of Feeney's and it was so satisfyingly good! It was told in two POVs- Jack & Anna- and already loved the concept of that. The story had a great gradual buildup of the murders occurring throughout the book. Some murders were not for the faint of heart so do look up trigger warnings beforehand (surprisingly didn't bother me too much but I wanted to keep that in mind for anyone else). The killer's POV? So interesting... We thought it was one person then another person then we we found out the actual killer itself (plus some answers I was trying to figure out the whole book). That made my jaw drop! The writing in this book was also well done! I'll link it: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/his-hers-alice-feeney/1131637405?ean=9781250266095

  • The Ghostwriter by Julie Clark: This book was surprisingly good- only slight thing I nitpicked at was the up-and-down buildup it gave- but really liked the writing in it and the mystery-thriller vibes were there (even if it wasn't a super twisty kinda thriller). The past character POVs were well done and I was a bit surprised on who actually did it! The father-daughter dynamics played out nicely (especially the genres' it was coming from). I'll link it: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-ghostwriter-julie-clark/1146182029?ean=9781464221286

  • She Didn't See It Coming by Shari Lapena: This was my first read of Lapena's and I throughouly enjoyed it! The story took us on so many twists and turns I didn't see coming (as it usually is with these mystery-thriller reads) plus I was invested in everything going on! I usually don't always feel invested in stories of this genre sometimes. Anyways, there was one interconnected case within the story that never got a proper answer but I could overlook it as cases usually never get proper answers nor solved really. Will definitely look more into Lapena's books that's for sure! I'll link it: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/she-didnt-see-it-coming-shari-lapena/1146487206?ean=9780593832448

  • The French Honeymoon by Anne Sophie-Jouhanneau: This was a wonderful, wild, and twisty thriller- didn't see much of the twists coming- but one of the characters' we were following in the book, Cassie, was the most unsympathetic selfish characters I've ever known in a fictionalized book. It was one of the main things I only nitpicked at with this read. But still liked it overall! I'll link it: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-french-honeymoon-anne-sophie-jouhanneau/1145847152?ean=9781464229404

  • We Could Be Rats by Emily Austin: This was my 2nd read of Emily's and it didn't disappoint! I enjoyed the writing & humor in this story- plus the connections we got by the end of the book, too. We need more stories like this in the world that's for sure! I'll link it: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/we-could-be-rats-emily-austin/1145681956?ean=9781668058145

  • The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin: Why do I love books about books? I don't know why but I did with this read. We meet A.J. Of whose bookshop isn't doing so great and recently lost someone important to him plus hasn't been taking the best care of himself. He is greeted by a little girl named Maya and the note attached to it says it's A.J.'s and he's got to straightened himself out. He meets Amelia, of who he didn't get on the right foot with at first, and then something between them overtime blossoms. A.J. Has a sister in law of who is unhappy in her marriage and she eventually meets someone new within the story. A.J. Is given a prognosis and isn't sure on how long he has to live. By the end, I noticed A.J.'s impact he had on others even if he had a hard time seeing it at first. Definitely enjoyed the humor, love, and the surprise twists I didn't see coming. Very much liked this one! I'll link it; https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-storied-life-of-a-j-fikry-gabrielle-zevin/1116395251?ean=9781643753614

  • Her One Regret by Donna Freitas (November 2025 BOTM Read): This told a solid story on all aspects of motherhood- both good & bad parts. It definitely will spark some conversations that's for sure! Very character driven story & wasn't expecting some of those plot twists either. However, I only had one main issue with the story: Julia, one of our female main characters' we followed in the book, had a neighbor situation that I felt didn't connect to the main story we were reading about. But enjoyed the book overall! I'll link it: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/her-one-regret-donna-freitas/1146800103?ean=9781641296380

  • Night Watcher by Daphne Woolscroft: This was the most chilling, atmospheric, unsettling and edge of your seat read! We meet our FMC, Nola, of who witnessed an harrowing encounter when she was 8 years old seeing her own babysitter killed. The killer happened to be known as The Hiding Man; she's lived in fear ever since that day. She's taken over her dad's podcast, Night Watch, since he retired from it two decades ago. One evening episode Nola does with her crew, she hears a woman witnessing “a ghost” in the house and Nola instantly gets a sense of deja vu- The Hiding Man has returned for her and wants to finished what “he” started. Over the course of the book, we get the detective's POV (has a connection to Nola's dad) about these killings from said killer starting up again. Nola is on the hunt to find out what happens as well within the story. By the end, Nola and everyone else finds out who did it (also a connection to Nola's dad) and it surprised me because I thought it was one character and I was wrong! The mini romance subplot & the humor in it broke up some of the heavier themes within the story. The father-daughter dynamic was well touched on, too. By the end, I was happy for Nola having her parents' “together” (since they were divorced in the story) for one nice normal moment (even if it didn't feel that way at first). Really enjoyed this one- if you want a similar vibe of a read, I do also recommend (I already love recommending reads anyways): Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera. I'll link it: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/night-watcher-daphne-woolsoncroft/1146511138?ean=9781538770900

  • The Clinic by Cate Quinn: This was, yet another, solid mystery-thriller read! Easy to keep up with & fast-paced; however, I did feel it did get a little bit silly & predictable at times while reading otherwise I liked it! I'll link it: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-clinic-cate-quinn/1143215737?ean=9781728293981

  • Crooked House by Agatha Christie (library pick): This book didn't disappoint! We were trying to figure out who poisoned Aristide Leonidas (a wealthy businessman in his 70s-80s), who became the heir of the house after he died, and if anyone else got poisoned / killed, too. This book gave an unsettling feeling because of bad things that happen in this said “crooked house”. By the end, we figured out who did it and it genuinely surprised me- it could've been anyone really within the story (they were pinning the blame on Aristide's second younger wife, 50 years his junior). This did give a good mix of the mystery-thriller genres. Definitely a different feel from Agatha's other books- that I read that are part of a series rather than a standalone- which I didn't mind too much! I'll link it: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/crooked-house-agatha-christie/1100155251?ean=9780062573278

  • The Seven Dials Mystery by Agatha Christie (library pick): This was a solid mystery read from Christie herself- just took me a minute to get into the premise of it by then I was hooked and also had a lot of characters for me to keep up with but otherwise I liked it! I'll link it: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-seven-dials-mystery-agatha-christie/1144785018?ean=9780063397880

  • These Fleeting Shadows by Kate Alice Marshall (library pick): This YA read was so well-done! It had every element- genre-wise and it is was kept me hooked from the beginning. I did get a bit confused on character connections while reading but really enjoyed it! It had a dark & gothic feel I did really like about the book. Our FMC, Helen, is set to inherit Harrowstone Hall but her mother, Rachel, never wanted her to return to the said place. But Helen has to stay for a full year at the hall in order to receive her inheritance. But within the time of her stay, she learns a lot more than she liked to admit (the history of the owners, her own family, etc). The house is built like a labyrinth- so the time passes when you enter within the walls. Helen learns her family isn't the nicest and by the end, this family legacy will soon crumble. The writing in this was so good- appreciated the layer of humor while reading, too. I'll link it: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/these-fleeting-shadows-kate-alice-marshall/1140388893?ean=9780593405116


Favorite TV Show, Documentary and / or Movie(s) I've Either Watched or Streamed:

Well that's all for this month- last monthly blog post for 2025 is next month can't wait to share with you, my friends. Until then, stay happy & take care of yourself (as basic as that may sound).

-Sincerely, Lauren-

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