Read This Next: November 2024

I’m going to level with you: I didn’t exactly love most of the books I read this month. If it weren’t for one absolute gem in the mix, I would’ve been tempted to skip this roundup entirely and head straight into December’s picks. But here I am—late as ever—because I need every last one of you to read the first book on the list.

What’s my excuse for running behind? Well, we’ve been caught up in our final Christmas market season here in Europe, soaking in mulled wine, twinkling lights, and all the holiday vibes. With all that holiday hustle, reading took a back seat. Still, I’m here now, ready to share the highs and lows of November’s pile. Let’s start with the must-read and then tackle the rest, shall we?

As always, I clarify in my reviews whether I listened to or physically read the book. I also link all of the book cover images to Goodreads so you can click on them to read more reviews if you’re so inclined.

Someone Who Will Love You In All Your Damaged Glory
Raphael Bob-Waksberg

Short Stories, 6 hours and 6 minutes

Quirky Short Stories on Love and Heartbreak

From the writer and creator of the hit show BoJack Horseman comes a collection of 19 short stories about the ups and downs of love in all its forms: from missed connections to wedding preparations to post-breakup lunches, and even the bonds we share with our pets.

My Review of Someone Who Will Love You in All Your Damaged Glory

My interest was piqued when Instagram-famous influencer Elyse Myers posted a page from this book in her stories. When I hopped over to Goodreads and saw that the author was the creator of BoJack Horseman, one of our family’s favorite shows, I instantly added it to my wait list, despite not generally loving short stories as a genre.

And I freaking loved this book. If you’ve ever watched BoJack Horseman, you know the subject matter is typically deep and a bit dark. Much like the show, this book followed suit. I loved this collection of stories so much that I kept my audiobook loan for the full period, rereading entire sections and sharing chapters with my spouse on our morning commute.

Some of the stories made me laugh out loud, like “Rufus,” a tale about the special connection we share with our pets told from the dog’s perspective. Other stories, like “Move Across The Country,” about attempting (and failing) to outrun depression, cut straight to my core. I found myself speechless and lost in thought for the rest of the day.

The author excels at taking nebulous topics like love or grief and giving them weight with just a few sentences. Since I feel like my attempts to convey this book’s poignancy may fall short, I’ll leave you with some of my favorite quotes:

From “These Are Facts”:
“The things that are the most important aren’t shared. They are important only to us. The way your mother rolls her eyes at you, your son’s desire to stop eating red meat, the immediate, unexplainable sadness you felt when you saw your father’s shirt draped over the back of a chair. You can write it all down, you can put it in your book of facts, but the truth is no one can ever really understand the tangle of experiences and passions that makes you who you are. It’s a secret collection, a private language, a pebble in your pocket that you play with when you’re anxious, hard as geometry, smooth as soap.”

From Move Across The Country:
“Move across the country and hope the Sadness won’t find you, won’t follow you like a stray dog from coast to coast… Hope this isn’t one of those any-place-I-hang-my-hat-is-home-type situations where the Sadness hangs its hat on you. Hope that you are not the Sadness’s home, anywhere you go, no matter how far, no matter how quickly—the Sadness lives in you. Hope to God it’s not that.”

“One night at a bar late, you pick up a hobby of a person that somehow grows into a habit.”

From Salted Circus Cashews, Swear to God:
“Maybe you are right to be cautious. You have been lied to before, after all. Your heart is weathered and scarred, mishandled by many, eroded by time. You’re no dummy, and yet repeatedly, you stumble over the cracks of your cobblestone heart, you let your naked foolish hopes get the better of you.”

From We Will Be Close on Friday 18 July:
“We realize that Friday 18 July, like every day in history before it, was a moment, a twenty-four-hour trick of the light, a thing that happened once and never again. And that sad truth will just about swallow us whole. Sorry for any inconvenience.”

Pick Up This Book If…
I’m giving this one my highest rating, and I want every man, woman, and child to read it.

Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers
Mary Roach

Nonfiction, 8 hours

What Happens When You Donate Your Body to Science

Roach takes us on a fascinating journey through the many uses of human cadavers, from testing car safety to advancing forensic science—all with a dash of humor. With her signature wit and insatiable curiosity, Roach explores the ethical dilemmas, historical quirks, and downright bizarre scenarios that come with life after death (for our bodies, at least).

My Review of Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers
After thoroughly enjoying The Wager last year (something completely out of my wheelhouse), I set out to find more books on topics I wouldn’t normally choose. My interest in Stiff was piqued when I saw it mentioned on a Reddit thread about surprise favorite nonfiction reads. How could an author make something as grotesque and scary as death interesting, even humorous?

Once I finished reading White Rural Rage (see below), I needed something lighter and less, well, rage-inducing. Enter Stiff.

Not to alarm people, but I think about death quite a bit. Sometimes in a philosophical sense and other times as a soul-crushing dread that it is not something I signed up for and would much prefer to opt-out of, thank yew. I guess that’s the second reason I was so curious about this book. I was hoping it may calm my fears a little bit.

While I’m uncertain if it gave me the reassurance I was seeking, I definitely learned a lot from this book, and one of the main points I took away is that death is not a pretty thing. Spoiler alert: one way or another, we’re all going to end up as earth soup. What I loved learning about were the different options you have post-mortem.

Something that stuck with me the most in exploring alternative means of body disposal (sorry, I don’t know a more couth way to say it) is that we have the possibility to make an even bigger impact on the planet in the afterlife than we may have ever made while living. Think about how many lives have been saved by car seatbelts? Thank a cadaver for sitting through the speed trials for you. Or how about how many people have had a successful surgery because you weren’t the doctor’s first go at cutting open a human? Yep, thanks again, cadaver. As someone who is always trying to make as much of a positive impact on the world as I possibly can, I found that this spoke to me and completely changed my mind about my post-life wishes.

My only real complaint is that the author’s humorous quips eventually felt overdone. Early on, they provided levity, but by the end, I could have done with fewer jokes. Still, this was a minor issue and didn’t stop me from learning a great deal.

Add This Book To Your TBR If…

I think this is probably a great add for a lot of people, since I get the sense I’m not the only one who’s a little skeeved out by this whole dying thing.

White Rural Rage: The Threat to American Democracy
Tom Schaller & Paul Waldman

Politics, 11 hours and 2 minutes

The Rural Vote And What It Means In Modern Democracy

White rural voters hold significant political power in the U.S., yet their communities often face poor healthcare, failing infrastructure, and vanishing jobs in manufacturing and farming. In White Rural Rage, Tom Schaller and Paul Waldman explore why these voters, despite their influence, feel betrayed by the nation. Rage challenges us to rethink our political system and consider how to build a more inclusive democracy that delivers more than just empty promises for rural communities.

My Review of White Rural Rage

Earlier in the year, I read Democracy Awakening, as it was recommended by a dear friend. I went on to suggest the book to multiple friends and family members, which is how my brother came across White Rural Rage and suggested it to further the discussions in our group chat.

I’ll admit my knowledge of government and political history is limited. Until recently, it wasn’t something I followed closely. Unfortunately, modern politics often preys on uninformed voters, using fear and anger to manipulate. If they can make you fear losing something or become angry, they can secure your vote, slipping in policies you might never have agreed to if you’d known the details.

As a liberal-leaning voter, White Rural Rage filled me with, well, rage at the unfairness and manipulative tactics embedded in the system. It also left me feeling somewhat helpless. We’re told to vote to enact change, but what happens when the power of the vote has been given to the land instead of the people?

After many chapters examining the problems and how we got to where we are today, I was hoping for a solution, and I’m sad to report this isn’t an issue that will be tidily resolved any time soon unless major changes occur in our country’s political infrastructure.

Who Needs to Read This Book…

I wish conservatives would read it with an open mind. I’m open to trading recommendations. If you give this book a fair shot, send me something to read in return. Those aligned with Harris/Walz should read it too, but brace yourselves—it’s a tough, infuriating read.

Starter Villain
John Scalzi

Science Fiction, 264 pages

Inheriting A Billion Dollar Evil Empire

When our down-on-his-luck protagonist inherits his mysterious uncle’s not-so-ordinary business, he quickly discovers that “villain” is more than just a job title—it’s a lifestyle. Think secret island lairs, genetically enhanced cats calling the shots, and literal sharks with serious business dealings. Suddenly, he’s juggling questionable alliances and complex negotiations in his new 9-to-5.

My Review of Starter Villian

Did I mention earlier how utterly distressed I was while reading White Rural Rage? Okay, I thought so. One of my favorite podcasters, Gretchen Rubin, named this as one of her top books of the year. The plot sounded fun and short, which appealed to me since I’m behind on my reading goals.

This is my third read from Gretchen’s recommendations, and I think it’s safe to say we have different tastes in books. Starter Villain wasn’t bad—light, sometimes funny—but it never grabbed me. Maybe if the protagonist’s friends had been dogs instead of cats it would have resonated more, but as is, I didn’t feel compelled to race through it or stay up late reading.

Who Would Enjoy This Book…

Cat lovers may appreciate the feline-heavy cast. If you need a mental break from heavier reads, this might be just the ticket.

Have you read anything lately that you’ve absolutely loved? Leave a comment with your suggestion—I’m always on the hunt for the next great book, whether it’s fiction or nonfiction!

And that’s a wrap for November’s reads—some hits, a few misses, and one absolute standout I’ll be recommending to everyone for the foreseeable future.

As I look ahead to December, I’m not entirely sure what my lineup will be, but I’ve already grabbed a few titles that lean into next year’s dreams and ambitions. Maybe I’m inspired by the holiday spirit, or maybe I’m just craving a clean slate—either way, I’m all ears for your suggestions!

So tell me, what are you eyeing for the coming months? New releases? Goal-setting guides? A twisty thriller that’ll have me questioning everything? Drop your picks in the comments below! Let’s head into the new year ready to tackle fresh ideas, bold adventures, and reads that spark thought-provoking discussion.

Until next time—cheers to finding the perfect page-turner and making the most of these last weeks of 2024!

Related posts