Reading Wrap-Up: November 2025
Thoughts on the 9 books I completed in the month of November.
** Please note that an unexpected death in my family has informed much of the reading and writing in this article. If you are not in an emotional space to hear about such loss, I completely understand and invite you to skip this month’s wrap-up until you feel ready. Take good care. <3 **
I want to begin this month’s wrap-up with a personal note, as I have not responded to all individual messages nor published much in November. As some of you know, the past month has been one of great loss for me and my family with the unexpected death of my Dad. He was an incredibly kind and caring man, and we are devastated by his sudden passing.
I likely will not write more about this difficult season publicly any time soon, as I need to get my bearings and tend to do so quite privately. I do, however, want to extend a sincere thank you to everyone who has reached out with your condolences. Please know I appreciate your kindness so much.
I didn’t read at all for a good part of the month, then found myself turning to books and my own personal journaling quite heavily for comfort, support, distraction, solace, and while in airports and on lengthy car trips. I am always thankful for books and writing, and this gratitude has only been elevated during this time. My monthly reading wrap-up seems a fitting way to begin returning to my Reading And Purpose publishing schedule.
And I do have loads of year-end content lined up for you in the weeks to come, including my favorite books of the year, how I did with my reading intentions, 2025 bookish superlatives, goal-setting and purposeful planning tips for 2026, and more. Like reading, I rely significantly on writing for support as well, and I am thankful to all of you who enjoy, appreciate, and/or find value in what I share here.
Thank you for your care and kindness, and for being part of the Reading And Purpose community. I am grateful for you.
Write For Your Life by Anna Quindlen
A random pick off the shelves of my local library that turned out to be the perfect reentry to reading after my hiatus. This is a wonderful collection of essays on different aspects of writing, particularly around keeping journals or documenting your own history in some way. I so appreciated the stories of people, including Anne Frank and others, who have kept personal documentation and written letters and what it all means for them - and for us. Quindlen definitely has a way with words herself, and I captured many quotes from this one in my study book. Gentle, encouraging, and perfectly timed for my reading life.
“Sometimes people will tell me something I wrote made them feel less alone. But the fact is, I feel less alone when I write as well.” - Anna Quindlen
Cranford by Elizabeth Gaskell
Cranford was my third book by Gaskell, one of my favorite authors when it comes to classics, and it was lovely and moving as per usual. I marvel at how she writes such ordinary, everyday activity in a way that is so compellingly readable. I especially loved the female camaraderie in this one, and the ways women - who had very few rights, property, money, etc. at the time - found clever routes to pursue their goals and take care of one another anyway. I will continue, with pleasure, to read my way through all of Gaskell’s works.
“We all love Miss Matty. And I somehow think, we are all of us better when she is near us.” - Elizabeth Gaskell
If It Makes You Happy by Julie Olivia
A cute and very autumnal (just take a peek at the book’s cover) romance that takes place in a quaint town in Vermont. I loved the small town vibes, the charming cast of characters, and especially the 1990s setting - the fax machines, land lines, handwritten letters, and such. The story was quite lengthy at almost 500 pages but an overall enjoyable read.
In Other Words by Jhumpa Lahiri, translated by Ann Goldstein
Talk about a unique reading experience: Lahiri, who has spoken Bengali and English since childhood and has won awards (the Pulitzer among them) for her writing in English, decided to learn Italian as an adult. In Other Words was her first book written in Italian, which was then translated to English by Ann Goldstein, with the audiobook then narrated by Lahiri reading Goldstein’s translation. Just fascinating! I loved her short story collection, Interpreter of Maladies, several years ago, enjoyed her novel Whereabouts, and am currently reading The Namesake. Her writing is stunning and, like I’m doing with the aforementioned Gaskell, I may need to read Lahiri’s entire backlist as well.
“I write to feel alone. Ever since I was a child, it has been a way of withdrawing, of finding myself. I need silence and solitude.” - Jhumpa Lahiri
Bits And Pieces by Whoopi Goldberg
I’ve seen some of Goldberg’s movies (Ghost and Sister Act immediately come to mind) but didn’t know much about her, so I was pleasantly surprised how much this memoir spoke to me. Subtitled ‘My Mother, My Brother, and Me,’ this is essentially a love letter to two of the most influential people in her life, both of whom passed away within a fairly short time frame of one another. She shares her story with honesty, graciousness, humor, and through such a positive lens, even in incredibly difficult circumstances. Hearing how she spoke of her mom and brother, both in life and in their deaths, provided some perspective in my own grief; namely, the gratitude for having had such beautiful people in our lives.
“I’m lonely, but not for other people per se… I think sometimes I’m just lonely for those people who knew me from day one. My mother and my brother.” - Whoopi Goldberg
The True True Story of Raja The Gullible (And His Mother) by Rabih Alameddine
What are the odds I would be reading this book the very week it won the National Book Award? This is my second book by Alameddine and his writing style is quite captivating; I am amazed when authors can infuse an unexpected levity into tragic settings in such a seamless way. I appreciated the Lebanon imagery described within the pages, and while portions of this book covered difficult subject matter, the distinct characters - as well as their growth and relationships - truly stood out. A very unique story and reading experience.
“I knew, like every Beiruti, that I would be able to find my way if I were to reach the sea… the perpetuity that is the Mediterranean would lead me home.” - Rabih Alameddine
The Black Wolf by Louise Penny
There’s something to be said for reading the 20th book in a series and continuing to hope for more! I won’t share much about this one since it’s so far into the series and anything I mention could potentially give away plot lines of the earlier books. Suffice it to say that while reading I was, once again, gripped, stressed, entertained, and felt at home with Inspector Gamache and the various beloved Three Pines characters throughout the entire book.
The Lost Story of Eva Fuentes by Chanel Cleeton
This author is just a consistent winner for me, year after year after year. This story follows three characters in three different timelines, all focusing around one rare book that impacted each of their lives in significant ways. Part mystery, part history, part book-lover delight, I enjoyed this one from start to finish, as I have with every Cleeton book I’ve read (I believe this is my 8th by her).
“There was something about books that brought people together, a passion, a devotion that created an intimate bond and understanding… Sharing a favorite book was like creating shared history between people who had navigated the life and world that existed within the novel’s pages.” - Chanel Cleeton
Still Life by Sarah Winman
I’ve heard numerous book reviewers singing the praises of Still Life for years but never felt compelled to pick it up myself until this month, and I’m so glad I finally did. The story spans decades and follows a cast of characters whose lives intersect in such varied and meaningful ways. I loved the found family element, the imperfection yet clear love within each of the characters, and the unexpected ways their lives continued to separate and reconnect over the years. And Claude the parrot has my heart. I can tell I loved the story because I even managed to overlook the lack of quotation marks after a while. An overall beautiful story with so much heart.
“Evelyn said, we will find your soul, Peg, and bring it back to you.” - Sarah Winman
What book did you most enjoy in the last month? What is one book you definitely want to finish before the year wraps up? Share your bookish insights and plans with us in the comments below.
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Dr. Christi Hegstad is a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) and self-proclaimed book nerd, here to help you work with meaning, live with purpose, and reach bold + difference-making goals! Peruse coaching opportunities at ChristiHegstad.com, email questions to ReadingAndPurpose(at)gmail(dot)com, and check out book recommendations at the Reading And Purpose bookshop.org store (your book purchases through the links provided may earn me a small commission, at no extra cost to you).
Thank you for being here!