Reader's Corner: Books We Can't Wait to Read in November
+ Survey: What are your favorite books you've read this year?
Hello, Protagonists!
It’s the end of the month, which means it’s time for a favorite ritual: previewing some of the upcoming book releases we’re excited about—the ones that have caught our eyes, tugged at our curiosity, or whispered “You’ll love me.”
xo,
Joanna & Evelyn
Note: We don’t receive affiliate commissions or payment for these mentions. We haven’t read these yet; these are genuine picks based on love of the author, intriguing premises, or early buzz that feels promising.
🤓 SURVEY: What are your favorite books this year?
We’re curious—what were your favorite reads this year? This is a fun way to build our holiday books shopping lists together—based on recommendations from each other!
Tell us your faves in this quick survey, and next month we will share the results.
Be a fly on a writer’s wall:
NYT Bestselling author Andrea Bartz has a fun feature where she invites authors to chat with her on Google Chat (while we simultaneously go about our normal days—responding to agent and editor emails, etc.) In our conversation, she and I talked about publishing, building a community on Substack, my most recent novel, and why writers torture themselves with hard things, like writing multiple POVs. You can read the transcript here.
📚 November’s Most Anticipated New Releases
Like Family by Erin O. White (November 4)
After a sudden death rattles their idyllic upstate community, three intertwined couples are forced to reckon with buried longings, chosen family, and the messy alchemy of middle-age love. Tender, character-driven, and begging for a conversation about what “family” means now.
The Weekend Crashers by Jamie Brenner (November 4)
A mother–daughter knitting retreat collides with a rowdy bachelor party, sparking rivalries, flirtations, and a reckoning with old resentments—plus a very book-club-ready thread about repair versus starting over. Cozy, humorous women’s fiction with heart.
Cursed Daughters by Oyinkan Braithwaite (November 4)
A Lagos family believes a young woman is the reincarnation of her doomed cousin—and under a curse that dooms her love life—until she decides to fight fate. Sharp, funny, and vibrant; includes themes of superstition, female rivalry, and second chances.
Ladies in Waiting: Jane Austen’s Unsung Characters by various authors (November 4)
Nine star authors re-imagine the lives of Austen’s side characters—from Georgiana Darcy to Miss Bates—in smart, charming stories that travel from Regency England to present-day New York. A playful “what if?” collection perfect for Austen lovers.
Best Offer Wins by Marisa Kashino (November 25)
A darkly funny, razor-sharp thriller set in the cutthroat world of D.C. real estate, written by a former journalist who spent 17 years reporting on the obsession and anxiety of today’s housing market. Hulu just announced an adaptation starring Greta Lee.
The Memory Gardener by Meg Donohue (November 25)
A scent savant whose custom perfumes unlock clients’ memories must face her own past—and a complicated romance—when a new commission hits too close to home. Lush, lightly magical women’s fiction that invites conversation about grief, identity, and how we remember.
Don’t forget to do the quick Reader Survey
We’d love to hear what your favorite reads of 2025 were!
These sound like great recommendations. Thank you for sharing.
Definitely adding The Wedding Crashers to my list.
I tend to gravitate toward longer books in the winter months where I can get cozy under a blanket and read until my candle burns out. I’m looking forward to:
The House Saphir by Marissa Meyer. It’s about a female con artist who gets hired by a descendant of Bluebeard’s to cleanse his house of his spirit.
I, Medusa by Ayana Gray. It’s a Medusa origin story.
Violet Thistlewaite is Not a Villain Anymore by Emily Krempholtz. A plant witch and grumpy alchemist must team up to save their town from a magical plague.
The Forget-Me-Not Library by Heather Webber. Two different women end up crossing paths at The Forget-Me-Not Library, where you can find memories buried within pages of books.
The Restoration Garden by Sara Blaydes. This one sounds like dual timelines. In the present, Julia is hired to restore the abandoned gardens of Havenworth Manor to their former glory. In the 1940’s, the manor’s owner Margaret Clarke’s older sister Irene vanishes to London with James, a RAF officer. Julia is determined to unearth the secrets of the gardens.