What to Read & What to Skip: My November 2021 Reading List
At She Reads Romance Books, Iโm all about helping my fellow romance book readers find the best books worth reading.
Check out which romance books I read in November 2021 to see which books I recommend you read and which books I suggest you skip.
*Disclosure: This post may include affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
This month my reading list was a bit shorter than normal. Weโve been busy with house projects and preparing for the holidays so I read a bit less this month.
Iโve also been making my way through the Written in My Own Heartโs Blood audiobook and let me tell you that baby is L-O-N-G.
I started it months ago so I could get caught up to read Diana Gabaldonโs newest release that dropped this month but I still have many hours to go.
That being said I sprinkled in some romance books up for best romance book in the 2021 Goodreads Choice Awards, which was the November 2021 Romance Book Reading Challenge.
All but one of the books I read were 2021 releases and most were November 2021 new romance book releases.
Despite it being a short reading month, I enjoyed every read. Bonus!
Donโt Forget Your Copy of the Romance Book Reading Journal
The Romance Book Reading Journal is the perfect printable journal for the romance book reader. It not only has a monthly book tracker page to track the books you read each month, but it has so much more.
With over 75 pages, you can also track your favorite book boyfriends, your favorite quotes, your favorite series and plan your next monthโs titles to read.
Click here to grab my Reading Log and Favorite Book Boyfriends tracker– two of my favorite pages, for free!
Sweeper
by Amy Daws
A Soccer Romance That Continues a Great Series
Published November 2021
3 stars
*ARC received
Zander Williams is the hot new American determined to take European football by storm. But his motives for crossing the pond to join one of Londonโs Premier League football teams arenโt what they seem.
Managing the building where they live is only one of Daphneyโs many jobs. Itโs why she has zero patience for her obnoxious American neighbor.
When tensions build and after one steamy hallway kiss, neighbor wars quickly shifts into neighbors-with-benefits and thatโs a battle they both intend to win.
Though technically a standalone romance, I loved falling back in with Amy Dawsโ Harris brothers with an added twist. This was a cute, neighbors with benefits love story. I just would have loved more interaction between Zander and the Harris family.
Amazon | Goodreads | My Review
Claimed
by Stacy Kennedy
A Steamy Romance That Looks at Being a Submissive
Published August 2013
3 stars
Presley Flynn is ready to fulfill one of her secret fantasies and now sheโs able to inside the elite club in Las Vegas. Presly is different than the other submissives Dmitri has mastered but heโs prepared to show her all that the lifestyle has to offer. He just didnโt anticipate to fall for her so hard.
I liked how this book gives a look into the start of a relationship between a Dom and a new sub, especially a woman new to the scene.
It explores how this relationship really fuels both of their needs – one to dominate and one to completely submit, which outside of this type of relationship has caused them problems in the past. It didnโt exactly wow me but I would recommend it.
Amazon | Goodreads
Elves With Benefits
by Jana Aston
An Adorable Christmas Novella
Published November 2021
4 stars
*ARC received
My name is Ryan Sheppard and I donโt care about Christmas. Iโm only returning to my over-the-top Christmas-themed hometown to sell the house I inherited from my late uncle so I can get back to the city and the promotion Iโm chasing at work.
Yet according to the town Christmas cop, thereโs a moratorium on selling houses during December. She says itโs bad for the aesthetic. Sheโs also slapping an alarming number of tickets on my front door. If only this Christmas cop didnโt look like a hot red-headed elf.
This is a delectable holiday novella to add to what was already a wonderful series!
I love the Reindeer Falls series, including this one, because Aston is able to convey so much in limited pages. I can sometimes find novellas lacking but this one had a cute story, fun characters and just a great, overall romance thatโs perfect for the holidays.
I highly recommend this fun and well written novella for every Christmas, which is why it made my book list of best Christmas novellas to read.
Amazon | Goodreads | My Review
One Night with a Nutcracker
by Jana Aston
A Christmas Novella With Goats…
Published November 2021
3 stars
*ARC received
My name is Jake Sheppard and Iโm ambivalent about Christmas and the Christmas-themed town I grew up in. But when I find out my late uncle left me an old barn and acres of land, the decision to return home to build my dream golf course is an easy one.
Imagine my surprise when I arrive and find out I have a squatter. An incredibly hot squatter with a herd of goats who hates my guts and takes my eviction notice as grounds for battle. Except Lexiโs version includes flinging her clothing at me.
This is a short, cute read for the holidays but I admit I liked the previous novella better.
Sutton is in love with her goats but girl you are squatting on land that is not yours so you really can’t have a beef with Jake. I didn’t buy into Jake just going with the flow and jumping in to help but alas, it’s a cute read for the holidays.
Amazon | Goodreads
The Bachelor on the Shelf
by Jana Aston
A Fake Relationship With a Childhood Crush Novella
Published November 2021
3 stars
*ARC received
My name is Carter Sheppard and I actually like Christmas and my Christmas-themed hometown of Reindeer Falls. In fact, when I learn I have to return home in order to collect an inheritanceโmy uncleโs dogโit puts life into perspective for me.
Sure, playing professional baseball is great. But it wonโt last forever and every player needs a long-term game plan. And I just found mine. Wrapped up in the feisty, bespectacled package of the town librarian. Unfortunately, she thinks Iโm a player in all aspects of the word, but Iโve got a plan to win her over. Starting with a fake engagement.
I love that these are short novellas but this one seemed to abruptly end with a serious commitment that wasnโt really believable. That doesnโt mean I didnโt enjoy it for what it was.
I do love that it was a fake relationship story based on a childhood crush. Carter could have come across a little less obtuse in the beginning but I loved Lexi. The epilogue was a great way to wrap the last three books in the series.
Amazon | Goodreads
Savage Hearts
by J.T. Geissinger
A Close Proximity Romance I Loved
Published November 2021
4 stars
When my older sister calls out of the blue to announce sheโs getting married, itโs a shock. I shouldโve known something was wrong when she wouldnโt tell me where Iโd be going.
And I absolutely didnโt anticipate her fiancรฉ being Declan OโDonnell, head of the Irish mob whoโs now a target of a savage Bratva who wants revenge in the name of his brother. Now Iโm smack in the middle of a battle, and Iโve got a Russian whoโs decided he likes the looks of me.
I devoured this in one day. Malek and Riley are the best. I loved this just as much as the last one in this series.
Geissinger keeps a consistent tone and thread through this series yet making each book its own. If you love alpha males and fantastic heroines youโll enjoy this! Plus I really love this cover. ๐
Amazon | Goodreads
The 14 Days of Christmas
by Louise Bay
A Sweet Holiday Romance
Released November 2021
3 stars
*ARC received
Sebastian has ignored Christmas for the last 10 years and he plans to do the same this year while on the beach in Barbados. Unfortunately, his grandmother, whom heโd do anything for, has sprained her ankle and unable to help with the Christmas market in beautiful Snowsly, the Christmas Capital of England.
Despite his initial grinch-like attitude, he slowly comes around to the spirit of Christmas thanks to its biggest fan, Celia Sommers. Celia is trying to hold it all together to make this year the most perfect Christmas. She just didnโt plan on falling in love in the process.
This book read as if I was watching a Hallmark movie โ the small town feel, interfering townsfolk, a woman on the rebound and a man set against falling in love with the town or the woman. It was a sweet love story set in the atmosphere of the most wonderful time of the year.
Amazon | Goodreads | My Review
Seven Days in June
by Tia Williams
A Beautiful, Second Chance Romance
Published June 2021
4.5 stars
Brooklynite Eva Mercy is a single mom and bestselling writer, who is feeling pressed from all sides. Shane Hall is a reclusive, enigmatic, award-winning literary author who, to everyone’s surprise, shows up in New York.
When Shane and Eva meet unexpectedly at a literary event, sparks fly, raising not only their past buried traumas, but the eyebrows of New York’s Black literati. What no one knows is that twenty years earlier, teenage Eva and Shane spent one crazy, torrid week madly in love.
Over the next seven days in the middle of a steamy Brooklyn summer, Eva and Shane reconnect, but Eva’s not sure how she can trust the man who broke her heart.
I really enjoyed this and found the writing fabulous and the characters amazing. I felt like the ending could have been more and got a bit off track otherwise it would have been a 5 star read.
I loved the use of flashbacks which added to the story but kept the current storyline flowing. It felt similar toย People We Meet on Vacationย in that respect but with a different focus obviously.
I’m kind of glad it really didn’t sink too deep into the issues surrounding both main characters. You got just enough to understand their mental and physical health struggles but it wasn’t too heavy that it detracted from what was their story back to each other.
I highly recommend it and found it deserving of its 2021 Goodreads Choice Awards nomination!
Amazon | Goodreads
Shipped
by Angie Hockman
An Office Romance That Will Inspire You to Take a Trip
Published January 2021
4 stars
Marketing manager Henley Evans couldnโt be more excited that sheโs shortlisted for the promotion of her dreams, only to discover that Graeme Crawford-Collins, the remote social media manager and the bane of her existence, is also up for the position.
Their boss tasks each of them with drafting a proposal on how to boost bookings in the Galรกpagosโbest proposal wins the promotion. Thereโs just one catch: they have to go on a company cruise to the Galรกpagos Islands…together.
But when the two meet on the ship, Henley is shocked to discover that the real Graeme is nothing like she imagined. As they explore the Islands together, she soon finds the line between loathing and liking thinner than a postcard.
I can understand the comparisons drawn to The Hating Game given that this book pits two office colleagues against one another for the same promotion. Iโm not sure it conveyed the same chemistry but it definitely will inspire you to want to travel to the Galapagos Islands.
Overall a good office romance that I think is worthy of its 2021 Goodreads Choice Awards nomination.
Amazon | Goodreads
Tip: Read These With Kindle Unlimited
With Kindle Unlimited you can read as many romance books as you want at the click of a button. Join today and get busy reading!
Check Out More Recommendations:
Check out all of myย What to Read book listsย to see which romance books I recommend you read and which I suggest you skip.