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What I’ve been reading lately: the new and the notable

Short and sweet book reviews of what I've been reading lately

Welcome to Quick Lit, where I share short and sweet reviews of what I’ve been reading lately on (or around) the 15th of the month, and invite you to do the same.

Last month I read three gigantic books, which resulted in an uncharacteristically low number of total books read. In comparison, this month I feel like I’ve been flying through the titles—easy to do when you’re reading 300-page books instead of 1300-page ones.

I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the depth and breadth of my recent reads. The Modern Mrs Darcy Book Club has been a bigger-than-usual factor in my reading this month, as I revisited our October and November titles in quick succession. (November’s Birnam Wood is not accounted for below, but now I’m second-guessing that decision because holy bookshelves, was it good on a re-read. I included my re-read of October’s The Correspondent.) But further than that, I’m currently scouting for spring titles to read together and have read a vast array of old and new novels looking for our perfect group reads. (I’ve made some very fun headway, most of which is not included below.)

I’ve also read a lovely number of just for fun, just because, just for me reads: old and new, fiction and nonfiction, books that capture my interest for the subject matter or simply seem they could be a good story, well told.

I hope you enjoy the variety of this month’s selections, and that you find something that looks intriguing for your TBR here (and in these comments). and I look forward to browsing your recent reads below. Thanks in advance for sharing your short and sweet book reviews with us!

Welcome to November Quick Lit

The Correspondent

The Correspondent

Author: Virginia Evans
I revisited this epistolary novel on audio in advance of our MMD Book Club conversation about it with author Virginia Evans, which is now in the past tense and was a complete delight. Our narrator is seventy-something Sybil Van Antwerp, whose letter writing routine defines her life: the book is told through those letters, written to friends, family, customer service reps, authors she admires, and more. Sybil believes in writing as a way to preserve civility and document her life, one that we see has held a good amount of heartbreak that she is still working through. Even as she uses her writing to make sense of the past, her letters introduce new possibilities for her future as she corresponds with old colleagues and strangers, family members she never knew existed, and even would-be suitors. I loved this one so much, and it was every bit as good—if not even better—on the re-read. More info →
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Having It All: What Data Tells Us About Women’s Lives and Getting the Most Out of Yours

Having It All: What Data Tells Us About Women’s Lives and Getting the Most Out of Yours

Author: Corinne Low
If I was to award superlatives for this edition of Quick Lit, this book wins "most likely to come up in conversation with friends." Low is a Wharton economist who writes here about the data of women's lives and how women can maximize their lives' overall "utility"—that is, how they might make decisions that lead to satisfaction and contentment because they're in line with their values and priorities. (What counts as "utility" is highly individual, as are the constraints we experience along the way.) I appreciated this book not for any answers it might seek to provide but for the questions it raises, and the language Low put to phenomenons I've experienced in my own life, like "the squeeze." I also loved her metaphor of thinking of your life as "a book with many chapters" (because of course I did). I happened to watch Celine Song's Materialists (seriously underbaked but also highly discussable) and this was such a serendipitous pairing—the book and movie have a lot to say to each other about value, utility, and partnership. More info →
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Slow Horses (Slough House Book 1)

Slow Horses (Slough House Book 1)

Author: Mick Herron
I'm sorry to say my cousin—a reader with great taste—has been telling me to read this series for over ten years, but it wasn't until Will and I started watching the Apple TV series that I actually did. The series is now nine books strong, and I decided to start at the beginning with Slow Horses. Slough House isn't a house, and it's not in Slough, but it's so far away from MI5 headquarters it might as well be. It's where MI5 rejects (known as "slow horses") get sent instead of being fired—not out of any sense of mercy, but because legal proceedings are a real hassle; the hope is they'll find Slough House so unpleasant they'll quit. Season 1 of the Apple TV series is based on this book about an MI5 black op: because I was familiar with the loose outline of the plot, I could focus on Herron's excellent writing, particularly the greater internality of the characters, the heightened nuances of their relationships, and the greater depth to their backstories. I'm not sure if I'll read the series in order or jump around, but I definitely want to read more. More info →
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Let’s Party: Recipes and Menus for Celebrating Every Day

Let’s Party: Recipes and Menus for Celebrating Every Day

Author: Dan Pelosi
This beautiful new cookbook caught my eye because of the fun cover, and also because we consistently love Dan Pelosi's recipes on NYT Cooking, which I use heavily. I enjoyed reading this start to finish in one sitting, and now that I'm done my first must-try recipe is the Peppermint Pattie Cookies, which feel like a delightful twist on Bogel family favorite Andes Mint Cookies. (Honestly, the chances of this new recipe unseating our family classic are slim to none, but the whole family is nevertheless going to give it a shot.) My next priority is every single recipe in his Breakfast for Dinner chapter (Maple Bacon Brussels Sprouts, Scallion Cheddar Hash Brown Patties, virgin mimosas, and more). And then the huge Caesar salad and adorable lasagnetta in the chapter where he encourages you to roll up your sleeves and channel the energy of an Italian American grandmother. I enjoyed Pelosi's fun approach and can-do spirit, and this mix of recipes hit a pleasing balance of accessible and aspirational. More info →
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The Filling Station

The Filling Station

Author: Vanessa Miller
I loved Jennifer Latham's 2017 book Dreamland Burning, and was drawn to this newer release (just out in March 2025) because it also focuses on the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, a violent two-day event that destroyed thirty-five square city blocks in Tulsa's Greenwood neighborhood, a prosperous and thriving Black community often referred to as "Black Wall Street." Miller's novel centers sisters Margaret and Evelyn Justice, who lose their community and many loved ones in the Race Massacre and flee down the road we'll come to know as Route 66 to seek refuge at the (historically real) Threatt Filling Station, a known safe haven for Black travelers. They're so grateful to discover places like Threatt and its proprietors exist, but ultimately their time there gives them the strength to head back to Greenwood to rebuild their lives and their community. I enjoyed sinking into this story on audio, as narrated by Angel Pean. More info →
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Next Time Will Be Our Turn

Next Time Will Be Our Turn

Author: Jesse Q. Sutanto
Author of the Dial A for Aunties and Vera Wong series Sutanto demonstrates her range in this new bittersweet love story that feels very different in tone and structure from her previous works—more wistful, vastly less zany, and unfolding as a long conversation between a grandmother and her teenage granddaughter. The story begins at a fancy family dinner: teenage Izzy has always felt out of place in her highly traditional Indonesian family of origin—but then her beloved grandmother shocks them all when she walks in with a woman on her arm, and stuns Izzy with an astonishing story about the love of her life. I was hanging on every word of the narrative—and was also struck by the tender and real intergenerational dynamics. I especially loved looking over Izzy's shoulder as she slowly took in the love and loss her grandmother experienced long before Izzy entered the picture. Next Time Will Be Our Turn was just published on November 11 and was featured in our 2025 Fall Book Preview. This was wonderful on audio, as narrated by Louisa Zhu and fan favorite Emily Woo Zeller. More info →
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What have YOU been reading lately? Tell us about your recent reads—or share the link to a blog or instagram post about them—in comments. 

42 comments

  6. Sandy says:

    Recently I’ve read:
    Janesville, Amy Goldstein (for our book club)
    The Hole We’re In, Gabrielle Zevin, in Hoopla
    Carnal Curiosity, Stuart Woods
    And have started:
    Louisa – the extraordinary life of Mrs. Adams, by Louisa Thomas (for book club)
    Season of Death, Will Thomas
    American Soldiers in Siberia, Sylvian Kindall, in Hoopla
    and Testimony, by Scott Turow

  8. Patricia @ AVikingInLA says:

    Having It All reminds me of Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men which was a very eye-opening and thought provoking read. Adding Having It All to my TBR. Thank you for the tip!

    Last month was a great month of reading for me. Each book was such a different reading experience – domestic mystery/thriller, literary fiction in translation, contemporary fiction, and a memoir – and I thoroughly enjoyed them all!

    https://avikinginla.com/2025/11/what-ive-been-reading-lately-october-2025/

  10. Courtney L says:

    I really liked Birnam Wood But the ending is really shocking! I was thrilled to get the audio of the newest Thursday Murder Club, and if didn’t disappoint – I just love that cast of characters. Currently reading (and really loving) both Heart the Lover and I See You’ve Called in Dead. They couldn’t be more different but the first makes me swoon and the second makes me laugh out loud one minute and tear up the next. It’s a great reading month so far!

  12. Jill Jaclin says:

    Looks like such a good month for you. I absolutely adored The Correspondent on audio and I’m so happy for all of the accolades Virginia Evans is receiving. Just added Next Time Will be Our Turn on audio. Can’t wait to listen. Some of my faves this month in And So I Roar by Abi Dare which is the sequel to The Girl with the Louding Voice. Listened to both on audio. Amazing. And just finished The Goddess of Warsa by Lisa Barr on audio. Yes, another WWII book but did not disappoint. Finally read Writers & Lovers by Lily King so I can be ready for Heart the Lover when it comes ready for me at the library.

    • Debbie S says:

      I’m curious how you are enjoying Katabasis. I loved the idea of Babel, but felt a bit hit over the head with Important Themes due to the writing style.

  16. Stacie @SincerelyStacie says:

    I adored The Correspondent on audio and want to get a physical copy to keep and read again. I’m adding Having it All to my reading list as well and The Materialists to my Amazon Prime watchlist.

    This month I’m sharing 5 books, 2 non-fiction and 3 fiction titles that I recently read and enjoyed. One of the nonfiction books has made a huge impact on my health.

    Testosterone Matters…More
    The Small and the Mighty
    Maine Characters
    How to Read a Book
    Mrs. Quinn’s Rise to Fame

    https://www.sincerelystacie.com/2025/11/quick-lit-november-2025/

  17. rebecca says:

    Stone Yard Devotional by Charlotte Wood. set in australia. former environmental activist leaves her life/marriage and joins a convent. Meditative, quiet, funny sometimes, beautiful, a reminder that ‘quiet books’ don’t have to be boring.

    Currently on: Flashlight, susan choi

  18. Adrienne says:

    I loved the Correspondent in print and am not-so-patiently waiting for library copy of the audiobook. I also just got a beautiful copy of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, which I ordered after I saw it mentioned in the comments on the post about beautiful book editions, and I cannot wait to curl up with a warm blanket and read it when I am on vacation next week.

    My recent reads include:
    • The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion by Beth Brower (audiobooks, 5 stars). I am loving this series and have just finished Volume 3. These are delightful, and I’m cheering Emma on in her hijinks and adventures. The audio narration is lovely, especially the voice of Agnes, the Scottish maid.
    • A Thousand Tomorrows by Karen Kingsbury (3 stars). This was a very fast read for a book club, and while the story itself was interesting, this reads like a sparse Hallmark movie narration. There are no detours, no side quests, and very little history is given of the main characters… simply nothing that would take the reader’s attention of the main plot line.
    • In the Time of Five Pumpkins (No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency book #26) by Alexander McCall Smith (4 stars). While it is always a delight to catch up with Mma Ramotswe, Mma Makutsi, and the rest of the series characters, this book felt slow to me, and not much really happened plot-wise.
    • Mudbound by Hillary Jordan (3 stars). This was a read for another book club, and it was rough. This is set in the Mississippi Delta shortly after WWII, and focuses on two families, that of the White farmer/landowner and the Black tenant farmer. The racial issues of the time are center stage in this book, and I found many of the characters to be cliched and undeveloped. The story is brutal and I slogged through it, but it didn’t give me many new insights from previous books that have explored this timeframe and history. I’m glad I read it because our book club had a great discussion of the book, but it was a hard read.
    • Famous by Blake Crouch (4 stars). I love Blake Crouch’s twisty books, like Dark Matter and Upgrade. This book is different. It tells the story of Lance, a 38-year-old nobody living with his parents who just happens to look exactly like a famous Oscar-winning movie story. The fun starts when Lance decides to take advantage of this likeness to change his fortunes. I don’t want to give any spoilers, but the ending was PERFECT!
    • The Bright Years by Sarah Damoff (5 stars) – I loved this novel which covers multiple generations in the story of Ryan and Lillian Bright. The novel is told in three sections each from a different perspective – Lillian, Ryan, and then their daughter, Jet. It’s a story of family, formed and found, and the bonds of love and hope. It also explores addiction, secrets, and redemption. So well done.
    Happy Reading!

  20. Pat says:

    The October comments for what you’ve been reading have closed so I’ll post here. Re: The Power Broker—look up the movie Motherless Brooklyn with Ed Norton, Alec Baldwin, Bruce Willis and William Defoe. Historical fiction of Robert Moses. Also, West Side Story is built around the building of The Lincoln Center which destroyed and displaced many communities.

  23. Lisa says:

    I am working my way through the Slow Horses series and loving it. I strongly recommend reading them in order.

  24. Adriana Destenave says:

    The Correspondent in audio is one of the best audiobooks i have listened to. You hear the emotion on each letter and the voice of each character (played by different people). It will be my favourite book of the year, just because ethe audio format made it so much special.

  25. Suzy says:

    I’m very late to the party, but I just finished A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving! WOW!!!! Owen Meany has got to be the MOST memorable, and MOST original character ever created! I loved Owen. This book is long, too long, but keep with it, the end is pertinent and satisfying.

    Also finished What Happened to the McCrays? by Tracey Lange. Disappointed, it was not up the quality of The Connollys of County Down. Or not the same style.

    The Impossible Fortune by Richard Osman was another winning entry into the Thursday Murder Club series! A delight to get back to our friends at Cooper’s Chase.

    Jane of Austin by H Manton Lodge was not great….slight resemblance to Jane Austen’s works, and it was a clean romance. About all I can say.

    How to Stay Married by Harrison Scott Key was….worth reading! Didn’t like all the mixed up Bible stories for a laugh, but I loved the premise that he decided to fight for his marriage. Have you done this in Book Club and how did it go?

    I NEED to get The Correspondent on audio….that’s the next thing. I loved it well enough in print!

  26. Christine Levernier says:

    Just finished The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow. Cannot recall where I picked it up but it will be widely given for Christmas & birthdays, & be a classic staple in my household. The abstract, magical realism level of lessons, guidance & values of this tale are universal & open the Door, (pun intended) wide open, for learning & connecting humanity through the lesson of viewing people & places as Doors to new & open thinking. Incredible storytelling! It gets 11/10 stars & I cannot wait for another take on life’s few stories from this fabulous author – Alix E. Harrow

  27. JL Orr says:

    Here’s a re-read and recent read that I highly recommend.

    Wabi Sabi: Japanese Wisdom for a Perfectly Imperfect Life and Kokoro: Japanese Wisdom for A Life Well Lived, both by Beth Kempton. These books have had a huge impact on my life, which I talk about in this week’s substack post called Living by the Seasons.

    Helen Russell’s A Year of Living Danishly and The Little Book of Hygge: The Danish Way to Live Well also get a mention.

    https://jumbleofseaglass.substack.com/p/living-by-the-seasons?r=5i2n0

  28. Meredith Amadee says:

    I just finished Wreck by Catherine Newman and I’m very excited to say that I am going to be moderating her panel for Tucson Festival of Books! I also recently read the first installment of the “Discovery of Witches” series and really enjoyed it! My book club also just completed The Ghostwriter.

    • JL Orr says:

      I’m still waiting to get my hands on Wreck, but I’m really looking forward to it. What a great opportunity — Catherine Newman is not only a great writer, she seems (if her Substack Crone Sandwich is anything to go by) to be a real character!

  29. Kay Welch says:

    I would like to recommend “Sousanna – The Lost Daughter” by Sousanna Stratmann. It is an autobiography that has been written as a novel (names changed, etc.). It is a profound story that is historically important and also has contemporary relevance. It is in the process of becoming a film. You can find it easily on Amazon, as well as other sources.

  30. Kathleen Miller says:

    I found Leah Libresco Sargeant’s The Dignity of Dependence highly thought-provoking. From what I’ve seen about Having It All, I suspect that Sargeant’s book takes the ideas a step further.

  32. Linda Henderson says:

    I am reading all of the Mick Herron Slow Horse books. Love them! I am also going to get a copy of Down Cemetery Road.

  33. Fiona says:

    I’m reading the memoir of Maureen McTeer, a famous writer and lawyer in Canada. If you are enjoying the Three Pines series by Louise Penny, this would add a lot if you want to understand Canada a bit better. She was a feminist in the 1970’s.It’s called In My Own Name.

  34. Marie Braz says:

    I tried the correspondent on audio and lost interest, but now that I have taken my time with it, with the physical book, treating it almost like a short compilation, I’m thoroughly enjoying it and imagine what it would be like to tell my life story letters. There isn’t a lot of love for this one in my world, but there seems to be a whole lot in the wide world and I can now see why.

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