November is the first month in a while where I have managed to read a solid number of books. Ultimately, in the month of November I finished seven books, most of which were re-reads. However, due to the large amount of reading I did this month, I have a fighting chance at actually accomplishing my 2017 Reading Challenge of 43 books. Currently, I'm at 33 which means I'll have to devour ten books in the month of December. Which, given the amount of work I have in December is a little questionable, but I shall try nonetheless. 

November Stats: 
Pages read: 3,063 
Books finished: 7
Average Star Rating: 3.15/5 Stars
Favorite book of the month: Flame in the Mist by Renee Ahdieh 
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The first five books I read this month are all a part of the Lux series by Jennifer L. Armentrout. Because I had read the first four books of the series years ago yet had never read the final book, I decided to just re-read the entire series so that I could finally read the fifth (and last) book of the series. 
Star Rating: I rated each of the five books with 3/5 Stars
Reason for Rating: When I had originally read the first four books, I had given them a higher rating (some at four stars and some at five). However, after re-reading the books I realized that they possess a lot of cliches and several elements I did not enjoy too much. I found myself skipping through a lot of the lovey-dovey romantic scenes because they got so old and repetitive by the end of the series. And, reflecting back on the books I can't clearly remember how it ended, demonstrating that the books are more for spur-of-the-moment fun than for substance. However, I still enjoy the strength of the main character, Katy, and the high-action present throughout the series.  
Who I would recommend to: Sci-fi lovers who are looking for a quick and easy series to read.

The next book I finished this month was November Nine by Colleen Hoover. When I decided that I just wanted a nice realistic-fiction romance novel to read, I almost immediately chose this book since it's been sitting on my shelves for a while and Colleen Hoover is pretty reliable. 
Star Rating: 3/5 Stars 
Reason for Rating: Although I was very captivated by the concept of this book, in which two people meet on one day a year every year for five years as they wait for the right time to fall in love, I have to say some elements disappointed me severely. I found myself slightly-disgusted in how the male protagonist, Ben, treated the female protagonist, Fallon, as he occasionally stated crude-remarks and seemingly pressured her to do things she clearly wasn't ready for. However, Colleen Hoover has released a statement clearing up some of the unsettling scenes, which slightly made up for it. Other than those elements, I found the book addicting and fast-paced. There were elements of mystery throughout the whole novel and numerous unexpected twists. In addition, the dynamic between Fallon and Ben was very captivating and their relationship development was extremely authentic. 
Who I would recommend this to: Romance readers who are looking for something a little different. 

The final  book I completed this month was A Flame in the Mist by Renee Ahdieh. The concept of this book instantly interested me and caused it to jump to the top of my TBR the moment I read the synopsis on Goodreads. The novel is described as a fantastical, fairy-tale like, re-telling of Mulan, based in ancient Japan. My supreme fascination by Japanese history and culture in combination with my love for anything related to Disney, this book sounded absolutely perfect for me and I could not wait to pick it up.
Star Rating: 4/5 Stars
Reason for Rating: I completely devoured this book, reading most of it in a single day. Not only did I find the main character, Mariko, highly intriguing but I found her inspirational and relatable as well. Throughout her whole life, Mariko has been deemed as "odd" due to her passion for knowledge and extreme curiosity, which weren't qualities that women typically made obvious. However, Mariko didn't shy away from her nature, but rather challenged people to accept it. Thus, Mariko, as a woman in a male-dominated era, stood up for herself and let her real character shine. Not only did I thoroughly enjoy Mariko's character, but the Japanese folklore elements sprinkled throughout the novel, and strong relationship development elevated the book to a higher level. In addition, the writing style which was somehow simple, intricate, and beautiful simultaneously kept me captivated and transported me throughout Mariko's journey. Although this book possessed numerous elements that I enjoyed immensely, I felt as if there was something missing in the novel. I can't think of what exactly it was missing, it just wasn't a meaningful enough book nor an all-consuming book that would have earned it five stars. 
Who I would recommend this to: Readers who love fairy-tale retellings and Japanese folklore.

Honestly I cannot believe it is almost the end of another year. With only 29 days until 2018, I'm in complete and utter shock. 2018 was always a year that seemed ages away, however it continues to inch closer and closer to reality. In the year of 2018, I will turn eighteen years old, graduate from high school, and go to college. How completely insane is that???

Anyway, tangent over, it's time to get to the point of this post. I've seen a lot of people doing this "End of the Year" tag on BookTube and I thought it was a really nice way to reflect on the year thus far and launch into the end of the year. 

So, without further delay, let's get on to the tag. 

1. Are there any books you started this year you need to finish?
The real question is are there any books I've started this year that I have finished. I have such an issue with starting a book, getting slightly bored or excited by another, and stopping midway through with the intention to return. However, often, I never actually return to the book in a timely fashion. So, yes, there have been quite a few partly-read books this year (in fact, I just had to clear out my currently-reading section on Goodreads so it wasn't as horribly shameful). 
My so-far unfinished books of 2017 include: 
Vicious by V.E. Schwab (166/368 pages) 
The Marvels by Brian Selznick (392/665 pages) 
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy (147/964 pages) 
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz (228/359 pages) 
The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker (93/486 pages)

I'm really hoping to finish at least two of these by the end of the year (especially The Golem and the Jinni and The Marvels). 

2. Do you have a winter book to transition to the end of the year? 
I do not have one picked out yet, but I do hope to pick up one of my Christmas themed books sometime soon to set the mood for the month(: I'm thinking either Let it Snow by John Green or a Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.

3. Is there a new release you're still waiting for? 
Nope, since I'm on a book-buying ban and trying to avoid starting new series at the moment (so that I can finish off the ones I've already started) I honestly have no idea what books are coming out this month. 

4. What are three books you want to read before the end of the year? 
1. Stand-Off by Andrew Smith: This is the sequel to Winger, which I'm currently re-reading, that I initially read three years ago and loved. Because I loved Winger so much, I'm really hoping that Stand-Off has the same earth-shattering effect over me. 
2. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (illustrated version) by J.K. Rowling: I've been staring at the beautiful illustrations on the cover for ages and I would really love to get the full experience (you know, beyond just the cover). Plus, Christmas time is always perfect for a Harry Potter re-read. (:
3. Illuminae by Amie Kaufman: I've been thoroughly craving something really really different. And, I think this book, which is a high sci-fi told through emails, security camera reports, etc will be more than sufficient to satisfy my craving. 

5. Is there a book that you think could still shock you and become your FAVORITE???
As you know from my response to the first question, I've already started The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker. However, the reason I haven't finished it yet is because it started off a little slower than I would like, especially at a time in my life where I am extremely busy and can't read as often as I would like. However, I believe that if I commit myself to finishing it, it has a great chance to become one of my new favorites. The book is an adult urban-fantasy novel based in New York City around the turn of the twentieth century. In addition, it contains elements of ancient African and Middle-Eastern history. Further, it has the qualities of a magical fable. From its shared historical fiction and fantastical elements in combination with its fairy-tale like qualities and intricate writing, it has a definite shot at a place among my favorite books. 

6. Have you already made reading plans for 2018? 
Besides continuing my book buying ban so that I can work on my massive TBR pile, I don't have any set reading plans for next year. I do hope to set a  reading goal for each month so that I can dedicate myself to reading a little more than I have in 2016, but have no idea which books I will be tackling first. 

Hope you enjoyed the short tag(: Let me know if you've read any of the books I mentioned & what books you're hoping to read by the end of the year!