Friday Five: Here Comes November

Hurray for Friday!  There are just too many things I'm seeing online that I want to buy.  This time of year is my favorite, and even though I hate the cold weather, I do love all the sweaters and cozy clothing.  Banana Republic Factory had an awesome sale that I couldn't resist, and I'm awaiting a couple new things from there.  

 

1. Italian Alpaca-Blend Funnel Neck Sweater

2.  GapFit Quilted Jacquard Knit Funnel-Neck Pullover

3.  Abi Jacquard Cardigan

4.  Sequin Argyle Sweater Poncho

5.  Jacquard Weave Blouse

6.  We The Free On It Zip-Up Cardigan

7.  BDG Urban Outfitters

8.  Brushed Pullover Sweater

9.  Bold and Gold Iowa Corded Crewneck

10.  Floral Puffer Vest

That's it for me this week.  What's caught your eye?

Waiting on Wednesday: Dandelion is Dead

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly feature where I highlight a soon to be released title I can't wait to read.

This week's pick: Dandelion is Dead by Rosie Storey

Due out: January 13, 2026

Synopsis taken from Amazon:

Jake has fallen head over heels for Dandelion. The only problem? Dandelion is dead.

When Poppy discovers unanswered messages from a charming stranger in her late sister's dating app, she makes an impulsive choice: She'll meet him, just once, on what would have been Dandelion's fortieth birthday. It's exactly the kind of wild adventure her vivacious sister would have pushed her toward.

Jake is ready to find something real—and not least because his ex-wife's twentysomething boyfriend has moved into their old family home. When he meets the intriguing woman who calls herself Dandelion, their connection is undeniable, and he can think of little else.

As their relationship deepens, Poppy finds herself trapped in a double life she never meant to create. Every moment with Jake feels genuine, electric, and totally right—despite the fact they're tangled in deceit. As the lines between grief and love blur, Poppy faces a choice: keep her sister's memory alive through her lies, or risk everything for a chance at her own happiness?

With sparkling wit and aching tenderness, debut author Rosie Storey gives us a modern love story about the courage it takes to live again after loss and finding hope in the most unexpected places.

Monday Mini-Reviews: Heart the Lover

 Jenna Bush Hager picked Writers and Lovers a few years ago, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.  But I read a lot of books and aside from knowing it was about a young woman who was struggling to make a career out of writing, I couldn't recall anything more detailed.

Heart the Lover isn't a sequel to Writers and Lovers, it is a companion novel, with a part of the story covering the time period prior to Writers and Lovers, and part of it covering a time later in Casey's life. 

This could be a stand-alone novel, simply because I had no real memory of King's previous book featuring the same character.  And, as a stand-alone it is fantastic.  

I loved the college-aged Casey (Jordan) and her messy relationships as she tried to figure things out for herself and her future.  And I loved the older, middle-aged Casey (Jordan) who was married to a really good guy, with kids and yet still had that college version of herself inside of her, something that is evident when she's confronted with her past.

I've read almost all non-fiction this past week, which has been enjoyable, but I love that I picked this one up this weekend and could devour it in one day.  And despite the fact that King has pretty well covered all of Casey's life, I'd like to check in with her again.

Friday Five

 

1.  We The Free Lil Lad Cardi

2.  Flora West Design Silk Bandana Scarf

3.  Stasia Taupe Steve Madden Boots

4.  Heritage Knit Merino Wool Open-Front Cardigan

5.  Marilyn Cardigan

6.  Studded Good Leg Straight Jean

7.  Dakota Horse Sweater

8.  Running Horse Oversized Crewneck

9.  Cable Knit Sweater with Collar

10.  Nobody Wants This - Season 2 on Netflix

That's it for me this week.  What's caught your eye?

Monday Mini-Reviews: Five Star Read: Life, and Death, and Giants

Ron Rindo's novel has been on my radar for a while now.  I will admit that I am not a fan of the cover, and although I know not to judge a book by its cover, this book kept moving down my stack.

 

And then, my friend Kristin reminded me of it.  I'm so glad she did.  This one is nearly perfect.

Narrated by several different characters, this is the story of Gabriel who weighed eighteen pounds at birth and continued to grow at a rapid rate, topping out at over eight feet tall.  

Set in small town Wisconsin, the Amish community Gabriel's mother was raised in, excommunicates her when she is pregnant with her first child and is unwilling to name the father.  After she dies in childbirth, Gabriel is raised by his older brother, Jasper.

Gabriel's grandparents watch his life from afar, until they are Gabriel's only living relative and take their grandson in to raise him.  Still Amish, they would like to shelter Gabriel from the world, but to allow him to continue his friendship with the local vet who he assists.  

However, Gabriel is noticeable wherever he goes, and the pull of the English world is too hard for him to ignore. Because of his size, Gabriel is recruited to play football, and his decision to leave his Amish home is one that changes the trajecotry of his life.

Despite the fact that Gabriel's family is small, he is surrounded by peope who love him.  And when I think of Gabriel, one phrase keeps returning, his is a life well lived. 

I'm so glad I looked through my TBR stacks and moved this book to the top.  It might be one of my favorites I've read this year.  Book clubs will also enjoy this one as will anyone who loves a good story.

Waiting on Wednesday: Some Bright Nowhere

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly feature where I highlight a soon to be released novel I can't wait to read.

This week's pick: Some Bright Nowhere by Ann Packer

Due out: January 13, 2026

Synopsis taken from Amazon:

Eliot and his wife Claire have been happily married for nearly four decades. They’ve raised two children in their sleepy Connecticut town and have weathered the inevitable ups and downs of a long life spent together. But eight years after Claire was diagnosed with cancer, the end is near, and it's time to gather loved ones and prepare for the inevitable.

Over the years of Claire’s illness, Eliot has willingly—lovingly—shifted into the role of caregiver, appreciating the intimacy and tenderness that comes with a role even more layered and complex than the one he performed as a devoted husband. But as he focuses on settling into what will be their last days and weeks together, Claire makes an unexpected request that leaves him reeling. In a moment, his carefully constructed world is shattered.

What if your partner’s dying wish broke your heart? How well do we know the deepest desires of those we love dearly? As Eliot is confronted with this profound turning point in his marriage and his life, he grapples with the man and husband he’s been, and with the great unknowns of Claire’s last days.

Ann Packer makes a triumphant return with this powerful novel that is tender and raw, visceral and unexpected. Emotionally vibrant and complex, Some Bright Nowhere explores the profound gifts and unexpected costs of truly loving someone, and the fears and desires we experience as the end of life draws near.

Friday Five

Fall is definitely here. I've found so many cold weather things to add to my wardrobe, but there are also some great books releasing this fall. It's an embarassment of riches.

Enjoy!

1.  Puff Sleeve Knit Sweater

2.  Jacquard Knit Sweater

3. Faux Suede Zip Jacket

4.  Jessie Sweater Vest in Navy

5.  2 in 1 Panel Lapel Sweatshirt

6.  Cabrera Sweater Pullover

7.  Adizero EVO SL Shoes

8.  Horses Graphic Oversized Sunday Crew

9.  Twofer Tie Sleeve Sweater

10.   The English Teacher - season 2 is out already, but this is new to me, and it comes highly recommended by one friend, and not-so-highly recommended by another.

That's it for me this week.  What caught your eye?

Waiting on Wednesday: The Jills

 

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly feature where I highlight a soon to be release novel I can't wait to read.

This week's pick: The Jills by Karen Parkman

Due out: January 6, 2026

Synopsis taken from Amazon:

Virginia is a Jill—a professional Buffalo Bills cheerleader—living the life she’s always dreamed of. She spends her weekdays practicing, her weekends cheering, and her nights hopping between events and bars and clubs with her close-knit band of teammates, especially her best friend, Jeanine, whose dynamic friendship has given Virginia confidence in spades and allowed her to put aside her troubled past with her sister, Laura.But one Sunday, Jeanine fails to show up for a game, and all her calls and texts go unanswered. Aided by a worried network of Jills, ex-boyfriends, and seedy fixtures of Buffalo’s criminal underground, Virginia embarks on an investigation into Jeanine’s disappearance. But as her search grows increasingly dangerous and spirals into obsession, disturbing questions about who Jeanine really is begin to emerge.Soon, Virginia finds herself wondering how well she knows her friend, if she can trust the people and institutions she thought were protecting her, and whether—when trying to save the people she cares about most—she’s capable of saving herself, too.
Part bingeable mystery, part character-driven tale of a woman claiming her own power in systems built by and for men, The Jills is a sharply observed, witty, and poignant novel about the stories that constrain us and the healing power of sisterhood.

Monday Mini-Reviews: Trying to Find My Reading Groove

 I'm still trying to adjust to my new (and definitey not improved) job description, and reading hasn't been as plentiful for me this fall.  I am happy that what I do read has been high quality.  And I also do find a little bit of pleasure in having a book that I desperately want to read that I have to try and carve time out to try and fit that in.

In A Distant Valley by Shannon Bowring is the ending to the Dalton trilogy that I have loved.  This series is one that could be enjoyed by readers of all ages and the small Maine town of Dalton is one full of characters whose lives intertwine - diverging, separating, reconnecting, much like the small towns I've grown up in and live in now.  And the characters are complex, no one is easily summed up by a single event or action.  

I'm hoping that Bowring is just getting started with her writing career.  These three would be a lovely gift for the holiday season if you are looking for something to buy for a reader in your life.

I've read a few books by Katherine Reay and this may be my favorite.  Any book that is Cold War adjacent is one I am instantly intrigued by.  This is a dual-time line story, moving between the 1950s and 1980s.  Ingrid and Anya's stories seem separate at first, but the two converge and I was thoroughly intrigued by the spying both engaged in and their skill in eluding the KGB.  Reading this book makes me think I should continue with watching The Americans, set in the 80s and a show that brings back nostalgia for my childhood.

And now, I'm trying to finish up Bog Queen by Anna North. I'm pleasantly surprised by how much I'm enjoying this one and am glad I didn't pass on it, which I did consider - bogs don't seem to draw my interest very often.

Friday Five

 

This is the time of year that I love the most for shopping. So many good sweaters, jackets and sweatshirts.  I don't need a thing - but I sure do want some.  

1. Strut and Bolt Embroidered Knit Cardigan

2. Water-Resistant Puffer Vest

3.  Rugby Sweater

4.  Frantic Wool Christmas Cardigan Sweater

5.  THML Stripe Sweater Top

6.  On CloudMonster Sneakers

7.  Striped Pullover Sweater in Alpaca Blend

8.  The Niki Knit-Sleeve Bubble Sweatshirt

9.  FP Movement Mountain High Half Zip

10.  Draper James Ruffle Corduroy Jacket

That's it for me this week.  What's caught your eye?