kate_brauning's review
5.0
This book breaks my heart and puts it back together again. A boy running from violence, a girl who's violence personified, both of them learning to deal with how human they really are. Part survival story, part magic. Take note of this one--you're going to love it and so will everyone else.
erinarkin20's review
4.0
A unique story!
I enjoyed this one but it was definitely different. I'm not sure what I was expecting going in and maybe that is the approach everyone should take as Kang has created a very unique story that is not only beautifully written but also kept me turning the pages to see what would happen next for these characters. If you are looking for something that is out of the ordinary, consider checking this one out.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the copy in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed this one but it was definitely different. I'm not sure what I was expecting going in and maybe that is the approach everyone should take as Kang has created a very unique story that is not only beautifully written but also kept me turning the pages to see what would happen next for these characters. If you are looking for something that is out of the ordinary, consider checking this one out.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the copy in exchange for an honest review.
noura_rizk's review
3.0
"You don't want to be here when November comes."
They said, it's weird, and it was.
I said I will be super pissed if this ends badly, but I'm not.
I really don't know if I liked this book or not, it was WEIRD, and I thought about dropping it more than once, but also I'm glad I didn't..
They said, it's weird, and it was.
I said I will be super pissed if this ends badly, but I'm not.
I really don't know if I liked this book or not, it was WEIRD, and I thought about dropping it more than once, but also I'm glad I didn't..
bookladysreviews's review
4.0
*I received this book for free, in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*
Hector has been trying to get away from his home life many times and he finds the chance to escape and reside on an - almost - empty island in the middle of nowhere. He doesn't expect to meet anyone while being there, since Isle Royale is deserted during the winter months and not a lot of people live there after the summer ends. Perfect for someone like Hector, who just wants to hide somewhere until he turns eighteen and won't be required to return back home. But nothing goes according to plan since his life is turned upside down when he meets Anda. She's basically what legends are made of and pretends to live a normal life on the island, with her father. For most of the year, that is. Because when November comes, she cannot ignore the storms that call out to her. It's her destiny to bring them to life and sink every ship that dares to cross the sea and come to the Island during that particular month. Her mother and sisters have done it before her and now it's her turn to take on the role of the November Witch. When the two meet, worlds collide and sparks fly, something they obviously are not able to ignore. The temptation is too much and they soon find themselves in a difficult situation, with Anda trying to suppress her true nature and Hector doing everything he could in order to save her from herself.
Hector and Anda were the reflection of each other. Both were broken and traumatized by what they went through and their pasts are unveiled as the story progresses. Hector is visibly struggling with his new life on the island and Anda is very curious to get to know him. She's intrigued by this mysterious and lonely boy who came to live on her island. He makes her feel thinks she has never felt before, emotions she didn't believe she was able to actually experience in her lifetime. She feels human when she's around him and even though she doesn't want to be rescued, she definitely makes an effort to keep her true nature at bay and control the chaos inside her. Hector is also fascinated by this ethereal creature that he did not expect to meet on an empty, lifeless island. I feel like, even though they did reflect each other on a lot of aspects, they also completed each other perfectly. Which is something they tried to avoid at the beginning, because a connection like this would obviously hinder them from their goals and keep them away from achieving what they initially set out to achieve.
Both characters were very likable and at the same time, peculiar. The story itself is complex and unique! Nothing is clear from the beginning, which gives the book an authentic feel that is very uncommon. The combination of these complicated characters with an unpredictable plot is definitely something I definitely was not expecting so, we can say that I was pleasantly surprised by the unexpectedness of it all. Their relationship progressed beautifully and nothing was instant or normal about it. It was definitely not love at first sight, since they both tried to stay away from each other at the beginning. It took a while for them to connect on a deeper level and form a bond that would not be easy to break. Their interactions made up for the absence of important secondary characters in the book and they managed to be the center of their own story, without leaving any gaps or makings readers feel like something vital was missing from the plot.
I loved everything about this book and how different it was from anything I've read before. It definitely managed to transport me in its magical world, with its interesting characters and beautiful writing! And I wouldn't have had it any other way. I wouldn't exactly say that this is a fast paced novel so, don't go into it expecting anything like that. It's one of those rare books that slowly builds the reader's excitement and reaches that perfectly executed climax at the end. Overall, The November Girl is a title I cannot recommend enough, especially if you're looking for that mysterious and extraordinary read that will wake you up and keep you at the edge of your seat until you finish it!
Hector has been trying to get away from his home life many times and he finds the chance to escape and reside on an - almost - empty island in the middle of nowhere. He doesn't expect to meet anyone while being there, since Isle Royale is deserted during the winter months and not a lot of people live there after the summer ends. Perfect for someone like Hector, who just wants to hide somewhere until he turns eighteen and won't be required to return back home. But nothing goes according to plan since his life is turned upside down when he meets Anda. She's basically what legends are made of and pretends to live a normal life on the island, with her father. For most of the year, that is. Because when November comes, she cannot ignore the storms that call out to her. It's her destiny to bring them to life and sink every ship that dares to cross the sea and come to the Island during that particular month. Her mother and sisters have done it before her and now it's her turn to take on the role of the November Witch. When the two meet, worlds collide and sparks fly, something they obviously are not able to ignore. The temptation is too much and they soon find themselves in a difficult situation, with Anda trying to suppress her true nature and Hector doing everything he could in order to save her from herself.
Hector and Anda were the reflection of each other. Both were broken and traumatized by what they went through and their pasts are unveiled as the story progresses. Hector is visibly struggling with his new life on the island and Anda is very curious to get to know him. She's intrigued by this mysterious and lonely boy who came to live on her island. He makes her feel thinks she has never felt before, emotions she didn't believe she was able to actually experience in her lifetime. She feels human when she's around him and even though she doesn't want to be rescued, she definitely makes an effort to keep her true nature at bay and control the chaos inside her. Hector is also fascinated by this ethereal creature that he did not expect to meet on an empty, lifeless island. I feel like, even though they did reflect each other on a lot of aspects, they also completed each other perfectly. Which is something they tried to avoid at the beginning, because a connection like this would obviously hinder them from their goals and keep them away from achieving what they initially set out to achieve.
Both characters were very likable and at the same time, peculiar. The story itself is complex and unique! Nothing is clear from the beginning, which gives the book an authentic feel that is very uncommon. The combination of these complicated characters with an unpredictable plot is definitely something I definitely was not expecting so, we can say that I was pleasantly surprised by the unexpectedness of it all. Their relationship progressed beautifully and nothing was instant or normal about it. It was definitely not love at first sight, since they both tried to stay away from each other at the beginning. It took a while for them to connect on a deeper level and form a bond that would not be easy to break. Their interactions made up for the absence of important secondary characters in the book and they managed to be the center of their own story, without leaving any gaps or makings readers feel like something vital was missing from the plot.
I loved everything about this book and how different it was from anything I've read before. It definitely managed to transport me in its magical world, with its interesting characters and beautiful writing! And I wouldn't have had it any other way. I wouldn't exactly say that this is a fast paced novel so, don't go into it expecting anything like that. It's one of those rare books that slowly builds the reader's excitement and reaches that perfectly executed climax at the end. Overall, The November Girl is a title I cannot recommend enough, especially if you're looking for that mysterious and extraordinary read that will wake you up and keep you at the edge of your seat until you finish it!
kelseymorris's review
Thank you to the publisher for providing a free copy of this book! This review contains spoilers, so read ahead at your own risk!
I truly enjoyed The November Girl. I think what I liked most about reading this story was just how different it was from any other story I've read before. Kang weaves together a mystical tale of young love, magic, witchcraft, and nature all in beautiful prose. The main characters, Anda and Hector, are written in a way that makes them feel real, even if painfully so. Hector in particular stuck out to me, with his harrowing desire to escape his own life and a dangerous plan to flee by running away to Isle Royale. His backstory, which we get glimpses of throughout the novel, comes together in the end with a sense of hope and promise that left me feeling grateful to the author for finally giving this poor boy some happiness.
Anda, on the other hand, was positively ethereal. I had a hard time fully grasping her character and understanding everything about her, but I liked that and believe that it added to her being a witch. The magic in this novel exists and doesn't go into much explanation as to where it comes from or why it exists, but it also doesn't require explanation. The already nearly-other-worldly setting of Isle Royale lends itself naturally to an air of mysticism and believing in the supernatural without asking too many questions.
I felt that the pacing of the novel was pretty good, although I might have sped up some of Hector and Anda's survival before the climax. There were interesting parts, sure, but overall it seemed like it was a lot of walking + bad weather + starving + tiredness. That being said, it made the reader feel Hector and Anda's exhaustion, which made the ultimate ending more satisfying because they could finally catch a break.
Overall, I enjoyed reading this book and I'd definitely say give it a read as well. If you like stories of innocent love, powerful magic based in nature, and endings with hope that aren't too sappy or 'neat', then this is a great book for you to get your hands on!
I truly enjoyed The November Girl. I think what I liked most about reading this story was just how different it was from any other story I've read before. Kang weaves together a mystical tale of young love, magic, witchcraft, and nature all in beautiful prose. The main characters, Anda and Hector, are written in a way that makes them feel real, even if painfully so. Hector in particular stuck out to me, with his harrowing desire to escape his own life and a dangerous plan to flee by running away to Isle Royale. His backstory, which we get glimpses of throughout the novel, comes together in the end with a sense of hope and promise that left me feeling grateful to the author for finally giving this poor boy some happiness.
Anda, on the other hand, was positively ethereal. I had a hard time fully grasping her character and understanding everything about her, but I liked that and believe that it added to her being a witch. The magic in this novel exists and doesn't go into much explanation as to where it comes from or why it exists, but it also doesn't require explanation. The already nearly-other-worldly setting of Isle Royale lends itself naturally to an air of mysticism and believing in the supernatural without asking too many questions.
I felt that the pacing of the novel was pretty good, although I might have sped up some of Hector and Anda's survival before the climax. There were interesting parts, sure, but overall it seemed like it was a lot of walking + bad weather + starving + tiredness. That being said, it made the reader feel Hector and Anda's exhaustion, which made the ultimate ending more satisfying because they could finally catch a break.
Overall, I enjoyed reading this book and I'd definitely say give it a read as well. If you like stories of innocent love, powerful magic based in nature, and endings with hope that aren't too sappy or 'neat', then this is a great book for you to get your hands on!
theshenners's review
5.0
that was very intense 😱😱😱 incredibly haunting but also hopeful
TWs: self harm, CSA, death
TWs: self harm, CSA, death
crayonburst's review
5.0
I have never read a book like this before. The whole time I was reading, Anda kept pulling me farther and farther into herself, and Hector kept pulling me farther and farther into himself. I could feel the pull of the characters, I could taste the lake water and feel the cold as the characters were experiencing it. The story is beautifully told, incredibly written, and it had me in tears as I hungrily devoured every last word to chase the ending that left me wanting more.
thelastkarisa's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
smiley7245's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
More like 4.5*. The only thing I didn't like was the ending; it felt rushed and unfinished. Left unanswered questions. <spoilers>Finding out about the abuse Hector suffered was a gut punch. It fit with the blackouts, but in a world where a girl is born from the water and can control the storms I was not expecting such human brutality, even though I should because you don't just run away to live in the wilderness during the winter for no reason. The friendship between Hector and Anda was sweet. Each was confused by the other and yet still drawn to them and that had nothing to do with the fact that they were the only two people on the island. Them learning how to open up to each other, learning how to trust another person was wonderful. The house being somewhat alive was adorable. Anda communicating with the lighthouse and learning how her actions impacted it and making peace together was nice, and the lighthouse being the thing that helped her truly understand herself; that there is more than just November was great. Watching her stand up to her mother, to try to determine who she wants to be without having to pick just her mother or just her father was amazing. The sacrifice her father made was devastating. He didn't even like Hector, but he saved him in the end. Hector being in the hospital and finally opening up to the social worker was much needed. But, that aftermath was what was missing. His birthday came and went. His father made an appearance, briefly. As did his mother. But we didn't get any closure on any of those stories. Just Anda waiting desperately for him. And then he shows up and we don't get an explanation. I wish we would have gotten an explanation. The end of this book would set up a sequel nicely, and I would devour it.Â