Title: The Circus Train
Author(s): Amita Parikh
Genre(s): Historical Fiction
Format(s): Audio
Pages: 352
Length: 14h 39m
Narrator(s): Imogen Church
Source: Owned
Reason(s): BotM Backlist
Rating: Spice: 
My Thoughts
I absolutely loved THE CIRCUS TRAIN. While I don’t feel like it’s reminiscent of THE NIGHT CIRCUS like the blurb says it is, I thought the story and characters were interesting, rich, and fraught with heartache, challenges, and perseverance.
I loved the concept of a traveling circus by train in Europe before and during World War II. The history helped shape the story and give it more depth. It was very interesting to see World War II from so many different perspectives and locations. I really enjoyed the author’s note at the end explaining the creative license vs. the reality.
The circus itself helped turn an otherwise troubling and deadly time into a life worth living despite the pain. I loved Lena, Theo (father), Alexandre (love interest), and Clara (governess). They all shined and made the story a pleasure to read. I won’t be forgetting this story any time soon.
November 2025 Wrap-Up
Books Read
Favorite: Yours Truly
Least Favorite: The GOD OF THE WOODS
Stats
November
Books Read: 7
Rereads: 0
Pages Read: 2,627
Hours Listened: 87h 38m
Average Rating: 3.71
Average Pages Read Per Day: 92
Year-to-Date
Books Read: 47
Rereads: 2
Pages Read: 16,944
Hours Listened: 525h 58m
Average Rating: 4.02
Average Pages Read Per Day: 51
The Circus Train
Author(s): Amita Parikh
Genre(s): Historical Fiction
Format(s): Audio
Pages: 352
Length: 14h 39m
Narrator(s): Imogen Church
Source: Owned
Reason(s): BotM Backlist
Rating:
Spice:
My Thoughts
I absolutely loved THE CIRCUS TRAIN. While I don’t feel like it’s reminiscent of THE NIGHT CIRCUS like the blurb says it is, I thought the story and characters were interesting, rich, and fraught with heartache, challenges, and perseverance.
I loved the concept of a traveling circus by train in Europe before and during World War II. The history helped shape the story and give it more depth. It was very interesting to see World War II from so many different perspectives and locations. I really enjoyed the author’s note at the end explaining the creative license vs. the reality.
The circus itself helped turn an otherwise troubling and deadly time into a life worth living despite the pain. I loved Lena, Theo (father), Alexandre (love interest), and Clara (governess). They all shined and made the story a pleasure to read. I won’t be forgetting this story any time soon.
The Griffin Sisters’ Greatest Hits
Author(s): Jennifer Weiner
Genre(s): Contemporary
Format(s): Audio
Pages: 377
Length: 15h 32m
Narrator(s): Dakota Fanning
Source: Owned
Reason(s): Book of the Month
Rating:
Spice:
My Thoughts
The longer THE GRIFFIN SISTERS’ GREATEST HITS went on, the angrier I got at it. I thought the concept was interesting but if the author mentioned that Cassie was the ugly fat sister one more time, I was going to scream. I get that the author wanted the reader comparing Cassie and Zoe to show that beauty isn’t the only value a person has. I just felt she beat us over the head with it and it really irked me.I also hated that Cassie wasted her life after Russell died because Zoe was too selfish to admit that he didn’t love her (Zoe). I also hated that she had coerced him into marrying her, then cheated on him and was pregnant with Tommy’s baby, and flogged Russell into depression for cheating on her with Cassie.
And, most of all, I hated that when the reader finds this all out, there are still nearly 100 pages left to read.
The one saving grace was Dakota Fanning’s narration. I also liked the ending (it just took too long to get there).
A Winter in New York
Author(s): Josie Silver
Genre(s): Romance
Format(s): Audio
Pages: 372
Length: 10h 41m
Narrator(s): Emma Appleton
Source: Owned
Reason(s): BotM Backlist
Rating:
Spice:
My Thoughts
A WINTER IN NEW YORK was a heart-warming story about love, grief, heartbreak, forgiveness, healing, and found family. The setting was perfect and I loved the characters so much. I couldn’t get enough of them. I especially loved the chemistry and sexual tension between Iris and Gio.
Yours Truly
Author(s): Abby Jimenez
Series: Part of Your World #2
Genre(s): Romance
Format(s): Audio
Pages: 398
Length: 11h 30m
Narrator(s): Zachary Webber, Kyla Garcia
Source: Library
Reason(s): None
Rating:
Spice:
My Thoughts
YOURS TRULY gave me all the feels. I literally laughed out loud a few times, which isn’t common for me when I read. (Chapter 32 is hilarious and the audiobook makes it even better.) I cried and I swore. I loved how Jimenez portrayed anxiety, depression, and trauma in this story. It felt so realistic. I loved that Jacob used skills he learned in therapy when his anxiety became too much for him. It reminded me DBT.
I loved Briana and Jacob. I loved their sense of humor. I loved their chemistry, banter, and sexual tension. Their romance was so swoony. I swore at them a couple of times because the miscommunication between the two of them was Olympic medal worthy.