And I Was Like November
by Rachael Biggs

This is not a happy-ever-after book of short stories. It is real and raw, and life is sometimes ugly and painful. But there is also a witty, and ironic in the book. Yes, some are worth the smiles, and some are what you make of them.
The book is very well written, I was at times in awe of how much so. Beautiful, reality.

As a lover of short story collections, what initially drew me to this particular book was its summary/content— it seemed unique in its exploration of grittiness, of loneliness. Of our own inner darknesses. I personally enjoyed all of the stories and found them to be not only extremely well-written, but captivating in such an uncomfortable way at times that felt nothing short of raw, honest, and real. I will say though that some might find the content within these pages triggering, and I don’t think it’ll be a book for everyone (nor do I think one should read it if they are currently in a dark place). And that isn’t to say this book isn’t without its hopeful moments— they’re there, they just aren’t wrapped up in the kind of “happy ending” we are accustomed to seeing. Overall, this left me wanting to read more of the author’s work in the future, so I’d still very much call it a win.

I thoroughly enjoyed this collection of short stories! I agree with the other reviewers that it was dark, but I also thought it was relatable to a lot of experiences that the majority of women go through in their lives. Highly recommended!

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I requested this arc. I was pleasantly surprised by the authentic representation of what is reality for some women.

Pros:
- Proof that quality will always outshine quantity, These are short stories, that are complex yet beautifully written.
- I appreciated how easy it was to step into the shoes of this collection of female characters who don’t fit into the “expected” mold of society. The stories were a little uncomfortable and raw, but it’s not something you get to read everyday and brings you a new perspective.
- I think the author did a great job interpreting the feelings for each narrative , and it was raw and real.
- Once you start, it’s hard to stop. This book kept you wanting more and was a real page turner. I had to finish the book in one sitting because it kept me engaged enough to connect with each of these stories on some level.

Con (but not really)
- Reader should just be prepared that this book isn’t going to leave you in a light mood. My mind kept thinking about certain stories and wondering about what different outcomes could have been.

Overall , I think this is a much needed book and appreciated the writing. I would give this 4/5 stars and excited for others to read this.

I love short stories, especially depressing ones. Don’t ask me why. But I felt like these were bit reminiscent of Chelsea Bieker’s books (esp Heartbroke). I enjoyed these (if I can say it that), and although I ended it feeling kind of dark, I think the writing was great.

This book was dark and raw in the best possible way. I’m not usually a huge fan of short stories but Biggs kept me wanting more. This book isn’t for someone who is going through a dark time. There are no happy endings, but it is relatable and true. This book captures the depths of life, and hopefully leaves you wanting more instead of giving up and giving in.

Thank you so much to the publisher and the author for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for my honest opinion.

Like all short story books there I a few hits and misses but I really I found this collection interesting and engaging. Most of the shorts are around ten pages long, there a few shorter ones only lasting a few pages I found the shorter ones made the biggest impact. While some of the reading is pretty grim I could identify with a lot of what the characters were saying despite not having ever experienced the life they had. The feelings portrayed by the characters are feelings I think most women have universally. In a lot books about women they are portrayed as these paragons of femininity even in more serious books where the characters go though things it’s portrayed in a comic way and there is usually fairytale, if not the classic sense, ending what I really liked about this book was that wasn’t the cause the stories told were raw, true and meaningful. These collection captures what it can be like to be female and not fit into the world it doesn’t shy away from the truth, while this makes at times for uncomfortable and grim reading it is nonetheless a compelling collection of stories.