Wasn’t really a fan - unusual premise, that accounts for star majority. It’s hard to come up with new, original dialogue and November Girl was definitely achieved it.

Thanks, Net-Galley for the ARC.

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!

I was pulled to The November Girl because of its haunting synopsis, but it missed a lot of important plot points in favor of kissing and romantic angst. I didn't feel compelled to care about either main character and I found their romance to be extremely out of place, especially given the circumstances of their romance. Hector's background was interesting and I would have loved to learn more about his family, and I was disappointed that I found it hard to empathize with Anda. .

Anda lives on an island on Lake Superior. For most of the year, she’s there with her father, trying to play a role of a normal person. But when November comes, she can’t ignore her calling to create storms and sink ships, just like her mother and her sisters, already part of the water. Usually, she’s alone during November, her father taken leave to the main land, but this time, a boy named Hector is hiding on the island as well. Hector ran away from a terrible life to hide out until his 18th birthday. When the two meet, sparks fly, but nothing can stop the incoming storm.

Ever since the synopsis was released, I’ve been so excited for Lydia Kang’s THE NOVEMBER GIRL. From the gorgeous cover to the chill-inducing summary, this is a story unlike anything I’ve read before. The premise is completely fascinating. Anda is half-human, half-magical (for lack of a better term). It’s sort of a mixture of water/storm elemental magic and Ursula from The Little Mermaid. A large theme of this novel is what it means to have two different parts of yourself and how isolating that can sometimes feel when people around you expect you to be (or choose) one side or the other.

While the plot drags a little at parts, the slow build up between Hector and Anda is lovely. They come from two different worlds, but they have so much in common. Their relationship is a nice mixture of sweetness, angst, sexual tension, and a few solid comic relief moments. Kang does a phenomenal job of making their stakes seem impossible to overcome, and you’ll be flipping the pages as fast as possible towards the end to see if they can overcome them or not.

THE NOVEMBER GIRL is a weird (in the best way), magical novel that sings with romance, heartache, and the difficult journey of making your own path.

This is what fantasy can be. What I absolutely loved, above the gorgeous writing and the haunting quality of the plot, was the way Kang uses fantasy as a metaphorical lens to explore identities that split us apart and cultures which demand us to choose to forsake the other.

(TW: Self harm, rape, sexual abuse, incest)

This book was fantastic - not only in the sense of it being wonderful, but also in the fantasy sense. An overt eeriness pervaded the entire book, like an undertow below the surface, as we are introduced to a background of shipwrecks, drowned sailors, and the violence we wreak upon ourselves. I have read quite a great deal of books recently which have been subtly ominous, so I’ve gotten used to things unsaid and darkness creeping in from the shadows, but this book blows those out of the water. There’s a wealth of darkness, but not in a purely mysterious or thrilling way, but in the necessity of death and the insatiable shadows.

The November Girl is a heart wrenching book that deals with serious issues: identity, damaged families, and violence. But there’s a light at the end of the tunnel as these two characters must figure out how to reconcile the sides of their identities in an attempt not to end the war, but to manage compromises and peace treaties.

What starts as an unusual romance develops into something wild and untamed in this unique tale of a girl, a boy, and the November storms. Hector is running from his home life, ending up on the deserted Isle Royale, when he meets Anda - born of the lake and the maker of November storms. Known as the November Witch, she's more inhuman than mortal. But Hector's made from violence too, and somehow the two collide - but Anda cannot hide from her fate forever.

This was so atmospheric. The prose really transported me into the Autumnal stormy weather, and the descriptions of the lake and the storms in particular were wonderful as we are transported to the scene of a shipwreck through Anda's eyes. A lot of the plot takes place on the water, and my favourite scene involves Anda and Hector traversing the lake to an old shipwreck where 'Mother' makes her presence known. The Isle Royale itself is haunting in it's stillness and devoid of life - which I felt echoed Hector's personality as a boy on the verge of adulthood who's deeply lonely and without any outlets for his pain.

Anda as the other main character is just as complex and unique. Wild yet giving. naive yet dangerous, a creature of chaos who is constantly struggling with her 'true nature'. She's a character quite unlike any I've seen before. Hector is her companion completely in this respect too. Hurt by a past too painful to confront, damaged and angry like Anda - she can see herself reflected in him. Their relationship is different to a typical 'romance' too. Anda is not out to be 'rescued' by Hector, although she does try to suppress the murderous side of her nature for him (understandable). She knows what she is, and what she can do. There's an obvious spark between them on first meeting, which felt natural as the story progressed.

The plot is possibly slow to start, as we see Hector struggle to thrive on the island, and there's lots of time spent dithering about food and fishing and tip toeing around each other. I found myself wanting Anda and Hector to interact quicker than they did, to the point where I was getting frustrated - but in reality I think this was just a reflection on their personalities. One has never interacted with humans before (other than her father), and the other is afraid too. As the story progressed, I found myself enjoying the story more.

I actually think that Hector's past is addressed relatively sensitively. It's never thrust on the reader, rather we are given glimpses of what happened to Hector as he's allowed to tell his story in his own way to Anda. The subject matter is also dealt with delicately, and is rather an extension of why Hector behaves the way he does, rather than let it define his character.

I thought the ending was very fitting for the story, and works perfectly as a stand alone novel. A wonderful read, perfect for Autumn, and fans of magical realism with a splash of winter storms.

CW:

Child abuse: We didn't witness any of it, but we were told about it.
Self Harm: We get to both see it, and hear about it.

The November Girl is a fresh take on Magical Realism. It is a breathtaking story that stars a girl who is half human/half witch, and a boy who running away from his abusive Uncle.


Anda isn't your typical kind of witch; she is the November storm. She is creature who feeds on chaos and drowning souls. The sooner it is till November, the less of a human she becomes. But when Anda sees Hector, or as she said " he saw her", something changed. Now wait a second, this isn't an insta love story where the boy cures the girl with his love. Nope!


They both plan to stay away from each other; after all, they are all hiding and don't want to be seen. I will say however, that the romance that developed was kind of weird. The good kind of weird. Through her interactions with Hector, we see how being half witch affects her. Her actions, her knowledge, and her thoughts are out of this world. But she is still a creature of chaos, she is made of something that made Hector escape his home to this deserted Island. Hector makes her feel things she had never felt before; makes her feel more human. These small things include being hungry.

For the 1st time since forever, Hector feels loved when he is with Anda. But what would he do when he discovers who she really is?

The truth is ugly; the truth hurts, but the heart wants what it wants.


However, it is not up to them. You can say that there are some " external Factors and Powers" that don't want Anda and Hector to be together.

This is also an #OwnVoices book because Hector is half Korean/ half African American, and the author is half Korean, half American. I believe that Hector's race played an important role in what makes Hector, Hector. It definitely wasn't just tossed in to make the cast of characters diverse.

The last thing I am going to talk about is the art of description that went into this book. Not only is it done in a very unique way, but also the author managed to give feelings to intimate objects. She turned a freakin' setting place into a fully fleshed character!!!!

This was a magical read, and I highly recommend it if you want to bless your senses with Lydia Kang's talent of transporting the reader into the world that she created.



I received an eARC in exchange with an honest review

I really enjoyed this book. The story was different then most YA stories out there today. I believe this would make a great addition to anybodies YA collection.

I loved this book. It is exactly what I would want to put into the hands of an avid young reader. It's original, the characters are complex, and the world is fascinating. In addition it is fast-paced and readable. I'll definitely be checking out Lydia Kang's other books in hopes for more of the same!

The November Girl stands out to me because it is so original. I've never read anything like this, the romance is a strange combination of sweet, creepy, beautiful, and weird; it's exactly what I would imagine a romance between a human and an otherworldly being might be like. Kang weaves a lot of themes in the book that intertwine beautifully, my favorite is the exploration of how both Anda and Hector don't fit perfectly into the world around them.

The characters are struggling with complex problems. Anda is figuring out how to accept both sides of her existence, while Hector struggles with his own deep trauma and self destruction. The pair accept each other and heal each other, they empower each other by sparking the desire to be better and more than they are. Their relationship is incredibly positive and healthy. I typically hate split POV narratives, especially when it's both sides of a romance. Kang easily manages to make both narratives significant to the storytelling and interesting to read.

The world is fascinating, particularly Anda's interpretation of and interactions with the world around her.

The only problem with content that should be addressed is the language, Hector uses the f-word a lot (my Kindle search showed 22 instances). While this would definitely be in the vernacular of a lot of young people, it might also be off-putting for some readers and parents of young readers.

If any book has a unique premise, this is it. I picked it up completely blind, not having read the blurb beforehand, and the result was a whole lot of confusion that still managed to hook me and keep me wanting to know more until the end: a testament to Lydia Kang’s writing skills.
As far as magical realism goes, The November Girl has it all. Situated on Isle Royale, the story is about Anda, the November Witch who causes the devastating storms that sinks ships and takes lives all through the month, and Hector, a teenage runaway who escapes to the island in the hope of avoiding his uncle until he comes of age in May- only to bump into Anda.
The way Kang brings her characters to life is amazing. She’s got a great touch for what it means to be human, and manages to imbue her characters with personalities that are sometimes only conveyed by a certain word or abstract mention. Anda’s and Hector’s voices are very distinct, and Kang beautifully conveys Anda’s struggle with her dual nature, and the fact that she’s struggling to connect with her human side, as well as Hector’s inner struggle and the demons that he’s haunted by. That, and their slowly-revealed backstories, make their respective character arcs, and the way that they develop, all the more compelling: you’re rooting for them.
The magical element itself (for which I’m a sucker) is introduced gradually and matter-of-factly into the plotline, which I really liked: there’s no big reveal moment, only a slow and drawn-out realisation on Hector’s part, plus some very cool magic with boats and stuff. Kang’s approach to Anda’s powers and her connection to the lake is a great concept, and one that she definitely makes the most of: rather than life, Anda draws her power and energy from the people she kills in shipwrecks, which makes her both a force of nature and- at least at the start- an ambiguous, powerful character who is more in tune with nature than humanity. Watching her bounce off the very human Hector as a result is great to watch.
Like Hector, you gradually discover who exactly Anda is as the story progresses, which makes for some excitement, interspersed with some very lovely character beats. For most of the book, they are the only two people in it, which gives their relationship time to breathe and develop more naturally: though I think Anda is a tad too ethereal to really sell the romance- I kept wondering whether she was going to forget about him or not- the slowly developing relationship between them is very sweet and considered, taking into account Hector’s fragility as well as Anda’s duality.
Overall, this is a sweet, ethereal romance that explores what it means to be human, and what it means to love, as well as bringing its two very different, lost, protagonists together. I loved it: for people wanting a great love story with their magical realism this is one for you.

The November Girl is one those books that while your reading it, you’re enthralled. So many things are going on, so many questions about the characters that you want answers for, that you kept reading and before you know it you are at the last page. But after I was done, I wasn’t sure at fist how I felt about it, but the more I thought about and when I sat down to write this review, I realized just how much I really did enjoy it.

Anda is a witch of sorts, she is half human, half witch. And she is the cause of the storms that takes the lives of sailors every November, basically she feeds of of chaos. For this reason, she stays away from most people other than her father, but when she see this mysterious boy who can actually see her something changed within her. Hector reaches into her human side, which is something she has never done before. And Hector finally feels that someone can love him, but the secrets that both of them have, is going to be a big obstacle to overcome.

I found that both Anda and Hector were both likable characters, but I had a hard time connecting to them at first. Not sure why, they seemed so guarded, which I did understand because their situations. The pain they both carry from their lives was evident and it was emotional, and disheartening. Kang did a wonderful job handling some of the sensitive issues that were raised and for that I was happy. Their slow building romance was sweet, and they began to get to know each more and more we also get to learn things from their lives that have brought this very place.

The concept behind this was interesting, Anda was half human, and her mother being the lake, and I wanted to know everything there was to know about Anda. The pacing of the story fluctuated a little here and there, which wasn’t an issues for me at all. There was plenty of things going on to keep my interests, and the ending was nicely done.

All in all, I enjoyed this a lot, it was dark and beautiful and I would certainly recommend this for those who enjoy a young adult paranormal romance.

Unfortunately despite the amazing premise I really did not enjoy this book. I got 34% in and decided that I just don't like the story and the characters and therefore will not continue reading it. As I would not be able to give this book a nice rating I will not be reviewing it on our blog. However, thank you for providing me the ARC, I was really expecting to love it.

-Hannah

This was a good and heart-wrenching book. Hector's need to run away felt so realistic and necessary that it upped the drama of his attempt to live in the "wild." I liked the way that the typical gender roles were reversed, with Anda doing most of the physical care and Hector handling the emotional support.

Anda is half human and half witch. Maybe not the type of witch you're thinking of. She is the November storm that shuts down her island Isle Royale every winter. Each and every year the island evacuates in October leaving Anda completely alone on the island. Even her father leaves.

Hector has a very troubled home life. He is so close to turning eighteen that he decides to run away for a few months until he is a legal adult and will never have to return. He decides to takes his refuge on Isle Royale because he knows the island will be vacant. Or so he thought.

When Hector first sees Anda he doesn't believe the ethereal beauty is real. Anda is already being taken over by her storm side and becoming numb to her human nature. Yet, she is so curious about the boy who comes to the island.

Andy's loneliness is heart wrenching. Hector really made my heart ache though. This book is hauntingly beautiful and full of discovery. I highly recommend this young adult fantasy!

Given a copy by NetGalley and the publisher for a fair and honest review.

Beautiful romance that keeps you going straight to the end.

While I loved the premise of the book, and the atmosphere that surrounded the characters, I was quite put off by the fact that I felt lost in the beginning of the book. It was like I had opened a book right by the middle and was thrown in with a couple of characters running from something without entirely knowing why (in her case is made more clear via cryptic lines and hints) and failing to connect with them. And while the casual glimpses between them and the alternate chapters between Anda and the boy began offering a bit more of light I just couldn't connect with the characters or care for them, sadly.

This book did a lot of things really well even with it's fairly minor cast and limited setting, which obviously meant that the character development was key here. I think the author accomplished exactly what she was looking to do. It read like a Disney movie really, and I honestly think Anda would make an AWESOME Disney Princess. This story also made me really wonder about the world it exists in. Is she the only one with this kind of origin story and powers or are there others for different elements/seasons? Pretty cool.

The only thing I didn't enjoy as much was that it just didn't seem like there were any real stakes. I never got the vibe that either character was really in danger at any point, because of how quickly the rescue seemed to come and it was so built up.

I think I would have liked this book more if I was younger, but it was still memorable.

Holy moly oly. Let me just take a second to say that whatever I expected this book to be ... this was NOT it. And I mean that in the absolute best way possible. This was a riveting and emotional tale that had me glued to it for hours at a time. The themes of this book, although at times disturbing (Anda really likes death, okay), are heartfelt and thought provoking. Kang has a way with words that makes the setting of Isle Royale and the characters inhabiting it come to life in a magical and beautiful way. I'd read this again and would definitely recommend.

The story was such a beautiful, dark, spooky, dangerous love story! Which is what I’m completely in to. I was fully captured since the beginning of the book. It was incredible to see how human beings are able to understand both good and evil. I LOVED IT!

Surrounding the bones of this PNR of two lonely teens falling in love, is a story that is deep in gorgeous imagery and heavy in themes. Although Hector and Anda seem very different at first, they have both grown up feeling like two halves of different things. He of two heritages ("Too Korean or too American. Too Black, or not Black enough.") and she is split between her human and <i>other</i> nature. They both carry darkness and pain within them. She embracing the death of ships and sailors to live, he running from horrors at home. Based on who Anda is, and what Hector's running from, it doesn't seem like these two would find something in each other, but somehow they make perfect sense as a pair.

This story is heavily romance focused and for much of the book, Hector and Anda are the only characters present. I enjoyed watching them get to know each other as they worked to survive on a lonely island. One criticism: <spoiler>I did think Hector's level of surprise at finding out about what Anda is at the end, was a little over done, especially, as he'd been observing her for a month or so by that point. I mean, it was pretty clear she wasn't normal!</spoiler>

Near the end the story picks up in intensity - both emotional and physical danger - and I was turning pages quickly. I would have liked an epilogue, or at least a little more at the end. But this is a solid tale with lot of depth and an ending that left me satisfied.

Love Triangle Factor: None
Cliffhanger Scale: Standalone

*Note, I will be putting a review on my blog loveisnotatriangle.com in the next couple of weeks.