November has a special kind of magic. It’s the calm before the festive bustle, a month where we still have space to breathe, reflect, and settle into something meaningful. The days shorten, the evenings draw in, and there’s something gentle about the pause before December’s rush. For our Boozy Books community, this is a perfect time to lean into connection, quiet comfort, and stories that hold us close.
As we sip our Raspberry Crushes and settle into our next read, we’re creating a little sanctuary of warmth and friendship — a place where books bring us together, drinks make the moment sparkle, and the community reminds us we’re not alone. Whether you’re curled up at home or chatting in the group read chat, November invites us to slow down and savour.
This Month’s Read: Love and Other Words
Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren is a tender and layered story that weaves together past and present, first love and second chances.
The novel centres on Macy Sorensen, now a paediatrics resident, engaged to a stable and older man, keeping her heart tucked away. But when she reconnects by chance with Elliot Petropoulos — her first love from teenage years — the careful life she built begins to shift. Told in alternating timelines between then and now, the story explores how Macy and Elliot met, grew together, broke apart, and whether they can rebuild what they lost.
Their shared bond started in youth: a love of books, favourite words, long summers, and a closet-turned-library where words mattered more than silence. The adult timeline sees them facing quiet routines, hidden grief, choices made in safety, and the risk of stepping into something real again.
What makes it resonate for our community? It’s about memory and moment, about words that matter, about friendship becoming something more. It’s about stepping out of the comfort zone of what seems ‘safe’ and discovering what your heart really wants. November is the perfect backdrop for that — when we allow ourselves a little more room, a little more depth, and a little more honesty.
Book & Drink Pairing: Raspberry Crush
This month’s drink is our Raspberry Crush — vibrant, a little sweet, slightly tart, and perfect for a quiet November evening.
Recipe:
- Take a handful of fresh raspberries and crush them in a small bowl or cocktail shaker.
- Add 25 ml of lemon juice and a spoonful of sugar to the raspberries, then mix or mash together until the sugar dissolves.
- Pour in 25 ml of vodka and shake well to combine.
- Strain the mixture into a martini glass.
- Top up with 100 ml of soda water for a light fizz.
- Garnish with a few raspberries on a cocktail stick.
Enjoy while reading at home or with friends, and don’t forget to tag us in your book & drink pairings! (@boozybooks.co)
Member Voice: Finding Community
“I first discovered the Boozy Books community on Instagram as a recommended ad. At the time I had just rediscovered my love of reading and was looking for recommendations. When I clicked ‘follow’ I didn’t expect to be welcomed into such a lovely community of women. I have met some amazing ladies, each with different tastes in books but all supportive and friendly. I’m so glad I stumbled across this account and I look forward to when my phone lights up from the chat groups because I know I’m either going to get another great recommendation or talk with girls who just get me.”
This comment embodies the heart of Boozy Books — a place where women come together, share stories, support each other, and build friendships through pages and pages of words. If you’re new here, this is your invitation: we’re glad you found us, and there’s a place for you.
Themes to Explore
As you dive into Love and Other Words, here are a few themes to keep in mind:
- The power of words: Macy and Elliot’s love of language, favourite words and shared books form a rich emotional foundation.
- First love and growth: Their teenage selves and adult selves highlight how we change, how love changes, how ourselves change.
- Grief and healing: Loss and hidden pain colour Macy’s journey, reminding us that healing isn’t always loud but it is real.
- Belonging & community: Just as Macy and Elliot find connection in quiet spaces, we find connection in our chapters, chats, and moments together.
Let these themes become gentle prompts for your reading, your reflection, or your next chapter meet-up or chat.
Join the Conversation
Here’s how to be part of our November flow:
- Get your copy of Love and Other Words and start reading at your own pace.
- Mix your Raspberry Crush and settle in for a cosy reading moment — and tag us in your book & drink pairings!
- Join one of our Boozy Books Chapters — in-person or online — where women gather to read, talk, laugh and belong.
- Already part of a chapter? Share your thoughts at your next meet-up, or jump into our dedicated group-read chat for this month’s book.
- New here? This is your moment. Join us. There’s always a seat, always a word, always a spark waiting.
Closing Thoughts
November invites us into a quieter magic — a breath before the holiday rush, a space for connection, reflection and book-filled evenings with friends old and new. Love and Other Words is an invitation to let words matter, to open our hearts gently, and to rediscover what true belonging feels like.
At Boozy Books, the magic begins when you pick up a book, pour a drink, and step into the company of women who believe in stories, friendship, and stepping out of comfort zones. Here’s to this month — to meaningful reads, sparkly drinks, warm chats, and the moments that make us feel like we belong.
Cheers to November,
Boozy Books 🧡
