Novis Newsletter - November Edition

A very wholesome month of warming up for the festive season

Dec 01, 2025

Family Time and the Holiday Sprint Begins

This month was full of wholesome family moments, ranging from my immediate family coming to London to make the most of the festive season, my chosen London family getting together before more little ones join the group, or me crashing other people’s family gatherings (thank you Giorgia & Co. for the very warm welcome) to make my Thanksgiving dreams come true. In true Grinch fashion, my heart grew three sizes by the end of the month.

Highlights of the month (which are for the most part, London based, soz to my international readers) included watching Starlight Express (an early birthday gift from my brother) which was a fever dream on roller blades in the best possible way, walks around the Heath followed by a Sunday Roast at the Spaniard’s Inn, a very wholesome (and very Brazilian) Christmas brunch, seeing the lights on Bond Street and Regent’s Street and visiting the Ralph Lauren Christmas Pop-Up in Sloane Square with my mom, discovering a newfound love for stuffing, getting compliments on my Italian and making the most of other people’s musical siblings.

Julia’s November Recommendations - To Read, To Watch and To Eat

To Read - Exit Lane by Erika Veurink

As a devoted follower of a Nora Ephron Autumn, I binge all of her films as soon as the temperatures start to drop. I also had the most diabolical hangover of my life (or at least of recent memory) this month and I’m convinced that Meg Ryan with some Nancy Myers sprinkled in were the key to my recovery. Veurink’s debut was inspired by When Harry Met Sally and that was all I needed to know. This book got me out of a massive reading slump. The final third was very dramatic but in a way that is fun for anyone who enjoys hallmark cheesiness. I’m officially hooked and can’t wait to make my way through the rest of the 831 Stories titles.

To Watch - Wicked for Good

I am an unapologetic musical theatre fiend, this will come as no surprise. I caught a double feature and was changed for good. Considering each film individually, I think I’m a bigger fan of the first act, but I suspect this will be a LOTR situation where I only ever watch the two together. Anyone who knows me will know I’m forever a fan of a several-hour-long cinematic experience.

To Eat - These Alison Roman Cookies

AKA the cookies. I made five different cookie recipies last Christmas and these became known as the best cookies. This has basically become an Alison Roman fan account at this point, and I’m not mad about it. The shortbread dough is rolled in demerara sugar for crunchy edges and sprinkled with flaky sea salt as soon as they’re out of the oven. I brought these for Thanksgiving and they were a hit, would highly recommend if you’re looking for an edible gift in a pinch.

thank you Alison Roman for giving me alternative career options, I raved about these muffins in September

Honourable Mentions and Other Things Bringing Me Joy

Karaoke sessions - impromptu or pre-planned. I discovered the joys of Karaoke with a live band last month and have been brave and relentless in my attempts to drag everyone I know out on a Wednesday night. I am also forever grateful for my best friend’s brother for indulging my showchoir fantasies and letting us sing along (I’m not totally tone deaf but I doubt I’d get very far with a singing career). Let this be your reminder that you shouldn’t let a lack of talent (or ability to carry a tune) keep you from having fun.

Going to the movies (shout to to emily north’s maybe you just need to see a movie) For the London based readers: I have long professed my love for the Prince Charles Cinema and their overnight LOTR marathon this year was one of the most wholesome and joyful experiences I’ve had in the city. For a first date to impress, Everyman is a safe bet, and if you want to put your Soho House membership discount to good use, the Electric Cinema in Notting Hill never disappoints. For East Londoners who want to support indie cinemas, I was a regular at Genesis when my brother lived in Bethnal Green. Nowadays, you can find me at the Finchely Road O2 Vue on a weekly basis. It has a certain smell that has me nostalgic for rainy summer days in middle school, but I can’t beat the dirt cheap tickets, usually empty screening rooms and the fact that it’s a ten minute walk from my house. As an expert snack smuggler, my favourites are the salted popcorn from M&S (I’ve tried them all and this tastes exactly like movie theatre popcorn, just don’t check the label for the fat content), Maltesers, a crisp Diet Coke and fizzy strawberry straws.

What I Wrote This Month

Diving headfirst into sexy jobs, I asked my friends how to go about getting a job as either an Urban Farmer or an F1 Engineer. I added to the Is Having a Boyfriend Embarassing Now? discourse and put together a Modern Dating Dictionary for anyone who is braving the modern dating scene. Finally, in my most unflatering piece to date (though a lot of people seemed to have related), I bared it all and admitted that I Miss Being The Youngest Person In The Room, triggered by a downwards spiral after being jealous of the twenty-one-year-olds at the function (not a good look).