Reading Wrap-Up: December 2025
This month, I got through 14 books, which officially means I did hit my 2025 reading goal 🎉
Full transparency: a few short stories I’d been putting off definitely helped me cross the finish line, but honestly, I probably would’ve squeaked by either way. And even if I hadn’t? I’m trying to care less.
Next year I might set a lower goal, mostly because I hate leaving blank squares in my reading app and not because I need to “optimize” my joy. Reading is for entertainment and curiosity…not another place to feel behind.
Here’s what I read in December, for better or worse!
Top Tier Favorites (5 Stars)
📘 The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon – A perfect blend of meticulous research and imaginative storytelling. Emotional, inspiring, and devastating in the best way. One of those books you mourn finishing. At least I did. 5 stars!
Excellent Reads (4–4.75 Stars)
📙 A Well-Trained Wife by Tia Levings – Unflinching, powerful, and deeply unsettling. This memoir stayed with me long after I closed the cover. 4.5 stars
📕 Abscond by Abraham Verghese – Short but impactful. Proof that depth doesn’t need hundreds of pages. 4.5 stars
📗 You’ll Never Know by Caleb Stephens – A husband searches for his pregnant wife after she’s taken from him in broad daylight, forced to pay a ransom and solve riddles to try to get her back. Twisty, gripping, and fast-paced—I flew through it. 4.25 stars
📘 That’s a Great Question, I’d Love to Tell You by Elyse Meyers – Funny, self-aware, and unexpectedly tender. It felt like sitting on the couch listening to a friend process life in real time. 4 stars
📗 Keep Your Friends Close by Lucinda Berry – Very on-brand Lucinda Berry: character-driven, psychologically messy, and more about people than plot—which I personally love. 4 stars
📘 The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally Carter – A fun, festive mystery that fully understood the assignment. Cozy without being dull, clever without trying too hard, and genuinely entertaining from start to finish. 4 stars
Solid Reads (3–3.75 Stars)
📗 Shady Hollow by Juneau Black – Cozy woodland mystery with charm to spare. Not groundbreaking, but very pleasant and easy to enjoy. 3.75 stars
📕 Hello Stranger by Katherine Center – Sweet and comforting, if a bit predictable. A solid choice for a lighter emotional read. 3.5 stars
📙 Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing by Matthew Perry – Honest but difficult. Insightful in places, frustrating in others, and undeniably sad given the context. 3.5 stars
📕 The Gift by Freida McFadden – Quick, readable, and fine for what it was. Didn’t blow me away, but didn’t offend me either. 3 stars
📙 Christmas in Quincy by Devney Perry – Festive, familiar, and low-stakes. A nice little seasonal read that didn’t ask much and didn’t overstay its welcome. 3 stars
Not My Favorites (2–2.75 Stars)
📗 Bad Date by Ellery Lloyd – Strong premise, solid writing, and an ending that arrived like it missed its cue. 2.5 stars
📘 The Santa Suit by Mary Kay Andrews – Cozy enough, but ultimately forgettable. It existed. It passed the time and fit the “holiday read” bill. 2.5 stars
The Book(s) I Didn’t Finish (But Might Someday)
📗 The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden – This felt like it would be a beautiful read, but I just couldn’t get into it. Between the large cast, the unfamiliar names, and multiple nicknames for the same characters, I spent more time trying to keep track than actually enjoying the story. I could see myself coming back to it later, but it wasn’t the right time.
Looking Ahead: January 2026 TBR
📘 The Road to Tender Hearts by Annie Hartnett – My virtual book club pick for Brady & Rosie’s Book Club on Patreon. I’ve already started it and I’m fully obsessed, which is the best possible sign.
📗 Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah – High on my list for a while and didn’t make it into December like I’d planned. Emotional, sweeping, and very much my kind of winter read.
📕 Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid – Another carryover I didn’t get to last month. Expectations are high, and I’m ready to be emotionally manipulated (respectfully).
📙 The Book of Lost Hours by Hayley Gelfuso – A time-bending story about a mysterious library where lost hours can be reclaimed. Sounds like a fun ride!
📘 The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls (audiobook) – A raw memoir about growing up with deeply flawed, unconventional parents. It’s long overdue and feels like a good fit for audio this month.
📗 Everything We Didn’t Say by Nicole Baart – A multi-generational story built around family secrets and the things left unspoken. Honestly my son picked this one for me at random…
📕 One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig – Dark, atmospheric fantasy that’s been recommended to me more times than I can count. It’s time.
Let me know what you read this month or what’s on your list for next year—I’m always down for new recs!
“And now we welcome the new year, full of things that have never been.”
