It’s time to take a look at our last month of 2025 reading! What did we read? Did we find any new favorites? Keep on reading for our December wrap up.
Candyce
In December I ended up reading 28 books (9 paperbacks, 5 eARCs, 4 hardcovers, 4 audiobooks, 3 e-books, and 3 KU e-books) and I had an average rating of 3,9. After having my worst reading month in October and not doing much better in November, I’m really happy with how I’m ending the year. Let’s take a look at what I read!
In the Dark – Chelsea Curto
Chelsea Curto is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. In the Dark is a haunted house romance and I had the best time. There were also some emotional moments in the book I wasn’t expecting. I can’t wait to see what she gives us next.
How My Neighbor Stole Christmas – Meghan Quinn
Meghan Quinn proved to me again why I see her as a favorite author. This Grinch reimagining was hilarious. Such a fun holiday romance.
Merry Christmas, You Filthy Animal – Meghan Quinn
This year we got a Home Alone reimagining that takes place in the same town as How My Neighbor Stole Christmas. I will never look at popcorn garland the same again.
Zomromcom – Olivia Dade
A zombie apocalypse that you have to get through with your neighbor who just happens to be a vampire. Such a fun idea! Zomromcom was a lot of fun, but I do feel like the romance between our main character and her neighbor took over the story a bit too much.
Reckless – Lauren Roberts
After feeling like Powerless was a let down, but loving Powerful, I decided to give Reckless a chance. It’s easy to read, but this one focused on the romance between our two main characters a bit too much. I really wanted more from this. I’ll probably read the third book just to see how it wraps up, but this isn’t my favorite series.
Girls Made of Snow and Glass – Melissa Bashardoust
Girls Made of Snow and Glass has been on my shelves for over eight years and it was finally time to read it. I had a great time with the dual POVs that took place in the present and past. The ending was a bit underwhelming though.
Unearthly – Cynthia Hand
December was the month of reading books I’ve had for years, haha. Unearthly was on my shelves for almost 9 years. I should’ve read this sooner! The YA fantasy books we got in the 2010s have their own vibes and I had so much fun. The last time I felt this was when I read Twilight. I can’t wait to continue this trilogy.
Good Spirits – B.K. Borison
Good Spirits was my first Christmas Carol reimagining and I had a great time. I wasn’t expecting to end up tearing up while reading a Christmas romance, but I did.
Seven Deadly Thorns – Amber Hamilton
Seven Deadly Thorns had all of the elements I tend to love in YA fantasy books. The execution of those elements was a let down. There was a lot of telling and not showing and I just wasn’t invested in these characters.
Any Trope but You – Victoria Lavine
A cold winter night calls for a story that takes place in Alaska. Even though I don’t do well with cold, I’d visit this resort. Our main character is a romance author that doesn’t believe in love. When sometimes goes viral that shouldn’t have been shared, she goes to Alaska to find herself and start writing a thriller. She ends up with a lot more.
Savage Blooms – S.T. Gibson
Savage Blooms is very spicy, but it works for the story and atmosphere the setting gives us. I appreciated getting 4 POVs and that ending left me wanting more.
You Are Home – Catana Chetwynd
These comics are so relatable and I had a big smile on my face while reading them. I’m always sad when I read the last page because they’re so fun.
All by My Elf – Olivia Dade
All by My Elf was a short story that didn’t work for me. I loved the whole getting snowed in on the highway together, but this would’ve been better as a full length novel.
Merriment and Mayhem – Alexandria Bellefleur
Merriment and Mayhem was so fun. The meet cutes and how accident prone our FMC was, was so relatable. I actually enjoyed this novella, but I would love if this got turned into a full length novel.
The Bright Side of Christmas – Morgan Elizabeth
The Bright Side of Christmas had everything I love in a small town holiday romance. Christmas cheer, great side characters, banter, and some heartwarming moments. If only I wasn’t so annoyed by our FMC.
One Night, Two Holidays – Ali Brady
Being snowed in on Christmas Eve and the first night of Hanukkah wasn’t what our main characters were expecting, it we had the best meet cute. These two connected from the start and were what the other needed without evening realizing it. I need to read more by Ali Brady.
The Raven Scholar – Antonia Hodgson
The Raven Scholar was my in person book club read for December and I understand why it gets so much hype. I enjoyed the world and magic and the many twists I didn’t see coming. I’ll definitely read the sequel.
Almost Ravaged – Abby Millsaps
I’m always up for a new why choose romance and I loved Mercer and Noah. Sawyer has been through a lot and deserves some happiness. I will say that I wasn’t expecting that ending!
Definitely Maybe Not a Detective – Sarah Fox
Definitely Maybe Not a Detective was a cute cozy rom-com mystery, that was trying to do too much. I did have fun, but I knew who the murderer was very early on.
Say It Out Loud – Ashley Schumacher
I love when characters have a favorite fandom. Say It Out Loud seems like a love letter to loving a series and I had a great time. Seeing the romance develop between our two main characters was so fun.
Grace & Henry’s Holiday Movie Marathon – Matthew Norman
Grace & Henry’s Holiday Movie Marathon was amazing! It’s so much more than a holiday romance, but dealing with grief and opening up to something new. I loved how holiday movies were incorporated into this one.
Room to Breathe – Kasie West
I love Kasie West’s YA books and Room to Breathe wasn’t an exception. This was angsty and a bit darker than her other books, but it worked for this story. I also loved the switch between before and after. It really gave us the whole story.
Playing for Keeps – Alexandria Bellefleur
A romance between two PR agents for two famous people isn’t something I had ever read. I loved the concept and had a great time. The third act break up felt unnecessary though.
The Storm – Rachel Hawkins
The Storm was a thriller that was very entertaining. I loved the articles and excerpts from the book we got as well as chapters from different POVs. It really helped build the tension. The twist at the end felt a little far fetched, but I was entertained.
Ghosted at Christmas – Holly Whitmore
Ghosted at Christmas was a heartwarming holiday romance that also had a great friendship/found family aspect. Sometimes everything isn’t what it seems.
Next Time Will Be Our Turn – Jesse Q. Sutanto
I loved that this story was basically a grandmother telling her daughter about the love of her life and her story. I wasn’t expecting the way this story went and how emotional it made me.
Make Me a Mixtape – Jennifer Whiteford
Make Me a Mixtape was interesting. I always love a romance that also has a character going back and also pursuing her dream. That being said, this one wasn’t very memorable.
The Devil She Knows – Alexandria Bellefleur
Making a deal with the devil is a bit cliché by now and we all know making wishes isn’t going to go the way you expect, but I still had a great time with The Devil She Knows. A perfect audiobook for the commute to and from work.
Isabelle
December was a not so great reading month for me. I was sick and really busy and I just didn’t read that much. In the end I only finished 2 books.
Alchemised – SenLinYu
I read the original fanfic this was based on and really enjoyed that one. Of course I also wanted to read this adaptation, even though it’s a 1000 page beast. I liked how it was adapted and once again enjoyed the story with all it’s twists!
A Deadly Education- Naomi Novik
This was a reread for me, one of my favorite books and one I already reread this year haha. I love being with these characters and the scenes surrounding friendship always get a tear of two out of me!
And that was our last wrap-up of 2025. What books did you read in December? Did you find any new favorites in those last 2025 reads? Let us know down below!
