A detailed look at December’s reading habits: My December Wrap includes 32 books read, and four DNFs. I reflect on the end of the year and my new approach to my minimum to-be-read for 2022.
Overview
Outline
December Reflection and Into January
December was such a busy month – I had what felt like unending essays to write and submit. But, in a typical fashion, the more stress I felt, the more I felt like reading 😅. As a result, I powered through ten books from my Up Next Shelf in December! I’m so proud that I ended the year on a high note with my backlist. However, I’m committed to making it more of a priority in 2022. I have an uncomfortable number of books I’ve purchased waiting to be read. My overall goal for 2022 is to be a more intentional reader which means also being more responsible with the books I purchase and what I spend my time reading.
I’m excited to report that I’m starting a reading journal in 2022! I’m hoping having a physical method of keeping track of the books I want to read and the books I’m reading will help me stay on track with my reading challenges. I also want a record of why I’m giving the book a certain rating – I hope to eventually compile my thoughts on Goodreads.
Returning to the books I read in December, I realized all of them were sentimental in their own way. Sentimental means tender, nostalgic or sad. December was quite an affective reading month.
Books I Read This Month
Key: 🔁 re-read | 🤓 reviewed on this blog | 📜 Up Next Shelf
• Signs of Cupidity (Heart Hassle, #1) by Raven Kennedy 🔁
• Bonds of Cupidity (Heart Hassle, #2) by Raven Kennedy 🔁
• The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller 📜
• Magic Man (Good Guys, #5) by Jamie Schlosser
• Crimes of Cupidity (Heart Hassle, #3) by Raven Kennedy 🔁
• For the Love of Cupidity (Heart Hassle, #3.5) by Raven Kennedy 🔁
• Hunted (Feral Souls, #1) by Erica Woods
• Assembly (Feral Souls, #2) by Erica Woods
• The Fae King’s Curse (Between Dawn and Dusk, #1) by Jamie Schlosser
• When the Stars Go Dark by Paula McLain 📜
• Window Shopping by Tessa Bailey 📜
• Tutoring the Delinquent by Jessa Kane
• Pure Gold by Lucy Darling
• Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid 📜
• Loner (Good Guys, #6) by Jamie Schlosser
• Only Christmas by Lucy Darling
• Battle Royal (Palace Insiders, #1) by Lucy Parker
• Iron Widow (Iron Widow, #1) by Xiran Jay Zhao 📜
• Fangs by Sarah Anderson 📜
• Last Chance Books by Kelsey Rodkey 📜
• Insta Holiday (Justice, #4) by Ella Goode
• The Royals Next Door by Karina Halle 📜
• Heiress and the Cowboy (Justice, #2) by Ella Goode
• An Unexpected Gift (Insta-Spark Collection, #4) by Melanie Moreland 🔁
• Theory by Dionne Brand 📜
• Princess and the Cowboy (Justice, #3) by Ella Goode
• Nate (Mail-Order Brides for Christmas, #6) by Kelli Callahan
• Big Bad Doctor (Big Bad Daddies, #2) by K.C. Crowne
• I Am Alpha (Rise of the Beast Queen, #1) by Katherine Bogle @ 48%
• The Fae King’s Dream (Between Dawn and Dusk, #2) by Jamie Schlosser @ 10%
• Hitman’s Heart by MINK @ 28%
Book Types: Most books were on Kindle Unlimited (15).
Rating Distribution: Most December reads were 4-stars (18).
December Breakdown
Want to Read from this month
*These buttons (🇨🇦 🇬🇧 🇺🇸) and the Kindle Embeds contain affiliate links. I may earn a small commission when you click on the links at no additional cost to you. You can read my full disclaimer here.
The Beast of Blackmoor by Milla Vane
✰
Get the Book: 🇨🇦
Xeni by Rebekah Weatherspoon
✰
Get the Book: 🇺🇸
Most Favourite and Least Favourite*
*Can’t be a re-read
Most Favourite: Skyward by Brandon Sanderson.
Least Favourite: Big Bad Doctor by K.C. Crowne. See why here.
Longest and Shortest Books
Longest Book: Assembly by Erica Woods ~ 738 pages
Shortest Book: Nate by Kelli Callahan ~ 64 pages
Statistics
Most Read Genre: HEA Erotica (8).
Origin Breakdown: Most of the books I read were “instant” reads (17), meaning I purchased/borrowed and immediately read them.
Most Read Author: Raven Kennedy (4).
*Person of Colour includes non-white human characters in fantasy novels
Best Performing Bookstagram Posts
December Book Reviews
Satisfying and Romantic
Endless by Crystal Ash
Quick Take: A satisfying conclusion to the STEEL DEMONS MC series that explores parenting, the leftover trauma of war and rebuilding for a hope-filled future.
My January Hopefuls
I’m expanding my minimum TBR in 2022 from three to nine books! Each month I’ll be reading a book dedicated to the Book Voyage Read Around the World Challenge, the Buzzword Reading Challenge, and the Book Darlings Book Club. An additional three are allocated to meet my monthly goals which couldn’t be doubled up with my challenges or book club – unfortunately – this month. My monthly goals are to read two books over 500 pages and one non-fiction. Finally, I’m reading another three books from my Up Next Shelf, but I’m selecting them based on TBR prompts to keep it fun.
So, the books I’m reading for my challenges/book club are:
Book Voyage Read Around the World Challenge: Split Tooth by Tanya Tagaq for January’s prompt set in the Arctic/Antarctic.
Book Darlings Book Club: Vespertine by Margaret Rogerson
Buzzword Reading Challenge: Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge for January’s prompt a book with one of the 5 Ws in the title
500+ pages #1: City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare
500+ pages #2: The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow
Nonfiction: Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle by Emily Nagoski and Amelia Nagoski
Oldest Book on Up Next Shelf: The Assassin’s Blade by Sarah J. Maas
Features Witches or Magic: The Nature of Witches by Rachel Griffin
800+ pages: Winter by Melissa Meyer
Anticipated January Releases
Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan
Released January 11th
I actually have already purchased this book!
Anatomy: A Love Story by Dana Schwartz
Released January 18th
See my Upcoming Release page for more of the books I’m looking forward to in January!
Subscribe To My Blog
If you haven’t yet subscribed to my blog, click here to get all my new reviews and reading updates sent straight to your inbox!
Follow Me
❃ Blog ❃ Instagram ❃ Goodreads ❃ Facebook ❃ Bloglovin’ ❃ StoryGraph ❃
Discover more from Talk Nerdy Book Blog
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
