B O O K S
In December, I read 11 books!
For transparency, every book marked with * are titles I received for free as I currently work at PRH UK.
Harriet York finds herself visited by the Ghost of Christmas Past, a grumpy Nolan Callahan, who has no idea why he’s haunting the seemingly kind Harriet.
My 2026 reading goal should be to block HarperCollins on TikTok so I can stop lurking on their livestreams and be tempted by their discounts because this is now the 5th book I’ve bought on there and found myself sorely disappointed. I never read seasonally but I thought I would give a Christmas book a chance this time around. The only scene I liked was the mistletoe scene but everything else was such a bore. It started off strong and I liked the head butting between Harriet and Nolan but it went downhill so fast once they immediately became attracted to each other without any sort of development. Their relationship moves too fast to feel remotely satisfying as a reader.
Spoilers!
Soulmates being the answer to everything immediately ruined it for me. All that development and mystery with Nolan and it was as simple as the two of them being soulmates felt SO lacklustre.
I too have joined the Heated Rivalry hype. I thought the book was fun! Nothing too standout but an enjoyable quick read. I do appreciate how well the TV show adapted the book! I know it’s easier with a modern contemporary novel but I’ve been burnt out too many times by adaptations.
Firewatch meets The Magnus Archives! I liked this a lot! The creepy and gory details really made this book. I would’ve loved a bit more characterisation from the main leads. I rarely read horror because I prefer visual horror (like movies, tv and games) but this one had been stuck to my kindle for HOURS.
I loved Shane and Kip’s story so much! I understand why Shane and Ilya are the standout couple of the series but I really appreciated the slower development of Shane and Kip’s story.
A tale of community that follows the residents and workers of a day care centre for Los Angeles’s disabled residents. I really enjoyed the different perspectives in this book. I thought it would just stick to just the workers and residents but seeing even chapters from people who are passing by really made this unique! Hearing the different perspectives made this such a immersive story!
Last Breath, Black Dawn, Bitter Blood, Fall of Night, Daylighters (Morganville #11 – 15)
Did I panic and realise that it was already December and I hadn’t finished my Morganville re-read so I read the last 5 books in a month? Why, yes. Yes, I did. Reading the last book 5 in quick succession made me realise how unhinged the last few books in the series was. Especially because it goes from the Draug and Daylighter Foundation as villains in the space of like two books. I loved re-reading the series and I can’t wait to do my re-read of the Great Library series in the new year!
Such an improvement in Book Two! I felt like the story really grew into its own here! I’m so excited to see what Book Three will have in store! Although I do wish the series was separated by having their own names.
Also, if anything happens to Daniel, I am single-handedly that fuck ass monster in the woods myself.
That’s it for this month! Tell me what went on in YOUR life this month! What sort of things was important for you this month? New obsessions? New TV shows? Or book? Any new song recs (I’m always open to new music!)? Best books you read this month?
as told by zaheerah 