In my head, December is a month of rest and reflection. Our semester ends on December 10th, and the university closes for the last few weeks of the year. In theory, this time is spent relaxing with a book and a mug of hot cocoa, savoring the season.
In practice, these weeks quickly fill with holiday travel, visits from friends, and trying to quickly do life before the spring semester begins. This year, there’s also the fact that I’m getting married exactly one week after the end of the semester. So, yes, I’m confident I’ll get all the reading in the world done between December 22nd and January 3rd.
Even if I know I won’t get as much book time in as I want to, I’m still dreaming of cozy cocoa hours by the Netflix fire, reading through some holiday-themed books to celebrate the season. I did a post about my holiday hopefuls back in October, but want to revisit a specific reading plan for the month of December because you’ll keep me accountable, won’t you, book friends?
(Full disclosure: This post uses affiliate links from Bookshop.org. I do participate in NetGalley and receive advanced digital copies of some titles, which I will always disclose and which does not impact my reviews or opinions of said books).
The Santa Suit by Mary Kay Andrews
I actually started The Santa Suit this week. The story follows recently divorced Ivy as she buys a farmhouse, sight unseen. Upon arrival, she discovers that the prior tenant left many of their belongings, including a beautiful Santa suit with a letter in the pocket.
I promised myself to catch up a bit on NetGalley by doing this title as my first holiday read and dang it, I intend to finish it in December!
Yoke by Jessamyn Stanley
I snagged a copy of Jessamyn Stanley’s Yoke: My Yoga of Self-Acceptance when it first came out with big plans to read a bit of it every morning instead of doomscrolling on my phone. Then, I spent the next several months doomscrolling on my phone.
When I read Jessamyn’s first book, the little snippets of memoir were my favorite. The yoga flows and guidance are great for a beginner, but I felt myself more drawn to Jessamyn’s personal yoga story. That’s essentially what we’re getting more of in Yoke, so yes, I am stoked.
Before the end of 2021, I will read this book. My December intention is “reflection” so I’m once again trying to have a more mindful morning routine. I even read this book for 30 minutes this morning, just like I promised. Who’s giving out the “good job” cookies this week, because I’m due.
Just Haven’t Met You Yet by Sophie Cousens
I’m in a buddy read for this on Bookstagram so I am supposed to read it, like, yesterday. Starting it would be a good start, which I just finally did last night before bed. What’s a girl to do when she’s in a book slump?
Just Haven’t Met You Yet is by the same author as This Time Next Year, which I absolutely loved last year. And the premise is Amanda kryptonite. Hopeless romantic and writer goes on a trip to retrace the steps of her parents’ love story, while dreaming up a real-life meet cute of her very own. At the airport, she accidentally picks up the wrong luggage and starts telling herself a story about who it belongs to based on the contents inside. She becomes determined to find him, enlisting the help of a cab driver who knows the area better than she does.
Now I’ve started, I give myself precisely one unoccupied evening to finish.
The Holiday Swap by Maggie Knox
This is one of the holiday reads I am excited to read this month, and I also wound up in a buddy read for The Holiday Swap because I have a real problem with saying no. I get excited to talk to people about books and then I overcommit. Story of my (reading) life.
But, with the Christmas tree aglow in our living room, I’m genuinely confident I’ll be reading this one. The synopsis reads like a Hallmark movie brief, as two twin sisters switch places to help one another out. Antics — and romance — ensue.
There’s other book wishes on my list this year, but in the interest of being realistic, I think four books for the holidays is a solid goal. If I’m going to hit my Goodreads stretch goal of 75 books, I’ll need to do a heck of a lot more reading than that, but hey, what will be, will be.
What books are you planning to round out your calendar year with? I’m already building the 2022 TBR so I’d love to hear all about them!
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