I’m sharing my December reads early because I’ve decided to take a little reading break from now until the new year. That doesn’t mean I won’t read, but I’m not going to stress out about finishing a certain number of books before December 31st.
Here’s the deal – I love to read. I love books – but this year I found myself rushing through a good story just to mark another book off my list. Reading became a chore instead of an escape from the stress of everyday life.
I want to read for pleasure in 2023.
I want to get lost in a good book without feeling pressure to finish it quickly.
I’ll still share what I’m reading and recommend books that I love, but I’m not setting a reading goal for 2023. If I only read 12 amazing books, great. If I read 24, even better.
Later this month I’ll share my 2022 Reading Recap, but for now, here’s the four books I finished the first two weeks of December.
And no, I did not make it through all the holiday rom-coms in my TBR stack!
Eight Days of Christmas by Starla Dekruyf
Isabella is going home for the first first time in ten years for her families eight days of Christmas tradition and her sister’s wedding. Going home means seeing Leo – the guy who she was supposed to spend forever with. He just thinks she broke his heart to stay in New York City and chase her dreams. Will Izzy have the courage to finally confess the real reason she walked away?
This was a cute holiday rom-com. The chemistry between Leo and Izzy was steamy. My only complaint is the epilogue felt rushed and all over the place. This is the first book in a series.
Rules for Dating a Bookshop Owner by S.C. Gray
I really enjoyed this book. It’s definitely a rom-com and a quick read, but the characters have depth. I wanted to be Campbell – owning her cute little bookshop in Maine. Her love for the book aisle at Target gave me all the feels! She and Bishop begin a sweet romance, but they both have things from their past they must face before moving forward. This book is the first of two.
In For the Long Haul by S.C. Gray
This was the follow-up to Rules for Dating a Bookshop Owner and I had such high hopes for it. I did not like it. I kept reading, hoping I would love it. Honestly, I should have quit it. It felt very repetitive and all over the place. I skimmed the last few chapters just to get it finished.
The Christmasaurus by Tom Fletcher
Jackson and I are currently reading this together and we are really enjoying it! William only wants one thing for Christmas – a dinosaur. When Santa accidentally gives him the real Christmasaurus instead of the stuffed one he made, some fun and exciting adventures begin between William and his new friend.
