December 2021 Reading Wrap-Up

Hello fellow readers!

Another year of reading complete! I finished the year with 186 books. I still plan do to some sort of "best of" list but I need to take some time to review the full year first. For now, here is what December brought me!

As a reminder, (??) is read in print/Kindle, (??) is an audiobook and (??) is a 1/2 star.

?? How Lucky by Will Leitch ????? Super quick listen on audio from the point of view of a young man who spends his life in a wheelchair with little ability to speak without assisted devices. The style of the story wove between the mystery and non-sequiturs about his life, his perceptions on the world and the medical issues he deals with. Basically it is an amateur detective story with an unlikely (but very likeable) protagonist.

?? Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles ?????? As someone who tried to read, and abandoned 3 times, A Gentleman in Moscow by the same author... I was nervous about picking this one up! But I really enjoyed it. I felt a lot of Stephen King character building vibes in his writing style which I could really appreciate. I loved the characters and the story.

?? Daughter of Fortune by Isabelle Allende ????? This book fulfilled my final prompt in the 2021 #ReadingWomenChallenge. This author is highly regarded and the writing of this story was great. My biggest criticism was that it could have been about a bit shorter. I have two more books of hers on my shelf and I will look forward to reading more!

?? The Bromance Book Club by Lyssa Kay Adams ???? I am late to the game on this one, but I really enjoyed it. It made me laugh and made me get a little teary eyed. Solid rom-com with fun characters and not too much unnecessary angst. In the author's bio it says that her books "feature women who always get the last word, men who aren't afraid to cry, and dogs... lots of dogs." I am on board with all of that!!

?? Cactus Fruit by Marron Gebremeskel ???? This was an intensely personal book of poetry that walked you through the life of a Eritrean-American woman as she journeys through adolescence, marriage, and raising children. Well written and very relatable especially to mothers.

?? A Rule Against Murder by Louise Penny ????? Book #4 in the Armand Gamache series. In this book we finally learn more about Gamache, making him even more endearing. I continue to enjoy the audio, I love hearing all of the French names and other words properly pronounced.

?? Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano ????? This story of a 12 year old boy who is the sole survivor of a plane crash is deeply sad, but so well written I have to (almost begrudgingly) give it 5 stars. This book explores the inner feelings of this young man and makes the reader really reconsider how they respond to tragedy and to victims of tragedy. If you are able to appreciate a book that really makes you FEEL things, then this one is worth a read.

?? The Man Who Died Twice by Richard Osman ???? I really enjoyed this 2nd book in the Thursday Murder Club series. I thought the mystery was even better and I loved how the characters continue to be developed and their relationships grow. Basically, I just really want to go hang out at this retirement community with this gang. Read these books in order!

?? Game On (Tempting 28) by Janet Evanovich ????? This is my one completely frivolous series that I will always read. If you know the series, let's just say it is more of the same but somehow still fun.

?? The Brutal Telling by Louise Penny ????? Book #5 in the Armand Gamache series. I just keep loading the next audio book in this series. I don't know that I would enjoy them as much by reading in print, but the narration just makes it so pleasant (for a murder mystery!).

?? A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson ???? This was a really fun young adult murder mystery. A modern day, more mature Nancy Drew. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I don't normally read YA, but this is the kind of book I would have LOVED as a teen reader!

?? The Dark Hours by Michael Connelly ???? I love Team Ballard & Bosch! Another great police thriller centered around LA crime. I know Ballard is the lead in these books, but I always want a little more Bosch.

?? Death on Ocean Boulevard by Caitlin Rother ?? ?? This true crime story sounded so interesting, but the reality is there wasn't much evidence, there was bad police work, and the author just went in circles rehashing the same things over and over. Could have been 100 pages shorter.

?? I Am My Beloveds by Jonathan Papernick ??? The story of a married couple who attempt to begin an open marriage and despite the immediate realization this is a BAD idea, they keep going. If unlikable characters are not your thing, skip this book. I don't think there was one likeable character in this story. It was like watching a slow-motion relationship train wreck.

?? Plantation Shudders by Ellen Byron ???? A fun cozy mystery set in Southern Louisiana (Cajun Country). This story hit all the checkboxes for a good cozy. My one complaint is that as a Cajun myself, I was disappointed that the geography in the story was not an accurate representation of where the actual "Cajun Country" is in Louisiana! I look forward to reading more in this series.

?? Undercover Bromance by Lyssa Kay Adams ????? I enjoyed returning to the Bromance Book Club characters for book #2 in this series. A fun enemies-to-lovers story line with some humor, some romance, some tears. A great last book of the year for me!

Abandoned this month:

Feed by Mira Grant , Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel, City Baker's Guide to Country Living by Louise Miller