What I Read in December
Happy (almost) 2026! This year flew by, and while I do have a round-up coming of my best books of 2025 (check back tomorrow), I want to finish the year with my December summary. I read 22 books this month, which brought my year total to 205. 200 was my goal for the year, so I’m glad I accomplished my goal and had a little wiggle room for no-pressure “fun” reading afterwards, rather than rushing to hit that 200th milestone. I don’t know that I’ll ever read that many books in a year again, but I really like the books I ended the year with, so let’s dive in.
what i read in december
friends, lovers, and the big terrible thing: a memoir by matthew perry
5/5 stars
I’ve never seen Friends, but this memoir has gotten so many rave reviews that I knew I wanted to read it before the year ends. Long story short, I was blown away and it’s one of my favorite books I’ve read this year.
Perry gives a raw, unfiltered look at addiction, including how frustrating it can be. Memoirs or biographies allow you a bird’s eye view at times, and seeing the patterns emerge while knowing how his life ultimately ended was really hard.
While substance abuse is one of the bigger themes, his depiction of loneliness shouldn’t fly under the radar. I think the public/ media maybe latched onto the addiction theme because it was so shocking, but his isolation - whether chosen or a side-effect of his fame - was deeply consequential, too.
Perry’s humor is sprinkled throughout, but overall this was sad in tone and made me think more than I anticipated. Some people have criticized the nonlinear storytelling as confusing, but I still highly recommend this book.
Favorite quotes:
“I think you actually have to have all of your dreams come true to realize they are the wrong dreams.” (p 104)
“I was lost. There was nowhere to turn. Everywhere I tried to hide, there I was. Alcoholics hate two things: the way things are and change. I knew something had to change - I wasn't suicidal, but I was dying - but I was too scared to do anything about it.” (p. 167)
“I am me. And that should be enough, it always has been enough. I was the one who didn't get that. And now I do. I'm an actor, I'm a writer. I'm a person. And a good one at that. I want good things for myself, and others, and I can continue to work for these things. There is a reason I'm still here. And figuring out why is the task that has been put in front of me. And it will be revealed. There is no rush, no desperation. Just the fact that I am here, and I care about people, is the answer.” (p 229)
Read it here (free through Kindle Unlimited).
the psychology of money: timeless lessons on wealth, greed, and happiness by morgan housel
5/5 stars
Consider this a must-read; it’s short and sweet but packs a punch with lots of “a-ha” lightbulb moments and perspective shifts. I’ve read quite a few different money books (including 2 this year), and this really felt the most personal. You won’t find straightforward, step-by-step financial advice in this, but it clearly addresses the how and why of so many of our financial habits and opinions. As the title suggests, this book focuses more on mentality, attitude, and decision making than cookie-cutter guidance.
Refreshingly insightful, I deeply enjoyed this and recommend it to everyone as you’ll learn something regardless of what stage of life you’re in. It’s rationally optimistic, and uses history as its compass, rather than trends or woo-woo pseudoscience. Because it’s short, I plan to re-read this every year (just as I do with Atomic Habits).
Favorite quotes and takeaways:
“The hardest financial skill is getting the goalpost to stop moving.” (p. 41)
“Optimism sounds like a sales pitch. Pessimism sounds like someone trying to help you.” (p. 157)
“Growth is driven by compounding, which always takes time. Destruction is driven by single points of failure, which can happen in seconds, and loss of confidence, which can happen in an instant... The world is filled with people who look modest but are actually wealthy and people who look rich who live at the razor's edge of insolvency. Keep this in mind when quickly judging others' success and setting your own goals.” (p. 166)
Read it here.
ask for andrea by noelle w. ihli
4/5 stars
I don’t know what took me so long to read this. I’m not one for supernatural stories, but this author’s books typically give me anxiety they’re so suspenseful and quite a few of my friends raved about this, so I had high hopes.
I will say this is a true ghost story that really focuses on the supernatural. It’s not suspenseful, and if you want a thriller, you’ll probably be disappointed. That being said, if you are burnt out on thrillers, I really recommend it because it shows the other side, as it is told from three deceased victims’ perspectives.
The supernatural and emotional elements are what make this story unique, and it was sadder than I expected. I found the social commentary on dating and red flag behavior to be thought-provoking, and think it would be great for a book club discussion.
Read it here (free through Kindle Unlimited).
I also read the standalone prequel, Forget You Saw Her (4/5 stars, also free to read with Kindle Unlimited).
I found it to be more emotional than the first, as it explored a complicated mother-daughter relationship instead of a romantic one. If you struggle with grief, I think you will connect with this on a deeper level than expected.
One aspect that I don’t love about this author’s writing is that many of her stories are loosely based on real life events; to me, it just feels a little intrusive. Her 100% fiction works are so creative and engaging that I don’t think she needs that real-life template, for lack of better words.
the paradise trilogy by elin hilderbrand
4/5 stars (books two and three are 3.5/5 stars)
This trilogy was recommended to me by someone I met a few weeks ago when I was working on my Gaslamp Travel Guide (if you are reading this, thank you again for the recommendation and I hope you enjoyed the rest of your trip!). I love talking to people about what books they like, and I always end up reading something out of my comfort zone as a result. The books are as follows: Winter in Paradise, What Happens in Paradise, Troubles in Paradise.
It’s a cute beachy series. The first book is best; the second two aren’t as strong, but wrap the story up nicely, so I recommend reading all three. You’re fully immersed into two families’ lives right from the jump, and while there’s a lot of characters, it’s easy to follow along and you get a variety of age ranges, emotions, and experiences.
There’s a little drama and mystery to the story, but overall it’s very breezy and heartwarming in tone. Grief is mentioned, but it’s not heavy. I found the ending to be a little rushed, but if you are missing the beach this winter, I highly recommend picking up the trilogy (and reading them back to back - finished these in 3ish days, so it’s perfect for a long weekend).
Favorite quote: “Secrets become lies, and lies end up destroying you and everyone you care about.” (p. 275, Winter in Paradise)
Read it here.
a time for truth: my father jason and my search for justice and healing by sarah corbett lynch
5/5 stars
I try to not watch television much anymore, especially if it’s true crime related. Those types of shows used to be my go-to, but the older I get, the more intrusive it seems. Still, I was scrolling Netflix and saw a new show (A Deadly American Marriage) that build upon a particular case I first heard about years ago. Because the victim’s family was given space to speak and tell their side, I decided to tune in. The show itself was sad and I didn’t like that the killers weren’t challenged more. Once I saw that the victim’s daughter, Sarah Corbett Lynch, had written a book, I wanted to read it as my way of showing support.
This book was heartbreakingly poignant and gives a raw, honest look into the plea deal side of the American justice system, which I didn’t know much about. You get a firsthand account of how flawed it is, and while the author does include anecdotes about her childhood that aren’t covered in the Netflix show, the focus is more about her family’s journey towards justice. This book re-centers humanity and grief in true crime, reminding us it shouldn’t be seen as passive entertainment.
Extremely well-written, I was blown away by the author’s maturity. She is honest and transparent about her perspective, while simultaneously protecting her brother’s privacy. I found that this book humanized her family and father, which reminded me just how that’s missing from the justice system. We go to great lengths to give a suspect a fair trial, that doesn’t necessarily mean everyone involved is given equal space to use their voice, especially the victims.
While those who followed the case will learn something new, I also think this book will speak to young women who’re also navigating grief or trauma in particular.
Favorite quotes:
“I can’t say that I always felt better when I talked about ordeals from my past. They’ve already happened, and I can do nothing to change them. I also struggle because guilt compounds my grief. But I keep talking in the hope that it will help me heal or at least soften the sharpest edges of the pain.” (p. 17)
“When I lost my dad, I might not have been able to express my feelings clearly, but I felt pain. People think children are too young to understand, but what they don’t realize is that they can’t protect a child from loss. The child will feel it anyway. From my own experience, concealing death and grief caused the worst pain because it only made me feel more alone.” (p. 202)
“Failing to acknowledge a child’s loss leads to more confusion and fear for that child. When the only sound is silence, it’s harder for children to process their emotions. It’s frightening when a major part of their life scaffolding disappears and the surrounding adults don’t seem to notice. I felt like I was the only person in the world suffering pain and loss.” (p. 203)
Read it here.
the cabin in the woods by sarah alderson
4.5/5 stars
What a standout - truly one of my favorite books I read this month. It’s truly a home run from start to finish - solid storytelling, thoughtful twists, a darker plot that’s entertaining without being too heavy, graphic, or depressing.
My only criticism is I wanted a little more from Daisy’s character. This book is fast-paced without sacrificing detail, and I think that little bit would have made this a 5-star read for me. The book also gets a little familiar as the story goes on, especially if you read a lot of thrillers, but the ending is very satisfying and ties up all loose ends.
Throughout the book, I kept thinking it would make a great movie, especially seeing how successful The Housemaid has become. Until that happens, I highly recommend the book for a cozy winter weekend in.
Read it here (free through Kindle Unlimited).
breaking the habit of being you: how to lose your mind and create a new one by dr. joe dispenza
4/5 stars
I’ve seen many people recommend this book over the years, and I’m happy I got around to it before the year’s end. I’m not too familiar with Joe Dispenza but when it comes to these types of books, I believe you should take what works for you and disregard what doesn’t, so I went into this with an open mind and no preconceived notions.
I liked but didn’t love this. I can see why people rave about it, but it’s pretty woo-woo and dives into quantum manifestation and things like that. The main focus is on meditation as a solution, so the audiobook (or a podcast version) would have been better than the traditional book.
Topics include neuroplasticity, neurogenesis, and the mind-body connection. I found it to be well-researched, but obviously skewed to support the author’s claims.
Read it here.
helltown: the untold story of a serial killer on cape cod by casey sherman
3/5 stars
This non-fiction book caught my attention because I was born in Boston and it’s a story I’ve never heard anything about before. The book is extremely graphic; please check the trigger warnings ahead of time.
I wanted to love this, but the author includes the backstories of two different authors (Kurt Vonnegaut and Norman Mailer), and while this added more context to the time period, it added too much excess to the overall narrative. The authors’ flaws made a dark, violent story even heavier, particularly for me as a female reader.
There was also a lot of re-created/ re-imagined dialogue between the killer and his victims, which felt like too much of an artistic reach for me. It was a good book, but not great, and the speculative tendencies keeps me from recommending it.
Read it here (free through Kindle Unlimited).
her beautiful life by brianna labuskes
4.5/5 stars
This was my Amazon First Reads pick for the month, and it blew me away. Books (especially thrillers) that take on the influencer career world tend to be too cheesy, but I found this book’s perspective to be refreshing and much more realistic.
The author weaves in family dysfunction and a fractured friendship well; it keeps you guessing yet is believable, which makes for a layered yet easy-to-follow plot. The characters aren’t particularly likable, but they’re not so rough that it weighs the story down.
My main criticism is that while the social commentary regarding social media and traditional family roles is timely, it does come across as a little tangent-y and preachy at times. I also didn’t love the ending, but can recognize the author’s motives and respect them.
Overall, this is twisty, atmospheric, and engaging. Hard to put down even with longer chapters, I finished it in just a few hours and wanted to discuss it with a friend immediately after. If you’re a fan of A Simple Favor or The Housemaid (or if your book club loves thrillers), I highly recommend it.
Read it here starting January 1 (free through Kindle Unlimited).
This month I also read…
The Stalker by Sarah Alderson - 3/5 stars, free to read with Kindle Unlimited.
I saw a lot of positive reviews for this one, and I think that kind of ruined it for me, because the twist wasn’t as surprising as it could’ve been. Good for a winter weekend in, but not a new favorite.
All Her Fault by Andrea Mara - 3/5 stars.
While I’m not the biggest fan of watching TV, I do like to watch a limited series every now and then. I saw the previews for All Her Fault (on Peacock) and wanted to read the book first. The book was honestly a letdown; it was slow, the characters were a little hard to differentiate in the beginning, and the final twist felt cheap rather than shocking. TV?
The Unquiet Bones by Loreth Anne White - 3.5/5 stars, free to read with Kindle Unlimited.
If you like thrillers with lots of characters and a deeply convoluted plot, this book is for you. It was honestly confusing at times; I think the author told from 7 or 8 different perspectives, so you get a lot of red herrings, but I found myself thinking, “That’s it?” at the end. I liked that most of the characters were older (in their 60s), and the missing girl’s character was well-developed, but I wanted a little more resolution with the subplots at the end, especially since there’s no sequel. No spoilers, but I’ll also say it ended up being a little more sad than suspenseful, in my opinion.
Parents Weekend by Alex Finlay - 3.5/5 stars, free to read with Kindle Unlimited.
Right off the bat, the author did an incredible job balancing all of the characters throughout this book; there were a lot but they were easily identifiable without being overdramatic caricatures for the sake of differentiation - although some could have been fleshed out more. I appreciated the twists and it kept my attention, but tending was a little bit of a downer, especially compared to the excitement of the first two-thirds. While this wasn’t my favorite, I’m excited to read more from this author.
A Light in the Forest by Melissa Payne - 4/5 stars, free to read with Kindle Unlimited.
Reading this felt like jumping into a new literary world; the author created such rich, layered characters and infused the small-town charm in each chapter that you couldn’t help but get lost in it. I saw some people online said it was hard to follow, but the storylines felt a little predictable to me. While the ending felt a little rushed to me (especially since it was slightly slow or repetitive at times), I thought it was a warm contemporary fiction read with a little hint of mysticism (but not too much).
Friends Like These by Sarah Alderson - 2/5 stars.
I can see why some people love this book, and I’m bummed I don’t have a rave review. This was promising at times, but so over-the-top that you really need to suspend disbelief and roll with it. The narration twist is predictable and the ending gives major Lifetime movie vibes, so while you can finish it quickly (just a few hours), it’s not one I’d recommend.
The Summer She Vanished by Jessica Irene Smith - 2/5 stars.
I loved the book I read last month by this author (called The Night of the Crash), so I was really excited about this. Unfortunately, it was a miss for me. There’s more talk than action, which slows down the pacing and while I saw hints of the clever twists that the author included in her other book, the ending was simultaneously too neat yet oversimplified.
All We Could Still Have by Diane Barnes - 4/5 stars, free to read with Kindle Unlimited.
This was a heavy yet heartwarming story. Check the TWs first as it does cover fertility. While the characters weren’t especially likable, I personally appreciated how realistic and emotional the fertility storyline was. Strangely enough, I found the realistic mistakes and messiness of this book more stressful than the thrillers I typically read, but enjoyed this nevertheless.
The Art of Impossible by Steven Kotler - 4/5 stars, free to read with Kindle Unlimited.
I had to end the year with something in the self-improvement world, and this had been on my list for a while. I really appreciate how deliberate the author was in writing this; each paragraph is purposeful, yet it’s a decent word count (not too short, like some KU books can be). Topics include flow, creativity, learning, and motivation, with a nice balance of research and opinion.
