What I Read in December

December was a crazy month with work events, the holidays and finally adding some much needed furnishings to my living room. Still, somehow, I think I read more in December than any other month in 2017. 

Honestly, I found and read some truly amazing titles last month. While I was home for the holidays (and because I have a job that truly values extended weekends), I was able to dedicate a lot of time to turning the screens off and snuggling up with hot tea and a pile of books.

My goal in 2017 is to read 50 books, and I’m off to a great start (honestly, I may have set this bar low). Between my Book of the Month subscription and living within 3 blocks of Barnes and Noble, my books and reading addiction won’t be subsiding anytime soon.

Next week, I’m going to share some books I plan to read, inspired by Black History Month, so you can join in too! And these monthly reading wrap ups will be regular features on the blog!

Swing Time by Zadie Smith

Swing Time was my first time reading Zadie Smith but it certainly won’t be my last. This book is told from the perspective of a narrator who remains nameless throughout the book and tells the story of two very different girls growing up in England. We watch our narrator navigate girlhood, mother daughter relationships, comparison, romance and finding herself and her purpose throughout her encounters with others. I loved the writing here and really enjoyed the story.

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

I picked this book up after hearing it raved about by some of my favorite YouTubers/BookTubers. I started this book on a bus ride back to New York and almost didn’t realize I was back in Philadelphia because I was so into this story! The book is about two magicians involved in a competition that takes place in a circus, but soon becomes so much more than a circus. I cannot recommend this book enough, and I cannot wait to reread it. You will love the story, love the characters and love this book.

The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon

There was a lot of hype around this book, so when I had the chance to snag it through Book of the Month I couldn’t resist. The story takes place over one day in New York City. Our main characters are Natasha, who’s family is about to be deported back to Jamaica in 24 hours, and Daniel, who is dealing with the weight of his family’s expectations. The two meet in the most unexpected way and create a great love story. I loved that the ending wasn’t just your typical happy ending and I adored the characters. I read this book in one sitting.

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

This book more than exceed all of my expectations. I also picked this one up after seeing so many rave reviews on it. I loved everything, absolutely everything, about this book. The characters are incredibly complex and well developed and the plot and story took me on such an amazing journey. I honestly didn’t know how things were going to end, in the best way. And, according to Good Reads, there will be a sequel to this gem!

The Spy by Paulo Coelho

Paulo Coelho is one of my favorite authors and I’ve resolved to read any and everything he writes (which is a lot). The Spy is his newest release and through letters tells the story of a European socialite who is accused of being a spy and is being sentenced to death. We deal mostly with our main character who is so unabashedly herself you can’t help but love her. It was a really fast read and I definitely recommend for a quick train ride or coffee shop trip.

Swimming Lessons by Claire Fuller

I thought I was going to love this book way more than I did. Don’t get me wrong, I definitely enjoyed this one and really liked the story. I just wished I was able to enjoy and connect with the characters a bit more. The book is about a mother who goes missing and it’s unclear if she drowned accidentally or left her family purposely. Through a series of flashbacks hoping from past to present, we learn about the mothers incredibly unhealthy marriage and trials in mothership as well as how her leaving has impacted her daughter and husband. I didn’t not like this book, but it definitely didn’t meet the high expectations I had for it.

November 9 by Colleen Hoover

Colleen Hoover is known for her contemporary romance novels, and this was my first time reading any of her work. This is another one I have mixed feelings about. The story I was definitely into, but I had a hard time suspending my disbelief and kept wondering if any one would respond to the things that were happening the way the characters do. The book is about a young couple who hold off on a relationship and instead see each other once a year on, you guessed it, November 9th. I thought I would love this book because I though it would give me One Day, type vibes, which it didn’t. I did enjoy the concept and the story, so I’ll give Colleen Hoover another try.

And that wraps it up! Tell me what you read last month, what you’re reading now and anything you’d like to see in future reading wrap ups! You can always check out my book ratings and what I’m reading on Good Reads.