Let me start off by apologising for being MIA. Life became crazy when we signed for a new flat on the 12th December. I spent all of December packing, painting the new flat and dealing with chronic illness flare-ups that left me unable to do pretty much anything. Then, of course, with it being the Christmas period, it was hard work getting movers and carpet fitters. It was very stressful, and my body definitely paid a hefty price. We are in the new flat. Mostly unpacked, and are settling in nicely.
So… let’s talk books.
The last review I gave you was for Lauren Biel’s Frisky the Snowman. In December, I also read His Trick by SK Pryntz, which was phenomenal. This book destroyed me in the best way! I could not sleep because I was thinking about this book. I highly recommend it, but keep in mind this is an erotic horror! There isn’t a HEA. I gave this book 5 stars! I also read Flowers in the Wind by C.J. Riggs, which was another 5-star phenomenal read that I highly recommend! I also read Naughty Saint Nick by Lexi Davis, which was a cute Christmas novella. I gave this 4 stars. I enjoyed reading it; it made me smile. I then read The Bookworm Who Stole Christmas by Luna Peters, which was another cute Christmas read that I gave 4 stars.
Each morning when I woke up, I, in typical British fashion, started the day with a cup of tea and a chapter from my Advent book, which was A Heart For Christmas by Sophie Jomain. I gave this book 3 stars; it was cute. I don’t think I would have loved it as much if I hadn’t read only a chapter a day. It was a cute way to start the day, though.
I also DNF’d a book in December. It was Dark Matter by Blake Crouch. It wasn’t that I hated it, more that it wasn’t for me.
So I’ve caught you up with December, let’s look at how 2025 was in total for me.
Here’s the stats:
I was super fortunate that 44 of these books were ARCs. Which blows my mind, that 44 times I was chosen to receive an ARC from an author!
My most read author was Tate James, which I kinda knew would happen since I read the Madison Kate series and the Hades series, which I was obsessed with.
My most read genre, and it’s no surprise, was Romance.
The shortest book I read was Shelly by C.J. Riggs, which was 38 pages.
The longest book I read was Zodiac Academy Sorrow & Starlight, which was 1,244 pages.
My best reading streak was reading for 60 days in a row.
In January, I read 11 books.
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros was my favourite of the month.
In February, I read 6 books.
Unholy by Kinsley Kincaid was my favourite of the month.
In March, I read 12 books.
Chokehold by Harleigh Beck & Leigh Rivers was my favourite of the month.
In April, I read 9 books.
A Voice in Chains by Harleigh Beck was my favourite of the month.
In May, I read 17 books.
The Madison Kate Series by Tate James was my favourite of the month.
In June, I read 17 books.
The Hades Series by Tate James was my favourite of the month.
In July, I read 6 books.
Slay Ride by Lauren Biel was my favourite of the month.
In August, I read 9 books.
By the Orchid and the Owl by Mariah Montoya was my favourite of the month.
In September, I read 9 books.
Lethal by Al Maruga was my favourite of the month.
In October, I read 8 books.
Xantera by Mariah Montoya and Grace Pearce was my favourite of the month.
In November, I read 13 books.
Veradel by Mariah Montoya and Grace Pearce was my favourite of the month.
In December, I read 7 books.
Flowers in the Wind by C.J. Riggs was my favourite of the month.
My overall favourite book of the year was:
By the Orchid and the Owl.
December may not have gone to plan regarding my reading, but I can’t deny that I think I had a pretty damn good year in books. I found some new authors, some that have become auto-buy authors, too.
Now onto 2026 reads.
I aim to read at least 100 books this year. I have some more challenges that I am completing this year, and will be bringing back the author interviews, too.
Feel free to reach out if you are an author and want to do an interview.
Or reach out if there is something you want to see on the blog 🙂 I’ve finished 2 books so far this month. I will be writing full reviews this week, hopefully. My body is still recovering from me pushing it waaaaaaay past its limits, so I am taking everything slowly right now, but I have read 2 amazing books and need to share these with you!
I hope you all had a good reading year in 2025 and look forward to seeing what 2026 brings for you all 🙂
Lots of love
Letty
