My December 2025 Reads
It’s December 30th and we are almost at a new year, so it’s time to share what I read this month. I read seven books: One short story on kindle, four on audio, one paperback, and one hardback.
Here are the books I completed in December. They are listed in the order that I finished them:
The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware- 4 stars
Don’t Forget The Crazy by Lucy Kaufman- 4 stars
A Little Christmas Magic by Suzanne Rogerson- 4 stars
The Woman in Suite 11 by Ruth Ware- 4 stars
Getting Good with Money by Jessi Fearon- 4 stars
Rebellion by Raena Rood- 4 stars
What Does it Feel Like by Sophie Kinsella- 5 stars
My ‘top rated read’ was What Does it Feel Like by Sophie Kinsella. Kinsella passed away from brain cancer earlier this month, which I had no idea she was facing. What Does it Feel Like is a fictional account of an author dealing with the same disease. Basically, she is telling us her story, but in a fictional way. It did cause some emotions as it was her book Can You Keep a Secret? that got me reading all those years ago.
I did not have a ‘lowest rated read’ for December as the rest of what I read were given four stars. That’s a win for me!
What did YOU read in December? Let’s see how your reading will go in a new year! Bring on 2026: A new year with new reading goals! What will your reading goal for 2026 be?
A Re-Listen to The Santa Suit by Mary Kay Andrews
The Santa Suit
Author: Mary Kay Andrews
Narrator: Kathleen McInerney
Published: September 28, 2021
Audiobook/224 Pages
Book Description:
When newly-divorced Ivy Perkins buys an old farmhouse sight unseen, she is definitely looking for a change in her life. The Four Roses, as the farmhouse is called, is a labor of love—but Ivy didn’t bargain on just how much labor. The previous family left so much furniture and so much junk, that it’s a full-time job sorting through all of it.
At the top of a closet, Ivy finds an old Santa suit—beautifully made and decades old. In the pocket of a suit she finds a note written in a childish hand: it’s from a little girl who has one Christmas wish, and that is for her father to return home from the war. This discovery sets Ivy off on a mission. Who wrote the note? Did the man ever come home? What mysteries did the Rose family hold?
Ivy’s quest brings her into the community, at a time when all she wanted to do was be left alone and nurse her wounds. But the magic of Christmas makes miracles happen, and Ivy just might find more than she ever thought possible: a welcoming town, a family reunited, a mystery solved, and a second chance at love.
Jessica’s Review:
I can’t really say much more than what I said on my previous review back in 2021. My review is with Kim’s as a double review here. I wanted to share this before we got too far away from Christmas! Definitely click the link to see what both Kim and I had to say.
This was a reread for me and a book club read for December. It’s MKA which you know I adore her, and the book bringing up nostalgia for me with my dad playing Santa when I was younger and remembering those days. He was Santa in the 1990s before it became the very popular ‘thing to do’ that it is now.
I hope you and your loved ones had a great Christmas!!!
Purchase Links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK
Book Review: The Accidental Pinup by Danielle Jackson
The Accidental Pinup
Series: Buxom Boudoir #1
Author: Danielle Jackson
Narrator: Jeanette Illidge
Published: July 19, 2022
Audiobook: 10 hours 11 minutes
Reviewed By: Jessica
Dates Listened To: November 10-15, 2025
Jessica’s Rating: 3.5 stars
Book Description:
Rival photographers are forced to collaborate on a body-positive lingerie campaign, but they might have to readjust their focus when sparks fly.
Photographer Cassie Harris loves her job—her company Buxom Boudoir makes people look beautiful and feel empowered with her modern twist on classic pinup photography. Cassie’s best friend, Dana, is about to launch her own dangerously dreamy lingerie line and wants Cassie to shoot and direct the career-changing national campaign. But company politics and Dana’s complicated pregnancy interfere, and Cassie finds herself—a proud plus size Black woman—not behind the camera but in front of it.
Though she’s never modeled herself, Cassie’s pretty sure she can handle the sheer underwear and caution tape bralettes. She’s not sure she can work so intimately with the chosen photographer, her long-time competitor in the Chicago photography scene, Reid Montgomery. Their chemistry is undeniable on set, however, and feelings can develop faster than film…
Jessica’s Review:
After trying to find a book based on ‘stranger photo sessions’ and only finding a novella series that did not work for me (I gave the first novella 2 stars and DNF’d the second), this was the closest I could find. And that was thanks to my friend Yami.
Here we have photographer Cassie whose best friend Dana is about to launch a lingerie line for plus sized women. Dana wants Cassie to be the photographer and after a series of events Cassie ends up being the model (which Cassie has never modeled…) and the photographer is Reid. Reid has been Cassie’s direct competition and he has taken potential jobs from her. And there is some chemistry going on between model and photographer.
I really loved the body positivity and representation in the novel with Cassie. In addition to being a gorgeous plus sized woman, she is also a person of color. We are getting so much representation in this novel! And being this is a contemporary romance we also have the rivals/ enemies to lovers sub-genre.
It got a little bit much on the spicy side for me, but I was prepared for that knowing my friend Yami likes her books spicy! For the readers who read spice/ like the spice it’s most likely not too spicy. But ya’ll know I don’t need spicy, and prefer my romances sweet and closed door for the most part. It did seem as if the relationship was mainly based off of physical attraction, and I mean, Cassie is wearing just underwear around Reid, so he can’t help but see what she has to offer and like it or not!
Overall, I enjoyed this one. Of course there are secrets involved in the story. But there has to be some kind of angst! I really want a decent ‘stranger photo session’ novel! And guess what: I actually found a photographer who is local to me who does these sessions! And guess what else?!?!? I put in an application for a stranger session! We will see what happens, my guess is that mainly women put in for these sessions, but you also have to have men sign up. And the photographer actually attempts to make couples based on similar interests. Will I get a contact from that photographer about a match??? Only time will tell….
Purchase Links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK