The end of the year is finally here! It is always a bittersweet time. Ready for 2026 to begin, while not understanding what happened to 2025. I mean, where did it go? And every time I ask that, I feel like I’m channeling my mom.
With the holidays, family, and various activities, December is always jam-packed. I’m just happy I read what I did. Not to mention crushing my 2025 reading goal of 90 books by completing 130. That is just wild to me! Some took weeks to finish, others only a few hours.
Do you set reading goals or read all willy-nilly?
Tender Cruelty by: Katee Robert
Oh, my gods of Olympus! The last book, Sweet Obsession, was one of my favs because Icarus and Poseidon are the most amazing characters together.
While Zeus (Perseus) and Hera (Calysta) are great characters as well, this is strongly driven by plot. And holy Dodona Tower, is the plot getting sticky! So much drama, betrayal, revelations, and alliances that I didn’t see coming.
Personally, I hated the ending simply because I didn’t want it to end.
Zeus’s growth is the best by far. Turns out he is more level-headed than anyone could have guessed. Hera is strong and independent with a heart too big to live within the confines of Olympus.
I’m still loving that the assembled cast of characters gets more page time as the series goes on. Of course, the OGs Hades and Persephone. I need a novella of just their lives.
Circe. Hermes. Love them and hate them. Wait, nope, no love for Circe. At first, I was kinda behind the whole woman scorned thing. I mean, her Zeus deserved what he got and more. But now, she has taken being a victim way too far and is just flat out a villain. Hermes and her interludes in this book; what a tease. Since book one in this series, Hermes has had my fascination. How long do we have to wait for the next book?
The Lost Apothecary by: Sarah Penner
To say this story is slow is an understatement. It is not a gripping, suspense filled, page turner.
If you saw my star rating, you might be confused. I indeed gave this 5 stars. I did not read the publisher’s blurb. Apparently, that was a big source of disappointment, promising and then not delivering. I went into this with absolutely no expectations. Because of that, I was met with a full circle story that had only a tiny sprinkle of the fantastic that honestly could be seen only at the discretion of the reader, or not. It’s a very slow Divinci Code of no great importance.
Told from 3 POVs, one of which is set in the present. The present voice, Caroline, well, her actions are questionable at times. Not morally gray, just a tad nonsensical. Caroline finds an old apothecary bottle in the Thames, which leads her on a journey to discover the hidden apothecary shop from the late 1700s.
All while navigating infidelity and a turning point in her life.
Simultaneously, we get the story of the apothecary straight from her, Nella’s, mouth and a young girl, Eliza (12), who becomes involved with Nella and her dealings.
Nella has had a heartbreaking life and has lived based on a vengeful existence because of that. Giving women the justice and control in their lives that she never had. Eventually, that lifestyle catches up with her.
There is a bit of intrigue, a bit of drama, and loads of heartbreak. Nothing tear-jerking for the reader. Sad and horrific, sure.
Even though this employs a troupe that is a complete pet peeve of mine, misunderstanding, it wasn’t everything. I am a sucker for full-circle stories. and fell in love with this one.
The Museum of Extraordinary Things by: Alice Hoffman
This is not my typical pick. I love a good historical fiction, but I look for a little more meat. I am so glad that I picked this up!
Not fast-paced but packed full of impactful world-building, dynamic characters, and symbolism we have all come to expect from Hoffman.
At first, I was a bit leery of the style. The past is told in first person, the present in third. It grew on me. Giving everything its own unique voice.
The story is full of darkness, deceit, hope, truth, and growth. Watching Eddie and Coralie from the beginning of their lives to finding their feet in the world is amazing.
Such diverse characters and aspects to this kept me turning the pages. Even a few OMG moments!
Holes by: Louis Sachar
Why I have never read this book or even watched the movie is a mystery to me. I absolutely love this book. I’m a sucker for stories that come full circle. Having a bit of the past woven significantly into the present enough to directly impact it.
A coming-of-age story that was almost forced upon Stanley and even Zero. While I do wish we learned a bit more backstory on some of the other boys, it would have been out of place. Stanley and Zero are the focus.
The mystery of Stanley and his family’s past, bandits, forbidden love, treasure, and onions.
As it is, it is perfectly written for the target audience. Some middle-grade books can only be appreciated by the target audience, this can be enjoyed by all ages. Though there were a few slow parts, they are small enough that the story didn’t lag.
Salt & Stone by: Victoria Scott
After reading this, I can confidently recommend that you do not read this series. Published a decade ago, in 2015, and this is definitely not the end of the series. It is even clearer that the series will never find its conclusion.
Technically, this ends on a cliffhanger, but it is lackluster. The challenges, sea and mountain, seem glossed over compared to the first two challenges in Flood and Fire.
Still not the biggest fan of Tella. She is too sensitive and self-absorbed. Why does Guy treat me like an inferior? Why does Guy not trust me? Why am I not taken seriously? Yes, most of it revolves around Guy. Tella doesn’t have to rule the roost to be the strongest; she just doesn’t seem to understand that. It is clear that her compassion and heart are winning over everything and everyone.
The twists and turns of this book are better than the first because it is getting deep into all the conspiracy of it.
And now that we are neck deep in the company, the scientists, horse betting, and cures, all we have is a winner to the race and a ton more questions that will never have an answer… Wish I knew this series was incomplete before I began reading it.
Ruin by: Caitlyn Dare
Picking this up, the cover would suggest this was the beginning of a series. Yet, while reading this, I felt like I was dropped in the middle of a story. There were too many mentions of past events that went unexplained.
This was why it was confusing, as you can see, the book cover clearly states this is book one, which is a bald-faced lie. It is the first in River’s story, but second in the series. That’s beside the point though.
The real kicker was the moment it’s revealed that River, the FMC of a reverse harem, is a 17-year-old junior in high school, I almost DNFed this on the spot. What is the point? How hard would it have been to make her a few years older? Even if she was one year older and no longer a minor? (Having finished the series, I can say that there is absolutely no reason for her to be a minor on in HS.)
If the author wanted River to be naïve and sheltered, she did that by making sure the reader knew that River had
been sheltered, heavily, by her family at all times. Almost isolating her. She’s naïve because of that, but not stupid. She does, however, act like a child because she is a child.
One thing that is also very interesting, none of the guys’ ages are mentioned. There is mention, several times, of the age gap between her and Diesel, making it even worse that this grown man is obsessed with a child. River’s demeanor and thought process is very juvenile. It’s all about her crush and proving that she is not a child.
As far as a foundational book goes, it was pretty well done. Jax and Zach are the mysteries. Diesel has always been a part of the MC, but since I didn’t read the first in the series, I can only guess that we learned more about him.
Reap by: Caitlyn Dare
Yes, despite my issue with the FMC being a 17-year-old high school junior having a harem of very adult men, I continued the series. Other than the statutory theme, it is written well for what it is.
No one reads an MC romance looking for Newbery status. What I am looking for is a good storyline. One where the plot has some control and is not just spice-driven.
Zach and Jax have quite the backstories, respectively. That was very well done. And both of their pasts have been woven expertly into the present.
I also wasn’t paying attention to where I was in the book and was surprised when it ended on a mild cliffhanger.
Rule by: Caitlyn Dare
The last in River’s story. There has been so much buildup around all the secrets behind Zach’s and Jax’s backgrounds. Which one was going to bite them in the ass first?
We finally find out all the gritty details of Jax’s past. River’s growth is finally starting to shine through. She has mainly remained a child while trying not to be seen as one. She is growing in confidence and leaving behind the naive little girl…mostly.
I’m guessing there was a definite setup for the next book starring Kat. Otherwise, the section where Zach confronted his past was not only awkward, but completely unnecessary.
Not sure I’ll be continuing. I did end up with a soft spot for this quarduple, but not sure that it’s enough for me. I would still absolutely recommend this series for a good reverse harem without any sword crossing.
The Blood Moon Hunt by: Morgan Mercy
Rites of the Blood Moon #1
I want to say this was a TikTok rec, but I can’t truly remember. Bottom line – not a fan. Didn’t care one lick about any of these characters or the weak story.
Selene is a mundane human who discovers she may be more while also discovering a world of magic and deception.
Each male character is a cookie-cutter copy of broodiness and angst, with one or two traits that make them slightly different than the next.
The story is one that I could have really gotten into, but it just wasn’t implemented well and executed poorly.
A centuries-old rival between witches and warlocks, resulting in the blood moon hunt. ‘Nothing is as it seems’ is dangled in front of us many, many times, and it turns
out to be very underwhelming. A great buildup to a disappointing ‘that’s it?’ moment.
From the beginning, there is a great disconnect between the reader and Selene. The author clearly wanted to point her out as the mundane underdog. Average looking, friends using her, nothing special. It was played up so much that it was annoying and began to feel more like Selene was having a life-long pity party rather than invoking sympathy in the reader.
The basic premise is this: Selene was average in every single way until she unknowingly entered the blood moon hunt. There, she discovers she is more than some ugly Betty human and has to have lots of sex with several men to gain power. The relationship between the four men and Selene is nothing special. The banter falls flat as do the characters. The world building is this story’s only saving grace.
Missed last month’s reviews? Read them HERE.
2 responses to “December Reads 2025”
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