The books I read in December and my favorite book of 2022! ❤ A favorites post. ❤

 

Happy Friday, my friends! Have you enjoyed this week between Christmas and the new year? It's one I always love and look forward to, especially in the busy days leading up to Christmas. Since it's the last Friday of the year, it's time for my monthly bookish post, with my favorite books of the year thrown in at the end. Click on the picture and you'll be directed to Amazon. Happy reading! 

Before I begin, there was a theme for me this month and it's that almost every book I read was nonfiction. I love nonfiction, I just usually pick fiction over it...but since every other book I picked up turned into a dud, I went with it and stuck with the theme. And Bill? Thank you for checking those books out for me yesterday! I already two of them. 🤣

I read ten books this month and one of them was one that I worked on all year...more in a minute. 

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Christmas on Nantucket by Leslie Linsley was my first book for this month. I loved every beautiful page written and pictured! It's cool reading a book about a place I've been...and I could picture it in my mind. Here's how Amazon describes this picturesque book:

People from all over the United States come to Nantucket Island to celebrate Christmas in the charming Early American setting. From the Christmas Stroll along cobblestoned Main Street to the Festival of Trees held each year at the historic Whaling Museum, Nantucket celebrates the holiday season with traditions and decorations that transform the island into a winter wonderland. Join renowned style and craft expert Leslie Linsley as she takes readers on a holiday tour through this picturesque island, offering her own ideas for recreating a quaint Nantucket-style Christmas along the way.

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Next up was English Country by Julie Fowler. I love books on design! I'm always curious about my style, because it's something I find interesting. I always think I'm an "eclectic" decorator, or maybe "shabby chic", but after reading this book, I definitely love the style of "cottage" or "English country". How do I know this? Think of cozy spaces, colored paint that brightens the walls of a home, different textures of fabrics and materials, lots of books on shelves and every other nook and cranny, ambient lighting, candles, things that involve all of the senses...I could go on, but this is basically how I decorate in our home. 

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My third book for the month was French Country Living by Caroline Clifton-Mogg. I liked this one, but it wasn't quite my style. I thought about my mom the entire time I read through it, because this is her decorating taste. It was still an interesting read.

Fourth on my list is this that I just finished:

I love to read, and as much as I do that and devote a lot of time to it, I always want to make sure and devote time to the Word of God. So, I've been reading through the Bible every year now for about twelve years. I will always do this in some form. Sometimes it may be in chronological order, sometimes it may be in my Bible that I used last year (Everyday with Jesus), some years it might be the old testament and others the new testament. I just want to always prioritize this in my life. I'll be doing it again in 2023! I am not entirely sure yet of how I'll go about it, but I am thinking and praying about which route I want to take in order to finish it again. 

I read One Last Gift by Emily Stone.

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From Amazon:

Cassie and Tom lost their parents at a young age and relied on each other—as well as a community of friends—to cope. They were especially close with Tom’s best friend, Sam, who always made sure that Tom and Cassie were surrounded with love. But, twenty years later, Cassie has lost Tom as well. And in a way, she’s also lost Sam; over the years they’d drifted apart, and now the man she always had a crush on is someone she doesn’t even recognize anymore.

She’s never felt more alone.

Then Cassie finds an envelope with her name on it, written in Tom’s terrible handwriting, and she knows immediately what it is. It’s the first clue in the Christmas scavenger hunt that Tom made for her every year; he’d promised her for months that this year’s would be the grandest one yet. At first, she’s too scared to open the envelope—what if she can’t figure out the clues without his help? Or what if she does figure them all out and her last connection to Tom is gone?

Tom’s present sets Cassie on a heart-wrenching and beautiful journey that will change her life—if she lets it. And as she travels from London to the Welsh mountains to the French countryside, she reconnects with old friends, rekindles a lost love, and, most important, rediscovers herself. But once she’s solved the final clue, will she be brave enough to accept the gift her brother has given her—and the love it’s led her to?

My personal thoughts were that it was a good book, but it went on for too long for my taste. I do enjoy this author, though and will try her again. This is my second book by her.

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I read Bring on the Merry by Candace Cameron Bure. Here's what Amazon says:

This Christmas devotional journal includes a short devotion from Candace Cameron Bure, a fun interactive activity such as a graph or a list to fill in, and a coordinating classic Christmas story. Known as The Queen of Christmas on Hallmark Channel, Candace encourages you to pause and reflect on the reason for the season while making quiet time for inner peace, finding joy in the chaos, and selflessly serving others. As you read the Christmas devotions and complete the activity journal pages, you'll rediscover the wonder and amazement of the season and draw closer to the Savior. You will personally connect with Jesus in ways that will change your perspective and your response to the timeless Christmas story. Bring On the Merry will help you stress less and enjoy the season more as you put your focus on what really matters JESUS!

My friend Bri and I read this at the same time this Christmas season. I really enjoyed it! I love Candace Cameron Bure and grew up watching her on Full House. Everything she writes is great. 

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I like this author and will keep reading her books, even if this wasn't my favorite. It's a cute story about a middle aged mom of five who is struggling with things in her life changing that are beyond her control. I'm moving on quickly, because this post is growing long.

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I love a practical book and this one by Alexandra Kuykendall is both an excellent read and a practical way to love our neighbors, both in real life and in general. You should check this book out on your own, so I'll let you read about on Amazon, but there were a couple of quotes I loved. One is the reminder that we don't always have to contribute to conversations we have. Sometimes we need to be quiet so that we can listen. That spoke to my heart in a way I can't begin to explain. Other things she talked about in the book are ways we can practically love our neighbors—we can be kind, we can show empathy, we can lighten up and know when laughter is needed, we can use food to connect with our neighbors, we can give freely and we can be known for our joy. You should read this book! 

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I love these little books by Fiona Ferris! Do you read her books? They're delightful and practical books and always include ways to incorporate joy in your everyday life. I can't recommend this book or author enough! 

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Lastly, I read this book and thought it was just okay. It was a new author and though it wasn't a favorite book this month, I love to read about the art of hygge and the meaning behind the word. I love to incorporate it into my life as well, especially during what I call the cozy season. 

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And now, my favorite part! I read 77 books in 2022. Here are my top books from the year that I am still thinking about in one way or another. I'll start with my number three choice. Once again, you can click on the picture and be taken to Amazon. 

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Becoming Mrs. Lewis was one that I couldn't put this book down! At over 400 pages, that is something. I don't enjoy historical fiction books, but I loved this one. It's fiction, but reads like nonfiction. Have you read it yet? It's not new! I loved reading about C.S. Lewis.

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The Meeting Point by Olivia Lara was my second favorite book of the year. Just a hint about this one: if you have a Kindle and are a member of Kindle Unlimited, you can read this for free right now! I thought about this book long after I put it down, even though it was fictional and what would be considered a romance—there was just something about it that I loved and still love! It was clean, it was funny, it had great anticipation throughout the length of it, it surprised me and I loved the ending. All of that makes a near perfect book! In my humble opinion, I think it would make an excellent movie. I will definitely read this again in a few years. Do you do that? Read books again that you know you love?

And my favorite books of the entire year were a tie, so I'm giving them both the honor of that #1 spot.

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Not only was After I Do by Taylor Jenkins Reid my favorite book of 2022, it is one of the best books I have ever read. I've read a lot of books, so that is saying something! 

This is a story of a couple whose marriage is struggling. They come up with an unconventional plan to try and fall in love again....I won't give you anymore than that, but you should definitely read it for yourself. I am still thinking about this book! There are a couple of reasons why I love it so much. I'll share them below:

This book was a reminder that marriage is hard! It takes devotion, commitment, and a resolve to stay even when times are hard and even when you don't like each other. I know you know what I'm talking about when I say that. I always love my husband, but sometimes I don't like him. I have told him that and he has said the same thing to me. This book also reminded me that communication is vitally important. 

It was a great book, and I think you should make it one of the first you read in 2023 if you haven't already. 

And my other #1 was Loving My Actual Neighbor that I read this month, by Alexandra Kuykendall that I wrote about above in my December books.

You should definitely add this one to your list of books to read in 2023!

So, how was your month and year of reading? Do you have some favorites? I'd love to hear from you! I am always looking for books to read, so will you share some with me? I have a challenge for you fellow bookworms— do you keep up with the books you read throughout the year? You should! I use the same composition book that I use for my blog schedule to keep up with what I've read all year...you could do that or do your own thing and buy a new journal to use. Consider paying attention to what you read in 2023 and share about it on your blog or on social media. It's inspiring to see the accomplishments of others. I'd love to follow along on your journey and I hope you follow on mine as well, because I'll continue with these bookish posts in 2023.

As always, thanks for reading my blog, friends! I'll see you back here next year! 😉 Stay cozy this weekend and have fun ringing in the new year—happy new year and love to all!