Happy Thursday, friends & happy day of normalcy to me. I'm back at work today, and most likely it'll be a long one since we're going to try to balance the bookstore for the months of November and December. Pray for me! It's going to be rough, if the last time we tried was any indication.
I started off so strong in my reading game this year, but then it dwindled when I became unable to focus thanks to life circumstances. It did pick back up again in December, so I was glad for that. Before I talk about the books I read in December and which books were my favorite this year, here's a look back at all the bookish posts from 2024.
In December I read three books. First up was Three Christmas Wishes by Sheila Roberts. (Click on the picture to be re-directed to Amazon.)
I loved this magical fairy tale of a book about Christmas magic in the lives of three different women. It was fluffy, light, clean, and predictable, and I couldn't have loved it more if I tried.
Next up was this one:
I haven't seen the movie yet because I wanted to read the book first, and I'm glad I did. This was a very sweet story about the Herdmans, some very naughty kids who don't have parents, and a family whose mom puts on the annual Christmas pageant at their church. It was short, and sweet and had a redemptive theme throughout. I loved it and finished it on Christmas morning.
Lastly, I read this one:
This book had me glued from the first sentence! This was about someone who didn't want to get married but didn't have the nerve to call if off herself. Her friends hired her someone they refer to as an objector. He objected to their marriage, the wedding was off, and a friendship was born. I love Lynn Painter's books and will always consider them an automatic read.
I also read the Bible through, so I'm considering that one my fourth and most important book of all. All in all this year I read 58 books, which I'm good with considering the downward turn I took in reading in June. Here are my favorite books from this year:
#4:
Happily Never After sounds so cute! Have you read Dial A For Aunties series? It reminded me a bit of Finlay Donovan in that it was funny and totally improbably and yet adorable. I've only read the first book so far but I really enjoyed it. Another fun series is the Stephanie Plum series-- she's a bounty hunter and is actually quite awful at her job and in nearly every book she either gets kidnapped, has her car or her apartment wrecked, and yet is always determined to get her man.
ReplyDeleteIt was cute! I was ready for it to end, though. It went on a little too long! I haven't read those or even heard of them. Thanks for the rec! I love those Stephanie Plum books! That was what I started reading when I was in my early twenties; I was reading them as she was writing them, so I always had to wait on the next book. Feel free to send more recs my way!
DeleteThanks for sharing your reads- adding a couple to my list. Frieda McFadden was my favorite author this year. I read several of her books and recommend them if you like suspense novels!
ReplyDeleteI loved Freida McFadden but can no longer read anything scary since I'm alone so much. I'm such a scaredy cat! 🤣
DeleteI am really going to try to choose reading over scrolling this year! I am off to a good start with my new Target book and I have requested so many bloggers' 2024 faves from the library. 58 books is great! Wow! I also ordered the new Bible and I look forward to going to the source rather than just a devotional, you know?
ReplyDeleteYou are a blogging machine! Gonna go read what I missed.
SAME! That's great that you've got a good TBR stack. I downloaded two today to start reading; one for book club, one for funsies. I'm so glad you got the Bible! I know you'll love it. I feel the same way about the Bible versus a devo, although that Paul David Tripp one is a great one. Ha. I try!
DeleteThe Best Christmas Pageant Ever is still a favorite of mine. I haven't seen the movie yet either, but I will. People who liked the book also liked the movie which is a good sign.
ReplyDeleteIt's one of mine now as well! It was so touching. I had tears when I got to the end!
DeleteReady or Not and The Women are on my favorites list too. (not written yet). Did I miss the Currently link up?
ReplyDeleteOh that's funny! No, I postponed it one week since New Year's day fell on Wednesday. It'll be next week! I'm glad you'll be joining us!
DeleteI loved The Women! I think Kristin Hannah really nailed it.
ReplyDeleteMe too! I love her writing. She has changed so much over the years, but definitely for the better.
DeleteI'm adding Three Christmas Wishes to my to-be-read list. I'm still working my way through my Christmas reads.
ReplyDeleteI loved it! It was just what I was looking for.
DeleteYou did great with your reading overall!
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised that I did so well, considering how the year went. But I'm glad! I do want to read more this year.
DeleteI read the Best Christmas Pageant a long time ago. I used to place it on our coffee table every December along with a few other Christmas books, like the Grinch and a book about the making of White Christmas. I have not seen the movie, but I'd like to. The Kristin Hannah book sounds really good.
ReplyDeleteIt's such a great book! I loved the Kristin Hannah book; you should give it a try!
DeleteThree Christmas Wishes sounds cute. I added to my tbr
ReplyDeleteIt was so good!
DeleteI really want to see the Christmas Pageant movie, but just didn't make it this year. I'll watch on streaming next year! You had a great reading year!
ReplyDeleteMe too! I will do the same. I also never got around to seeing Wicked in the theater, but it can be streamed from home now as well. I did have a good reading year in spite of slowing down.
DeleteI've heard the old movie version of The Best Christmas Pageant ever is fantastic (1983 I think?). I've read the Halloween book but not the Christmas one.
ReplyDelete