I’ve really been putting off writing my December wrap up, mostly due to writing so many other wrap up style posts recently, but also because I got through a lot of books last month. I read a grand total of 18 books, my most ever during one month, so you can imagine I’ve been dreading the length of this post.
Now, that number sounds really impressive but I actually read a few graphic novels and listened to a fair number of audio novellas (some in preparation for December this year – yep, that’s how organised I’m trying to be). I also made good use of my Kindle Unlimited subscription.
For this reason, I’m just going to include books I haven’t talked about yet in this wrap up. If you want to see everything I read last month, you can check out my Goodreads and Storygraph.
Dear Marley by Danielle Keil
Read: 8/12/25
I’d put Dear Marley up there as one of my favourite instalments of this series. Marley showed that a ‘sunshine’ character can be complex and she felt very real. This book has made me even more excited for Max’s instalment. It’s actually my next one in the series so I’m hoping to get to it soon.
Synopsis: Everyone at Ryder High knows what it means to have a teal envelope taped to their locker on the first day of the month.
For Marley “Sunny” Sorenshine, a Secret Admirer might be just what she needs to put her recent, very public, break up behind her.
Her optimism is dimmed when she reads the first note—her admirer was tricked into participating. He didn’t choose Marley, a dart did. And he wants her to quit.
But if Marley is good at anything, it’s seeing the silver lining and standing up for herself. She decides to throw her Sunny disposition into the game to challenge her Admirer’s grumpiness.
The guy can’t be all that bad—he carefully crafted a crossword puzzle just for her. And as the month goes on, he shares more personal details that intrigue her.
Will Marley stick it out until the end, or will her Admirers morose attitude get the best of her?
Unspeakable Magic by Iris Beaglehole
Read: 2/12/25 – 11/12/25
I think my time with this series has come to an end, at least for a little while. The quality of each instalment varies wildly and the last few have not been good. I did have plans for the latest instalment to be my next read (I’m writing this post the day of it being published), but my current read, Bloodmarked, is taking such a long time to get through I don’t want to risk having a poor reading experience.
Basically, this book was not great. I’m genuinely surprised they have such high ratings on Goodreads (every book but book one has over a 4 star average).
Book Review: Unspeakable Magic by Iris Beaglehole
Synopsis: As the winter solstice approaches in Myrtlewood, the Yuletide festivities are underway, but the cheer is overshadowed by mysterious winter deaths.
Athena and Rosemary must embark on a perilous journey to the Underworld. Along the way, they uncover clues about a prophecy and encounter allies and adversaries in the dreamrealm. But as they get closer to their goal, they face unexpected challenges and true motives are revealed.
Can they unravel the mysteries of the past before it’s too late? The fate of the future hangs in the balance in this magical tale of fae, gods, and ancient prophecies.
Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid
Read: 16/12/25 – 18/12/25
My review for this book won’t be posted for a while yet, but my god did I fall in love with Shane and Ilya. I chose to pick this up because I kept seeing clips of the show everywhere but it wasn’t available in the UK at the time. I binged the entire season last Saturday, which was the first day it was available to watch – I had a great time.
I stayed up until around 3am to finish this book. I don’t do this often so that will tell you how much I loved it. We all know by now that I’m a huge fan of yearning and Heated Rivalry is packed full of it.
I have plans to read the entire series at some point, but I can’t decide if I want to go back to book one or read The Long Game (the second Shane and Ilya book) first.
Synopsis: Nothing interferes with Shane Hollander’s game—definitely not the sexy rival he loves to hate.
Pro hockey star Shane Hollander isn’t just crazy talented, he’s got a spotless reputation. Hockey is his life. Now that he’s captain of the Montreal Voyageurs, he won’t let anything jeopardize that, especially the sexy Russian whose hard body keeps him awake at night.
Boston Bears captain Ilya Rozanov is everything Shane’s not. The self-proclaimed king of the ice, he’s as cocky as he is talented. No one can beat him—except Shane. They’ve made a career on their legendary rivalry, but when the skates come off, the heat between them is undeniable. When Ilya realizes he wants more than a few secret hookups, he knows he must walk away. The risk is too great.
As their attraction intensifies, they struggle to keep their relationship out of the public eye. If the truth comes out, it could ruin them both. But when their need for each other rivals their ambition on the ice, secrecy is no longer an option…
Dear Emilia by Danielle Keil
Read: 18/12/25 – 20/12/25
This instalment was the first to have a big twist on the original concept and I did enjoy it but not spending the book with the girl getting the clues was weird. I felt no attachment towards them so I wasn’t really that bothered about the outcome. It was nice to view this system from a different perspective though.
Synopsis: Everyone at Ryder High knows what it means to have a teal envelope taped to their locker on the first day of the month.
Skye Turner came close to having one, but considering she and her boyfriend, Andrew Del Marco, had been dating for a week already, she couldn’t take it.
So she decides to cheat the Secret Admirer system and divert the teal envelope to someone else.
Emilia Rosemary is just like every other girl when she gets her envelope— shocked.
But the envelope isn’t from a real Secret Admirer. It’s from Skye, posing as Emilia’s crush, Chase McNeill.
Skye and her friends develop a plan to have both Emilia and Chase surprised with the big reveal at the Homecoming dance.
But when Chase learns the truth, will the plans be ruined?
Will Emilia be upset when she finds out her friends deceived her?
The Bodyguard by Katherine Center
Read: 21/12/25 – 29/12/25
I had a lot of fun reading The Bodyguard. It was a random last minute pick up, mostly due to the adaptation getting a cast announcement, but it was great. I also stayed up super late to finish this book.
Synopsis: Hannah Brooks looks more like a kindergarten teacher than somebody who could kill you with her bare hands. But the truth is, she’s an Executive Protection Agent and she’s just been hired to protect a superstar actor from his stalker.
Jack Stapleton ‘s a Hollywood heartthrob – captured by paparazzi on beaches the world over, rising out of the waves in clingy board shorts and glistening like a Roman deity.
When Jack’s mom gets sick, he comes home to the family’s Texas ranch to help out. Only one catch: He doesn’t want his family to know about his stalker. Or the bodyguard thing. And so Hannah – against her will and her better judgment – finds herself pretending to be Jack’s girlfriend as a cover.
Hannah knows how to protect Jack. But protecting her own heart? That’s the hardest thing she’s ever done…
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Like this post? Why not read this one too: ARC Review: A Thing Called Truth by Iolanda Zanfardino & Elisa Romboli
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