December 2023, i fell off

I had big goals to read a bunch of cute holiday-themed books in December but ended up only reading three. I had to abandon, or “do not finish (DNF),” two Christmas books because of library problems. Instead of spending eight dollars to read either of them digitally, I just…didn’t. As I write this, I realize I tend not to read nearly as much in December, so I set myself up for unrealistic expectations.

I find mundane moments hard to fill these days and realized the stark change in social media is part of it—I’ve always had a healthy relationship with social media; it’s connected me to some of my best and dearest friends and keeps me connected with many of them to this day. But obviously, twitter is a nightmare now, and even those of us who are lingering there are victims of the terrible algorithm, absurd paid ads, and disorganization.

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Instead of letting these idiot social media companies continue to bore me by showing me a bunch of bullshit like ozempic ads and who they think I should follow, I decided I’ll pour myself into a book instagram account instead of posting bookletter stuff on my regular account. (I am not on booktok and have no plans to be.) I’ve been playing around with my “logo” and other stuff, and Substack creates some cool social content that I want to start using, which inspired me to start pulling it all together. This is just an abundance of information to tell you I’ve got completely booked on instagram now, if you’re into that kind of thing.

Anyway, books this month! Two of the few I read were highly anticipated by this completely booked writer and reader. Two internet friends and legit authors were published again this year, and because of their covers and content or both, I saved them for December and read them back-to-back. To my delight but not surprise, they were lovely and two of the stand-out fiction books I’ve read this year.

In the coming days, I’ll attempt some thought into a 2023 best-of, but for now, here’s what I read in December.

[Books I read]

'Tis the Damn Season by Kimi Freeman (2023) | Quick summary: Told from both Aspen and Roman’s perspectives, these two high school sweethearts find themselves coming back together once again. Taylor Swift inspired.
I actually did not complete the Book Riot challenge in 2023 for the first time in years! I am missing “read one completed webcomic” and “historical fiction in an Eastern country.” Instead of rushing to read something that qualifies in the last hours of 2023, I’m calling it! I failed! It’s fine! But before I knew I was giving up, I picked up ‘Tis the Damn Season from one of my favorite bookstores, Seward Park’s Third Place Books, because it is (or started as) an independently published book by a Black woman. It’s also Taylor Swift-inspired, so I knew I’d be able to pass it on to friends afterward—my favorite thing to do with a book.
[fiction, holiday romance, written by a Black american contemporary romance writer, quick read]

With Love, from Cold World by Alicia Thompson (2023) | Quick summary: Overachieving, serious Lauren falls for her light-hearted, competitive, passionate coworker Asa.
I just adored this book. The cover is gorgeous, the character names are perfect, and everyone is highly endearing and relatable in many ways. Alicia Thompson has a way of shaping characters—she gets people. She also wrote Love in the Time of Serial Killers, and I was left with the same feeling afterward; that feeling is something book readers chase. I am particularly interested in books, fiction or non, that have a foster care story—this one is sensitive and empowering in its treatment of the subject. Reading With Love, from Cold World, felt like watching a good 90s movie. Perfect read.
[fiction, contemporary romance, written by a white american writer, reader, and Paramore superfan, medium-length read]

Faking Christmas by Kerry Winfrey (2023) | Quick summary: Laurel Grant has been lying to her boss and pretending her twin sister’s life is her own, which comes back to bite her when he invites himself over to “her” house for Christmas.
Big Kerry Winfrey fan, and her latest did not disappoint. I love a classic rom-com mixup, and Faking Christmas was just that. Inspired by Christmas in Connecticut, a movie I’ve never seen, Laurel ends up pretending her brother-in-law’s friend Max is her husband, her niece, and nephew are her kids, her sister’s barn home is her own, and she has a slew of skills she does not possess including cooking, baking, and tending to goats. Winfrey has a serious appreciation for movies and is a student of rom-coms—her books prove it. Also, Winfrey always makes me want to visit Ohio.
[fiction, holiday romance, written by a white american author of romantic comedies, shorter read]

[Books I heard]

I finished listening to this, so it counts for December, but it snuck in to make my December count four. I’m too lazy to edit the intro to this bookletter, though, so consider this an editor’s note.

Sex Object by Jessica Valenti (2016) | Quick summary: Writer Jessica Valenti’s memoir with a specific focus on the objectification she was oblivious to for most of her upbringing and reflections on sexuality now.
I enjoy studying this subject as someone who lives in american society but often find myself disinterested in these kinds of reflections if they’re more than a few years old. Life is a bitch, and things change so fast and drastically, sometimes for the better but usually for the worse. It’s hard to care about what someone had to say about society before the pandemic or Donald Trump or my own personal grief and life experiences. That said, I picked this up to fulfill Book Riot’s “read something you’ve DNF,” as I stopped reading this one a couple of years ago. I liked it fine.
[nonfiction, feminist theory, memoir, written by a white american feminist author and columnist, short listen]

[What I recommend]

• For readers who appreciate true romantic comedies: Faking Christmas by Kerry Winfrey
• For readers who are looking for a well-written contemporary romance: With Love, from Cold World by Alicia Thompson
• For readers who love Taylor Swift and Christmas: ‘Tis the Damn Season by Kimi Freeman

Time is arbitrary, years are made up, but I hope 2024 brings abundant good to help ease any strife. And lots of good books.

“Jolene hadn’t said the words with any particular malice, but they were like nails on a chalkboard to Lauren. She had a feeling Eddie had already internalized what a bad boy he supposedly was, and regardless, her role in his life wasn’t as another enforcer.” With Love, from Cold World

“I'm grateful you were my fake husband last year, so you can be my real boyfriend this year.” Faking Christmas

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