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Hello, reader!

As we start to settle the new year, I figured I would wrap my last month of reading in 2022. Honestly, December was a bit of a blur for me. Mostly because of the holidays but also because I was trying to squeeze in books that I needed to read! This is why I need to stop procrastinating on my BBNYA reads… I love being a panelist but I really need to plan better 😂

Either way, I think that’s why my December reading felt a little all over the place and frazzled. I didn’t read nearly as much I did for most of the year and the ratings fluctuated a bit more, but I still had a good time. And I will say that I closed out the year with an absolute winner!

That being said, let’s jump into the wrap up.

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• The Reaper’s Quota by Sarah McKnight: This was my first BBNYA read for the final round. I don’t want to talk too much about it because there will be tours coming up for all our finalists, but I found myself really enjoying this book! It was interesting, dark, and humorous in the best way. It didn’t blow me away or anything but it was definitely a solid read. Stay tuned for my more in-depth thoughts once the tours begin! ★★★
• Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead: I’m not a big historical fiction reader, but I continue to enjoy pretty much any historical fiction that Colson Whitehead writes. This book is no different! It focuses on a Black furniture salesman in Harlem during the 1960s and his fall into (and rise from) a life of crime. I loved following Carney on his journey and getting to know the varied personalities he runs into throughout this book. And I didn’t realize this was the first in a series, but I’m excited to give the next one a read! ★★★★
• Lesser Known Monsters by Rory Michaelson: This was my second BBNYA read for the final round and I loved it! Again, I don’t want to talk too much about it because I want to save it for the tour, but this book totally sucked me in. I have so many angry notes about people being mean to Oscar, so you know I was invested in his story 😂 He is such a compelling character with flaws and nuances that makes him feel so real. I’ll tell y’all more once the tours start, but I highly recommend this one if you enjoy horror and would love to read one with strong LGBTQIA+ representation. ★★★★
• Inheriting Her Ghosts by S.H. Cooper: And then I read my final BBNYA read for 2022 and it smashed it out of the park! I adored this gothic book so much! First of all, the main character is a middle aged woman and I’m here. for. IT. Second, she has two huge dogs that are her constant companions and I would die for them 😭 You know I’m going to be gushing about this book when the tours swing around, so stay tuned! ★★★★★

• The Urban Bows: Discovery of the Five Senses by K.N. Smith: I read this book for a tour hosted by The Write Reads. It was a quick urban fantasy that was heavy on plot and a little lighter on characterization. The writing was beautiful at times, but could come off as a little bit flowery. Still, it’s a fast read that kept me entertained while I was reading. You can read my full review here. ★★★
• Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff: That’s right. I finally started the Illuminae series! This book was quite the ride and I thought the mixed media format was the perfect touch. It made the reading experience that much more visceral and exciting! There were points where I found myself getting a little bored, but I would quickly be pulled back into the action. And the end pretty much guarantees that I need to read the next book! Overall, it was a great time. ★★★★
• Under the Whispering Door by T.J. Klune: This was my last read of 2022 and I’m so glad it was because it was INCREDIBLE! I laughed, I cried, I wanted to fight a small boy/eternal deity (?)… it was a great time! Wallace and Hugo quickly wormed their ways into my heart and I was invested in their story. I thought the author did a great job of examining the process and difficulty of grief, as well. This book was beautiful, bleak at times, but overall so very hopeful. It was perfect to close out 2022! ★★★★★

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I feel like it may be a wee bit obvious which book I’ll be picking for my favorite of the month, haha. This book was a breath of fresh air and I loved it so much. Even though it made me cry… a couple of times. My Book of the Month for December is…

Under the Whispering Door by T.J. Klune

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When I get around to my 2022 reading wrap up, y’all will see how badly I did with my year long TBRs 😅 Like… it’s not terrible but it ain’t great, either. I really overcommitted myself when it came to reading challenges last year, oof. That being said, I did read one more book from my 22 in 2022 TBR and it was my favorite book of December! Under the Whispering Door was on that TBR for a reason. Now I just need to find some time in 2023 to read the rest of them 😂

Popsugar Reading Challenge:

• A book about the afterlife (Under the Whispering Door)

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How was your reading in December? Did you find a new favorite? Make any progress on some challenges? Let me know in the comments!

And, as always, happy reading!