Everything I Read in December 2025
December was a heavy reading month for me this year. I wasn’t trying to reach my reading goal for 2025 or anything; I guess I just had more time than I thought I would. That, combined with a few super-bingable reads (The Housemaid Series, for example), really balanced out the longer books I read this month, including the new V.E. Schwab and two Scottish history books.
Overall, this was a good end to the reading year, which I closed out with 135 books. I’m still debating my reading goal for 2026, whether to go down and focus on some more history books like I’ve been reading the past couple months, or keep it at 125. I’ll revisit my go-to reading habits and give it some more thought. If you’re feeling similarly, be sure to check out my free reading journal here to help you plan your New Year reads!
(Please note: books with an * after the title are currently available on Kindle Unlimited)
Of the 12 books I read this month, here are my top 3 favorites:
- Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V.E. Schwab
- We All Live Here by Jojo Moyes
- The Look by Michelle Obama
Table of Contents:
December 2025 In Books
Romance & Contemporary Fiction
We All Live Here by Jojo Moyes
5/5 Stars
I listened to this as an audiobook narrated by Jenna Coleman and loved what she brought to the story. This was my first Jojo Moyes book and I absolutely loved the writing. Emotional and evocative all while staying down to earth, We All Live Here is a touching contemporary story that is relatable even if you are not in the same situation as the protagonist. With dry wit throughout and family drama that is both unique and mundane, it is easily a favorite read of mine this month.
We All Live Here by Jojo Moyes is available from Amazon here and Bookshop.org here.
The Christmas Fix by Lucy Score*
4/5 Stars
One of my recommended reads for the holiday season, The Christmas Fix is a sweet and silly rom-com that’s perfectly on-theme for the holidays! If you need some festive, lighthearted reading, this is it. It’s definitely seasonally themed, but would be entertaining at any point of the year.
The Christmas Fix by Lucy Score is available from Amazon here and Bookshop.org here.
Mystery & Thriller
The Housemaid Series by Freida McFadden*
- The Housemaid 4.5/5 Stars
- The Housemaid’s Secret 4/5 Stars
- The Housemaid is Watching 4/5 Stars
- The Housemaid’s Wedding 4.5/5 Stars
I keep saying that I don’t like mysteries or thrillers, but then I pick up something like The Housemaid Series by Frida McFadden and I can’t put it down! All of the books in this series, including a short story, are available with Kindle Unlimited, which makes them even more bingable. After hearing so much about them and getting recommendations for them from friends in real life, I downloaded them to read over the holidays and got through the entire series in a matter of days. With lots of twists and gripping subplots, I even came to enjoy the formulaic design of the books.
The Housemaid Series by Freida McFadden is available from Amazon here and Bookshop.org here.
Fantasy
Her Hidden Fire by Cliodhna O’Sullivan
4.5/5 Stars
As the start of a promising new romantasy series, Her Hidden Fire is heavy on the world building and establishes the magical world in which a servant girl discovers she has powers that ruling families would kill for. There is intrigue and political drama, mythology and lore, and everything in between.
Her Hidden Fire by Cliodhna O’Sullivan is available for pre-order from Amazon here and Bookshop.org here.
Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V.E. Schwab
5/5 Stars
A winding, multi-POV story of love and vampires, Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil is lyrical and moving, with equal parts historical fiction, romance, and fantasy. At times, the book reads like a mystery, as the various characters learn more and more about themselves — emotionally, romantically, and physically. The audiobook has multiple narrators which only adds to the complexity of the story — cannot recommend it enough!
Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V.E. Schwab from Amazon here and Bookshop.org here.
Historical Fiction
The Windsor Affair by Melanie Benjamin
4/5 Stars
While British history lovers like myself may know a bit about Wallis Simpson and the Abdication Crisis of the 1930s, this real-life drama seems to be overshadowed by other aspects of royal history — Queen Elizabeth II’s ascension, for example. In The Windsor Affair, though, Melanie Benjamin gives life to both Wallis Simpson and Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, the two women at the center of the Abdication Crisis. Told with dual POVs, this is a quick read that definitely left me more curious about both women after I finished the novel.
The Windsor Affair by Melanie Benjamin is available for pre-order from Amazon here and Bookshop.org here.
Non-Fiction
Noble Society in Scotland: Wealth, Family and Culture, from Reformation to Revolution by Keith M. Brown
5/5 Stars
Thoroughly-researched and thoughtfully organized, Keith M. Brown’s Noble Society on Scotland covers a broad range of topics relating to the daily life of sixteenth and seventeenth century Scottish nobility. Though the writing is dense at times, it generally offers easy-to-grasp glimpses into the running of estates, the thoughts behind marriage alliances, the roles of children in society, and so on. Overall, it illustrates a Scotland that is much more European in its habits than we might have been led to believe.
Noble Society in Scotland: Wealth, Family and Culture, from Reformation to Revolution by Keith M. Brown is available from Amazon here and Bookshop.org here.
A Sociolinguistic History of Scotland by Robert McColl Millar
4.5/5 Stars
Another fascinating historical book on Scotland, it was a touch ironic that I happened to pick up A Sociolinguistic History of Scotland right as Scots and Gaelic were recognized as official languages in Scotland. This book covers a huge swath of Scottish history, from the earliest languages spoken on the mainland and islands — including the linguistic “deaths” of Pictish, British, and Norn — and the trajectory of Scots, Gaelic, and what ultimately became Scottish Standard English. Some of the writing was hard to follow, perhaps requiring more expert knowledge, but, overall, I found it to be quite fascinating and moving.
A Sociolinguistic History of Scotland by Robert McColl Millar is available from Amazon here and Bookshop.org here.
The Look by Michelle Obama
5/5 Stars
A short but thorough new book, The Look is a “celebration of style” describing the strategic development of the former First Lady’s style, taking the reader from her childhood through Barack Obama’s early senate campaign, to their time in the White House, and how she has reclaimed her style in her life after the presidency. The audiobook is narrated by Michelle Obama and members of her styling team from over the years, adding a level of personality to the book that really makes it come alive.
The Look by Michelle Obama is available from Amazon here and Bookshop.org here.
2025 Year End Reading Wrap Up
To wrap up my 2025 in books, I wanted to share 10 stand out five-star reads I loved this year. First, here are some general reading stats:
- Books Read: 135
- 5-Stars Given: 69
- Most-Read Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Fantasy, Historical, and Literary
- Most-Read Authors: Abby Jimenez, Elsie Silver, Christina Lauren, Freida McFadden, Carissa Broadbent, Ali Hazelwood, Penn Cole, Sarah Adams, Hannah Bonam-Young, and Lucy Score
Here are my 10 stand out five-star reads from this year:
- That’s a Great Question, I’d Love to Tell You by Elyse Myers – Memoir
- We All Live Here by Jojo Moyes – Contemporary Fiction
- The Siren’s Call by Chris Hayes – Contemporary Non-Fiction
- Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid – Historical Fiction
- The Waiting Game by Nicola Clark – Historical Non-Fiction
- Story of My Life by Lucy Score – Contemporary Fiction*
- Everything is Tuberculosis by John Green – Contemporary Non-Fiction
- Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry – Contemporary Fiction
- Deep End by Ali Hazelwood – Contemporary Fiction
- The Briar Club by Kate Quinn – Historical Fiction*
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*Some of the novels featured here were gifted to me as part of various book review programs in which Cats & Coffee participates.
Always love your monthly wrap up’s! Can’t wait to see what you pick in the New Year!
Aww thank you so much, Carole! That means so much! I can’t wait to share more great reads with you in the New Year. I already have a few exciting ones downloaded on my Kindle!! Happy New Year 🙂