Our December Favorites!

After what seems to be a shockingly long, yet short, year we are at the end of it! I for one, read 116 at the point of writing (Maggie) and it is going to be difficult to find only a few to talk about in the yearly wrap up. And I (Allison) read 131 books as of the time of writing, and I am most proud of reading across so many different fiction and nonfiction genres this year. We are excited for a lot of the books coming out in 2026 and beyond and can't wait to see what other suggestions people have for us to look into! That being said, here are some of our top reads of the month of December. We hope everyone had a good holiday season and we'll see you back here for our top books of the year in a few days!

Sounds like Love By Ashley Poston - Maggie

4 / 5 Stars

Joni Lark is living the dream. She is a successful songwriter in LA with connections to some of the best artists in the scene. The problem is she can't write, not since learning about her mother's dementia diagnosis. When she returns home to Vienna Shores, NC, to the theater she grew up in that taught her her love for music. What she didn't expect is to hear someone in her head, who can hear her thoughts and feelings and might be the person who can help her write again.

What she didn't expect is that person to be Sebastian Fell, a former popstar with a very famous father. As they start to work together on a song, Joni starts to see what maybe using her own experiences might make the best music. One of my favorite parts of this book is the two characters have a lot going on and at no point is there a 'fix them' plot line. Joni and Sebastian find a lot of comfort in each other and work together well, once they come to an understanding. I really enjoyed this story and the way it handles loss and the emotional toll of things.

We Shall Be Monsters by Alyssa Wees - Allison

4.5/5 Stars

Mother-daughter relationships are hard. Especially when the Fae are involved. If Netflix's Ginny & Georgia was mixed with the movie Labyrinth, it would be this book. I first and foremost read this book to fulfil Maggie's Weather Writer StoryGraph challenge of reading a book by an author who is from your same hometown. Alyssa Wees is from Chicago, and all the Michigan references definitely hit for me. In addition, this book was a masterclass in worldbuilding. It definitely drops you right into the middle of the action, and at times makes you feel like you are drowning to keep up. But overall, it was an enjoyable and thought-provoking read. The fantasy elements were dark, the diction was lyrical, and I did not expect all the twists and turns along the way. I loved the coming-of-age arc for Gemma, I loved the emotional journey of Virginia, and Wees' choice to switch POVs between the two was so fulfilling. If you like fantasy or female-relationship-centric stories, this is the book for you!

The Long Game by Rachel Reid - Maggie

5 / 5 Stars

I know everyone might be sick of hearing about this book or this series but I however can't make a 'favorites' post without talking about The Long Game again.

This book is a masterpiece at how a relationship can grow and change, especially after a decade, while also honoring who the characters were the entire time. I loved seeing how Shane and Ilya grew from Heated Rivalry in this book and how their relationship, even when hard, was strong. This book also has a strong storyline that involves mental health and how to respect your partner through a hard time and I will never get over how well that was done on paper.

These two dummies have taken over my life and I'm not even mad about it. If you want a more in depth review of this or Heated Rivalry, there are blogs out about both of them!

Notes from a Regicide by Isaac Fellman - Allison

5/5 Stars

I have now officially read every book written by my newly discovered favorite author since I focused on his April 2025 release this December. I was putting off reading it with the knowledge that once I read it, I wouldn't have any more books to read from this author for the next little while. But it was staring at me for so long on my TBR that I just HAD to read it, and I am glad I did.

Much like Fellman's other work, this book is beautifully written, with lightly fantastical elements (is "dystopian future" a fantasy element?) permeating throughout what is essentially a work of literary fiction. This book focuses on the life of Griffon, a trans boy-turned-man throughout the course of the novel, and the lives of his adoptive parents, both trans parental figures themselves. It includes very dark themes in terms of plot points, including revolutionary acts, sabotage and murder, psychological torture, and solitary confinement. It additionally focuses on dark themes in terms of character experiences, including abusive childhoods, severe mental health problems, and prolonged alcoholism. How Fellman is able to bring these characters together to create an epic story of imperfect people as an imperfect found family in an imperfect time and place and to allow them to find an imperfect kind of peace is truly astounding. This book was beautiful- somehow being meandering and poignant at the same time. When I was done, it left me in quiet contemplation for the next few hours. I highly recommend this read, but be warned- it is so very darkly emotional!

Did you read any of these books? Have anything we should add to our TBRs?