December. The month of festivities. Christmas creeping closer, the streets bustling more as people hurriedly buy gifts for others. Everything is suddenly strung with lights and tinsel, lighting the world up for the final month of the year. There’s a happy atmosphere surrounding the air, gently concealing the stress levels Christmas can bring.
December brings along the Christmas break. A break from work, a break from college, a break to recover from the year. A break…to READ.
Okayy, that’s obviously not the universal reason for the Christmas/End of Year break but it sure as hell is MINE.
So let’s see what December brought!
There’s also a video version of this post if you’d like the see, combined with my January TBR! Click here to see! (though I forgot to mention one of the books – doh!)
December was a good reading month for me. I read more books that I have done in a while, and I’m so chuffed about it. I read 8 books! That’s a lot for me. So let’s get into it!
A Quiet Kind of Thunder
by Sara Barnard
Rated 4.5/5 stars – [Review]
I didn’t expect to love this one as much as I did, but it’s now one of my favourite contemporaries! This book handles so many important subjects – mental health, disability, diversity, even a slight touch of gender expectations/identity, and yet it somehow is one of the most adorable books I’ve ever read. I love the main characters. I really hope everyone goes out and reads this book!
The Retribution of Mara Dyer
by Michelle Hodkin
Rated 1.5/5 stars – [Review]
While I thought the first two were pretty good books, I really didn’t like this one. It felt like the author was trying to make the plot as shocking as possible, when really it just made the story sound ridiculous. I couldn’t take it seriously, and for me that really ruined my enjoyment of the series. Not to mention the fact that there isn’t even an explanation at the end. UGH.
The Illustrated of Harry Potter and the Chamber Of SecretsĀ
by J.K.Rowling & Jim Kay
Rated 5/5 stars – [Review]
One of many rereads for me, though this time round I did it through illustrations. This was the perfect thing to read on the run up to Christmas, and even better after hating the previous read that month. As always, this was rated 5 stars, and even more so because the illustrations are absolutely stunning. I’m really glad this series is getting illustrated editions, I can’t wait to collect them all!
Hollow City (reread)
by Ransom Riggs
Rated 3.5/5 stars – [Review]
Another reread for me, this time in the hope that I could finally finish the Miss Peregrine’s trilogy. I enjoyed this one more than the first, what with the setting turning it into more of a historical fiction and providing more dangers. Though the plot was shaken down slightly for me by the mighty handy conveniences dotted all the way through. Who needs to figure things out when the world is one huge convenience?
CaravalĀ
by Stephanie Garber
Rated 4.5/5 stars – [Review]
I looooved this one. Compared to The Night Circus in endless reviews (including my own), I was very excited about this one. And it certainly lived up to it! I sped through the pages, eager to figure out what the hell was going on. And let me tell you, this is definitely a twisted story. There’s no predicting where this will go, and it’s such a gripping page-turner, I almost immediately wanted to reread it.
Library of Souls
by Ransom Riggs
Rated 3/5 stars – [Review coming 11/01/17]
By the time I finally got to this one, my interest in the series had dwindled slightly. Even though I think the series gets better with each book, the actual ratings drop with each one, weirdly. But still. It was a fun, lighthearted read. Interesting enough to keep me reading though not something I would rave about in a conversation. I know I’d have loved it had I read it the first time I attempted this series.
Mansfield Park
by Jane Austen
Rated 3.5/5 stars – [Review coming 09/01/17]
A Jane Austen one that really intrigued me from the start. First off we see a family that is already comfortable, already one of marriage rather than striving to find one, and from there we see a woman adopt her niece in the hope of giving her a better upbringing. It was classy and sophisticated as always, though not my favourite of Jane Austen’s novels, and felt quite different to her others that I’ve read.
And A Happy New Year?
by Holly Bourne
Rated 4/5 stars – [Review coming 16/01/17]
The final novella to the Spinster Club trilogy, I loved seeing a sort of after shot of the series. And though this book is only 200 pages long, it made me cry six times somehow. It broke me. Probably because of how realistic it is. And how much I love the characters. I just want to give Evie a massive hug (though she probably wouldn’t want that so nevermind). I loved this one, and it was a great quick read.
I’m currently reading my UK ARC of Heartless by Marissa Meyer. For some reason, we over here in the UK have to wait a few more months for this one to be released compared to the US, but I managed to get my hands on an ARC. At the moment, it’s not really blowing me away. It okayy, enough to keep me reading and enjoying, but it doesn’t feel amazing. Still, I’m only halfway through so we’ll see. I’m also currently reading Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen – the last of her books I need to read!
Run Over Posts from November:
Discussions:
–Ā Letās Talk: Do you give books as gifts? How do you choose whichĀ ones?Ā –
–Ā Letās Talk: Should Publishers do more to acknowledge the work of bookĀ bloggers?Ā –
Random:
–Ā Bookish Gift Guide ā because gift buying can be difficult,Ā right?Ā –
–Ā Sunday Status: Because December is the month where my reading and blogging life getsĀ busyĀ –
–Ā YOU recommend! Itās time for you guys to take over my blog & make my formidable TBR evenĀ longerĀ –
End of Year Posts:
–Ā Merry Christmas!! Grateful wonderings from 2016 & a few festiveĀ updatesĀ –
–Ā Looking back at my 2016 reading resolutions ā letās see if I nailed them or failedĀ themĀ –
–Ā Big December book haul: The aftermath of a 3 month book buyingĀ banĀ –
–Ā 2016 End of Year Book Survey ā In it for the longĀ haulĀ –
Honestly, this part is going to be really short because nothing much happened in December for me, since the majority of it was Christmas break for me.
It basically consisted of me trying to keep up with all the blog posts I had going up, all the video ideas I had, as well as spending the majority of my time at my friends house and reading. How I managed to do all that in those weeks, I’ve no idea.
But I did get an unconditional offer from a university I applied to! And a conditional one from another. But the unconditional one is a huge relief, because no matter what now, I’m going to university this year!!
*wipes brow with relief*
So there’s my December, all wrapped up!
Have you read any of the books I read in December? What did you think?
How many books did you read this month? Which was your favourite of the month?
Did you buy any new books? How many and which ones? (feel free to link your haul!)
Did any interesting events happen this month for you?Ā Visit anywhere nice?Ā
What are you currently reading, going into the month of January?
Also, let me know what you thought of the new intro!
Let me know in the comments!
Until next timeā¦
Come and visit me!
Snapchat: frolic_fiction
Ā Ā 
Ā Ā 
Ā Ā 
A frolic through fiction 
Great wrap up! Just to let you know I nominated you for the Mystery Blogger Award – check out my post here for details – https://thelittlebookowl.wordpress.com/2017/01/08/mystery-blogger-award/
Hope you are having a great day!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much! ā¤ Hope you're having a lovely day too x
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ooo, I just added A Quiet Kind of Thunder to my TBR!
Also, congratulations on getting into a university!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hope you love A Quiet Kind of Thunder as much as I did! It really is a wonderful story (in my eyes, at least) ā¤
And thank you!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Congrats on the university offers!!! Glad you had a great December ā¤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much ā¤ I hope you have a wonderful January (and year overall!)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yay for A Quiet Kind of Thunder! I really loved it too- I think it’s going to become a big hit. And I’ve read the first book of Miss P’s and rated it 3 stars… Are the next two better or worse than the first? I’m also really excited to read Heartless!š
LikeLiked by 1 person
Glad to hear you loved it too! I agree, I feel like so many people are going to love it š
With the Miss Peregrine’s books, I personally think they get better with each book. Even though my rating get lower with each one, but that’s just because over time I went off the series as a whole. But it’s a hard thing for me to recommend. Maybe you could read some spoiler free reviews to try and help?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for letting me know, Ashleigh!š I’ll still give the second book a try, and if I don’t like it, I probably won’t continue on with the series.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sounds reasonable!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You read so many great books this month! Most of these are actually on my TBR so I’m glad to see you enjoyed most of them. I keep hearing such wonderful things about Caraval, I can’t wait to finally read it (whenever that may be…). š
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ahh well I hope you enjoy them too! No matter when you get to them š
LikeLiked by 1 person
A Quiet Kind of Thunder, Caraval and the Miss Peregrine series are all books I need to read… I’ve started the first Miss Peregrine book but I had mixed feelings about the first couple of chapters so I’ll have to pick it back up at some point.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hope you like them all! With Miss Peregrine’s, if you’re not sure I always use the rule where I try to read at least 100 pages before deciding to mark it as DNF, unless I REALLY hate it. You could try that? š
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yeah, I think I need to give it a chance. I’m not prepared to DNF it this soon, haha.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I literally have so many things to add to my TBR pile after reading this. Lovely post!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ahahha TBRs have an uncanny way of piling up quickly š And thank you!!
LikeLike
Yay, I’m glad you had a good reading month! x
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sounds like you had a great reading & blogging month Ashleigh! I really want to read A Quiet Kind of Thunder and Caraval and I CAN’T WAIT for them to be available in the bookstore! š I still have yet to read the final book in the Mara Dyer trilogy. Like you I loved the first two books, especially the first one, but I just lost my interest for the final book. Mostly because the gap between the books was too long and I forgot everything haha but reading your review made me even less eager to read it :’) I read Heartless and yeahhh it was okay, bummer because I was expecting more! As for my December… it was my birthday month so I got a pretty big book haul ahaha and I only read 7 books because I was too distracted š
LikeLiked by 1 person
ONLY read 7 books? Aha that’s a lot for me in a month š I hope you enjoyed your birthday!
Slightly disappointing but it wasn’t all bad.
I really hope AQKOT and Caraval live up to your excitement! I’d highly recommend them. And I’m not surprised my review for the final Mara Dyer book put you off even more, it was hardly a good one ahaha š
I finished reading Heartless and can’t help but think it was “just okayy”
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ahahahaha I usually read at least 10 a month so that was setback? š I did and thank you Ashleigh! š I really hope so too, all the ARC reviews are sooo convincing haha my thoughts exactly! I was disappointed because I expected more from Marissa Meyer. I love The Lunar Chronicles so much though haha š
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sounds like you had quite the productive reading month, Ashleigh! I’ve been in such a reading slump lately and I can’t seem to shake it. I am already 2 books behind schedule for 2017
It’s not a good start at all…
I’ve seen Caraval all over the place so naturally it’s on my reading list and hopefully I’ll get around to reading it soon. I quite enjoyed Heartless by Marissa Meyer – I found the writing to be beautiful! But it started off quite slow and it took me some time to get into it, especially since I knew where the story was headed…
I hope you don’t mind but I sent you an email about taking part in a series I am currently hosting on my blog. I look forward to hearing from you soon x
Nihaad | Read & Seek
LikeLike
Aww no! I hope you manage to kick the slump soon š¦ I HATE it when I end up behind schedule for the reading challenge – but we’re only a week in so you can pull through!
I hope you love Caraval if you read it! Heartless I didn’t love that much, the main character frustrated me too much. It was alright though, not too bad.
(and by the time I came to answer this, I already replied to your email ahaha) ā¤
LikeLike
Omg, you are so super cute!!
I would totally do a YouTube if I looked like you, lol!
Nice month! Glad you were able to get your hands on an ARC of Heartless bc I don’t understand the wait between publishing dates. š¤·āāļø
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ohhh stahppit you *blushes* ahaha thank you!
Yeah the difference in publishing dates is weird, though it doesn’t usually bother me. Still, it’s nice to get it early!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, it makes it a little easier to bear the wait for it. And I’m glad you got a copy because I have heard good things!
LikeLiked by 1 person