We’ve made it to the (almost) end of 2024! I feel like every year goes faster and faster, and every year more and more books that I want to read are published. That adds up to not enough time to read everything I want to. But December is a more relaxing blogging month, since I only have a handful of December releases to read. I’m going to use this month to catch up on some “must reads” that I missed, and also to get ahead with a few January releases. I may not post as many reviews, since I’ll be saving any 2025 books I read to review in January. Also, look for my Best of 2025 list at the end of the month! Here are the books I hope to read in December:
December releases:
I’ve already read and loved Beneath the Poet’s House by Christa Carmen, and my review will go up on Thursday. This is another winner from this author, a dark gothic mystery that was hard to put down!
Ardent Violet and the Infinite Eye by Alex White comes out this week, and I was hoping to read it by now, but I’m waiting for the physical copy I requested to arrive. I may break down and read the ebook if it doesn’t show up soon, I am so excited for this!
I really enjoyed Rachel Howzell Hall’s What Never Happened, which was a contemporary mystery/thriller. With The Last One, she’s delving into fantasy, and I’m just a touch worried that it won’t work for me. But I will try it!
Catch up 2024 releases:
I won’t be able to read all of these, but I’ll choose from this pile. Lots of series books on this list!
The Daughters’ War by Christopher Buehlman is top priority for me, so this will definitely be the first book from this list I read.
Also, Ninth Life by Stark Holborn is the final book in Holborn’s amazing Factus Sequence series, and I can’t believe I haven’t read it yet!
I’ve been hearing great things about Matt Dinniman’s series, and I can’t wait to get started with Dungeon Crawler Carl.
All the Hearts You Eat by Hailey Piper has some mixed reviews, but I still want to try it.
The Relentless Legion by J.S. Dewes is the final book in her thrilling space opera series
Finally, another book in a series, this time book two in Megan Bannen’s cozy comedy horror series Hart and Mercy, The Undermining of Twyla and Frank.
Get Ahead – January 2025 releases:
These are probably my most anticipated January books, so I’ll probably read them first. First, a new Grady Hendrix book is always a fun time, and I’m very excited for Witchcraft for Wayward Girls.
I’ve been hearing great buzz for Wake Up and Open Your Eyes by Clay McLeod Chapman, so we’ll see if the early reviews are right!
I enjoyed Dan Hanks last book, but The Way Up is Death sounds like it’s in another league. I’m very excited for it!
I also got a review copy of Witchcraft for Wayward Girls and I’m so excited to read it! Hope to read it somewhere in december and if not this month, then definitely early january. December is usually a slow reading month for me haha
It’s hard to focus in December right??
Your selection of 2024 catch ups is pretty sweet! I’m hoping to pick up The Undermining of Twyla and Frank sometime soon(ish). December is definitely a catchup month for me – I have never had so many unread ARCs before
I have a bunch of unread ARCs too but I’m more interested in starting on my January ARCs than catching up, lol.
I’m looking forward to your review of Beneath the Poets House as I put the book on my TBR based on how much I enjoyed Carmen’s previous book.
She’s such a good writer, and I love all the elements she adds to her stories, so good!
Yeah, the end of the year is always slower when it comes to new releases…maybe it’s because the publishers know that people have less time to read LOL. On the other hand, books make excellent gifts, so…???
Have fun with your list…and yep, Hank’s last is quite emotional and deep for a book about a mysterious tower in the skies that puts its travellers through the wring .
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I’m grateful for the slower publishing schedule this month! And you’ll be hearing from me once I read Hanks’ book:-)
Yes, I’m playing catch up – I figured out that if I wanted a clean slate for 2025 I’d probably need to complete about 14 books, which isn’t going to happen especially as this month is always so busy. But, I’m going to try and push 5 or 6, maybe 7 books. I think if I manage that then I’ll be happy. Some chunksters in the running though.
Lynn 😀
Lynn Williams recently posted…Countdown to 2025: Day 2 – Shopping – the last book added to your wishlist
Those chunksters definitely slow you down, lol.
I’m on hold for the audiobook of Dungeon Crawler Carl – I’m 201st in line and there are four copies available. I think it’s going to be awhile… I hope we’ll both enjoy it!
OMG I didn’t know it was so popular!
“I feel like every year goes faster and faster, and every year more and more books that I want to read are published”. Same here. My Goodreads TBR is at 1,736 right now – could be more in a couple of minutes. Sigh…
Even reading about 160 books a year doesn’t make much of a difference lol
Emma @ Words And Peace recently posted…The top 7 books to read in December 2024
I think my Goodreads TBR is even higher, but I’m afraid to check!
November and December are both mainly catch-up months for me as well — and honestly, I love them so much that every year, I question whether I should quit ARCs altogether, or find a way to at least cut back. (It doesn’t usually work, but at least I think about it!). I’m looking forward to the Grady Hendrix book too! Hope you enjoy your December reading!
I know what you mean! I am trying to be very selective next year with ARCs. I really want to read a lot more backlist and “owned” books if I can.
I’ll keep an eye out for your favourites read list. I hope you enjoy whichever books you get to and that you have a fantastic month. Hopefully that physical copy will turn up soon and end up being worth the wait. I’m really curious about The Last Ond too and have heard good things about the Megan Bannen books. Good luck getting a head start on those January releases too.
Thanks Charlotte! Hopefully I can accomplish a lot without stressing out too much:-)
There’s never enough time is there. Looks like you have some great books ahead. I read a lot of Thanksgiving break but ended up getting sick so feel behind on blogging. Like you, I can’t believe the year is almost over.
I hope you feel better, Barb. And I hope we both fit in as much reading as we can:-)
Enjoy your selections! 🙂
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I will!
I like your approach to the December reading month. I have a need to write reviews for everything I read though, I can’t let it go. Maybe I need to relax a little.
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Thanks Carla! I will definitely write reviews for everything I read, but this month I’m trying not to stress as much:-)
Can’t wait to see what you think about THE LAST ONE. As you know it wasn’t for me, but maybe you’ll think differently!
Dungeon Crawler Carl is one I’d like to try. I’m not sure I’ve ever read anything in the LitRPG genre so I’m curious what that even is.