Weekly Wrap-Up: 1/5 – 1/11

Annnd another week has passed already. Wow. I’m slightly later than I usually try to be, but I’m not too late with this.

The blog activity was very strong last week. I can’t remember the last time I did six posts in a week (technically seven actually, if you count last week’s Weekly Wrap-Up). Six. And here I was last week saying that I might be slowing down here. What a way to immediately contradict myself. (I might still drop off, though. This was an unusually strong start to the new year.)

Anyway, without further ado, let’s get on with the Weekly Wrap-Up!

Tuesday 1/6: The Most Interesting Looking New Books of January 2026

Last Tuesday, I posted a list of the books that I’m looking forward to this month. Or, at least the ones that I think look the most interesting. It was the The Most Interesting Looking New Books of January 2026. As always, it’s basically only fantasy and science fiction, as those are the two genres I primarily read. This time there were five books on my list.

Wednesday 1/7: The Cat Who Saved Books Review / Can’t-Wait Wednesday

On Wednesday, I finally got around to posting my review for the last book I read in 2025. It was The Cat Who Saved Books by Sosuke Natsukawa. I generally liked it and it wasn’t what I expected it to be. I gave it ★★★★☆.

I also participated in another Can’t-Wait Wednesday for the first time in a few weeks. Can’t-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme currently hosted by Tressa @ Wishful Endings. It focuses on books you’re looking forward to reading, usually new releases.

Saturday 1/10: December Reading 2025

Last Saturday, I posted my Monthly Reading Wrap-Up for December 2025. Compared to the last couple of months, it was posted at a reasonable time of the month this time around. For those who don’t know, monthly wrap-ups are when I go over the books I read over the past month, as well as my stats over on The StoryGraph

Sunday 1/11: Yearly Reading 2025 / All the Books I Read in 2025

On Sunday, I posted my Yearly Reading Wrap-Up for 2025. (At least the first part.) It was basically a list of my statistics and analytics from The StoryGraph from this past year. There was just as much of it as last year, so I had to split it into two posts again.

I also managed to post the second part of my Yearly Reading Wrap-Up for 2025. The part of the post mostly focused on all the books I read last year, in 2025.

The Books I Read Last Week

Wrapping It All Up

So yeah, there was a lot of blog activity from me last week. I probably won’t keep up that pace, as the reason all of those posts happened like that was because I wanted to get the rest of my end of the last year/beginning of the next year posts out. Hopefully I’ll still be able to put out a decent amount of posts this week, though.

I’m about to start reading The Ashfire King by Chelsea Abdullah. I’m right months late, but I’m finally gonna read it, and I’m pretty excited about it. It was one of my most anticipated new books from last year, after all.

After I’m done with that, I think I’m probably going to read the first volume of Love Me to Death by Toonimated, and then maybe Water Moon and The Elsewhere Express by Samantha Sotto Yambao. Who really knows, though.

For blog posts, I want to participate in at least one or two of the weekly posts that I usually do, and hopefully post a book review. I’m not sure what else I’ll post if anything.

Outside of the blog, my spouse and I have been trying to be healthier again. I’m not quite sure how it’s going so far, but I hope we can find a rhythm with it. I do know that we haven’t started off the year as strong as we’d wanted to.

Anyway, as always thank you for reading, and I hope you have a wonderful day/night!

See ya ~Mar

Monthly Wrap-Up: December Reading 2025

I’m a little later than I’d like to be with this wrap-up, but it isn’t as bad as the last two months, so I’m fine with it. But yeah, here’s my reading wrap-up for December 2025! I still can’t believe that 2025 is over and a new year has started!

December was pretty decent. It’s not my best month of 2025, but I read two books, which is better than most of the months last year, not to mention some of the Decembers of the past. So I’ll take it as a win.

Anyway, let’s just start talking about my StoryGraph statistics from last month!

December Reading 2025

I read 2 books and 438 pages

😶 MOODS: I had three Moods in December, which is one more than the month before. The Moods from this past month were: Adventurous, Hopeful, and Reflective.

👢 PACE: The books I read last month were both medium-paced.

🔢 PAGE NUMBER: The novels I read were between 198 and 240 pages.

📖 FICTION/NONFICTION: It was once again all fiction. As usual.

🎭 GENRES: There were a bunch of Genres on the graph this month, and I’m really happy about it. They were: Fantasy, Science Fiction, Magical Realism, Young Adult, LGBT+, and Graphic Novel.

📄 FORMAT: This pie chart was correct again this time. Both books I read were physical copies.

RATING: My median star rating for last month was 4.5

📉 PAGES READ DAILY: My reading was pretty divided in December. I read a lot during the first week, didn’t read anything at all for the next couple of weeks, and then I read some during the last couple of days of the month.

Books I Read in December

★★★★★ • my review

★★★★☆ • my review

Wrapping Up the Wrap-Up

So yeah, my reading in December wasn’t too bad. I managed to keep up the same pace of the two months preceding it, and end the year in a decent way in regards to reading. I’m also happy that I enjoyed the last couple of books that I read last year. It felt like leaving on a high note.

Regarding what I want to read next, I’m in between The Ashfire King by Chelsea Abdullah and waiting for a book to be released in the next few days and reading that. I also would like to read Water Moon by Samantha Sotto Yambao, as well as her new book also coming out this month. I’m not sure what I’m going to end up choosing next, though. We’ll see.

Anyway, as always, thank you for joining me in checking out my StoryGraph stats for my December reading in 2025. Thank you also for reading, and I hope you have a great day/night!

See ya ~Mar

Weekly Wrap-Up: 12/22 – 12/28

I’m a little later than usual with this, but not too late. These last few weeks have just been flying by, as they usually do, and I’ve been a little busier since it’s the holiday season. But I still want to wrap up the past week.

Last week, I managed to post more than I usually do during the week of Christmas. I’m not quite sure how, though. These two weeks around Christmas and New Year’s are always a little rough like that. But I did it somehow, and I’d at least like to match the number of posts from last week during this week. I also didn’t really read last week, but I’m not surprised or annoyed about that. I can’t remember the last time I was reading a book over the week of Christmas – it’s just not something I really do because it’s busy.

Anyway, without further ado, let’s get on with the Weekly Wrap-Up!

Wednesday 12/24: Christmas Eve

Last Wednesday was the day before Christmas. So, to everyone who celebrates, here’s a belated Merry Christmas Eve!! 🦌🎅🔔🕯️ I didn’t really bake any cookies on this day this year like a normally do, but I still had a wonderful time with my spouse and dinner with my family. (I did do some baking this year, it was just on the Saturday before Christmas and one batch of Christmas Day itself. Christmas Eve just wasn’t the day this year.)

Thursday 12/25: Christmas Day / Birthstone Book Covers

On Thursday, I managed to squeeze a post out, so I got to wish everyone well on Christmas. But since I’m wrapping up the week, I’ll say it again: Merry Christmas!! 🎄🎁❄️🌟 I hope that everyone who celebrates had a great holiday. I spent more time with my family and some time with my husband’s family and it was really nice.

I was also able to post something before the day was out last Thursday. I participated in Birthstone Book Covers at a more reasonable time for the first time in months. Birthstone Book Covers is a fun little post created and hosted by Leslie @ Books Are the New Black.

Each month, for the post, you feature book covers that are either the same color of the month’s birthstone or include the color in the title. This month was December, and its birthstones are tanzanite, zircon and turquoise. So the colors are all different shades of blue and cyan.

Friday 12/26: First Line Friday

Last Friday, I participated in First Line Fridays again. Two weeks in a row – almost a streak! First Line Fridays is a weekly feature for book lovers (formerly) hosted by Wandering Words. It’s where you guess what book the post is highlighting based on the book’s first words.

Sunday 12/28: The Glass Scientists: Volume Three Review

On Sunday, I finally got my review out for the final volume of The Glass Scientists by S.H. Cotugno. And now I’m all caught up on my reviews! But yeah, I really enjoyed this story, both in its original form of a webcomic (that’s still finishing up) and the three graphic novels that came out of it, with their extra stuff. This was such a great reimagining of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Like the first two volumes, I gave it ★★★★★.

Books I Read Last Week

Wrapping It All Up

So yeah, I ended up being more active on the blog than I thought I would, but my novel reading was pretty much the same as it usually is around Christmas – nearly non-existent. Oh well, maybe next year I’ll actually read around the holiday for once. We’ll see, I guess.

I’ve actually managed to pick a book to read next and I’m almost done with it. You’ll see what it is when I review it, hopefully later this week. After I’m done with it, though, I’m not sure which novel I’ll go with next. It’s still between most of the same books as it’s been, however.

For blogging this week, I want to get my end of the year post out, as well as either my December 2025 reading wrap-up or my list for the Most Interesting Looking Books of January 2026. And at least one more post to match last week’s amount of posting.

Regarding stuff outside books and blogging, it was pretty much just relaxing and Christmas stuff last week. Basically, what I expected, because it is the usual for that week. My spouse and I will focus on being healthier after the New Year. For now, it’s just holidays and relaxing.

Anyway, as always thank you for reading, and I hope you have a wonderful day/night!

See ya ~Mar

Birthstone Book Covers: December 2025

Merry Christmas!! 🎄🎁❄️🌟 It’s a little bit later in the month than I wanted to do this, but I’m participating in Birthstone Book Covers! I can’t believe it’s been three years since I’ve started joining in on this post. Time really flies!

Birthstone Book Covers is a fun monthly post created by Leslie @ Books Are the New Black. Each month, she features book covers that are either the same color of that month’s birthstone or include the color in the title.

December has three birthstones – Tanzanite, Zircon, and Turquoise. So shades of blue and cyan for this month’s books!

Rules:

📚 Mention the creator (Leslie @ Books Are The New Black) and link back to her so she can check out your post.
📚Pick 5+ book covers that match the current month’s Birthstone.
📚 HAVE FUN!
📚 Nominate people if you want!

The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
Tailored Realities by Brandon Sanderson
How Sweet It Is by Dylan Newton
Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
A Winter’s Promise by Christelle Dabos
Would Like to Meet by Rachel Winters

What are your favorite books with blue or cyan covers? If you participated in Birthstone Book Covers, which books did you choose this December?

Thanks for reading, and I hope you have the most amazing day/night!

See ya ~Mar

Weekly Wrap-Up: 12/1 – 12/7

Hey there, it’s Monday again. Which means it’s time to wrap up the past week!

Last week was pretty good – I read a book and I did more than two blog posts. So I’m definitely going to count that as a win, especially considering my reading and blogging activity during the last couple of months. Not to mention, I actually got a book review out, too! Yay!

Anyway, without further ado, let’s get on with the Weekly Wrap-Up!

Tuesday 12/2: The Most Interesting Looking New Books of December 2025

Last Tuesday, I posted a list of the books that I’m looking forward to this month. Or, at least the ones that I think look the most interesting. It was the The Most Interesting Looking New Books of December 2025. As always, it’s basically only fantasy and science fiction, as those are the two genres I primarily read. This time there were four books on my list.

Wednesday 12/3: Can’t-Wait Wednesday

On Wednesday, I participated in another Can’t-Wait Wednesday for the first time in several weeks. Can’t-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme currently hosted by Tressa @ Wishful Endings. It focuses on books you’re looking forward to reading, usually new releases.

Saturday 12/6: A Study in Charlotte Review

This past Saturday, I finally did another book review. It was the first time in a few months. There was a lot of really tough IRL stuff that was going on the last few months, so I’ve been behind on some stuff. But I’m catching up!

Anyway, I reviewed A Study in Charlotte by Brittany Cavallaro. It’s a YA Sherlock Holmes reimagining set in the modern day. It had some fun references to the original and some pretty good writing, though there was some stuff I didn’t really like about it. I gave it ★★★✯☆.

Books I Read Last Week

Wrapping It All Up

So yeah, that’s what I did last week regarding books and blogging. I’m pretty happy with how it all turned out. Hopefully I can keep it up during the coming week!

I’m honestly not sure what I’m gonna read next. At this point, I’m almost tempted to just cover my eyes and randomly grab one of the new books I got a few weeks ago. I’ll figure it out somehow. For blogging, I’m planning on posting one book review – hopefully even two – this week. I still gotta catch up! I also want to do my November 2025 reading wrap-up, and hopefully another couple of posts.

Last week was also the first snow of the month, and part two of the first snow of the year in my area. The first snow started the week before, technically, but Thanksgiving was also that week, so I mostly focused on that during last week’s wrap-up. It was nice to see some fluffy white snow on the ground, after the roads were cleared.

Now that Thanksgiving week is over, my spouse and I were also starting to try to be healthier. I have a feeling we’re not going to really get into it until after the new year, though. There are just too many holidays this time of year.

Anyway, as always thank you for reading, and I hope you have a wonderful day/night!

See ya ~Mar

The Most Interesting Looking New Books of December 2025

Hey there everybody! Another month, another bunch of new books that are coming out! Yep, it’s The Most Intriguing New Books of December 2025. I know pretty late in the month this time – I generally like to get it out by the first Tuesday of the month – but there’s been a lot going on in the recent weeks, and I’m just now trying to get back into things.

This used to be a quarterly post, but I’ve recently decided to do it monthly instead. Also, even though this post is about new releases, it’s primarily focused on fantasy and science fiction, as those are the genres I tend to prefer to read. (Not to say other genres won’t ever appear on these lists – it just isn’t super likely; it’s likely to be a very rare occurrence if it happens at all.)

If you’ve seen this post by me before, you know the drill; I’m only interested in these books – there’s no guarantee that I’m gonna read all of them. There’s not even a guarantee that I’m gonna read even half of them. We shall see. Anyway, let’s get going! This month, four books have caught my eye! Yay! A decent number, this time around! No more threes!

RELEASING: December 2nd

When a boarding school opens in a once-condemned Victorian manor buried in the woods of New Hampshire, Austen-loving Lorena Navarro enrolls in hopes of finding her own Mr. Darcy. Instead, she stumbles across a coffin and accidentally awakens the world’s last vampire.

After hibernating for nearly three centuries, William Pride is desperate to find his family—and clueless about the modern world. Relying on Lorena for more than just blood, he enrolls at the school to catch up on all he’s missed.

Soon, William uncovers the chilling He is the last hope for his kind’s return to power. Torn between protecting the humans around him and joining a band of surviving vampires who have been waiting centuries for his leadership, William must make a choice. Will he sacrifice his species for love . . . or will he embrace his dark destiny at last?

RELEASING: December 2nd

Witness the epic conclusion to the webcomic phenomenon about star-crossed lovers and misunderstood monsters in this third and final graphic novel!

Last we saw Dr. Jekyll he was on stage about to welcome everyone to his grand exhibition—the event meant to save his Society for Arcane Sciences and his way of life—when he collapsed, pulled under by his devilish alter ego Mr. Hyde. When he wakes, Jekyll assumes everything is doomed, but in a surprise to just about everyone, he couldn’t be more wrong. The event was a success, his band of rogue scientists now all have patrons, and business is booming. What’s more, he even plucks up the courage to do the scariest, craziest thing of all: confess his feelings for Lanyon. Everything is finally coming up Jekyll!

Oh, if only the good scientist remembered his physics, because what goes up must inevitably come crashing down. Just when everything Jekyll has worked and hoped for is finally within his grasp, the barrier between his dueling personalities is shattered. Both Jekyll and Hyde are thrown into a constant wrestling for control of both their minds and bodies, which seem to switch without rhyme or reason. In the chaos, Jekyll’s secret has never been more at risk of being exposed, and he won’t get any help concealing it from his other half. Hyde has finally gotten a taste of life as a free man, and if Jekyll (or anyone else) dares to take it away, well, we should all brace for impact.

RELEASING: December 9th

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Brandon Sanderson―creator of The Stormlight Archive, the Mistborn saga, and countless bestselling works of science fiction and fantasy―comes Tailored Realities, a new short fiction collection including the never-before-published novella Moment Zero.

Spanning the genres of fantasy and science fiction, this collection features stories from beyond the bounds of Brandon Sanderson’s Cosmere universe.

Along with the never-before-seen novella “Moment Zero,” Tailored Realities will include “Snapshot,” “Perfect State,” “Defending Elysium” (a novella set within the world of Skyward), and five other stories that were originally published individually elsewhere—never before collected into one volume, and many never before available in print. 

RELEASING: December 30th

A modern-day dark academia fantasy with a twist, perfect for fans of Babel and A Deadly Education.

Warren University has stood amongst the ivy elite for centuries, built on the bones―and forbidden magic―of its most prized BIPOC students…hiding the rot of a secret society that will do anything to keep their own powers burning bright. No matter who they must sacrifice along the way.

Ellory Morgan is determined to prove that she belongs at Warren University, an ivy league school whose history is deeply linked to occult rumors and dark secrets. But as she settles into her Freshman year, something about the ornate buildings and shadowy paths feels strangely…familiar. And, with every passing day, that sense of déjà vu grows increasingly sinister.

Despite all logic, despite all reason, despite all the rules of reality, Ellory knows one thing to be true: she has been here before. And if she can’t convince brooding legacy student Hudson Graves to help her remember a past that seems determined to slip through her fingers as if by some insidious magic…this time, she may lose herself for good.

So yeah, these are all of the books releasing in December 2025 that I’m at least a little interested in. What books are coming out soon that you’re looking forward to? Do we share some of the same ones?

As always, thank you all so much for reading, and I hope you have a great day/night!

See ya ~Mar