Monthly Reading Wrap-Up: December 2025

Hello, everyone! In my previous post, I talked about my favourite books of 2025. But since another month ended, it's also time for yet another montly reading wrap-up. Following the success of November, December had a difficult job to do to live up to it. Unfortunately, my reads were a mixed bag, even though I still managed to find one favourite that ended up in my top books of the years.

Here is what I read this month: 

Books I've Completed in December

• The Fifth Elephant - Terry Pratchett: I started December with the following installement in the Ankh-Morpork City Watch subseries of Discworld. It is one of the series I've committed to finish, and I'm steadily making my progress toward the goal. This was yet another fun installment, and I can't wait to pick up the next one. 
• Christmas at Tollivers Bookshop - Elle Christopher: Then, I was in the mood to start my holiday reading. This short and sweet novella was great for passing a cozy evening, even though it wasn't my favourite. You can read my thoughts in my review. 
• The Buffalo Hunter Hunter - Stephen Graham Jones: Two out of two Stephen Graham Jones's novels were 5* for me, so he's a strong contender for becoming one of my favourite authors of all time. This book offered a powerful reading experience to me, and not only did it land on my top books of 2025, but it was among my top 2 reads if the year (excluding my LOTR reread). I'm already thinking of rereading it.
• Brightly Shining - Ingvild H. Rishøi: I thought I was getting into another holiday read with this one. However, it was much darker and emotional than I'd anticipated. Wrong assumptions aside, it had some pretty strong moments. You can read my full thoughts in my review. 
• In the Miso Soup - Ryū Murakami: Despite my love for Japanese fiction, I had never read anything from the other Murakami. Unfortunately, I can't say that I loved it, even though it was pretty easy to get through. I'm starting to come to the conclusion that I don't like crime novels like this.
• Coup de Grace - Marguerite Yourcenar: My following read was a classic novella about a young man fighting in World War I and his relationship with his best friend Conrad and Conrad's sister, Sophie. The most memorable part of the book was the very last page. Apart from that, I thought that Erick was a narcist and pretty insufferable.  
• Good Spirits - B.K. Borison: One of my biggest disappoints of the month was this holiday read, as I was convinced that I would love it. Sadly, I didn't manage to live up to the hype, but I recognize that I'm in the minoriry here. If you want to read my in-depth thoughts on it, you can find them in my review. 
• All Systems Red - Martha Wells: During my flight to my hometown, I started The Murderbot Diary series. Well, I liked it enough that I now have yet another series that I need to finish eventually. It had solid action, humor, and it was thoroughly enteraining - what more should you ask for? 
• Good Bad Girl - Alice Feeney: My first Alice Feeney! This was just recently published in Greece and I was lucky to get it from my Secret Santa. I can't say that it was a groudbreaking thriller, but I liked it enough that I'd be willing to read more from this author. 

Books I'm Currently Reading

• The Hobbit - J.R.R. Tolkien: Now that I'm back in my hometown, I'm continuing my rereading my childhood favourites. I didn't have enough time during my visit in August to read The Hobbit after The Lord of the Rings trilogy, so I've picked it up now. I'm glad this is the first read of the year as I'm starting 2026 with a beloved 5*. And I have a confession to make - I've already finished it.
• Γλυκοχάραμα - Menelaos Lountemis: I'm also currently reading a short story collection in Greek. Lountemis is one of the authors that I'm gradually reading his backlist. I can already tell that this won't be among my favourites, but I'll tell you for sure in my following monthly reading wrap-up. 

What did you read in December?

With which book are you welcoming 2026?