DECEMBER RECAP // great reads, avatar, christmas movies, beach vacation and stunning special edition books!!!

Didn’t expect to see me back so soon? I mean same. But I didn’t want to combine December and January which I have ~definitely~ not done before….

Haha nervous laughter.

Anyways, we have stuff to catch up on so let’s get into it!

Two Wrongs Make A Right by Chloe Liese {★★★★★}: ugh shame on me for taking so long to start this because it was so good I could cry. I knew she would hit and ugh she so did. Chloe Liese has magic beneath her fingertips and you all need to read this book RIGHT NOW!!! I said it all in my blog tour review so I’m sending you over there but I HIGHLY recommend. Big thanks to Berkley for having me on board and for the eARC via Netgalley <3<3<3

Percy Jackson and The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan & Robert Venditti {★★★☆☆}:  all I can say is that I’m on a graphic novel kick, my Library had this available and I read it. Stupid me should not have expected an illustrated edition when that exists separately but because of that stupidity I went in expecting PJO in pictures. Which this is sorta but it lacked the humour and plot points I love from the iconic first book so it was a tad of a letdown? Overall okay though.

Percy Jackson and The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan & Robert Venditti {★★★½☆}: I adjusted my expectations and lowkey this was a bit better? Still not as funny as the books especially since there are no chapter headings BUT the character dynamics are there and I really love Percabeth. They’re hardly in this book but nonetheless, I’m a simp, what else can I say? Okay I’m leaving now. Waiting for the next one to be available *hides*

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The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern {★★★★★}: this book definitely did not take me a YEAR to read, what are you talking about? Ha so yeah. Started this in 2021 I think and I kept picking up and putting down. But I finally sat down and finished this magnificent book and !!!! You all were so right nobody gave this book rights to be so magical and clever and intricate and I’m in awe of the Morgenstern talent?!?!? This book has everything from beautiful writing, an interesting narrative, some typa plot and a romance MY LIFE IS CONTENT!!!! So so so good and glad I’ve finally read it. Maybe I’ll do a full review but I haven’t decided yet. Should I? Go read if you haven’t, though you probs have because I’m forever late to the party. GR review here *insert heart eyes*

This Winter by Alice Oseman {★★★★☆}: idk man it was the last day of the year, I was ironically at the beach and this novella was available at the library. Was a marvellous time and I’m happy that I’m catching up on the Oseman-verse. Also ironic that it was this one which I had no plans to read and you need to read this before the 4th volume of Heartstopper shhhh. But this was sad and pulled at my heartstrings but also stunning and I love my baby Charlie!!! Excited to continue. GR review here xoxoxo

Stunning gifted copies from Wordsworth Books, ilysm:

• The Near Witch by VE Schab
• Vicious by VE Schwab
• Aurora’s End by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff
• Amari and The Night Brothers by BB Alston
• Anatomy by Dana Schwartz

Big thanks to Penguin Random House SA for this amazing copy of:

• The Wolf and The Woodsman by Ava Reid

Since my birthday is late in the year, I kept getting cards and books from family, so here are some stragglers from last month:

• Just Like Magic by Sarah Hogle
• Dear Aaron by Mariana Zapata
• Priestess of White by Trudi Canavan
• Last of the Wilds by Trudi Canavan
• Something Wilder by Christina Lauren
• The Green Dwarf by Charlotte Brontë (Alma classics)
• I Kissed Shara Wheeler by Casey McQuiston (Waterstones exclusive)
• Red, White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston (Waterstones exclusive)
• Foul Lady Fortune by Chloe Gong (Waterstones exclusive)

I specifically wanted to build up a collection of old books, so people found (and I did) some gems:

• The Adventures of Baron Munchhausen by Rudolf Erich Raspe & Gustave Doré (Cameo Classics)
• Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery (George G. Harrap & Co)
• The Mystery of The Secret Room by Enid Blyton (Methuen & Co)
• Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Caroll (Wordsworth Classics)

Oh, and the 3 books I chose for Christmas when I went into the bookstore:

• Eternally Yours, edited by Patrice Caldwell
• Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall
• Something Fabulous by Alexis Hall

So so grateful for all of these spoils and gifts, love you all xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

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Apparently, I watched a lot last month? I never remember this so what else did we expect? I watched quite a couple of Christmas-y films so let’s do a rapid-fire run-down:

• Dash and Lily: might have watched this in November but I didn’t talk about in the last recap and essentially I am mad at everyone for not telling me this was a bookish romance (though the ending could’ve been better)
• Something From Tiffany’s:  absolutely showstopping love you Zoey Deutsch and we love stunning Christmas rom-coms that are actually good and THIS ENDING SERVED!!!!!!
• While You Were Sleeping: rewatched and lowkey didn’t know it involved Christmas but definitely have a bigger appreciation and I require (1) Jack now k thanks
• This Is Christmas: eh idk I saw Kaya Scodelario and the HP guy, colour me intrigued. It was decent and I do enjoy a good British Christmas flick, alright to watch next year I guess.

I almost added this to the Xmas list since I went to see it on Christmas Eve but decided against that. My family watched Avatar: The Way of Water in the theatres and,,, I have many critiques but I somehow also landed up on Jake Sally Tiktok and you can do with that information what you will *hides*

Lastly, I saw someone talk about The Map of Tiny Perfect Things somewhere and why this teenage Groundhog Day rom-com is not talked about more baffles me and that ending came for my neck!!!!! Loved and you definitely need to watch this glorious film.

I don’t have much to say here since ha I’m still on university break. Speaking of, I got accepted into the second programme I applied to so ha now I just have to decide AND I DO NOT KNOWWWW!!!!!

But other than that, I’ve just been hanging. I was at the beach for like a week after Christmas in the city and got home like 2 days ago, read some books. Was stunning. Happy 2023 friends!!!!!

HOW WAS YOUR DECEMBER? DID YOU HAVE ANY CELEBRATIONS? DID YOU READ ANY GOOD BOOKS? WHICH WAS YOUR FAVOURITE? DO YOU HAVE THOUGHTS ON AVATAR? LET ME KNOW!