Overall mood: elated. December has been a month of travels, family, and fun reading. While there have been PhD tasks addressed and planned this month, it has largely been a month to sit back and read for leisure. I have been dutifully preparing my library requests for an upcoming event (more on that soon) and it has been a pleasant winding down for the year of 2024.

Books read:

Graveyard Shift by M.L. Rio, 3.5/5

An interesting novella with enigmatic characters and darker themes and settings. My biggest comment to make is that Graveyard Shift is not like If We Were Villains, so don’t pick it up expecting it to be the same reading experience. Graveyard Shift is a gothic horror with an unexpected band of characters following the strange path back to its source. It is a good read if your expectation heading into it isn’t fixated on its popular older sibling of a novel.

The Songbirds of Florence by Olivia Spooner, 4/5

A beautiful addition to Olivia’s New Zealand historical fiction collection, The Songbirds of Florence brings a powerful perspective to the North African campaign during WWII. If you are interested in learning about the Tuis role in the war, I highly recommend giving this book a good look. I am glad to have read it and learnt more about an area of the war that isn’t as widely talked about as other theatres of war.

The Lost Book of the White by Cassandra Clare and Wesley Chu, 4.5/5

I love these characters and the setting is fresh and engaging, making this book a truly entertaining read. If you are a ya fantasy reader or someone who has read the main Shadowhunter books but not The Eldest Curses, I highly recommend picking up The Red Scrolls of Magic and The Lost Book of the White.

Under the Weather by James Renwick, 5/5

If there is one book in this summary I most recommend, it is this one. Under the Weather is informative, eye-opening, and a fantastic reminder of the state of the world we live in from a meteorological standpoint. The narrative voice is easy to follow and the examples used make it easy to put into perspective the impact of the topics he’s talking about. Highly recommend this book to everyone.

In the Afterlight by Alexandra Bracken, 4.5/5

A fantastic ending to an intense and thought-provoking dystopian series. If you are wanting a dystopian series where the romance plot isn’t centre stage then I would recommend giving this a go. There are several elements to this series and this conclusion is pretty good – there are some thing I would have done differently, but it isn’t a bad ending.

Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett, 4/5

This cute little cosy fantasy is perfect for your indoor autumn or winter reading. Everything about it is whimsical and magical, so if you are looking for a cosy or soft fantasy to break up your more intense reads, I highly recommend giving this a shot. There are two more in the series so there is no shortage of fluff to indulge yourself with.

Yona of the Dawn Vol. 42 by Mizuho Kusanagi, 4.5/5

I love this manga series and I’m at the point where the volumes are intense and the conflicts are at their boiling point with things happening and emotions sky-high. I just can’t wait to pick up the next volume, but it’s a waiting game of patience I am running thin on. I love the read, but the wait between volumes is painful. If you want to start reading manga, I highly recommend Yona of the Dawn.

The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood, 5/5

The book I didn’t think I would get into, but here we are. Not only have I now read Ali Hazelwood’s The Love Hypothesis, but I cannot forget about it. It is witty, dramatic, silly, and brings all sorts of emotions into a book I can only say good things about. I’m not a romance reader, but this book converted me. Highly recommend giving it a go if you were like me (or if you just haven’t grabbed it from your tbr yet – you really should!).

Book Lovers by Emily Henry, 4.5/5

Working city woman gets a dose of the country life with this one and it is quite the entertaining read. The setting is quaint, rustic, and contrasts greatly with our main character. The plot shifts from a breezy trip away to a serious personal experience, and the romance is just hilariously painful. If you haven’t read some Emily Henry books yet, I recommend starting with this one and perhaps you’ll find yourself dipping into more romance books in 2025.

Ruthless Vows by Rebecca Ross, 4/5

A beautiful conclusion to this stunning duology, Ruthless Vows gives more of that magical realism and historic setting to love story unlike many others. The characters show growth and maturity while still being young at heart, and the action continues to ramp up with the fight being brought to their front door. If you haven’t read the sequel to Divine Rivals already, I suggest doing so. It is worth the read.

Love on the Brain by Ali Hazelwood, 4.5/5

A fun departure from the academic space while still having that school rivalry at the ehart of the story. Love on the Brain is a great addition to the STEM Romance novels and an emotional read at that. Highly recommend picking this up if you have not yet done so – and this is coming from someone who was very late to the Ali Hazelwood train.

Patea Boys by Airana Ngawera, 4/5

An incredible collection of stories by a voice so full of vivid detail and immersion. Every story puts you with the characters, standing next to them and being just as much a part of the plot as they are. You can feel Patea in this stories and you can feel the pride the author has for his town, his people, and their histories. Highly recommend for all readers wanting a slice of New Zealand fiction and Kiwi living, especially the Maori side that doesn’t always get represented.

Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood, 5/5

My favourite Ali Hazelwood novel for sure. I love these characters, the academic setting, the relationships that are formed and tested, and the fact we have disability/chronic illness representation with Elsie. My heart broke for her and I think that chapter deserves a five star on its own. Highly recommend for romance readers experienced and new, but I would read The Love Hypothesis first as there are character crossovers.

Not in Love by Ali Hazelwood, 4/5

I enjoyed this read, but I feel it was weaker than Ali Hazelwood’s other works. The characters and setting are fun, but the plot progression felt a little hazy. There was more of a personal feud happening over the action plot which mirrored the romance plot, so the external conflict felt no different to the internal conflict. A fine read for any romance reader.

A Million Worlds With You by Claudia Gray, 4/5

The final read in the Firebird trilogy, A Million Worlds With You continues to make locations leap of the pages, with lush description and an engaging plot bound to have your heart racing. The action is high-stakes and intense and the characters are really coming into themselves. I recommend this for YA sci-fi reader, but you’ll need to read from the beginning with A Thousand Pieces of You

Happy Place by Emily Henry, 4/5

Happy Place is an interesting read. The themes of friendship, love, and the impact distance and adulthood have on those relationships is navigated in a cute, yet engaging way. The characters are bright and entertaining, yet have their enigmatic sides that unfurl throughout the book. The setting is adorable, with the quaint township and beach house earning a nostalgic feel as the plot progresses. Even though this is the reader’s first time seeing these places, they feel familiar, which makes for a great emotional hook into the book. Highly recommend this romance book to all.