Here are the titles I gave five stars this month. A list of all the titles I read this month is at the end of this post.
In December 2025, I read 33 books, with my most read genre being cozy mysteries (I clearly needed some escapes because I read four Murder, She Wrote titles.) I was certainly in the mood for audiobooks this month, reading 14 titles through my ears.
Frozen Peaches by Erin Soderberg Downing
The Great Peach Experiment #3 – “In the third Great Peach Experiment, the Peach family travels to chilly Sweden to stay at the world famous Ice Hotel, where they will learn everything they need to know about running a popular tourist hotel from the very best of the best.”
Oh the Peach family…I love you so much! This series is middle grade gold and this time the Peaches got to go to Sweden! I can’t say enough good things — I love stories of families making it work, even when it’s hard. If you liked the Vanderbeekers series, pick this up and yes, you have to start with book 1. I insist.
The Vanishing Type by Ellery Adams AND Paper Cuts by Ellery Adams
Secret, Book, & Scone Society, Books FIVE and SIX – I can’t say enough good things about this series — I am loving them on audio. They have cozy details that I love to soak up, and these books do not shy away from some tougher subjects. It’s just the perfect balance.
The Bookshop: A History of the American Bookstore by Evan Friss
“An affectionate and engaging history of the American bookstore and its central place in American cultural life, from department stores to indies, from highbrow dealers trading in first editions to sidewalk vendors, and from chains to special-interest community destinations.”
This was delightfully fascinating! I learned so much about the early history of bookstores and then the sections on the 80s and 90s was a bit of a trip down memory lane (Walden Books and B Dalton!). An entertaining and fun reading style made this nonfiction book fly by. Now can Friss write the same kind of book with the same kind of style about public libraries in America?
“Writer, artist, and entrepreneur Becky Blades offers a powerful new mindset for our modern acting on more ideas makes us happier – and reveals our highest creativity.”
This was so much fun. It’s the permission to give your ideas and interests a try. She has great examples (big and small), and I felt like I could adapt the advice to my situations. Friendly and fun tone made this a fun read.
Tell me – what have you read that you enjoyed?
Here are all the books I read in December 2025:
A Holiday Homicide Ellie Alexander
A Mysterious Christmas Collection Michele Pariza Wacek
All Systems Red Martha Wells
Catering to the Dead Kim Davis
Frozen Peaches Erin Soderberg Downing
Ghost Gone Wild Carolyn G. Hart
Gingerbread, Garlands, & Gunshots Tonya Kappes
Harlem Rhapsody Victoria Christopher Murray
Holidays & Homicides short story collection
How My Neighbor Stole Christmas Meghan Quinn
Hurricane Heist James Ponti
Mistletoe Murder Leslie Meier
Murder at Cottonwood Creek Clara McKenna
Murder for Shore Beth Prentice
Murder in Fifth Position Lori Robbins
Murder on Harley Street C.J. Archer
Murder, She Wrote: Majoring in Murder Jessica Fletcher
Murder, She Wrote: Murder in Season Jessica Fletcher
Murder, She Wrote: The Body in the Trees Jessica Fletcher
Murder, She Wrote: You Bet Your Life Jessica Fletcher
One Gold Ring Dianne Ascroft
Paper Cuts Ellery Adams
Rules for Ruin Mimi Matthews
Silent Nights Are Murder Libby Klein
Son of the Morning Akwaeke Emezi
Start More Than You Can Finish Becky Blades
The Black Wolf Louise Penny
The Bookbinder Pip Williams
The Bookshop: A History of the American Bookstore Evan Friss
The Secret Christmas Library Jenny Colgan
The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau Kristin Harmel
The Vanishing Type Ellery Adams
Violet Thistlewaite Is Not a Villain Anymore Emily Krempholtz
sarahcantstopreadingbooks.com 
Leave a comment