Between some technical hiccups and the general busyness of the holiday season, I missed my What to Read posts in December and January. Rather than skip them altogether, I rolled everything I read and watched into one list.
This post is a smidge longer than usual, but I’ve kept the notes concise. Consider it a choose-your-own-adventure of books and shows. Dip in wherever your mood takes you. And in case you don’t want to wait for updates like this, sign up for my newsletter and get the news delivered directly to you without delay!
📖 The Bridal Quartet by Nora Roberts
I re-read these four books every December without fail. Originally published in 2013–2014, the technology is a little dated, but the friendships are timeless. That’s what keeps me coming back.
The series includes Vision in White, Bed of Roses, Savor the Moment, and Happy Ever After. My favorite? It’s a tie. I love Mac’s creativity behind the camera in Vision in White, but Parker in Happy Ever After speaks directly to the card-carrying organizer in me.
My husband asks every year if I ever get tired of rereading these. The answer is no. Comfort reads are comfort reads for a reason.
📖 To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee
I wrote more extensively about this one in my last reader newsletter, but my biggest takeaway is simple: when people truly listen to one another and are willing to stand up for what they believe in, there’s hope.
🎧 My Life with the Walter Boys by Ali Novak
This caught my attention after I watched The Summer I Turned Pretty. I’m not the target audience for either, but curiosity got the best of me.
This is the first book in a two-book series. I won’t be continuing, but I can absolutely see the appeal for a young adult audience. I also sampled the Netflix adaptation and, after one episode, decided I preferred the book.
🎧 Everything is Tuberculosis by John Green
I knew this was nonfiction going in, but I didn’t expect to be quite so engrossed. My familiarity with Green comes from his fiction (The Fault in Our Stars), so this was eye-opening.
The book explores tuberculosis, why it’s curable, and why it still hasn’t been eradicated. For better or worse, it dovetailed with the themes I was already sitting with after To Kill a Mockingbird.
🎧 The Brilliant Life of Eudora Honeysett by Annie Lyons
This one surprised me in the best way. Yes, the premise is heavy—an eighty-five-year-old woman who feels she’s finished with life—but the execution is deeply moving.
Told through alternating timelines, the story proves that backstory can be anything but boring. I could easily read this again. And I just might.
🎧 The Stolen Queen Life by Fiona Davis
A historical thriller centered on Egyptian artifacts, with two main characters whose stories intertwine. I had to do a bit of relistening to keep everything straight, but if archaeology interests you, this felt authentic and well researched.
📺 The Diplomat – Season 3
There’s something fascinating about watching a political thriller while living in a time that often feels like one. I’m not trying to make a statement here, but the show’s continued popularity says something.
I was interested enough to watch all eight episodes of season three in just a few days.
📺 Fallout – Season 2
It had been long enough since season one that a bit of rewatching was required before diving in. I don’t see how this ends well for anyone involved, and yet I’m still rooting for Lucy. And, oddly enough, Coop/The Ghoul too.
📺 Stranger Things – Season 5
I’m still not entirely sure what happened, but I am sure I’m sad to see this 1980s-infused ride come to an end. I’ll miss Will, Mike, Dustin, Lucas, El, and the rest of the gang. I will not miss the Demogorgons.
Until next time…
P.S. If you missed any of my previous What to Read segments and are always looking for more reading ideas, you can find them all in my monthly reading archive here. 📚✨