Everything I Read In December

Mission accomplished: 52 books were read in 52 weeks! This was a lofty goal, and I’ll be honest…I finished it with about 10 hours to spare. Despite it being cut close, I am quite proud of this achievement. It kept me engaged in some seriously great reading, while putting trashy and mindless tv to the back burner (Bravo will always be a weakness). Let’s take a quick look back at some of my favorites: Black Cake (literary fiction), Lessons in Chemistry (historical fiction), I’m Glad My Mom Died (memoir), All the Lights We Cannot See (historical fiction), and Flicker in the Dark (thriller). Honestly, I loved many more though and could keep adding to this list. While I have been upping my goal each year, I don’t want to set my goal to be unrealistic for my time. This year, I am going to focus on reading books across a variety of genres, even though thrillers are always my favorite to the core. I think a fun goal will be to expand my reading palate. Even though 2022 is now in the rear view, let’s take a quick look back at the 5 books that finished my year!

All the Dangerous Things- Stacy Willingham

Book of the Month paid off big time in December, because it allowed me to get an early access copy to All the Dangerous Things (due out in January 2023). Written by the author of Flicker in the Dark, I knew I would love her second psychological suspense book just as much as her last. I know a book is good when I will postpone watching all my favorite Bravo shows to curl up with it after work, and this was the case! Trigger warning- All the Dangerous Things incorporates kidnapping and mental illness in this dark and twisty thriller. While those topics are quite heavy, I spent the whole book begging for more and rooting for Isabelle to resolve family secrets both past and present! Just trust me- preorder this book and savor it during the cold days of January!

Beach Read- Emily Henry

I often listen to an audible while I read a physical book, because it allows me to enjoy books in different settings! I listened to Beach Read while I read All the Dangerous Things and it was the perfect light counterbalance to a dark thriller! Beach Read is just what the title describes, a light romance book that is fun and heartwarming, especially to read outside by the pool or beach. Two authors, who met in college, find themselves in the same summer vacation spot looking for inspiration for their next books. While they write in different genres, both were finding it difficult to break out of their writer’s block and deal with issues from their past. They form a pack and help one another explore their craft leading the two writers to find success and love. This is book is for all the hopeless romantics out there!

Before We Were Yours- Lisa Wingate

Wow…just wow! Based on a true story, Before We Were Yours explores a story of young children, who were taken from their home and placed in a children’s adoption home during the 1930s. Under the direction of a few deceitful people, children were stolen from their parents, who had little means and education, and sold to wealthy families for a huge profit. Before We Were Yours is a fictional account of one family of children taken from their home in Tennessee, but the story is largely based on true and similar accounts. This powerful story just pulls at your heartstrings and will have your marveling at human resiliency! It truly deserves all the praise and hype attached with it’s name!

We are the Light- Matthew Quick

Written by the author of Silver Linings Playbook, We are the Light will pull at your heartstrings as it explores grief in a small town of Pennsylvania. The community was hit with tragedy when a shooting takes place in a local movie theatre. The survivors of this tragedy are left grappling with loss and how to move forward in light of this terrible experience. As a School Psychologist, I have studied grief and do my best to support students through loss. However, despite any preparation, grief and loss are tremendous experiences that will shape one’s life and no one is spared. A marvelous aspect of humanity is one’s ability to survive and persevere despite adversity, and this novel showcases this beautifully!

Our Missing Hearts- Celeste Ng

Set in a dystopian and futuristic America, Our Missing Hearts explores the societal affects of a law that aims to preserve American culture, while simultaneously excluding and targeting people of Asian origin. Through the lens of Bird Gardner, a 12 year old boy, readers explore how families are pulled apart for actions and origins that are deemed to be unpatriotic. This book is at times sad, yet constantly thought-provoking! It truly begs readers to question how our society makes laws, rules, and acts to all sects of society!

THANK YOU so much for following along, reading my posts, commenting and asking questions, and supporting my little blog! From the get-go, Closet Hook was an outlet for me to share and connect about my life. My reading posts quickly became a favorite of mine, and hopefully yours, since it allows me to share a facet of my life that is so relevant and relatable to others. It has been a joy to connect with you all about books (and fashion, life, etc.) and I hope you continue to follow along! I will continue to share and create more content in new year. If you have any suggestions, I am all ears. Thank you again and happy new year!

xoxo,

Lauren