ShortBookandScribes December 2025 Reads, Book Post, Christmas Gifts and Stats

Hope you had a lovely Christmas and New Year.

Despite choosing to read several novellas in December I still didn’t reach my Goodreads target of 100 books for the year. I didn’t choose the novellas for that purpose but I had hoped the shorter reads would get me a bit closer to my goal. At some point in the year I got a number of books behind schedule and just couldn’t catch up. I did manage 94 though which I’m happy with.

Here are my December reads:

 

A Twelfth Night Miracle by Callie Langridge

A lovely time slip/time travel novella in which Freya is transported back to another Twelfth Night ball at Hill House, the Mandeville family seat.

 

Christmas at Hollybush Farm by Jo Thomas

A joyous story of community and farming in West Wales. I love everything this author writes.

 

New Beginnings for Christmas by Sally Page

This novella is a sequel to The Book of Beginnings, my favourite Sally Page book. It felt a little bit magical and is poignant and hopeful and full of festive cheer.

 

The Christmas Clue by Nicola Upson

Takes the real life inventors of Cluedo, Anthony and Elva Pratt, and places them in their own whodunnit as they are asked to create a murder mystery game for hotel guests to play in 1943.

 

Christmas at Flora’s House by Freya North

Gorgeous novella about Maggie who is spending Christmas on the Isle of Harris. The beauty of the island and the power of love and healing make this a emotional, yet hopeful, story.

 

The Harbour Lights Mystery by Emylia Hall

Book two in the brilliant Shell House Detectives series sees Ally and Jayden investigating the murder of a chef. I loved that it was set in Mousehole when the annual Christmas lights were up.

 

What Happened That Summer by Laura Pearson

This podcast novel follows the story of how teen singer and heartthrob, AJ Silver, died in a tragic accident at a UK theme park. I didn’t want to put this book down and thought it unique and gripping.

 

Winter by Val McDermid

This is the author’s memoir of her favourite season and all the things she associates with it. I thought it was a charming read and it has some lovely illustrations too.

 

The Winter Journey by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles

20th instalment in the series – Charlotte, Duchess of Southport sets up her own hospital and her brother Cavendish leaves to fight in the Crimean War.

The Outcast by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles

21st instalment in the series – Benedict Morland takes an orphaned boy to live with his daughter Mary in the American south, just before the outbreak of the American Civil War.

 

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Book post received this month with thanks to the named publishers:

It’s Not What You Think by Clare Mackintosh (sent by Harper Collins)

The Secret Painter by Joe Tucker (sent by Canongate)

Body of Lies by Jo Callaghan (sent by Simon & Schuster/The Likely Suspects)

Almost Life by Kiran Millwood Hargrave (sent by Picador)

The Family Friend by Claire Douglas (sent by Michael Joseph)

I Shop, Therefore I Am by Mary Portas (giveaway prize from edpr)

The Sea Stone Sisters by Eleanor Buchanan (sent by Headline)

The Heir Apparent by Rebecca Armitage (sent by HQ)

A Murder in Eight Cocktails by Kelly Mullen (sent by Century)

The Shock of the Light by Lori Inglis Hall (sent by The Borough Press)

Missing by E.A. Jackson (sent by Faber)

 

I also bought:

Our Evenings by Alan Hollinghurst

The Rockpool Murder by Emylia Hall

The Elopement by Gill Hornby

Her Many Faces by Nicci Cloke

 

Christmas gifts:

Winter by Val McDermid

Love Divine by Ysenda Maxtone Graham (this is a gorgeous Slightly Foxed edition)

 

I also got this book light which I’m pretty pleased with.

When it opens up it’s like the pages of a book and can either be one colour or changing colours.

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Finally, my Storygraph stats for December: