Read This Next: December 2024

It always feels like I have so many posts I want to do at the end of the year, like the fan favorite Year in Review, but the book blogs are my most consistent and the ones that lead to the most discussion.

This year was a bit slow on the reading front, which I hinted at in the July & August blog. After a two year streak, I failed to hit my quota of 52 books. Now, I wasn’t that far off, completing 48 in the past 12 months, but it still bothered me. I spent some time (probably a little too much, if I’m being honest) trying to figure out what happened. In past years, if my reading fell off, it was usually because I was channeling energy into other hobbies—not the case here. Then it hit me: at the end of 2023, I landed a new job. For the first time since moving to Europe, I’ve been juggling free time with employment, and wow, what a difference it made in my reading routine.

Additionally, this year I started practicing what I preached in my blog post about How to Read More and stopped finishing books that I wasn’t enjoying. Usually I try to bail on a book within the first 50 or so pages, but this year I had multiple DNFs (did not finish) in the meat of the story. I have no regrets, but it did hurt my count a little bit.

Regardless of DNF status, here’s everything I read in December. A fairly light month since we spent many weekends and nights soaking up the Christmas markets for our last holidays in Germany. After a day of braving the elements, there was nothing better than curling up in our hotel room with a belly full of hot chocolate and a good book. As usual, this month’s reading list touches on multiple topics—from a heartwarming community drama to a gritty dystopia, and even a guide to living longer.

As always, I clarify in my reviews whether I listened to or physically read the book. I also link all of the book cover images to Goodreads so you can click on them to read more reviews if you’re so inclined. Oh, and while you’re there, add me as a Goodreads friend—I’d love to see what’s on your shelf too!

Lula Dean’s Little Library of Banned Books
Kirsten Miller

Books About Books, 301 pages

One Little Library, One Big Controversy

It all started when Lula Dean deemed multiple books as pornographic and had them removed from the tiny town of Troy, Georgia’s library and established her own little library with approved titles outside her house. Her old high school rival and chair of the school board, Beverly Underwood, didn’t know what to do about it, but her daughter Lindsay did. Under the cover of night, Lindsay swapped all of the dust jackets on the banned books with the ones in Lula’s little library. Soon, unsuspecting townspeople were picking up these so-called forbidden reads and discovering more about themselves—and each other.

My Review of Lula Dean’s Little Library of Banned Books

The concept of banned books sparks a fury in me like a thousand suns. Books—whether they deal with complex history or personal identity—are crucial for bridging gaps in understanding. Restricting them is essentially controlling the narrative by limiting education, which is a fundamental right. See, now I’m all fired up. For those unfamiliar, CRT (Critical Race Theory) examines systemic racial inequalities, while BLM (Black Lives Matter) advocates for racial justice—both hot-button topics that inevitably shape today’s discussions on book banning.

Given that this is a fictional novel centered on a loaded issue, I thought Miller tackled it with a thoughtful (if occasionally obvious) stance. I share many of the author’s views, so it didn’t pull me out of the story. After some heavier reads in November, this work was like a soothing balm applied directly to my brain. It made me think, but it also felt cozy.

The downside? There are a ton of characters, each with backstories that weave in and out of each other’s lives, much like real small towns. If you’re prone to forgetting who’s who, consider reading this in fewer sittings (it’s fairly short) or jotting down notes.

Reading Energy: Great for a quiet weekend curled up under the blankets, especially if you want a blend of comfort and reflection.

Pick Up This Book If…
You enjoyed books like The Measure, The Midnight Library, or Little Fires Everywhere.

Five-Star Stranger
Kat Tang

Contemporary, 239 pages

Fake Stand-Ins, Real Consequences

There truly is an app for everything, including the ability to rent a stranger to stand in as your brother at your own wedding, a mourner at a loved one’s funeral, or even as a father to your young daughter. The protagonist of Five-Star Stranger prides his high ranking within the app, but his world starts to unravel when two of his clients meet.

My Review of Five-Star Stranger

This was my final read of 2024, and what a note to end on. Somehow, it’s both funny and deeply insightful within a tight 239 pages.

The writing is on the wall from the first chapter as we learn the main character’s oldest client is a woman who has rented him to stand in as a father for her child, Lily. Of course, this was no issue when Lily was a toddler, but as she grows into a preteen, she’s starting to examine her parents’ relationship with a little more scrutiny. The amount of anxiety this plotline gave me! When you have lived a lie for so long, how and when do you come clean? Do you wait for it to all fall apart, or do you step up and confront it head on?

These questions had me rapidly turning pages and tearing through chapters, though I felt a sinking in my stomach as the percentage of the book completed crept closer to the end. I’m not saying I needed a tidy conclusion for this book, like Lula Dean did for example, but the end was a little bit of a letdown and took my rating down from five stars to four. Sorry, rental stranger.

The Vibe: Perfect for a mid-week pick-me-up or a short weekend read—especially if you want something humorous that still makes you think.

Read This Next If…
You enjoyed books like The Husbands, Funny Story, and Yellowface.

How Not To Die
Michael Greger, MD

Health, 17 hours and 36 minutes

How A Whole Food Plant-based Diet May Be the Ticket to Longevity

After witnessing his own grandmother recover from near-terminal heart disease through dietary changes, Dr. Greger dedicated his career to uncovering how certain foods can help reduce the risk of serious illnesses. The first half covers the top causes of death and explains why a nutrient-dense, plant-centric diet can be so effective, while the second half shifts to the “Daily Dozen,” offering practical guidance for incorporating these life-saving foods—and habits—into your everyday routine.

My Review of How Not to Die

I first experimented with a more plant-based diet back in 2018, after reading a few articles about flexitarianism and binge watching Forks Over Knives. In an effort to knock “the work” out of the way as quickly as possible, I tried doing the vegetarian days for the first two days with the plan to eat meat the rest of the week. But, I never felt the desire to return to my chicken breasts and steaks. So I didn’t. These days I practice a pescatarian diet, meaning that most days I eat fully vegetarian with a couple of fish or shrimp dinners per week.

Since it had been so long since I embarked on this journey, I lost a little bit of the why I started down this path in the first place. Enter How Not to Die. Not only did this book gently confirm my choices, it helped me to see some of the holes I had with its Daily Dozen prescription. Going into the new year, I’m committed to figuring out how to get the dozen into my daily diet (basically your girl needs to eat a lot more beans).

Critics of this book will likely point out that much of the research in the first half seems pretty cherry-picked to prove the author’s point, and while I can’t disagree with that, I also stand by the author in the logic that if he’s wrong, is it really going to kill you to eat more greens? Nah, didn’t think so.

Reading Mood: Ideal for the New Year or when you’re reevaluating your habits and need a little data to back it up.

Add To Your To Read Pile If…
You want to further your learning from The Omnivore’s Dilemma and Outlive.

Burn
Peter Heller

Dystopia, 304 pages

Hunting Trip Turns Into a Fight For Survival Against the Rebel Army

Lifelong best friends Jess and Storey are on their annual camping and hunting trip in the remote areas of Maine when the world falls apart. After a successful trip, they find the bridge they need to take back home destroyed. Once they reroute, they find town after town burnt to the ground with not a soul in sight. They both slowly start to realize the secession has begun and they are caught in the crosshairs, unable to make it back to those they love.

My Review of Burn

If you’ve read the blog before, you know I can’t stay away from these end of days types of books. Maybe it’s our current political landscape, but this one felt ripe for the time; almost a little too on the nose.

One of my favorite parts of this book was the relatively deep character development for such a short book. I was also drawn into its portrayal of male friendship. Very rarely do books zero in on the feelings of male characters so it felt rather refreshing and new.

I also enjoyed the outdoors aspect of this book. Jess and Storey are expert outdoorsmen and watching them flip to survival mode was inspiring for someone like me who would probably crumble under the pressure and be the first one down in a zombie apocalypse situation.

Without ruining the plot of the book, I’ll say my least favorite part of the book was the introduction of a child character. I don’t mean to be vague, but it really changed the flavor of the book and resulted in a less than satisfactory ending for my personal taste. Suddenly the focus was now on the new character, detracting a bit from the male friendship aspect I had previously enjoyed. I understand why it was done (duh, all books need heightened conflict in the second act), but I would’ve preferred a different approach from the author.

Reading Vibe: Perfect for a late-night binge if you crave adrenaline and don’t mind missing your bedtime.

Check Out This Book If…
Dystopian fiction like Station Eleven and Devolution are your jam.

Have you read anything lately that you’ve absolutely loved? Leave a comment with your suggestion—I’m always on the hunt for the next great book, whether it’s fiction or nonfiction!

Closing the final chapter on December also marks the end of the reading year. While I fell just shy of my 52-book goal, I’m proud of the ground I covered, the new perspectives I picked up, and the lessons I learned about how (and why) I read. Historically, the beginning of each new year is when I dive into more complex, thought-provoking titles, so I’m already eyeing some heavier-hitting books for January. Wish me luck!

I hope this post inspires you to pick up something new or revisit an old favorite. Until next time—happy reading!

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