For the Love of Reading, December 2025

I read 8 books in the month of December (gotta love Christmas vacation for lots of reading time), let’s take at look at my reviews.

King of Ashes by S.A. Cosby
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
A gripping story full of family drama and secrets, street crime and gangs, money making and violence, this is a slow burn that will keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end. Cosby creates a setting that is brutally realistic and he populates it with characters that are flawed yet have you cheering for them anyway. It’s fascinating to watch the downward spiral of corruption as each one is forced to make choices that chip away at their humanity and values. It’s gritty and dark and will have you questioning just how far you might go to protect someone you love. This is my first S.A. Cosby book but it won’t be my last.

The Antidote by Karen Russell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about a book that combined the historical fiction and magical realism genres but it turns out I loved it. The setting is Nebraska during the devastating Dust Bowl of the 1930s and Russell does such an incredible job of creating the dry climate that I found myself reaching for water over and over while I read the book. The characters are each processing their own trauma, everything from violence and murder to poverty and racism and the impact of colonialism. I appreciated how so much of what they were going through is relevant to the world today and was both dismayed and depressed by that realization. While the magical elements might seem bizarre in an historical novel, they actually feel like extensions of the grief and hope, and serve to illustrate the stubborn belief that something better might still be possible. It’s atmospheric, imaginative, and deeply empathetic and I highly recommend it.

The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
As a librarian and a reader of historical fiction, I wanted to love this book, but it really missed the mark for me. Belle da Costa Greene was a brilliant Black woman who passed as white while building one of the most important rare book collections in the world. Her real-life story is fascinating and the risks she took to navigate elite society under a fabricated identity should have been compelling. However, the novel didn’t capture any of that tension for me. The writing felt surprisingly simplistic, and the story was a bit too polished and predictable. Given the dangers Belle faced every single day, I expected to feel the tightrope she was walking but the narrative rarely delivered that sense of risk or urgency because nothing really happened. The supporting characters felt one dimensional and flat and what little action there was got resolved readily. I’m grateful to have been introduced to Belle Greene, I just wish the novel had offered writing and storytelling worthy of the brave and unique woman at its center.

The True True Story of Raja the Gullible by Rabih Alameddine
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This is an imaginative, humane novel that ultimately rewards patience, even if it takes its time getting there. The nonlinear timeline, rather than adding momentum or intrigue, actually disrupted the rhythm for me. The frequent shifts made it harder to settle into Raja’s journey and compounded the sense that the novel was wandering instead of building. However, once I found my footing, I was truly engrossed in Raja’s story, in his mother’s devotion to him, and in the subtle but ever present humor that Alameddine used to enhance the narrative. I’m glad I stayed with it because it ultimately was a story of resilience, hope, and compassion.

The Secret of Orange Blossom Cake by Rachel Linden
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Light and easy, with a charming setting, this book was just what I expected and I was not disappointed. The writing is best when Linden is describing the scenery, I not only feel like I spent a weekend on an olive farm in the Italian countryside, but I could taste the biscotti and coffee they made and ate. Could I see the ending coming from a mile away? Absolutely. And did I mind one single bit? Nope, because this was just what I needed after reading some heavier books lately.

Too Old for This by Samantha Downing
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Highly entertaining and compelling, picture Dexter as an elderly woman and you’ll have a good idea of the plot of this book. While Lottie may think she’s a retired serial killer, her protective instincts are still strong and she is drawn into a situation that forces her out of her quiet life. Full of quirky side characters, wry humor, and a couple of unpredictable twists, this book had me rooting for the bad guy . . . errr . . . woman, from beginning to end.

The Lion Women of Tehran by Marjan Kamali
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I can see why this book is beloved by many readers, however I was disappointed in both the writing and the historical aspects of the story. If you’re looking for women’s fiction with a historical slant, you will likely love the story for it’s portrayal of the lasting power of friendship and the importance of forgiveness. If you’re looking to understand the history of Iran, the change in government and unraveling of society and how women lost their rights, this book is an over simplified version of that period. There is little nuance, the characters lack depth, and, despite the highly dramatic twists of prison and poverty and abuse, there is little tension. Please note: my opinion is in the minority on this one.

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
A re-read for book club and I’m so glad because I had forgotten just how brilliant this book is. It’s gothic and atmospheric, full of nuance and subtle foreshadowing, and narrated by a main character who is never called by her own name. Rebecca, although dead, looms as large as if she was in every room, and the foreboding Manderly provides a rich and wonderful setting of riotous plants, dark corridors, dangerous seas, daily rituals and niceties, and ill intentioned characters. All of the thrillers and twisted stories of today can’t hold a candle to this classic. Highly recommended.

It was a pretty good month of reading, overall. I surpassed my goal of 75 books for the year by 1 and that’s just fine with me. Those sorts of goals are pretty arbitrary but I do enjoy keeping track so I’m going to set the same goal for 2026.