My first and last reads from 2025. Two books from ToB lists.

I think I finally have my #BookSpinBingo list together for January. I‘ll tag the titles in the comments.

I had a good reading month in December, but pretty much switched from my TBR to mood reads halfway through the month. Basically I‘ve been living off cookies and novels for two weeks. Looking forward to getting back to normal in 2026. At least I did read my book spin and double spin.

#12Booksof2025 @TheEllieMo

Another perfect summer read that takes me back to long nights on my porch in July. This book was written in the 90‘s but sadly it talks about a lot of the things we still struggle with now. I‘d like to listen to it on audio someday because I could hear the voices very strongly as I read.

An excellent audiobook, and a great choice for last read of the year. I loved all of the letters and the book reference. I will probably listen to this again before #WinterCampLitsy

#ToB26 long list (and though I love it I forgive them for not putting it on the short list.)

@hooked_on_books @barbarabb @chelsea.Poole @squirrelbrain @sarahbarnes @chaoticmissadventures @bkclubcare @deblovestoread @merelybookish @ChaoticMissAdventures

In no particular order, my top 12 from 2025 ( assuming I don‘t finish any more today.)

Day 1 of #Welcome2026Readathon went well despite having to work. It helped that there were only two of us in and I had plenty of audiobook time. Hoping tomorrow is the same.

Picture is “The Awakening” at National Harbor.

Gah, I need to know what happens and my headphones are down to 20%! Come on little guys just get me to the end and then you can charge!

Ramona really was a little brat in this one huh? These audiobooks read by Stockard Channing are balm to my soul. #192025 1955 @Librarybelle

Good morning! Back to work for me today, but I did take advantage of the slower pace of late December to read some ghost stories and noir from the December holidays. Hoping to finish these two books before midnight tomorrow.

#12Booksof2025 @TheEllieMo

For me this was a perfect summer read. I can feel the warmth of my front porch in June just thinking about it.

#12Booksof2025 @TheEllieMo

Novels in verse aren‘t my norm, but I read this for #RiseUpReads and ended up loving it.

Just finished an epic game of train dominoes with my parents and kids in which I did not come in last for once. Now I‘m settling in to read and drink mint tea. I don‘t go back to work until Tuesday so I‘m nice and relaxed tonight. #hyggehour

#12Booksof2025 @TheEllieMo

This was just a fun book. Plus I always give bonus points to books about non political people living in and around Washington, DC.

Low pick. This series is either starting to jump the shark or Louise Penny has her finger on the pulse of what is going to happen between the US and Canada. Who knows these days. Either way this was not the hopeful cozy mystery I was looking for and it took me a long time to read. Also one nitpick- I can‘t believe so many educated people including a librarian wouldn‘t know the story line to Animal Farm.

My favorite read from March and perhaps my favorite from the year was Beautyland. #12Booksof2025 @TheEllieMo

It brings me joy to listen to this audiobook around Christmas. I just love the thought of the whole world watching something amazing. I prefer the audiobook for this one because the ending has recordings from the mission including the astronauts reading from Genesis on Christmas Day.

I‘m kicking off the day with leftover soup for breakfast and still reading the latest Louise Penny. It‘s my daughter‘s 15th so I can‘t read for long, but hopefully I‘ll get a few chapters in.

Look what my husband‘s aunt gave me. Yes the one who always interrupts me to say “Do you actually like reading? Isn‘t it boring?” I feel so seen. Also a few bookish gifts from friends. No books from my immediate family because they actually have to live with me and my hoard 🤣

#5JoysFriday @DebinHawaii

1) this bowl of candy has been making me smile. The foil looks so festive and reminds me of childhood
2) indoor fockey season in full swing. I love this sport so much if my daughter ever quits I will still go to the games.
3) pics of uncles doing uncle stuff on FB
4) driving around to see the lights with the huz
5) beautiful sunset last night

Bonus: my Litsy friends. How would I survive without you?

Anyone in for a New Year‘s Readathon?

Join me for #26in26 - the aim is to read 26 hours, 26 chapters, 26 pages, whatever works for you!

#12Booksof2025 @TheEllieMo

A modern classic that was so scarily predictive of the present. A re-read for me.

One last piece of cake before I put on my stretchy pants and retire to the couch with my mystery. The chocolate almond cake I made from Julia Child‘s book was amazing even if I couldn‘t get it out of the pan.

#12Booksof2025 @TheEllieMo

My favorite from January- this book surprised me (in a good way.)

Have a great day everyone. We are packing up the car since the in laws decided to host after my husband laid down the law 😂 Fine by me!

Thank you so much for this @alexus_sb

The treats look great, and the book look perfect for a cold winter night.

@MaleficentBookDragon thanks for hosting once again!

I have one hour and 5 minutes left in my audiobook and my wish is to be done wrapping and I bed with my jolabokaflood by then.

We do not care that you‘re hurt that my husband told you Christmas Eve or Christmas but we can‘t host you for both. You‘re 52. Time to learn that Santa doesn‘t exist and it‘s time to start picking up some of the emotional labor for these multi day holiday experiences you crave (not to mention the bill.) #WDNCW

Daisy takes her job of lap cat seriously and comes running when she sees me getting set up to read. #CatsofLitsy

When your 48 year old body wakes up at 5:30 on Christmas Eve hungry for roasted carrots you give it what it wants. #TreatYoSelf

That love is a mystery and that love is the mystery that makes things happen.

I‘m getting a little sick of cookies for breakfast but I‘m not ready to go back to eating responsibly yet. So bagel with butter it is. Our house guests hit some bad traffic yesterday and ended up staying somewhere else so it‘s an unexpectedly quiet morning for me to catch up on some reading before work. 6 day weekend starts tomorrow!

Why had we learned to hurry through every day when every day was all we had?

Yesterday was a great but exhausting day (field hockey tournament in the morning, husband‘s work friends over in the evening, cleaning and prep in between.) I sat down for hygge hour at 8 and fell right to sleep. I‘m making up for it this morning before work. #hygeehour

It felt like King could have been describing social media and the terrible hold it has over some young men when he was talking about Arnie and Christine. Creepy.

This book always reminds me of the Chevy Nova my mom had when I was 13. She was warming it up one day when it somehow slipped out of gear, drove into the street, and hit a kid who was driving illegally the day before he was to get his license. #192025 #losersclub

In honor of #FoodAndLit #Italy I made spumoni cookies. I am in love with them- they will definitely go in my every year rotation. Definitely worth the effort to make the 3 separate doughs. https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/spumoni-cookies/

It was a little hard to keep track of the characters in this one, and although it was billed as a Christmas cozy Christmas was really only tacked on at the end. So-so but not bad enough for me to abandon the series completely. #ThematicCozies @julieclair

This book was haunting and just short enough so that the confusion of not knowing exactly what was going on didn‘t make me want to quit. It touched on the generational trauma of the Jeju massacre, which is something the world doesn‘t know enough about. Grateful for books that share hidden history. #TOB26

@hooked_on_books @barbarabb @chelsea.Poole @squirrelbrain @sarahbarnes @chaoticmissadventures @bkclubcare @deblovestoread @merelybookish

#5JoysFriday @DebinHawaii

Thankful for this weekly exercise that reminded me that things really did happen even if it did all pass in a blur.

1) Cat was not missing. She was simply taking a deep nap in the closet.
2) A nice coating of snow
3) Impromptu marching band from kiddos singing sea shanties into wrapping paper tubes. They‘re almost grown but sometimes still act little
4) Toast with jelly
5) Battery operated candles with timers

Each December my company gives each of us a $100 bill. My brilliant coworker has determined that the only place in the neighborhood that will break a $100 is the bookstore. Sorry family I will be late for dinner tonight.

#MyLitsyAwards thanks @CSeydel

(I switched a Trapped in a spooky house book for Auld Lang Spine since I can never get it together enough to participate this time of year.)

It was a good reading year overall even if my concentration wasn‘t always the best.

I‘m late for #hyggehour but I guess it‘s to be expected this time of year. I just put the last bit of laundry away, and I‘m finally settling down. This should be the last busy week at work, and I‘m ready for it. I also have my last physical therapy appointment this week. What a year this has been. Tonight‘s hour will be spent finishing up this book and voting for #wintercamp2026

Thank you hygge hosts for the best hour of the week.

The house is quiet, and I‘ve got a book, a cat, a Christmas movie, and nowhere to go tomorrow. I think I‘ll stay up a little longer.

#jolabokaflod swap and #wintercardswap envelopes are out.

#5JoysFriday @DebinHawaii

This week flew!

1) snow flurries at the metro yesterday
2) cats doing weird things like wearing glasses and sitting in the shower and refusing to move
3) this ornament that @Cuilin sent last year looks gorgeous in the sun
4) winter sunsets
5) cookies for breakfast

Happy Friday everyone!

Getting down to the wire for #192025 so I listened to this short book from 1964 today.

A sweet memoir of the life of a child growing up on a farm in Iowa during the depression. I first read this in 2008. Seemed like it was time again. #ReadingUSA

This was a wild ride! I will never scroll through Instagram in the same way again.

I pulled out the Dutch oven and made white beans and tomatoes for dinner tonight. It was easy and delicious with bread and salad. #FoodAndLit #Italy

https://bellieskitchen.com/cheesy-white-bean-tomato-bake/?utm_source=pinterest&u...

Got the tree up now settling in for #hyggehour

I got a big chunk of my to do list crossed off this weekend, and some missing packages magically appeared so I‘m feeling pretty ready for the week ahead. I‘m tired though so I‘m going to use this hour to clear my mind and read a mystery.