What I Read in December 2024
December, the final month of the year. What started out as a not so great month of reading finished strong due to travel, vacation, and if I’m being honest, a bit of an escape/distraction. This past month it was my security blanket. A way to channel some of my grief and allow my brain to focus on something else for a bit each day. It was a mixed bag of genres this month: literary fiction, historical drama, dark academia, and psychological suspense. Read on for a closer look at what I read.
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Intermezzo by Sally Rooney
I’d seen this book everywhere and finally gave in—and I’m so glad I did.
I’ll be honest, it started off slow, and it took me a minute to adjust to the writing style, but once I found my rhythm, I was fully invested. At its core, this book is about grief, something that hit especially close to home for me right now. The story follows two brothers as they navigate life after their father’s passing. Each had a very different relationship with him, and now, they’re dealing with loss in very different ways—one spiraling into self-destruction, the other grappling with love, relationships, and what it all really means. The beauty of this book is in its characters—they’re messy, flawed, funny, and painfully real, which made this an emotional, unforgettable read.
Society of Lies by Lauren Ling Brown
Secret societies, wealthy students, and a murder mystery set on Princeton’s campus? Yes, please! This gripping thriller had me hooked from page one. Maya returns to Princeton for her younger sister Naomi’s graduation, a weekend meant to be filled with celebration. But when Naomi turns up dead—and authorities call it an accident—Maya isn’t convinced. As a Princeton alum herself, she can’t shake the feeling that Naomi’s death is connected to something much bigger, something buried deep in her own past. Suddenly, Maya is thrust back into the world of elite secret societies, powerful families, and old-money privilege, where influence can make both problems—and people—disappear. Motives for murder are everywhere, but proving it? That’s another story. With twists and turns at every corner, this book kept me on edge until the very last page
Like Mother, Like Daughter by Kimberly McCreight
Another heart-pounding thriller, I tore through this book in a single day! When Cleo arrives at her mom’s house for dinner, she expects an awkward evening—not a crime scene. But with a bloody shoe on the floor and a pot still simmering on the stove, it’s clear something terrible has happened. Kat is missing, and Cleo is convinced it’s not just a simple disappearance—this is foul play. Cleo and her mom have always had a complicated relationship, but as she digs into Kat’s life, she discovers shocking truths. Turns out, Kat isn’t just an uptight lawyer—she’s a fixer, someone who makes problems disappear. The more Cleo uncovers, the more she realizes just how little she knew about her own mother… and how much they have in common. With twists at every turn, this fast-paced, addictive read kept me glued to the pages until the very last reveal
The Phoenix Crown by Katie Quinn and Janie Chang
Set against the backdrop of the devastating 1906 San Francisco earthquake, The Phoenix Crown follows the days leading up to that fateful moment through the lives of two remarkable women—Gemma, a gifted soprano opera singer, and Suling, a skilled Chinese embroideress. Though their paths cross, they have no idea just how deeply their lives are intertwined.Enter Henry Thornton, a wealthy railroad magnate and avid collector of beautiful artifacts. On the surface, his life is dazzling, dripping with luxury and power—but beneath it all, there’s something undeniably sinister. As fate would have it, both Gemma and Suling find themselves drawn into Henry’s world, each in different but equally entangling ways.Everything seems too good to be true—until the earthquake strikes, shaking not just the city but also the carefully hidden truths that will change everything.This book had me hooked from start to finish, with a pace so gripping I couldn’t put it down. And the ending? Absolutely satisfying!
