Welcome to my December reading list. This is my last reading list of 2025. It would be lovely to go out with a bang but I’m back to balanacing studying for my master’s with everything else I usually do. It’s my last year though, so I don’t really mind. In October I was on course for meeting my goal of reading 150 books in a year. However, my master’s started mid-way through October and my reading decreased in line with its workload. Sigh. This means I haven’t quite reached my goal. However, I have read significantly more than my highest number of 100 books in a year, so yay me!
A Note About Colour Codes
Throughout this December reading list, you’ll notice that I have coloured the list of books. Firstly, the pink books denote fiction books. I am not keen on fiction books as a rule. In 2023 I read 100 books and over 60 of them were non-fiction. I had to work really hard at getting in the fiction I did read and I tended to find an author I liked and then read a few of their books.
This year, I want to throw my net wider, so to speak. The goal is to try out lots of different authors and genres. So, I want at least half of my books to be fiction books. And I shall try to read books from different authors…
Next, I have used a beige colour to denote the non-fiction. I literally never struggle to find non-fiction books I want to read! This is because there are so many things I am interested in and so little time!
And lastly, I have used a violet colour for the books I shall be dipping into each month. These are non-fiction. In fact, they are mostly nature themed books created to be read over each month or season, rather than being read all at once.
I’ve not written any notes this month. I’ve started back at my master’s having taken last year out to make sure I was around for mum who was being treated for cancer. All’s well at the moment so I figured I’d go back and finally complete it! This means less time so, although I have graded them I have not given my opinion.
December Reading List: Non-fiction Books
Wintering by Katherine May
This was a reread and is definitely a book I will be reading every year in December. It’s a lovely book whose message can be considered deeply or simply as a recommendation to slow down just as nature does during the winter months. I loved it the first time round and I loved it as much second go. 5/5
The Boy Who Was Raised as a Dog, 3rd Edition: And Other Stories from a Child Psychiatrist’s Notebook – What Traumatised Children Can Teach Us About Loss, Love, and Healing by Bruce D. Perry and Maia Szalavitz
This was a FANTASTIC book. Oh my goodness, it has so much heart and so much to teach us. My dissertation is on therapeutic parenting which is based on attachment theory. Perry makes the link between attachment and healing from trauma in a very tangible and easy to read manner. This deserves so much more than 5/5. It really is that good.
Walking in the Woods: Go back to nature with the Japanese way of shinrin-yoku by Yoshifumi Miyazaki
This was a very interesting book from a cultural perspective. As i get older, I am learning to be more and more appreciative of all that nature has to offer us. The parallels between the way the Japanese carry out their tea ceremonies and their appreciation of tree through tree bathing is so interesting and again is a reminder to slow down and enjoy the journey, whatever you might be doing at any given time. 3/4
Wild Signs and Star Paths: A must-have for all nature lovers – perfect reading for your winter adventures by Tristan Gooley
I can not even begin to tell you how special this book is. Gooley has committed himself to the life long journey of studying nature in all its majesty. His writings are his way of sharing all he has found. He writes so beautifully and for anybody who may be slightly obsessed with the natural world, this is a stunner of a book. Oh, and he’s written lots more books on the subject which I feel will show up in my reading over the next year or so. 5/5
Ebb and Flow: A Guide to Seasonal Living by Tiffany Francis-Baker
This is such a beautiful book. It’s going to be added to my ‘read every year’ pile. The illustrations are lovely and, as a hard back, it’s a beautiful book to own. 5/5
December Reading List: Fiction Books
A Murder is Announced (Marple, Book 5) (Miss Marple Series) by Agatha Christie
I find any Agatha Christie book comforting and familiar so I give this 5/5 simply because of that. It’s like wearing a comfy pair of slippers. A lovely bedtime read.
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by J.K. Rowling
This was one of those books I just felt I should have read. I don’t know why I was surprised that I enjoyed it as much as I did. Perhaps because I don’t usually enjoy fantasy books. It was really good though and I suspect I’ll be reading more in the months to come. 4/5
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
I’ve read this many times and just fancied some easy reading for my December. It’s a perfect Christmas read and is, as expected, excellent 5/5
Books I’ll Be Reading Every Month
Each month I’ve talked about books I aimed to read throughout the year. Apart from Daemon Voices, which I read before, possibly last year, I read all of these. I had aimed to go through it again and annotate but I wasn’t entirely successful in that endeavour.
Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady by Edith Holden
The Cottage Book by Sir Edward Grey
The Almanac: A Seasonal Guide to 2025 by Lia Leendertz
The Cottage Fairy Companion by Paola Merrill
Daemon Voices: Essays on Storytelling By: Philip Pullman
I hope you have enjoyed my December reading list. If you’d like to take a look at the books I read in 2023 and 2024, please do visit my Books Read Over the Years Page. I shall endeavour to share one of these posts each month.
So, How Many Books Have I Read in 2025?
The goal was 150. My best up until now was 100. So, how many did I manage in 2025? Drum roll please…. I’ve read a grand total of 113 books. So, 37 less than my goal. But, I’m still pretty happy with all I managed. It’s been a good year reading-wise, with some definites that I know I’ll be rereading.
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