Monthly Wrapups

What I’ve been up to in December 🎄Merry Crisis

Caro @ bookcheshirecat

Hello fellow bookworms 🎄 December wasn’t the best month for me, which is a bit of a bummer, as it’s usually my favorite. Between job hunting and everyone in my family getting sick, things just didn’t go well for me. I’m praying that January is a bit better, as I’m in need of some perspectives on how my future will look once I’ve found a job 🙏🏻 Normally I’m posting my 2023 wrapup on New Year’s Eve, but it’ll be a bit delayed this year – this week hasn’t been the best, so I’m still working on it!

Important Resources

Help Palestine: Carrd, Help with one Click, Ceasefire Now, Decolonize Palestine

https://dotherightthing.carrd.co/ ● WHO COVID Guidelines (2023)

Help Turky & Syria ● Help the Ukraine

Support Trans People ● Abortion Access (US)

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whatiread

🔁 = Reread 💌 = Library Books ⌛ = Digital Arc

📚 = #ProjectBacklist 📖 = #DevourYourTBR 😊 = Buddy Read & Book Club

I read 20 books in December! It was a good mix of books this month. I read a ton of festive books (though there are still many more on my TBR) and tackled 8 books from my Owned TBR for #ClearUrSht! 🥰 I lowkey wish I had read even more for the Readathon, but I struggled with concentrating on my reads this month. It might have been the general stress from job hunting, but it was tough to read physical books and not get distracted! Nevertheless, I managed to listen to some audiobooks, tackle some of my Kindle reads and also read some Manga 💕

OOCZUpdate

I read 3 books out of my comfort zone this month! This is probably the month with the least number of books read, but I don’t mind! I didn’t branch out with my genres, as I was mainly reading festive books. I did read three Adult Romances though 😊

  • Make You Mine This Christmas (Lizzie Huxley-Jones) ⭐⭐⭐⭐📚📖
  • A Merry Little Meet Cute (Murphy, Simone) ⭐⭐⭐⭐📚📖
  • All I Want for Christmas (Maggie Knox) ⭐⭐.5 📚📖
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Make You Mine This Christmas by Lizzie Huxley-Jones A Merry Little Meet Cute by Julie Murphy, Sierra Simone Love in Winter Wonderland by Abiola Bello

1. Make You Mine This Christmas (Lizzie Huxley-Jones) ⭐⭐⭐⭐📚📖

2. A Merry Little Meet Cute (Murphy, Simone) ⭐⭐⭐⭐📚📖

3. Winter Wonderland (Abiola Bello) ⭐⭐⭐⭐📚📖🎧

Heartstopper Volume 5 by Alice Oseman Stepfather Christmas: A Festive Countdown Story in 25 Chapters by L.D. Lapinski This Vicious Grace by Emily Thiede

4. Heartstopper Vol 5. (Alice Oseman) ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5📚📖

5. Stepfather Christmas (L.D. Lapinski) ⭐⭐⭐⭐📚📖

6. This Vicious Grace (Emily Thiede) ⭐⭐⭐⭐📚📖🎧

Mislaid in Parts Half-Known by Seanan McGuire All I Want for Christmas by Maggie Knox

7. Mislaid in Parts Half-Known (Seanan McGuire) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⏳📖

8. All I Want for Christmas (Maggie Knox) ⭐⭐.5 📚📖

One Piece, Vol. 9: Tears by Eiichiro Oda One Piece, Vol. 10: OK, Let's Stand Up! by Eiichiro Oda One Piece, Vol. 11: The Meanest Man in the East by Eiichiro Oda

9. One Piece Vol. 9 (Eiichiro Oda) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐💌📖

10. One Piece Vol. 10 (Eiichiro Oda) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐💌📖

11. One Piece Vol. 11 (Eiichiro Oda) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐💌📖

One Piece, Vol. 12: The Legend Begins by Eiichiro Oda A Man and His Cat, Volume 2 by Umi Sakurai The Girl from the Other Side: Siúil, a Rún Vol. 7 by Nagabe

12. One Piece Vol 12. (Eiichiro Oda) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐💌📖

13. A Man and his Cat Vol. 2 (Umi Sakurai) ⭐⭐⭐⭐💌📖

14. The Girl from the Other Side Vol. 7 (Nagabe) ⭐⭐⭐⭐💌📖

 Escape from Aurora by Jamie Littler Rise of the World Eater by Jamie Littler Hollowthorn by Kalyn Josephson

15. Escape from Aurora (Jamie Littler) ⭐⭐⭐⭐💌📖🎧

16. Rise of the World Eater (Jamie Littler) ⭐⭐⭐⭐💌📖🎧

17. Hollowthorn (Kalyn Josephson) ⭐⭐⭐⭐💌📖🎧

The Christmasaurus and the Naughty List by Tom Fletcher Eight Dates and Nights by Betsy Aldredge The Christmas Clash by Suzanne Park

18. The Christmasaurus and the Naughty List (Tom Fletcher) ⭐⭐⭐⭐💌📖

19. Eight Dates and Nights (Betsy Aldredge) ⭐⭐⭐⭐💌📖🎧

20. The Christmas Clash (Suzanne Park) ⭐⭐.5 💌📖🎧

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Favorite Books 💕

One Piece, Vol. 9: Tears by Eiichiro Oda Heartstopper Volume 5 by Alice Oseman

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whatiposted

What I’ve been up to in November 🍂 Job Hunting & the end of Autumn ~ The Winter Wonderland Book Tag ❄️ *wishing for some snow*

Book Review: You’d Be Home Now 💔 Kathleen Glasgow breaks by heart again ~ Cozy Christmas Book Recommendations 🎄 ~ Least Favorite Books 2023 😱 Bring on the unpopular opinions

Favorite TV Shows I watched in 2023 📺 ~ Favorite Books of 2023 🏆 to all the books I’ve loved this year!

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faveposts

For this section I’m sharing my Favorite Blog Posts of the Month 💗

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life stuff

November wasn’t cursed this year, but December might have been. I wasn’t in a festive mood at all due to my continued struggles with job hunting. I still haven’t found a job and the few interviews I had weren’t successful, which was a big disappointment for me. I’ve written 60 applications so far and it feels like I’m starting over in the new year since I’ve either had rejections or didn’t make it farther into the interview process. The longer my job search goes on, the more desperate I get, as right now I cannot imagine ever finding a job! I really want to move out of my childhood bedroom and finally have my privacy again. I also got sick the week before Christmas and my grandmother & father caught COVID during the holidays, so I’m currently hiding out in my room as everyone in our household is sick 😓 I was actually taking a week off from job hunting between the holidays, but obviously I couldn’t relax at all and I’m not feeling recovered for the new year 🙈

🎄 What I Watched in December 🎄

I always watch the most movies in December, but didn’t see as many compared to last year! I also continued watching One Piece (I’m currently on season 4) and checked out some shorter TV series 😊


  • One Piece (S2+3)
  • Arthur Christmas 🔁 (Movie)
  • Home Alone 1 🔁 (Movie)

 

  • Home Alone 2 🔁 (Movie)
  • Christmas with the Kranks 🔁 (Movie)
  • Family Switch (Movie)

  • Last Christmas (Movie)
  • Storm for Christmas (S1)
  • Best. Christmas. Ever! (Movie)

  • I Hate Christmas (S1)
  • All the Light We Cannot See (S1)
  • Dear Child (S1)

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looking ahead

New Year … new hope? 🎆 Normally I love the excitement of the new year, but this time around it’s going to be a quiet start into 2024 as everyone else is still sick. My plans remain the same: I’m continuing my job hunt and I’m praying for some good news soon, as I’m starting to get worried that it’s taking so long to find something! Apart from that, I’m excited to read some good books and continue watching the One Piece anime (I’m not kidding, it’s one of the only things keeping me going right now). I have no idea what January will bring, so let’s hope for the best 🙏🏻

📚 #DevourYourTBR 📚

“Kick off the year with books already on your TBR! If you’ve never read it and you owned it (or had it on your TBR) prior to January 1, 2024, it counts for this challenge.”

© DevourYourTBR

❄️ January TBR ❄️

One of my resolutions for 2024 is to start the month with a TBR of no more than 6 books! 📖 I’m going to read more than the books listed below, but I really needed to get rid of my overambitious TBRs!

Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree Spy x Family: Family Portrait by Aya Yajima, Tatsuya Endo One Piece, Vol. 13: It's All Right! by Eiichiro Oda

  • Bookshops & Bonedust (Abiola Bello) 💌📖💗🎧 (Discord Book Club Pick for January)
  • Spy x Family: Family Portrait (Tatsuya Endo, Aya Yajima) 📚📖
  • One Piece Vol. 13 (Eiichiro Oda) 💌📖

In the Event of Love by Courtney Kae The Getaway List by Emma Lord So, This Is Love by Tracy Andreen

  • In the Event of Love (Courtney Kae) 📚📖💗
  • The Getaway List (Emma Lord) ⏳📖
  • So, This Is Love (Tracy Andreen) 💌📖

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What were you up to in December? What are you planning to read first in 2024? Any goals for the new year? I hope you’re doing well! 🎄

Published by Caro @ bookcheshirecat

17 thoughts on “What I’ve been up to in December 🎄Merry Crisis”

  1. Aw see you read some Christmas books this December. Sad to see some were a bust. I had that happen with one of the Christmas books I read too. Also, what did you think of Best. Christmas. Ever! ? I see Brandy was in that movie. Huge fan of her from her Cinderella days.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. I’m glad that there were at least some great reads among the Christmas books! 😊 I enjoyed Best. Christmas. Ever, but it didn’t really blow me away – I think it just tried to tackle too many things and felt rushed in the end 🙈

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  2. I wish you a very good 2024! And all the best with the job search!! I also hope everyone has a speedy recovery! It really does sound like you’ve been through it this December 😔

    I’ve just picked up this vicious grace, so it’s great to see you have it 5 stars 😄

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  3. I’m sorry December wasn’t the best for you, I hope everyone is feeling better and good luck with your job search!

    I keep forgetting that the 2nd book in Hollowthorn series is already released. Also, what do you think of the audiobook for These Vicious Grace? I want to read it but couldn’t find the time so I might pick up the audiobook…

    Thanks for sharing my post and hope you have a better January! ❤

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Thank you, everyone is feeling much better! ❤️
      Hollowthorn was really good and I think there is also going to be a third book! I really liked the audiobook for This Vicious Grace, the narrator was great 😊

      I hope you have a good January as well! 🥰

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  4. I’m so sorry to hear that December was so rough for you, Caro. The job hunt struggle is so real and it’s honestly one of the only things that’s keeping me in my current job right now. Maybe it won’t help you feel better but you’re not alone in your struggle to find work. Keep on keeping on and I know you’ll find something! I’m sending all the good positive vibes your way and I hope that it happens soon for you! 🫂 At least it seems like you had a great end to your year of reading (save for the two duds). I hope 2024 will be an amazing year full of positivity, success and amazing reads, too. 🎉✨💜 Thanks so much for featuring my posts!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. I’m so sorry December didn’t go well for you! Job hunting really is so difficult, you have my sympathy. Sending you all my best wishes that your luck changes soon 🥰

      I hope your family recovers quickly and that the new year starts feeling like a fresh start for you ❤️ Your TBR looks good, and I’m glad you’ve been enjoying One Piece! The size of the series intimidates me too much to start it, but I’m planning to read more of some other manga series this year.

      My main goal for this year is to read more books than I buy each month. I think it should be a good way to keep my TBR under control! 😁 Wishing you all the best for the new year Caro 🥰

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      1. Thank you, Abi! 💗 The job hunt is tricky right now, I hope that I get some good news soon 🙏🏻 Luckily, my family has recovered and we’re having a better January!

        One Piece has SO much content, but it’s also nice to have a lot to look forward to 🥰 I hope you have fun with the new Manga series you’re reading!
        Reading more books than you buy sounds like a great goal – best of luck!! I hope you had a good start into the new year ❤️

        Liked by 1 person

    2. Thank you so much for the kind words, Dini! 🥺❤️ The job hunt is tough right now and I’m glad to hear that I’m not the only one struggling right now! Sending lots of hugs to you as well 🥰

      I hope you’ll be having a great 2024 as well! 🙏🏻💗

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  5. I’m sorry it’s been rough for you, Caro! Especially since you love Christmas so much, and you couldn’t enjoy it now. I hope you and your family have a speedy recovery! And I wish you strength for the ongoing job hunt!
    Happy New Year, fingers crossed January will be better!

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  6. My dear Caro!!! 🥹 First, thank you very much for highlighting my posts in your beautiful blog, you know I deeply appreciate it 😍😍😍 & second, all the best for you in your job search, I am still in the same situation but I have the feeling that soon this will change for both of us, you will see that this 2024 will bring wonderful news. 👏🏻✨️👏🏻✨️
    And of course, hope you enjoy your readings this January!🥰

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    Reply
  7. Pingback: 2023 End of Year Survey – Parts II & III – dinipandareads

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