December Reading Report
Realistic romance novels & heavy hitting literary fiction
Welcome to The Eclectic Reader’s monthly reading report, where I share a handful of books I read across a variety of genres. In December, I continued to preview winter and spring romance releases for a special project (news coming soon), but I managed to sneak in a few just-for-fun backlist reads and a couple of 2023’s biggest literary fiction titles. Let’s review!
Out on a Limb by Hannah Bonam-Young. This would have snuck into my favorite romance novels of 2023 if I’d read it just a little sooner. Of course when independent Win McNulty finally ditches her inhibitions for a one night stand, it results in an unexpected pregnancy. Never one to shy away from a challenge, Win decides to parent this baby with the help of her friends—now she just needs to tell the father. It turns out, Bo couldn’t be a better candidate for co-parent. He steps up to help Win in any way he can; it’s just up to Win to let someone take care of her with no strings attached. I loved how realistic and rooted these characters—and their friends—felt on the page, and witnessing Win (who was born with a limb difference) and Bo (who recently had his leg amputated due to bone cancer) fall in love and grapple with how parenthood might look different for them was an emotionally satisfying experience.
Love at First by Kate Clayborn. Following Love Lettering is a tough job—I loved that book so much! But I also enjoyed this title from Clayborn’s backlist and intend to keep reading through her catalog. With Shakespeare references, an apartment building full of delightful characters, and a handsome ER doctor, this romance belongs in everyone’s winter book basket OR summer beach bag. Will Sterling inherits his uncle’s old Chicago apartment and decides to sublet the place, much to the chagrin of his fellow residents and Nora, the building’s new landlord. Although they clash over renovations, Nora and Will soon find an irresistible attraction growing between them. For Will, it’s even more: when he was a young boy, he spotted Nora on her grandmother’s balcony in this very same apartment building, and he never forgot about his dream girl. Fusing magic and fate with grounded reality is Clayborn’s specialty, in addition to crafting lovely scenes like a backyard poetry slam.
Wellness by Nathan Hill. Audio was definitely the way to go (for me) for this buzzy literary tome. I enjoyed listening and letting myself be swept away in the flashbacks and tangents associated with the main couple, Jack and Elizabeth. The book is about their love story, their marriage, and their journey into mid life, but it’s also about America, algorithms, ambition, and inherited family trauma. I doubt I would have finished this book if not for Ari Fliakos’ narration, but literary fiction has been working well for me via audiobook, and I’m carrying that note for my reading life into the new year.
The Do-Over series by Julia Kent. Look, sometimes you just need to marathon-read a silly little romance series from Hoopla. These books were like popcorn, but they were also a bit like Gilmore Girls—lots of quick-talking banter and a small town setting. Each book follows a different member of a core friend group as they deal with their own 15 minutes of fame situations and subsequent romantic entanglements.
Let Us Descend by Jesmyn Ward. Will a book by Ward ever NOT blow me away? I don’t think so. Her gift for words is exquisite, and you can feel the way she poured her own grief onto the pages of her most recent novel. The story follows Annis as she journeys deeper and deeper south to the slave pens of New Orleans, mirroring Dante’s trek to the depths of hell. Torn apart from her mother, Annis stays connected to her memory through the spirit world, summoning all her strength from stories of her warrior grandmother. If you read—or intend to read—this novel you must listen to Traci’s interview with Ward on The Stacks podcast.
Currently Reading
The Custom of the Country by Edith Wharton. Twice a year, our Novel Pairings community reads a longer classic novel, broken into manageable chunks. We share a reading schedule, recap bonus episodes, classes, and book club discussions to foster a deeper, slower reading experience. This tradition began with Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry, led to The Odyssey translated by Emily Wilson, and now continues with a glittering and gossipy gilded age novel by Edith Wharton.
and I would love for you to join us! Get all the details on our Novel Pairings Substack or these IG posts: about the readalong & our winter schedule.Ruthless Vows by Rebecca Ross !!! See my glowing review of Divine Rivals here.
What did you read in December?
Bookish Links
One of my favorite TBR-building lists: 75 books by women of color to read in 2024. (Electric Literature)
The fine art of the paperback makeover—something I’ve been curious about! (NYT)
The ten biggest literary stories of the year. (LitHub)
25 most anticipated 2024 books. (TIME)
A pep talk from Maggie Smith. (For Dear Life)
Cozy tales for chilly days. (Readable Moments)
ICYMI
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To find out more about my current reads, favorite things, and life updates follow me on Instagram. If you’re interested in reading classic literature with accessible guidance and a cozy community, check out the Novel Pairings podcast and Patreon.
I'm currently reading Wellness and doing a mix of audio and print which is really working for me. I loved seeing all your romance recs. I read a lot of filler rom coms in December lol. Hopefully getting to Let Us Descend soon too!
I thoroughly enjoyed Love at First also. I love stories with a cast of characters like the ones in this novel. I've got Kate's next novel, Georgie All Along, in my TBR pile.