December Wrap-Up // All the Holiday Romances and Christmas Movies

~ Marissa @ Just a Little Lit Nerd

Hi friends!

THIS YEAR IS FINALLY OVER!

I’m trying to keep my hopes and expectations for 2021 low because I was one of the many people who was like “2020 will be my year” and we all saw how that went 💀🤡

But I’m definitely glad to be saying goodbye to 2020 and I think it shows in this month’s wrap-up because I read 14 books and I’m currently finishing 2 more. And I still managed to watch countless hours of tv and holiday movies while still posting pretty consistently on my blog and I don’t know where I found all that time but I’m glad to be ending the year on a relatively positive note!

So without further ado here’s this months wrap-up and I hope y’all have a happy new year!

Booked for Christmas by Lily Menon // I’ve never been a big novella person (I always just end up wanting more) but I’m so glad I picked this one up! It was a cute little holiday story and I honestly feel like it was the perfect length for just a little fluff. I’m even more excited now for her adult rom-com Make Up Break Up coming out Feb. 2!

In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren // This reminded me why I love Christina Lauren and it had all my favorite tropes and truly felt like a hallmark movie in book form. If you love childhood friends to lovers and festive vibes than check out this book!

These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong // This was one of my most anticipated reads of 2020 and it did not disappoint. I am still trying to wrap my head around this book and I can’t wait to read it again and I’ll be counting down the days until the next book (I need answers asap pls!) eventually I’ll put my thoughts together into a cohesive enough post but until then just trust me (and literally everyone) who says you should check out this book. It’s a fun, genre-bending lovers-enemies-reluctant-partners Romeo and Juliet retelling set in 1920s Shanghai complete with rival gangs and mysterious monsters.

To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han // This was on my winter tbr as a reread and it’s the first time I’ve read the books since the movies came out and I honestly forgot how good of an adaptation it is. I mean obviously they had to make some changes for length and movie entertainment sakes but the general plotline is the same which is more than I can say for other adaptations (looking at you PJO 👀).

You Deserve Each Other by Sarah Hogle // This was so good. I already want to reread it and it’s probably going to go on my list of fave (or at least comfort) romance reads for when I just need a good laugh and fun romance.

✨Related Posts: My review of In a Holidaze

One Way or Another by Kara McDowell // I have so many feelings about this book and there was a point almost halfway through that I almost put it down, but ultimately I stuck with it and I do think the ending redeemed it to some extent. Mostly, as someone with anxiety I thought it would be reassuring to read anxiety rep (it has in the past) but living in Paige’s headspace was a lot more than I expected from what I thought was a holiday romance story so I would just tread cautiously with this one.

Legendborn by Tracy Deonn // I can’t even comprehend this book yet. Also I didn’t realize it was just book 1 until like halfway through when I got this feeling like there would be a cliffhanger and looked it up so now much like TVD I will be counting down the days until book 2. But also like TVD I feel like the ending definitely has me hooked to read the next book when it comes out, but it wasn’t so cliffhangery that I’m dying of suspense? I’ll unpack that more when I get to my review! (no spoilers though of course)

Wrapped Up in You by Talia Hibbert // This was everything I’ve come to expect from Talia’s romances with fun characters who have been through a lot and just want love and happiness wrapped up in a nice wintery setting with a lot of cats, childhood friends, and one of my favorite himbo heros 🥺 Honestly, I wish this was a full novel not just a novella because I want more of the characters and their relationship, but it was still long enough to be a satisfying read and not feel too rushed!

The Christmas Fix by Lucy Score // This is the third Lucy Score book I’ve read and it had her telltale bad ass heroine and grumpy hero that are resistant to the idea of love especially with each other. It was also filled with top-notch banter (this is border line hate-to-love) and some steamy scenes 👀 that were honestly unexpected from the way the hero was presented. All in all if you’re a fan of hallmark Christmas movies and watching home shows ala HGTV then check this book out as they work together to save a small town after a hurricane leave it wrecked just weeks before they’re big Christmas festival.

Dash and Lily’s Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan // This was a reread partly out of nostalgia, partly because a new book just came out, and mostly because I wanted to reread it before I watched the show. I have read this book countless times and I still forget just how much happens in the span of such a small book, but it never feels rushed and the timeline makes sense for the story and the back and forth nature. But it was just as good as I remembered and was just a fun read for the season.

Merry Inkmas by Talia Hibbett // I didn’t register that this was a novella (or at least a really short novel at 200 pages) until I was almost halfway through but much like Talia’s other works the characters were lovely and their back and forth was understandable. That being said they both had serious trauma from their childhoods that was somewhat acknowledged but especially for the heroine I felt like I wanted a little more before they got into a relationship.

A Match Made for Thanksgiving by Jackie Lau // This is the first novella in the Holidays with the Wongs series and introduces the family dynamics namely how the parents and grandparents of the four Wong children are determined to set them all up starting with blind dates for Thanksgiving. What they didn’t plan for was the date they arranged for Greg, the oldest son, being the most recent one night stand of Nick who hasn’t been able to get her out of his head.

A Second Chance Road Trip for Christmas by Jackie Lau // The Wongs are very familiar with romance books and their tropes so when they are faced with the chance to pair Greg up with his high school sweetheart on a drive home for Christmas it seems like the perfect opportunity for a second chance romance. Greg and Tasha are determined not to revisit the past, but when a snowstorm strands them in a motel with an unheated room and only one bed, it might be hard to ignore that they still share a connection.

P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han // As I said above I couldn’t help comparing this reread to the movies and it was actually a favorable comparison obviously in an ideal world the movie would be exactly as we picture in our head while reading but since that’s pretty much impossible I’ll accept this result. As I was reading I remembered why it was such a strong love triangle and why choosing John Ambrose seemed like a viable option and in general I appreciate the way it all goes down. Also I forgot how much sex is talked about and that the book doesn’t shy away from these conversations or saying Fuck and ngl I wish that was part of the movie. I hate feeling bad for Gen but this book gets me every time (seriously Lara Jean is too pure for this world).

Currently reading: Serpent and Dove (audiobook) – yes I am still listening to this 💀, Always and Forever, Lara Jean, and Twelve Days of Dash and Lily

Here are some books that I released over the last month that I added to my TBR! You can also check out my February releases post here!

My Top December 2020 Releases!

  • How to Fail at Flirting by Denise Williams // I was so happy to receive an arc of this in November and it was so good! I love when romances tackle serious subjects while still managing to be light and fun and this book is that perfect balance with an in depth look at intimate partner violence and the world of academia but also all the puns and dad jokes you could want in a rom-com. I loved this couple and the way their relationship developed and I wasn’t expecting such a suspenseful subplot from a story that had me constantly laughing. (check out my full review here)
  • Heiress Apparently by Diana Ma // This was a recent add to my tbr but I’m no less excited because stories about chasing your dreams, family secrets, and a doppelganger/long lost family situation? Sounds right up my alley!
  • Admission by Julie Buxbaum // With everything going on the last few years with college admission scandals (meaning getting caught and actually facing *some* consequences cause lets be real rich people have been paying their kids ways into school forever) this book immediately had me like 👀 because I think it would be interesting to unpack the mindset of the teen and this book looks like it’ll explore what I’ve always wondered which is how much do these kids know and if they didn’t (or ignored it) how does it feel for the world to know your parents felt the need to cheat for you? Obviously, this is fiction but still 🤔
  • Ten Rules for Faking It by Sophie Sullivan // A potential grumpy boss hero? An anxiety riddled heroine recovering from a romantic blow? A list to follow to achieve dreams/find happiness/be cool? This book was a no hesitation add to my tbr.
  • The Love Curse of Melody McIntyre by Robin Talley // I love books about theatre and stage life because it almost always guarantees some drama and hijinks as well as the opportunity for romance and this book sounds like it hits all those notes with the added bonus of a “love curse” or at least a continuing pattern that every time the mc falls in love with a performer the performance ends in disaster.

If you haven’t already, check out my Winter TBR post which I’ll be continuing through January! I got a little sidetracked this month because of library holds that I couldn’t resist (looking at you, You Deserve Each Other and Legendborn 👀). So I’m hoping to continue tackling my reread tbr as well as these books!

Here’s just a little glimpse at some of the things I watched last month!

  • Merlin // I had already started rewatching this series when I picked up Legendborn which honestly made the whole experience with both of them even better.
  • Are You The One // I’ve already watched most of this series but my friend has never watched it and we wanted something to watch after finishing Love Island and decided on this and I forgot how classic MTV this show is 😂
  • Big Time Rush // I have no regrets and no shame in rewatching this show. I saw it on hulu and just couldn’t resist the pure serotonin this show gives me.
  • Happiest Season // I lowered my expectations significantly after seeing the initial reaction to this movie so I wasn’t as caught off guard by the more toxic elements of the movie but I was still shocked by just how wacky the family was and the whole dynamic. Dan Levy and Kristen Stewart were truly iconic though and made the movie worthwhile for me.
  • The Prom // Some of the casting choices for this movie were weird (looking at you James Corden and Kerry Washington as the homophobic PTA leader 👀) but overall it was a fun movie and Meryl Streep was amazing as always and I loved the mall scene and overall it was a good time!
  • 30+ Christmas movies // ranging from the “classics” to Netflix to Hallmark and Lifetime and yeah the plots are predictable but that’s part of the fun for me it’s just fun, often fluffy entertainment and I enjoy them for the same reason I enjoy romance books which is the predictability and near-guarantee of a HEA. Also it makes the story all about the characters and their chemistry and that’s what keeps me hooked.
  • If you’re like me and just finished reading (and loving) These Violent Delights and Legendborn (seriously if you haven’t read them yet do so now) you’re probably looking for more diverse retellings of the classics and you’re in luck! Varian over @ The Quiet Pond put together a list of 20 Diverse and Modern Retellings of Old Classics (the list also includes some upcoming releases to keep an eye out for!)
  • CW @ The Quiet Pond also put together a wonderful post for Writing That Book Review When You Feel Out of Your Depth. In general I highly recommend checking out The Quiet Pond’s Blogging Resources because I found them super helpful when I was setting my blog up and still find it helpful now when I find myself stuck or overthinking something!
  • Shealea over @ Shut Up Shealea is amazing and a blessing to this community because she took the time and energy (because this could not have been easy) to put together a FREE Database of 2021 Asian-Authored Releases that’s color coded and organized and last I checked at 158 entries 🤯 so check it out and share with your friends! (And follow Shealea if you aren’t already because her content is always insightful and fun!)
  • Marie @ Drizzle and Hurricane Books highlighted 28 YA Books For 2021 and honestly I couldn’t agree more with this list and it features many books that I didn’t get to in my top 10!

One of my goals for 2021 is to blog more consistently and to also be ahead on my content so I can ~hopefully~ feel less stressed so I wanted to add this section to my monthly wrap-up as a way of planning ahead and giving everyone a preview of what’s to come!

Reviews

  • You Deserve Each Other
  • These Violent Delights
  • Legendborn
  • Wings of Ebony (I got an arc and almost cried)

Misc.

  • January Releases on my TBR
  • Plans and Goals for 2021
  • Book recs based on Taylor Swift songs (I’m looking at 30 songs 👀 right now)
  • Things I Shouldn’t Feel Guilty for (But Do) // Reading Romance: From Guilty Pleasure to My Favorite Rant

💫What did you read/watch/love in December? What are you looking forward to in January/the new year?

Published by Marissa @ Just a Little Lit Nerd

Leave a comment