I Read: The Best of Archie Christmas Comics

The Best of Archie Christmas Comics

Picked this up to get in the holiday mood - I always forget how amusing Archie comics can be and I'd never even considered that there would be enough Christmas-themed ones to make a collection.  But this feels like a good way to round out the end of my reading year. I'm over my self-imposed double-my-reading-challenge goal, and now I can just read whatever I read. 

#101-2021

I Read: 5 More Sleeps to Christmas

5 More Sleeps to Christmas by Jimmy Fallon

The sweetest thing I read all year - the illustrations just make this perfect. And this year, there was an animated special on television as well.  I might choose to read this on the 20th of December every year. A new tradition of sorts. 

#100-2021

I Read: A Christmas to Remember

A Christmas to Remember by Jenny Hale

This story had a lot of potential - the plot was as if I was reading a Hallmark holiday movie.  But the female main character was a bit painful. If I knew her, I definitely wouldn't like her. She was indecisive and hypocritical, and it just became painful. I wanted to like her, and I wanted the happy ending but there was a lot of coming and going and incredible decisions in the middle. 

I think I'll probably pass on making this an annual holiday read - I can just watch a holiday movie instead. 

#99-2021

I Read: In a Holidaze

In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren

This one was unexpected. Another one that I picked up because it was on sale at Book Outlet, and it was seasonal, but I really, really enjoyed it. 

I don't think I even read the back cover before I started reading; if I did, it definitely didn't leave an impression that was close to how this book unfolded. 

It's fun and quirky with some romance and a little bit of "time travel." (And yes, I put quotes on that for a reason. It's not really time travel, but there's not an easier word for what it is.)

The characters are believable, and it's fun to read how they adapt to crazy situations. 

Fun holiday read? Definitely CHECK.

#98-2021

I Read: The Twelve Dates of Christmas

The Twelve Dates of Christmas by Jenny Bayliss

Book Outlet had a sale that included a bunch of quirky holiday romance novels, so I gained a few of those this year. This was the first of them that I read. It's a cute book, and even if you know where it's going to end up, it's fun to play along with the story. 

Maybe it's just me who likes to guess the final outcome though. The characters are well enough written for the speed of the book, and even the town and a car become characters of their own. I admire the author's ability to bring a scene to life even when it's not really consequential to the grander story. 

Fun holiday romance?  Check.

#97-2021

I Read: Esio Trot & Billy and the Minpins

Esio Trot and Billy and the Minpins by Roald Dahl

Finishing up the Roald Dahl box set, with two that I've read before. I really do kind of love Esio Trot, because it's sort of a sweet story. (I also love the wordplay of the title.)

But really, how does he live with all those tortoises?

Billy and the Minpins is kind of a fluffy story for me. There's not much spectacularly interesting about it, though it is an enjoyable read. I'm sure parents don't love the idea that this proves it's not always important to follow the rules, but overall it's also a cute story. 

#95-2021 & #96-2021

I Read: Because It's Christmas

Because it's Christmas by Kathryn Shay

Heading into the Christmas season, this one was a free download on my Kobo app, so I grabbed it as a quick read. I needed a bit more seasonal joy as the month of December started. 

It's a typical Harlequin-style romance and is apparently the second in a series. I don't imagine the first book is seasonal like this one, but I also don't really have any intention of reading any more of the series. It was enjoyable, but I wasn't captivated enough to want to know more about the characters. 

Easy-to-read holiday romance - check. Nothing more is required.

#94-2021

I Read: Matilda

Matilda by Roald Dahl

Another Dahl that I remember from childhood. Strangely, I didn't remember as much about this as I thought I did, but something about this story really does catch me in a different way. There's a sentimentality to it, maybe? Or maybe it's the way it wraps up tidily. I don't really know, but I do think I may have to remember to read this again in a few years. 

#93-2021