December TBR (2024)

 Hey guys, this is Abi here, 

And I'm back with my December TBR- the last one in 2024! 

Jesus, where has the year gone? 

But, there's no use saying goodbye to the year yet- there's still another month! 

Without further ado, here's my TBR- and don't forget to comment yours below! 

1. The Ballad of Dorothy Wordsworth, by Frances Wilson

Knowing I only had to finish two books this month to be averaging a book a week in 2024, I decided to make an effort with this. This is the third and final book I bought at Dove Cottage when I went to Lake District last July, I've been picking each book up as and when I feel in the mood to read them. 

The Ballad of Dorothy Wordsworth is a biography, analysing what Dorothy Wordsworth was like, what she was feeling, based off of the Alfoxden and Grasmere Journals during her time at Dove Cottage, from the time he met Mary Hutchinson, and all of their years working with Coleridge on their Lyrical Ballads. 

I'm working through it little by little, not pushing myself to read it too much, and honestly, if it takes me the entire month to finish it, then so be it. I just want to say I finished it in 2024. 

2. Malibu Rising, by Taylor Jenkins Reid

I received this for my birthday in September from one of my friends- and since finishing Queenie (gifted from the same friend) I've been eyeing this up. 

Malibu Rising takes place in August 1983, the day of Nina Riva's end-of-summer party. Everybody who is everybody wants to be at this prestigous party. They want to be around surfer and supermodel Riva, and her famous brothers. Not to mention they are the children of the legendary singer Mick Riva. 

By midnight, the party will rage out of control. 

By sunrise, the mansion will have burned down to the ground. 

But before that, music will flow, alcohol will be consumed, and buried secrets will bubble to the surface. 

Malibu Rising sounds mysterious, dramatic and fast paced, and I have a feeling this might just be one of my favourite Taylor Jenkins Reid books- if I can finish it before the month is out, it might just make my favourites list! 

Wait to find out! 

3. The Mercies, by Kiran Millwood Hargrave

The Mercies is probably one of the first adult Historical Fiction novel I remember reading, and one of the first to make me want to learn more about the time period, and it's subject matter. It's been over four years since I picked this up, and upon reading it, I know it was going on my re-reading list when I was in the mood for some re-reads. 

The Mercies takes place in the 17th century, in Finnmark, Norway, where the Vardø Storm wipes every male that lives on the island, leaving the women on the small town of Vardø to fend for themselves.

Three years later, a sinistter figure appears. Absalom Cornet has travelled to the island from Scotland, where he burned women at the stake for their villainous witchcraft. Along with this devil figure, is his wife Ursa, who is both heady with his authority- and terrified. 

Maren Magnusdatter was on the island three years ago when the storm broke, and with it she saw the deaths of both her brother and her husband. Upon meeting, Ursa sees something she isn't used to seeing in Maren- independance. As Maren and Ursa are drawn to each-other, in ways that surprise them both, the island begins to close in on them, with Absalom's iron rule threatening Vardø's very existence. 

The Mercies is a book based on real life events such of the Vardø Storm and the 1621 Witch Trials, and with that comes a story of love, power, obsession and evil. 

4. The Light Between Oceans, by M.L. Steadman 

I've talked about this re-read enough times, that if you're not completely new to this blog, know what it's about. If you are completely and haven't heard of this, or even seen the film, (me among you), this is what it's about: 

• Tom and his wife Izzy, alone on an island, in the middle of nowhere. Taking care of the lighthouse and the island. 
• A boat washes up on shore. A dead man and a baby. After some misfortune regarding Tom and Izzy never becomimg parents, they're about to make a devastating choice. 

As you can probably tell, The Light Between Oceans is a devastatingly emotional book, and I wept a number of times when I was reading it. 

To be honest, I doubt I'll get to it this month, but I'm putting it on here just in case. 

Okay! Those are all the books I hope to get to in December! I know there isn't many, but I truly have no idea how long The Ballad of Dorothy Wordsworth is going to take. 

I hope you have a lovely evening and I'll see you all soon! 

Byeeeee! 

-Abi xxxxx