Oh my goodness, where did December go you guys?! Between Christmas and starting a new job, I’ve been absolutely swamped! I had my first ‘Did Not Finish’ because I simply did not have the time or the brain power to get through anything I wasn’t actually enjoying. January is starting off a little less bumpy and I’m hoping to get back into the swing of things soon!
The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones
Kindle Worthy- 3/5 Stars
A long-buried diary exposes the story of Good Stab, a Blackfeet man condemned to immortality after a devastating massacre. Through historical horror and vampirism, the novel explores grief, violence, and a relentless pursuit of justice.
I had no idea what this was about when I picked it up. Vampires + Indigenous culture and narration, I enjoyed this more than I thought I would! This one has to be listened to, as the narrator, Shane Ghostkeeper, delivered! I adored this right up until present day, although I could have done without the last 2 hours of it and just left it on a cliff hanger.
Amazon: US or CA
Love and Friendship by Jane Austen
Study Worthy- 2.5/5 Stars
A collection of Jane Austen’s first works, written when she was 14 and 15 years old in 1790 and published posthumously in 1922. These stories reflect a young Jane Austen as she finds her voice as a writer and learns to embrace her unique humor & style.
These read like a teenaged girl wrote them; plots jump from point to point, & are slightly erratic. This is less a book for entertainment as it is one to study the making of a classic author. It is so interesting to see the beginnings of the woman Jane Austen will grow into and the humor & perceptions of a 14 yo girl from 250 years ago. This is a collectors edition for me.
Amazon: US or CA
Mate by Ali Hazelwood
Read Worthy- 3/5 Stars
Serena Paris is a human/were hybrid coming to terms with her newfound fated-mate, Koen, who also happens to be the leader of her new pack. Slow-burn tension, fated-mates and political intrigue abound.
An overall enjoyable read. The writing was easy to read and follow, there was just enough momentum to the plot to keep it interesting, the characters were good, and the ending was decent. It read a little ‘soft-core’, if you get my meaning, and while it didn’t revolutionize my reading experience it was still a really cute read.
Amazon: US or CA
Betsey: A Memoir by Betsey Johnson
Kindle Worthy- 3/5 Stars
Betsey takes us on her exuberant life story as an iconic fashion designer known for her whimsical, rule-breaking style. She takes us through her rise in the fashion world and the founding of her wildly popular brand. With candid, chatty flair, Betsey recounts her early years in the downtown scene of the 1960s, the ups and downs of building an empire from scratch, including business reinventions and bankruptcy, personal chapters on love, motherhood, and health challenges like breast cancer.
I enjoyed following along while Betsey walks us through her rise in the fashion world and the founding of her wildly popular brand. She is vulnerable as she speaks about motherhood, dating, bankruptcy and breast cancer. Renting out a church and hiring strippers as models for her first Fashion show, was a wild ride!
Amazon: US or CA
Talking as Fast as I Can by Lauren Graham
Kindle Worthy- 3/5 Stars
This is a conversational memoir told through personal essays, by Lauren, about her life, career, and the winding road to success in Hollywood. Blending behind-the-scenes stories from Gilmore Girls with reflections on love, work, and self-doubt, it reads like a smart, funny catch-up with a close friend.
This book was just a fun read. It took me a while to get into Lauren’s quirky, fast paced narration style, but once I did her wit and humor reminded me of Nora Ephron. Great, down to earth take on her experience working in Hollywood and on the set of the Gilmore Girls!
Amazon: US or CA
You Dreamed of Empires by Author
Kindle Worthy- 3/5 Stars
A surreal historical novel set during the final days of the Aztec Empire, reimagining the tense encounter between Hernán Cortés and Emperor Moctezuma. Blending history with myth and speculative elements, the novel explores power, conquest, and cultural collision through shifting perspectives that blur reality and shifts how empires are imagined and ultimately undone.
I did have a bit of a hard time following names & places (this was noted in advance by the author for English readers), but overall I did enjoy this book and the insight into the Aztec empire. The mind-melt at the end was double-take worthy, it seriously sent me for a loop and made me think.
Amazon: US or CA
Born a Crime by Trevor Noah
Hard-Cover Worthy- 5/5 Stars
A memoir about growing up mixed-race in apartheid and post-apartheid South Africa, where his very existence was illegal. Through sharp humor and honesty, Noah recounts stories of family, poverty, faith, and survival while revealing how identity, resilience, and laughter can exist even in the harshest systems.
I don’t want to spoil it for you, but if you haven’t already, go read this right now, this is a MUST read! Trevor has had the most insane life experiences I’ve ever heard of, and I was shocked at how insightful his statements are and how eloquently he delivers them. The audio version was an absolute performance. This book might even be replacing Greenlights as my favorite memoir!
Amazon: US or CA
The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna
Library Worthy- 3/5 Stars
A cozy fantasy about Mika Moon, a lonely witch who has spent her life hiding her magic. When she’s invited to teach three young witches at a mysterious house called Nowhere, Mika finds herself drawn into an unconventional family. A warm, whimsical, and comforting easy read.
The characters, plot and writing style were all ok. I think the plot twists at the end helped take it that step up. Overall it was a warm and cozy book for when you need an easy, feel good read. I wouldn’t necessarily buy it myself but I am happy I got to borrow it from the library to read.
Amazon: US or CA
DNF
Seasons of Glass and Iron by Amal El-Mohtar
While I loved Amal’s short novel, The River Has Roots, I found that Seasons of Glass and Iron was a little too disjointed for me to follow. The collection of poems and stories lacked cohesion for me to stay invested as a continuous read.
Lady Susan and the Watsons by Jane Austen
I do plan on going back to try and read this book again, but with a new career, a steep learning curve and limited brain power at the moment, the combination of antique writing style and letter format with a multitude of characters was too much for this girl to handle right now.
I hope everyone had an amazing holidays and is managing to stay warm and find some good books to add to their 2026 TBR!
What was your favorite read this month?
-Anna R.
*As always if you purchase through any of the links in this post, or throughout this blog, a small commission comes back to help support the page & what I do here!
The Weekend Readers 
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