A compendium of end-of-year posts and playing catch up
Plus forthcoming book-to-screen adaptations and my favorite series of reading reflections
I’ll be writing an entire post on my 2025 reading goals (of course! I feel it’s almost as required as a best of list) but here’s a brief spoiler. In 2025, I want to read fewer books and read them better. With that in mind, I’m going to use the first Sunday of every month to catch up on some Substack posts you may have missed. I’ll still share what I’m currently reading, a link roundup, and end notes, but I’m going to give myself one Sunday off from book reviews each month.
Let’s get into it…
Last month on Substack.
I shared two podcast conversations with Liz Hein last month. Our annual Best Books of the Year episode as well as our December This Month in Books where we talked about some books we didn’t love and share 2025 releases we’re already raving about.
Speaking of best books, I shared my own wrap ups alongside a two-part Books That Matter series featuring some books beloved by my fellow public readers. These posts are a treasure trove of book recommendations and readers to follow.
Throughout 2024 there was much discussion about how the literature classroom should operate as well as some hand-ringing about the fate of literary men. Last month I wrote a bit about my own take on the latter and shared a guest piece from English teacher Katie Brownfiel about how she conducts her course to help foster a love of reading.
This week in books.
Now I’m reading…
I finally felt ready to read this absolutely wild and cringe-inducing story collection. I can’t say I recommend it. It’s undoubtedly well-done, but it’s also something every reader needs to decide about for themselves.
New on my TBR…
Everyone on bookstagram is raving about Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy, but I don’t have a review copy! I’m feeling major FOMO but also just really excited to read this March release.
Links I love.
I have been loving exploring The Millions’ Year in Reading series. There are so many great book recommendations as well as models for different ways to be a reader. It’s a nice antidote to the slew of best-of-the-year lists. (The Millions)
I found a lot to nod along with in Constance Grady’s piece about men and reading. (Vox)
The book tracking app Fable is rightfully in hot water after its AI spat out racist end-of-year book summaries. (NYT, gift link)
8 craft books to meet your writing resolutions in the new year. (Electric Lit)
Five books that offer readers intellectual exercise. (Atlantic, gift link)
The most anticipate book-to-screen adaptations of 2025. (Electric Lit)
Six books to read by the fire. (Atlantic, gift link)
I love this essay by
about picture books. Also make sure you’re subscribed to his Substack with ! (NYT, gift link)End Notes.
I always love listening to the Pop Culture Happy Hour team’s New Year’s predictions and resolutions.
I am still fully obsessed with my Brick. If one of your goals in 2025 is to spend less time on your phone and you need some support with that, I can’t recommend it highly enough.
I want on vacation somewhere warm with my family and it was so lovely. Lots of beach time, lots of pool time, lots of adorable cousin hugs. Also our hotel had a bar called Library by the Sea with book themed cocktails and it was amazing. I’ve seen this kind of thing before, but this place goes all out and even tells you a little story every time they bring you a drink.
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Happy reading!
Sara
I loved the discussion about books Sara and Liz didn't like. It was a great discussion, and as much as I love finding new books to add to my TBR, I'm equally as happy to find reasons to take books off so that I can focus on the books I'm most likely to consider a good use of my time.
I don't have an overall numbers goal, but I did set a monthly goal for an author or a type of book I want to read. I also want to continue doing random TBR picks. For the past several months, I've had random.org select three numbers, I match the numbers to my TBR list, and I then commit to reading at least one of those books.
I absolutely knew the story collection before clicking the link—felt just the same way about it!!