Chapter #33: Season's Readings

My holiday reading list and a new ornament tradition

Feeling My Shelf is a bi-weekly newsletter about books, life, and well, life with books. Grab your favorite caffeinated beverage and get comfy. First up, some recent reads.

House Moms by Jen Lancaster

What do you get when you cross three down-on-their-luck women with sorority row? This book—about two housemoms and a barista. One of the housemoms has a run-in with the mafia, while the other is tangled up in an embezzlement scandal. It’s fun and easy to read with messy characters and a few twists—maybe a little absurd at times. But overall pretty good. Admittedly, I was annoyed by the abrupt ending, but fingers crossed for a sequel!

Next-Door Nemesis by Alexa Martin

I read (and love!) everything Alexa Martin writes. And this book, which follows two childhood friends turned enemies competing for a homeowner's association presidency, is no exception. It’s dripping with sarcasm and steam, and is everything one could want in an enemies-to-lovers rom-com.

Sleigh bells ring, are you listening?

In Los Angeles, no snow is glistening. Absolutely none. I mean the temperature has dropped down a bit, but the sun is still beaming with a vengeance. Which means no cozy cable-knit sweaters for me. At least not in the daytime. Nonetheless, holiday season is in full swing, and I couldn’t be more excited.

This year I've decided to go all out with my funky and bright decor which includes a unicorn nutcracker, a “tree rex” snow-globe, and a new pink Christmas tree. The latter, naturally, because I’m kind of extra. And because basic red and green decorations make me itch. In addition to being a joy to look at at random moments throughout the day, the new tree has also ushered in a new tradition for me.

I’ve always loved trees filled with colorful lights and mismatched ornaments. Eclectic, glittery ornaments. The kind of ornaments that hold memories and tell stories. That brings you unbridled joy each time you pull one out of the dusty storage container that houses them eleven months out of the year.

Something about turning thirty has made me super…sentimental. I’ve found myself less in go mode and more in rest mode, constantly reflecting and cherishing all the little things happening to and around me. Similar to this new decade, the pink tree has given me a fresh start. A blank canvas to fill with meaningful brushstrokes—err, ornaments. Each ornament represents a moment from this year—whether big, small, or bookish.

Here’s what each of my 2023 ornaments represents:

The stack of books:  For doubling(!) my 2023 newsletter subscriber goal

The planet: For turning 30/surviving my Saturn Return…for the most part

The taco: The best tacos are in L.A., where I’ve now officially lived for five years!

The pink guitar: In honor of the fantastic pre-birthday trip I took with my parents to Memphis, TN, the home of blues, soul and rock 'n' roll!

The typewriter: For finishing the first draft of the novel that’s been swirling around in my head for years

Now, for some festive books on my TBR list:

Wreck the Halls by Tessa Bailey: The adult children of two former rock stars set out to convince their estranged mothers to play at a Christmas Eve concert.

Faking Christmas by Kerry Winfrey: To impress her boss, a social media manager for a tourism magazine and website pretends to own a farm with her nemesis, who agrees to pose as her husband.

The Christmas Orphans Club by Becca Freeman: Told throughout eleven Christmases, four friends in New York City with an unconventional Christmas tradition prepare for what may be their last holiday together.

You Make It Feel Like Christmas by Toni Shiloh: A jobless and single woman reluctantly goes home for the holidays and falls for her brother's best friend.

And a few things I (actually) bought and liked that may make good gifts:

An “I Read Banned Books” t-shirt, because we should ban bigots, not books.

A custom art print because who doesn’t want to display their favorite books on their wall?

A Kindle Paperwhite because it helps you read more and spend less on books.

This cheeky book sticker because it’s perfect for decorating one’s Kindle.

This “Book Person” mug because matcha always tastes better in a cute mug.

An enemies-to-lovers candle because 1) it’s the best trope and 2) it smells very good.

A reading journal because it helps you track of the books you read and loved (or hated!)

Before I dive into holiday books, I’m reading Penelope in Retrograde by Brooke Abrams, which follows a writer with a passion for astrology who travels home to “make amends with her estranged family…and possibly manifest her own happily ever after.”

“My father and I bond over Hallmark movies.” Yulin Kuang is adapting Emily Henry's work; now she's written her own rom-com. Take a peek into “the world’s greatest typewriter collection.” Writing a book? Going to therapy might help with it. The 100 must-read books of 2023 according to TIME. The unexpected power of second-chance romance. Why are millennials still attached to American Girl?

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