Time for another "Whatcha Reading?" Team OwlCrate Edition. If there’s one thing book lovers love more than actually reading books, it’s gushing about their favorite reads (and convincing you to read them!) 


Every month members of our team love to share their personal favorite books of the month! We are a diverse team of readers, so if you’re looking for your next five star book, read on dear readers and check back next month for another installment!

Cade

Don't Let Him In by Lisa Jewell

I literally could not read this book fast enough. I NEEDED to know where it was going because it was absolutely unhinged, uncomfortable, heart racing, and infuriating (in the BEST WAY).


Definitely one of, if not the best of Jewell's that I’ve read, and this was my 7th one! And that ending and epilogue completely blew my mind. 


This book comes out in June and is worth the preorder!

No Heart For a Thief by James Lloyd Dulin

This was my last read of 2024, and it ended up being my favorite book of the year. You know when you pick up a book, and within just the first page, you are instantly drawn in and are reminded of the feeling of a book written for you? That was how I felt with all 458 pages of No Heart for a Thief: with every immersive description of campfires, rivers, and forests; every bit of heartfelt dialogue; every perfectly crafted metaphor shared between characters. 


And within its beautiful prose is a book centered around the consequences of white supremacy, religious conversion, and colonialism, and it doesn’t stray from incredibly disturbing scenes as a result. It also touches on the erasure of non-binary genders and gender nonconformity, which is so important to talk about.



It’s important to note that this book is written by a white male, and that was a concern of mine going in. However, he included an extremely honest Author’s Note in which he not only acknowledges his privilege and claims accountability, but he also shares how important it is to centre BIPOC voices and includes a long list of authors that he recommends.

CORI

The DallerGut Dream Department Store by Miyo Lee Translated by Sandy Joosun Lee

I was browsing around my local indie bookshop when this jumped out at me. This is the story of Penny, a new employee at a department store dealing solely in dreams. Patrons come to purchase whimsical, beautiful, and delectable dreams, or even dreams of loved ones who have died.


It's a heartfelt and moving little story that was the absolute perfect end-of-year treat.

Witch Hat Atelier, Vol 1 by Kamome Shirahama

Translated by Stephen Kohler

Did I really need to start ANOTHER manga series? No. But Witch Hat Atelier has been calling me for a while! In the first volume we meet Coco, a young girl enamored with magic but possessing none of her own.


That is until she spies on a magician performing a spell and decides to give it a try—then ultimately performs forbidden magic, which puts her mother in danger. Rather than erase her memories, the magician Qifrey takes her on as his apprentice and promises to help her get her mom back.


The art style in this series is some of my favorite, and the story itself is a wonderful escape.

CHERYL

The Road to Dalton by Shannon Bowring

Oh, but how I love to be emotionally devastated by some literary fiction, and this short little 238-page novel absolutely delivered for me. 


It’s 1990 (I know you younger Millennials and Gen Z will want me to call this historical fiction, but I categorically refuse to do so), but either way, it’s 1990 in a small town in Maine.


Shannon Bowring brings this tiny town to sparkling life along with her plethora of engaging, fully realized characters, each battling their own demons and secrets.


Some heavy content warnings apply, but ultimately this story is one of hope and community.

Is She Really Going Out With Him? by Sophie Cousens

Just so dang delightful and the perfect audiobook to close out the year in between all the holiday and year-end stress. 


Honestly, it is likely a situation of the right book for the right reader at the right time, as this new novel by Cousens centers on a late-thirties mom, newly divorced, dealing with the stresses that come with single parenting, middle age life, job performance, and finding your place in this squidgy middle when most of the world has cast you off as “elderly.”


The romance, banter, and side characters are all A+, and for the very trodden trope ground in romance, this plot is refreshingly unique.

SOPHIE

Under the Mistletoe - Amazon Original Stories

Curl up by the fire with some of today’s hottest authors as they serve enough holiday sweetness and sizzling spice to melt the frostiest heart. As the temperature drops, friends and neighbors might need to turn up the heat, and even old enemies might just get a second chance. Get ready to tingle all the way . . .


5 Kindle short stories—available on KU and free on Audible with a membership featuring stories by Ali Hazelwood, Tessa Bailey, Olivia Dade, Alexandra Bellefleur, and Alexis Daria.


How My Neighbor Stole Christmas by Meghan Quinn 

I highly recommend the audiobook for extra The Grinch vibes! 


Every Kringle in Kringletown celebrated Christmas a lot. But Cole Black on Whistler Lane, unfortunately, did not.


As his fellow citizens decorate their quaint town, brimming with carols and glad tidings, Cole wants nothing more than to hibernate the winter away. But his dreary plans are thwarted when his Christmas nemesis, Storee Taylor, moves in next door to care for her Aunt Cindy.


Immediately, the new neighbor turns his life into a real nightmare before Christmas, especially when she decides to enter the town Christmas Kringle contest in honor of Cindy. And better yet, Storee is determined to win.

Over Cole's dead body, she will. With help from his friend Max, Cole decides to enter the competition as well, to beat Storee at her own game by pretending that this hometown grump's heart has grown three sizes this season and he's fallen for the girl next door. And unfortunately for Storee, she has to follow his lead to have a chance at the Christmas Kringle title.


But the competition isn't the only thing that heats up. Cole and Storee's fake relationship becomes very real, and before they know it, they're attempting to hide it from Aunt Cindy. Things get complicated, the competition gets tough, and all it takes is one single night for someone to steal it all…

A Court of Wings and Ruin & A Court of Frost and Starlight by Sarah J. Maas

I reread both books in Graphic Audio form, which I highly recommend with a full cast! I never get bored of rereading SJM…


Spoiler free:


A Court of Wings and Ruin is the epic third novel in the #1 New York Times bestselling Court of Thorns and Roses series by Sarah J. Maas.


Bridging the events of A Court of Wings and Ruin with the fourth book in the series, A Court of Silver Flame, A Court of Frost and Starlight explores the far-reaching effects of a devastating war and the fierce love between friends—perfect to read during the festive season!

Amber

The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally Carter

The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year was such a great mystery thriller romcom. The story follows Maggie, a mystery author, who's invited to spend Christmas with her all-time favorite author, Eleanor Ashley. This is a dream come true.


That is until she gets there to find out that her nemesis has also been invited. Ethan writes thrillers and works for the same publisher as Maggie. As they settle in to have Christmas, weird things start to happen. Eleanor disappears, the bridge is out, and the phones are down.


Can Maggie and Ethan work together to solve the mystery? Can they trust each other?

Faebound by Saara El-Arafi

Faebound has been on my TBR for a minute, and now that I have finished it, I need the next book right away. I loved the world-building and the characters in this book since I’m a big fan of elves and fae.


The lore was very interesting. The romance between different characters was so great with tropes like enemies to lovers and friends to lovers, which are two of my favorite tropes. I also loved the side characters.


The twists unfold so nicely, and I did not see all of them coming. I cannot wait to read the next book.

Lady Macbeth by Ava Reid

I adored this book even though it was a bit creepy. I had all the emotions. I was mad and sad (smad, iykyk), and I cried and yelled at this book. 


Lady Macbeth was such a great character, and I also loved the witches. The story was so interesting, it kept me hooked, and I did not want to put the book down. I highly recommend it.

The Nightmare Before Kissmas by Sara Raasch

This was such a great holiday romance. I just loved it. I loved the text message thread between Coal, Kris, and Iris. I laughed so hard. The banter between Coal and Hex was everything.


Coal is the next Santa in line. He has such dreams for Christmas but is slowly learning how his father runs things, and he doesn’t agree with these processes.


This book has potential forced marriage, an imprisoned prince, and forbidden love, and I love all of these tropes. I hope we get another book about some of the side characters. I highly recommend this book.


Check out our OwlCrate Exclusive Edition of The Nightmare Before Kissmas that was part of our Holiday Box in 2024.

Want to find out what team OwlCrate read in November? You can read last month's article here

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