Read With Keri: Books I Read in December

It’s here! The last blog post/book roundup of 2021.

As of yesterday, I exceeded my reading goal of 75 books by reading 76 books in 2021!

It was not easy but it was a fun challenge and I’m so glad I pushed myself to do it!

Check out the completed 2021 Bookshelf here.

This month I cruised to the finish line, which worked out perfectly because December was a roller coaster. Between offline happenings, Blogmas, the holidays, and everything in between, I didn’t have lots of motivation (or energy) to read. However, I did end up squeezing in five books, so I consider that a success!

Here’s to more books and blog posts in 2022! I cannot wait to see what the year has in store.

Christmas Bliss — Mary Kay Andrews (1.5/5 stars)

Prior to the start of December, I grabbed a few books from the library that were holiday themed. Christmas Bliss was the first Mary Kay Andrews book I’ve checked out, and to be honest, I was disappointed. I’ve heard great things about the author but this book did not cut it for me at all. The storyline was boring, the characters were bratty, and any potential twist to the plot was quickly shut down. It took me a while to finish this because I just couldn’t get into it. If it wasn’t so close to the end of the year, I definitely would have quit this a few chapters in.

Taste - Stanley Tucci (3.5/5 stars)

I placed this audiobook on hold months ago and it happened to come in this month. Stanley Tucci is a fantastic actor, and I had no idea how much of a foodie he is! He definitely knows his stuff. This book is part memoir, part food critique, part humor. I enjoyed Stanley’s witty sense of humor and learning more about his life through food.

Once in a Lifetime — Mary Monroe (2/5 stars)

This was another book I probably would have quit if it wasn’t December. The premise is that the main character decides to donate one of her kidneys to a stranger, and well, some things happen that you probably can guess. It was a predictable ending, but a short and sweet book nonetheless.

How To Be Rich — Andy Stanley (4/5 stars)

I squeezed this one in this week. It was a short and sweet. How To Be Rich reminded me of Dave Ramsey’s books. It included specific advice, discussed mindset shift, and pointed back to the Gospel. Definitely worth the read if you get the chance to check it out.

New Morning Mercies — Paul David Tripp (5+/5 stars)

I LOVE this daily devotional. 2021 was my second year reading through it, and it still was incredible. Each devotional is only one page so it’s attainable and not overwhelming. I love the author’s writing style and how, although short, each devotion is Christ-centered and thought provoking. Although I will be going through a new devotional in 2022, I highly recommend New Morning Mercies if you’re looking for a devotional to check out next year!