Unboxing My Latest Book Haul
Book Mail: A Roundup of the Book Mail I Received Last Week
Early December feels like the world has slowed down just enough to savor the small joys—and this week’s book mail was exactly that kind of magic. My TBR pile has grown into a cheerful little monument to possibility, thanks to a book haul filled with new book releases that beg to be read by twinkle light. Each package carried thoughtful book recommendations, the kind that make you want to brew tea and read well past midnight. With so many titles that could easily become the best books of 2025, it feels like the perfect season to curl up, turn a page, and let every story feel like a gift waiting to be unwrapped.
Where to Buy These Books:
I want to note that I do not get paid to do these posts, I just love authors and the book industry. However, they do take time and energy to create. If you want to donate a few dollars to my coffee fund, which keeps this blog going, you can do so here: https://venmo.com/AshleyHasty or here: http://paypal.me/hastybooklist.
What I Wore:
In early December, when the air feels crisp and anticipation hums in the background, slipping into a green and navy striped rugby shirt paired with jeans feels like effortless main character fashion. It’s the kind of main character outfit that balances preppy charm with relaxed comfort—classic, cozy, and perfectly seasonal. Your everyday gold hoop earrings and signature herringbone necklace, layered with a graduated rope chain, elevate the look with a touch of polish, transforming simple pieces into aesthetic clothing that radiates main character energy. As you peruse a fresh stack of book mail filled with character-driven novels, books about strong characters, and stories for self-discovery, you’re reminded that both style and story are acts of self-expression. This is main character aesthetic books and clothing in harmony—fashion inspired by books and books to style your life by, all coming together in one cozy, confident moment that defines living your main character life in the heart of winter.
This Week’s Book Mail Includes:
Dear Santa Letter-Writing and Holiday Fun Kit for Kids - A charming USPS-created binder packed with festive stationery, stickers, and tips so kids’ letters (and thank-yous!) reach the North Pole in style.
Hollow by Karina Halle - A dark, sexy Sleepy Hollow reimagining where Kat Van Tassel, Brom Bones, and Ichabod Crane untangle murder, magic, and dangerously irresistible desire.
Spiderlight by Adrian Tchaikovsky - A ragtag band on a prophecy-fueled quest must trust a spider-born ally to topple a waiting Dark Lord.
The Lighthouse at the Cove by Amy Clipston - A single dad and a big-city journalist team up to save a beloved lighthouse—and discover a second chance at love along the way.
Prowl by Colleen Coble - A wildlife sanctuary death exposes sabotage, secrets, and a perilous path to love as danger prowls close to home.
The Second Son by Simon Gervais and Ryan Steck - A soldier-turned-sommelier is dragged back into covert war to clear his brother’s name and save the woman he loves.
Good Hair Days by Grace Helena Walz - Two sisters, one failing small-town salon, and a whole lot of sass spark a heartfelt fight for family, love, and legacy.
Snake-Eater by T. Kingfisher - Fleeing to a desert town, a woman inherits a haunted house—and the attention of an ancient, vengeful god who won’t let go.
The Accord by Mark Peres - A grieving philosopher and an emergent AI forge a bond that triggers a global showdown over identity, agency, and what makes us human.
The Cuffing Game by Lyla Lee - A campus reality dating show turns Pride & Prejudice on its head when the showrunner starts falling for her star contestant.
How Girls Are Made by Mindy McGinnis - Three teens collide in a secret sex-ed “class,” where perfectionism, manipulation, and clout-chasing spiral toward tragedy.
Trust at a Distance by David Horsager and Peggy Kendall - A practical roadmap for leaders to build real trust on hybrid and remote teams—no matter where work happens.
My Ex-Husband's Ex-Husband by Rachel Cohn and Melissa de la Cruz - Estranged best friends race through wintry Vienna to find their mutual ex—and maybe rediscover each other.
The Wandering Queen by Claire Heywood - Cast out of Tyre, Elissa becomes Dido, a queen torn between power and love as she builds Carthage from exile.
Doing the Work of Equality Leadership for Justice and Systems Change by Decoteau J. Irby and Ann M. Ishimaru - Real-world strategies and tools for sustaining equity-centered change in P–12 schools amid resistance and backlash.
Murder Among the Stacks by Rosie A. Point - A bookstore opening, a fallen author, and cozy word-search puzzles invite you to solve the crime one clue at a time.
Quinto's Challenge by Peter McChesney - On a quest to conquer death itself, a shy physicist’s breakthrough ignites a high-stakes battle for humanity’s soul.
The Italian Secret by Tara Moss - Billie Walker follows a trail from Sydney to Naples to unearth a family mystery someone would kill to keep buried.
Midnight Somewhere by Johnny Compton - A chilling collection where obsession, regret, and the uncanny strike anywhere—because midnight is always near.
From Cradle to Grave by Rhys Bowen - New mother Georgie investigates a string of “accidents” before a cunning killer sets sights on her husband.
I. Medusa by Ayana Gray - A fierce retelling turns Medusa from victim to vigilante as she claims her own myth against the whims of gods.
Red as Royal Blood by Elizabeth Hart - A servant-turned-queen must outwit three princes to solve a king’s murder before the killer crowns her next.
Legend by Karina Halle - Desire, danger, and coven secrets test Kat, Brom, and Ichabod as Sleepy Hollow’s shadows grow darker—and deadlier.
The Weekend Crashers by Jamie Brenner - A knitting retreat collides with a bachelor party, tangling mothers, daughters, and second chances in love and life.
The Doctor's Wife by Daniel Hurst - A perfect marriage masks a doctor’s darkest manipulations—until his wife turns the tables.
P.S. You're the Worst by Chloe Seager - After a tarot reader predicts her death, a flailing millennial mails brutally honest letters—and upends her life.
Abby Offsides by Anna McCallie - Freshly single in Liverpool, a PR newbie falls for a married football star—and risks everything for a real shot at joy.
The Wolf King by Lauren Palphreyman - Kidnapped by an alpha, a princess finds forbidden love amid a human–wolf war that could end them both.
Tender Cruelty by Katee Robert - Hera and Zeus, sworn enemies and spouses, must fight side by side—until hate burns into something dangerously hot.
Books and Bewitchment by Isla Jewell - Inheriting a cursed legacy and a dusty video store, a would-be bookseller discovers small-town magic—and forbidden love.
Bluebird Gold by Devney Perry - In wintry Montana, a grieving daughter, a guarded sheriff, and a legend of lost gold entwine into danger and desire.
Artificial Truth by J.M. Lee - In a virtual metropolis ruled by memory, a dead genius’s AI blurs love, identity, and the cost of immortality.
Break Wide the Sea by Sara Holland - Cursed to become a monster, a whaling heiress must choose between family legacy, a finfolk captain, and her own soul.
Always Remember by Charlie Mackesy - The boy, the mole, the fox, and the horse wander through storms to find courage, kindness, and the light that lasts.
Cruelty Free by Caroline Glenn - A fallen star’s revenge-fueled skincare comeback turns L.A. red as she hunts the truth behind her daughter’s disappearance.
It Should Have Been You by Andrea Mara - A misdirected WhatsApp message ignites suburban fury—then a murder suggests the killer may have the wrong address.
Cassie Linden Finds Her Sweet Spot by Linda Avellar - A worried daughter, a stubborn beekeeper, and a last open field in town test love, memory, and what we owe each other.
Lady X by Molly Fader - A Hollywood scandal uncovers a 1970s vigilante legend that binds three generations in secrets and fury.
We Breed Lions by Rick Westhead - A blistering investigation into hockey’s culture of abuse—and the people fighting to change it.
Closing Time by Michael Ledwidge - Beach-bum Mike Gannon steals the wrong car and becomes prey in a deadly Florida cat-and-mouse.
Leverage by Amran Gowani - A rising hedge-fund star has 90 days to win back $300 million—or become the fall guy in a high-finance takedown.
Celia Cruz, Queen of Salsa by Veronica Chambers and Julie Maren - A vibrant picture-book portrait of Celia’s dazzling rise from Havana streets to global salsa royalty.
