Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all my readers! I’d like to say a big farewell to 2022 and hello to 2023! Even though it’s just another day, the New Year coupled with the time off over Christmas always seems like it holds so much possibility – and I don’t just mean for bingeing Netflix new releases – even if that’s exactly what I did.
Reading
Maybe I Will by Melanie Jacobson
This is the third – and best, in my humble opinion – book in the Love in New Orleans series by Melanie Jacobson. I adored Chloe and Dylan and the changes that they both went through in the duration of this book. The food references also had my mouth watering.
Lovelight Farms by B.K. Borison
I was in the mood for a little Christmas spirit, so I bought myself an early Christmas present in the form of Lovelight Farms by B.K. Borison. It was sweet enough but friends-to-lovers isn’t my favourite and I’m more intrigued by the next book in the series which seems to be more highly rated.
Listening
My Unapologetic Diaries by Joan Collins
I read a lot of reviews on this book that said they didn’t like this version of Joan Collins. The book was a whole lot of lunching and events in Hollywood while Collins bitched about people. Um, yeah, that was the appeal for me. It’s literally a book of Joan Collins talking shit about people in Hollywood from the 90s. It is relaxed listening perfection.
There was a time in my life where I bought celebrity gossip magazines every week and this book takes me back to those nostalgic years, even if the people she is talking about are a generation ahead of me. It was soapy and addictive and very Hollywood.
Watching
Emily in Paris
How could I not watch the next addictive season of Emily in Paris? Emily is, of course, infuriating and overbearing, yet somehow you can’t look away from her peppy toxic-positivity and hideous outfits. I love the work drama and the relationship drama and Mindy. I love Mindy. She is without a doubt the best character.
Life
While November is a busy month for me, December is downright hectic. I finished all my Christmas shopping last month, but scheduling last minute appointments and working out times for the new year takes up a lot of my time.
Despite the fact that technically it’s summer here in Sydney, the weather thinks we might be in Melbourne because it’s been up and down and rain and sunshine and I don’t know what to wear anymore. I think this is the first time in my life that I’ve worn winter pyjamas in December. I’m not complaining though, because as long as it’s still hot chocolate weather, I’m happy.
Christmas was a happy chaos with kids ripping into wrapping paper and delicious food taking up all the space in my fridge. But it was also an exhausting race of making sure everything was ready to host and making even more sure that everyone was having a good time. By the time the kids were in bed on Christmas night, I was collapsed on the lounge and ready to fall asleep myself.
We don’t celebrate anything on New Year’s Eve any more. I’m all about trying to get as much sleep as possible, so staying up until midnight is not a good idea when you have a child who wakes at 5am. I did get to see fireworks from my window when they woke me up at midnight though!
ANNE NOVEK 
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