Tonight is Christmas Day and the first night of Hanukkah.
Get ready, we’re going into the new year with candles and jelly donuts and latkes and it’s going to be a party!
Traditionally, I do giveaways for each night of Hanukkah, but this year, I want to do something different: care packages!
Yup, we’re sending you a care package just in time for the beginning of 2025.
First: my Hanukkah wishes for you tonight and for the next eight: may you bring light with you into the future, and may you share your light with everyone who needs a glimmer in the darkness. May there be peace in our lifetime.
Now, let’s talk about what’s in the care packages. This has been a lot of fun, especially since my children don’t go to sleepaway camp, and my care package skills have not been used to their full potential.
I reached out to folks I know in publishing, and have assorted books, of course! There will be several books in each package, including some major titles from this year. And maybe an ARC or two (shhh!).
Plus, I want to send you some cozy feelings in the form of fuzzy socks, hand cream, my favorite easy-to-find lip balm (so you can get more if you love it, too) and a small scented candle in a very pretty tin.
The socks come in a package that looks like a cupcake and I am DELIGHTED about this. They are very warm and fuzzy and COME IN A CUPCAKE SHAPE.
You’ll also get an assortment of stickers, too, and whatever else I can fit in the box that is fun, festive and full of Fuzzy Feelings.
Plus, Elyse has put together a care package, too!
For this care package I’m giving away a 40 oz insulated tumbler from The Pawffee Shop Cat Cafe where the Letters from Lady Whiskerdown are composed. I’m also including a big ol box of books, some of which are December new releases.
Thank you so much for being part of yet another lovely year here at SBTB. We are still here, and it’s because of you hanging out with us each day.
SO, ready to enter to win?
To enter, please comment and tell us what book (or anything!) that you found at SBTB that you most enjoyed? It doesn’t have to be a 2024 book, of course. Any book that you haven’t read is a new book! But what did you discover this year at SBTB that you really liked?
Standard disclaimers apply: We are not being compensated for this giveaway. Void where prohibited. Open to international residents where permitted by applicable law. Must be over 18 and ready to be warm and cozy and be-socked with books and candles and other fun things. May cause increased feelings of security, warmth, and delight.
Comments will close 2 January 2025 at or near 11:59am ET, and winner will be announced shortly afterward.
Thank you to Erin Galloway at Berkley, and to Kristen Dwyer of LeoPR for their generosity!
Good luck, Happy Hanukkah, and thank you for being part of Smart Bitches! May you have a lovely holiday, and for everyone, a peaceful new year.
Winner update:
The care package winners are:
We Would Never. Tovah Miris
The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year! (Seems to be a common answer )
Thank you to everyone who works on this blog! My Season of Scandal was discovered HERE! Happy Holidays!
I Hope This Finds You Well, Natalie Sue.
I assumed it would just be another cutesy workcom like the ones that were popular in the 00s. I was not expecting a moving depiction of grief, social anxiety, toxic workplace culture, and more. It’s hilarious and painful and relatable and hopeful and miles beyond my expectations.
the most recent that comes to mind is No Ordinary Duchess by Elizabeth Hoyt.
Also the suggestions for re-reading favorite books… I needed a few re-reads through the stress of 2024.
Thank you so much for this site!!
The Locked Tomb series!
The Stariel series. I bought it several years ago based on a recommendation here and just read it this year. So, so good!
Spoiler Alert by Olivia Dade!
The whole year? I’m supposed to be able to remember it? Heh.
Well, last week or so someone recommended EVERYONE IN MY FAMILY HAS KILLED SOMEONE as having the same vibes as the movie Knives Out so I downloaded a sample.
I think someone in the comments recommended Briar Prescott’s Until series which I really enjoyed.
The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies
I thought it was so much fun, I sent the link to my mom when it was on sale and she really enjoyed it too!
Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah and Happy Holidays to all the bitchery!
Thanks for all you do!
WAYR provides me with so much reading material, I know there are tons of books I’ve enjoyed that I found here at SBTB. Right now I’m thinking about a new to me author Lily Morton that someone recommended. I loved reading her books this year.
I have found so many new to me authors on SBTB! My TBR pile ever grows. I have particularly enjoyed KJ Charles, Katee Robert and Mimi Matthews. And all the Christmas novellas have been such fun to read as all the snow cools me down in sunny South Africa! So enjoy your site.
I have found so many wonderful books and Gift ideas through SBTB! One of the Most recent ones ist Audrey Feys Ghost Pack- series. Thank you for all that you so!
Not Here to Make Friends by Jodi McAlister is my favorite discovery this year.
We Could Be So Good, and The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen
Murderbot!!
Olivia Dade’s oeuvre
Jess K. Hardy’s Bluebird Basin duology/series is my most recent “find” on SB-TB. I’d be stuck in a tunnel of ever-narrowing choices if it weren’t for the Bitchery. So many, many thanks, and have a lovely holiday season.
I picked up a ton of great queer romances off the LGBTQIA+ releases articles. One of my favorites was The Prospects. Trans joy and baseball is basically my catnip.
I absolutely loved Earls Trip – it’s so funny and well written, and plays against the traditional gender roles delightfully. Also Love You a Latke – a Chanukah romance with very believable, genuine characters . Also the Wedgeford books by Courtney Milan. And I think I discovered Jen De Luca’s Ren Faire books through you – a series I reread frequently. Thanks for all the great recommendations and conversations!
I really enjoyed the review of Lucky Bounce by Cait Nary. The cover snark fills me with delight and I look forward to it every month!
Loved the Marry Me, Juliet books!
I learned about Jen DeLuca this year. She’s become one of my faves.
Merry Christmas or happy Hanukkah or happy this year is almost over or merry your holiday of choice! Wishing all a peaceful and healthy year.
The Shabti by Megaera C. Lorenz is one book I learned about here. There are many more I could name.
The Murderbot Diaries.
Working my way through Alice Coldbreath’s backlist this year was a pleasure. My thanks to the Bitchery for introducing her to me!
My whole family loved the Murderbot Diaries, which we listened to on a long multi-stop road trip this summer. I know it was Sarah’s continuing enthusiasm for the series that got us to try them.
Just Playing House by Farah Heron was such a great recommendation from you all! I read it so quickly after I got it!
Murderbot!!
And so many others, TBH.
SBTB is the best!!
Thursday Murder Club for me too!
Thank you so much for all your amazing work! One of my favorites is the thanksgiving leftovers recipe by eyespyantiques on Instagram – laughed so hard! And every Monday for CoverSnarks. Thank you!
Pony Confidential. I was surprised at my bad book decision to stay up late to finish it!
I would have to say Not Here to Make Friends by Jodi McAlister.
Add me to the list of those who immediately added The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year to my library list, then inhaled it and enjoyed it even more than expected!
Halfway through The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year and cannot wait to get back to it
Started the scholomance series and blew through the first 2 books! Also really loved The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies, the Kamogawa Food Detectives, Starter Villian, all the cozy fantasy I also enjoyed Earls Trip, Ebony Gate and Blood Jade, Murderbot (again), Primal Mirror, the Earl who Isn’t, and a lot of books that I did not mention.
Glad to have books to read.
Jingle Bell Mingle. Also found the whole series. So clever and fun.
Cathy Yardley for me!
I read and loved the first two “Romeo and Juliet” books by Jodi McAlister after they were rec’d on the podcast. Thank you for bringing these books into my world! (Now I’m just waiting for the 3rd one to arrive on Hoopla…)
The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year! So good (accurate review by SBTB!).