Tonight is 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!
Like last year, I’ve put together eight care packages designed to make your winter more fun, mellow, warm, and entertaining.
Just in time for the beginning of 2026!
First: my Hanukkah wishes for you tonight and for the next eight: may each candle lit lead to another and another, until we have all connected to bathe the world in light and warmth. May there be peace in our lifetime.
Now, let’s talk about what’s in the care packages. I used to be super great at care packages because my kids went to sleepaway camp – not the type of camp where the care packages included Gucci bags and Loro Piana slippers wrapped in an Hermes scarf or anything – and I LOVED putting them together.
I still sort of send care packages now that they’re in college because I have to send them things pretty regularly, but that’s a small item in a bubble mailer. This is a whole ass box.
So what’s in the care package?
I’m not telling!
Well, I’ll share some details so you know what to expect, but some of it will be a surprise. It might rhyme with “schmeggo.”
In keeping with my wishes for all of you to have a cozy and warm 2026, the care packages will include:
- things that are fuzzy
- things that are warm
- things that are soothing
- things that are fizzy
- things that are indulgent
- things that are fun!
And, like last year, 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!).
This is a way for me to thank you 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. It’s been a big year, and we’re looking forward to more mayhem and silliness in 2026!
SO, ready to enter to win?
To enter, please comment and tell us what book (or recommendation of any sort!) 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. May cause increased feelings of security, warmth, and delight.
Comments will close 21 December 2025 at or near 11:59am ET, and winners will be announced shortly afterward. Packages will be shipped out in January 2026.
Thank you to the indefatigable 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.
Congrats to our winners! If your comment was selected, you’ll have an email in your inbox from me. Congratulations and thank you for making this year’s care package extravaganza so much fun!
- Libby
- Eleine
- Becky
- lorenet335
- EditChief
- Kaelie C.
- Darlynne
- Heather L
Happy Hanukkah. Found Rachel Hawkins’ The Villa on a sale post a few months back and I really enjoyed the thriller.
Happy Hanukkah! For me this year it’s definitely Jaysea Lynn’s For Whom the Belle Tolls, which I see is making a regular appearance in the end-of-year episodes!
Found The King of Diamonds by Rena Pederson thanks to SBTB.
In general I have to say Mimi Matthews, your review of The Marriage Method got me started on The Crinoline Academy series. Happy holidays everyone.
Happy Hanukkah!
SBTB is where I learned about Murderbot. So many recommendations for it here.
Happy Hanukkah! My immediate thought was Jennifer Crusie, who was the first author I tried based on SBTB recs, but that was a decade or two ago. For this year… This year I would go with The Rook series by Daniel O’Malley.
Happy Hanukkah!! My perennial answer will always be Murderbot, which I love fiercely. Thank you!!
Happy Hanukkah! SBTB was where I first heard about Serial Killer Games by Kate Posey–which still sits as the number one read for me this year. I’m also glad that I heeded the warning not to look at any further reviews so that I wouldn’t be spoiled!!!
I couldn’t even begin to guess how many books I’ve read because of recommendations from the Bitchery. I always open Smart Bitches with my trusty pen & pad close by because I almost always come across something that I want to add to my tbr. Other commenters—particularly flchen1, kareni, BigK, DonnaMarie, VicSolo, and others whose names I apologize for forgetting right now—seem to share my “angsty with a splash of melancholy” romance-reading sensibilities, and I know I’ve grabbed recommendations from each of them this year.
The Murderbot diaries
Happy Hanukkah! I find a lot of books from recommendations here and appreciate all the commentary. To pick a book, I found Wooing the Witch Queen by Stephanie Burgis from SBTB.
This year, I’ve been delighted to find Alexandra Vasti, of course from here. I have ADORED every single one of her novellas and books I’ve read. A rare hit rate for me. I’ve shared with others who now also enjoy her work. What a treasure she is!
So many fun books have been found through this site…thank you! Favorite authors this year have been Tessa Bailey, Alexis Daria, Rachel Gibson, and Penny Reid.
Ashley Poston! I forget which specific title I first saw recommended here, but I discovered all of her books are my jam, particularly A Novel Love Story. They give me such a cozy, mystery vibe but in kind of a paranormal/ supernatural way.
I never would have read the “Memento Mori” series by C.S. Poe if y’all hadn’t recommended it here. Suspenseful m/m romance police mysteries with serial killers aren’t generally my thing, but I fell down that rabbit hole so hard.
The Bartender between worlds…. very different from what I’m used to and a good challenge read, but I enjoyed it!!
Happy Hanukkah! I finally tried books by Ali Hazelwood from recommendations here, both Bride and Mate enjoyed both very much!
Happy Hanukkah!
I have no recollection of what bitchery recs were from this year (last week was vaguely months ago and ten years ago was yesterday) so I’m going to go with my annual answer of Lois McMaster Bujold. I’m going to throw in Celia Lake for reliably paced emotionally satisfying comfort read releases—so appreciated!—and Moniquill Blackgoose for a strangely satisfying “hey, I recognise my Nordic culture in the oppressors” which beautifully emphasises and validates the difference in the culture of the main protagonist. (Not to neglect mentioning the wonderful storytelling.) Anyway, thank you for bringing these authors to my attention!
Chag urim sameach!
So, so many great books came my way because of the Bithcery. So many that would never have come my way if not for a rec here. This year’s best was probably Maisey Yates’ HAPPY AFTER ALL. I need to start writing down who specifically mentioned a book. I mentioned at the time that Yates was a favorite of the late former Marine post commander at my Dad’s VFW post. I hope he would have enjoyed it as much as I did.
@Triple D, I would never have picked up Cate C. Wells’ Rejected Mates books without your recommendation. It has not disappointed. So thanks right back at you.
Too many recommendations to remember. I believe this was where I first learned about Deanna Raybourne and Killers of a Certain Age, and I loved that book!
This site is where I first heard about Murderbot, which I absolutely love (and reread at the moment). This year’s favourite recommendation however is ‘Wooing the witch queen’ by Stephanie Burgis.
Happy Chanuka! I’ve gotten so many book recs I’ve had to stop adding to my list because it was too long. A recent fave is he’s to die for by Erin Dunn. My favorite posts of SBTB are the the cover snarks-they make my day.
Happy Hanukkah!
I’ve gotten so many recommendations from y’all but I need to shout out Homemaker, by Ruthie Knox and Annie Mare, which I just finished. Never would have picked it up if not for your review, but I really enjoyed it and it was the perfect level of cozy to help get me to the end of the semester. I’m excited to try The Botanist’s Assistant next!
Pretty sure I found out about An Academic Affair, by Jodi McAllister, here. I loved that book and a looking forward to all the sequels that seem to be lining up.
All the light of the season to you all! I recently read KJ Charles’ All of US Murderers based on the interview on the podcast. It was SO GOOD! I inhaled it and was very sad when it was over!
Anne Bishop, The Others series. Reading the comments there were several times I said, ‘Oh yeah, that’s another one!’
I heard about The Religious Body by Catherine Aird a while ago on the site. I finally read it this year, and boy did I enjoy it. I’ve also learned of Celia Lake, Susanna Allen, and Murderbot, Thank you!
Wishing all a happy season of lights!
I’m another who has found many wonderful book suggestions here. I think it was @DDD who first spoke memorably of Rachel Reid’s hockey books.
So many things, but Word of Honor springs to mind first…
My most enjoyable reading find this year, Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells.
Happy Chanukah!
One of my favorite reads this year was EMILY WILDE’S ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF FAERIE by Heather Fawcett.
A couple of years ago, I discovered Killers of a Certain Age via SBTB, and this year I learned about the sequel (Kills Well With Others) which brought joy to my world this autumn.
I discovered “These Summer Storms” from SBTB,one of my favorites this year!
I discovered Silvia Moreno-Garcia on this site – the first was Gods of Jade and Shadow
So many! I look through the “just released” post and then click over to my library page to request whatever catches my eye. Right now I’m listening to Christina Lauren’s “Love and Other Words” and enjoying it a lot.
I bought My Vampire Plus-one from a sales post this year (I’m fairly certain) and it was really fun!
Happy Hanukkah!
I adored every second of Emily Henry’s Great Big Beautiful Life! And all her others.
Wishing you all a very cozy holiday!
Happy Hanukkah! I have gotten so many recommendations from SBTB that I couldn’t possibly remember which ones came from this year and which ones are older recs. As I skimmed through the comments, I kept seeing books and thinking, “oh yes, and that one, too!” (Side note: Love The Rec League—I almost always find a boom there to add to my TBR.) The podcast is where I first remember hearing about Kimberly Lemming and her delightfully bonkers paranormal (or fantasy?) romances.
Wow, I’m not sure I could choose just one rec at this point, but one that really resonated was Deanna Raybourn’s KILLERS OF A CERTAIN AGE and then KILLS WELL WITH OTHERS… And so many recs from fellow readers in the WAYR posts and the sale posts! Happy celebrating, all!
Let’s make a scene was such a fun book that I discovered though SBTB reviews! I ended up reading both books in the series and really enjoyed them both!