Welcome back to Bookmas day 11 (aka the second-to-last day, which is actually crazy). I called this one my “ultimate Bookmas” vlog because it’s the perfect mix of books + holiday cozy—starting with me bundled up to the nines, running errands, and kicking off Beartown by Fredrik Backman. I also did a little Hobby Lobby + Meijer haul for gift wrapping and baking supplies, because I’m in my peak holly-jolly era when it’s snowing “out the wazoo” in a way that’s weirdly… perfect. Once I got home, I made my ultimate sugary hot chocolate (whipped cream, mini marshmallows, the whole situation) and settled into the coziest reading setup ever. I shared early thoughts on Beartown—how the segmented POVs make it feel like I’m flying through pages, and how the storytelling is already so layered. I also finally started On a Sunbeam by Tillie Walden, and the art is genuinely incredible, with two interwoven timelines that had me intrigued even when I didn’t fully understand the world yet. Then Luke and I did one of my favorite holiday traditions: our annual cookie decorating “competition,” plus we went to our yearly holiday light show (and it was snowing for the first time we’ve ever gone). I ended the night finishing Beartown—and I fully loved it. It’s perfectly written about an imperfect town, and it left me with so many thoughts about empathy, community, and everything a “sports town” story can actually hold.