We’re ending the year on a high note with these picks.

Watch

Elf
I watched this movie for the first time three years ago and am now making up for lost time. (Amber)

Pretty Freekin Scary (Disney+)
A girl accidentally gets sent to the Underworld and now has to do tasks for the Grim Reaper (who’s a woman!). But it’s also a comedy and has lots of lovely family and friends moments. (Hazel)
Check out our Disney+ Roku to watch.

Read

Amazing Ace, Awesome Aro by Victoria Barron
A very basic overview of a-spec identities with very fun graphics. I already knew everything in it, but it was still fun to look at. (Hazel)

Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll
Having grown up in the same city as Ted Bundy, I’ll always read anything based on him, even historical fiction. This was an engrossing read, and I was impressed by the author’s understanding of Washington state. (Ash)

The Chalice of the Gods by Rick Riordan
After a few spinoff series, Rick Riordan finally returns to writing Percy Jackson from Percy’s POV. Great if you loved the original Percy Jackson and the Olympians. (Casey)

Midnight is the Darkest Hour by Ashley Winstead
This was an incredibly atmospheric, southern gothic mystery, and it did not disappoint. (Ash)

Mom Rage: The Everyday Crisis of Modern Motherhood by Minna Dubin
This book made me feel SO SEEN. (Dana)

Out-island Doctor by Evans W. Cottman
First published in 1963, this biography of a teacher who chucks that life to be a medical provider to residents of the far-flung Bahama islands. The trials and tribulations of boats, Caribbean weather and customs are enlightening, humorous and challenging. (Deb)

KooKooLand by Gloria Norris
A memoir written from the perspective of the author as a child, growing up in Manchester, NH under her charismatic, but abusive father in the 1960s/70s. She writes in her voice as a child which I did not like at first, but after a few dozen pages, it was essential to the book. (Todd)

Things in the Basement by Ben Hatke
Ben goes to the basement to get his little sister’s sock and discovers a whole lot more. Creepy and lovely at the same time, from the creator of the Mighty Jack series. (Jen)

This Is Christmas, Song by Song: The Stories Behind 100 Hits by Annie Zaleski
A Christmas Behind The Music starring the songs. (Amber)

A Winter in New York by Josie Silver
I don’t read many romance novels so perhaps I am not the best arbiter, but this cute read checks all the boxes: meet cute, widower who is scared to open up to love again, NYC scenes straight out of a movie set, etc. Romance tropes aside, the plot is original and kept me rooting for a happy ending. (Amber)

Listen

Golden by Jung Kook
Jung Kook is the last member of BTS to drop his own solo project and it’s golden. (Casey)

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, read by Tim Robbins
I always find a “classic” I missed in school weirder than I expected when I read them as an adult. This was no different. It’s much more stream-of-consciousness, metaphorical and symbolic than I’d have guessed. But I got the point, found it interesting. Best analogy is it’s like the 1953 version of Wall-e. (Deb)

Living in the Fallout by Far From Finished
They were a Boston punk band who haven’t played together in years, but are re-uniting for a few shows at Faces in Malden to celebrate the life of their former bandmate, Paul Christian, who recently passed away. (Todd)

Making It So by Patrick Stewart, read by the author
Patrick Stewart is a much more interesting man than I thought! (Hazel)

The Woman in Me by Britney Spears, read by Michelle Williams
Michelle Williams does an incredible job narrating Britney’s new memoir. This slim volume seems like the CliffsNotes of her life story, but what Britney does share is incredibly sad. I hope she has found a sense of peace and can live the life SHE wants now. (Amber)

Small Mercies by Dennis Lehane, read by Robin Miles
I’m a nerd for local history (spoiler alert!), and have been wanting to read Lehane’s new novel, which centers on the Boston Public Schools’ efforts to desegregate by forcing busing between Southie and Roxbury. I usually have a hard time with audiobooks for various reasons, but figured I’d give this one a try. I think I made it 2 chapters in before giving up…the reader’s performance was a bit grating and her “Southie accent” tended to sound a bit more New Yorkish. I switched to ebook format on this one. (Dana)