WHAT'S IN DECEMBER MYSTERY BOOXIES SUBSCRIPTION BOX 

Welcome to December, the month where the world seems to move at double speed, but the reading list stays just as long! While we may have been swept up in the whirlwind of holiday prep and end-of-year celebrations, there is nothing quite like the feeling of finally slowing down as the Australian summer officially arrives. December is all about those stolen moments of peace: the quiet hour before a backyard BBQ begins, or that blissful afternoon snooze under a whirring ceiling fan.

Whether you are packing your bags for a coastal getaway or enjoying a "staycation" with a cold drink in hand, Booxies has your summer reading covered. From the high-stakes tension of our Crime & Thriller picks to the sun-soaked escapism of our Romance and Fantasy boxes, our six signature genres are curated to be the perfect holiday companions. So, take a deep breath, find some shade, and let’s dive into what made our December boxes so special!

What is Mystery Booxies - Our Subscription Book Box

For those who are not familiar with us, Mystery Booxies is our full book subscription service. it is a monthly service that delivers a curated selection of books directly to your doorstep. It's a fantastic way to explore new authors and broaden your literary horizons in the new year.

Each box contains a brand new book, a bookmark, and exciting extras like tea, snacks, and drinks (alcoholic or non-alcoholic, depending on your preference). All books are hand-picked by passionate bibliophiles and are guaranteed to be a delightful surprise from recent releases.

Mystery Booxies offers flexible book subscription options, including monthly, bi-monthly, and can be with zero commitment or on a 6 month or 12 month plans. For a lighter and more affordable option, choose the boxless subscription, which includes a book, tea, and a bookmark without the fuss.

We are very excited about the books we chose for you this month. You are in for a Bookish treat this month!

General Fiction Book of the Month

When The Cranes Fly South by Lisa Ridzen 

Bo is determined to live his own life in his own way. But his son has other ideas...

Bo lives a quiet existence in his small rural village in the north of Sweden. He is elderly and his days are punctuated by visits from his care team and his son.

Fortunately, he still has his rich memories, phone calls with his best friend Ture, and his beloved dog Sixten for company.

Only now his son is insisting the dog must be taken away. The very same son that Bo is wanting to mend his relationship with before his time is up. The threat of losing Sixten stirs up a whirlwind of emotions and makes Bo determined to resist and find his voice.

When the Cranes Fly South is a profoundly moving and life-affirming novel about one man’s desire to preserve his autonomy, the multitude of stories contained within a life, and the big things for which we have no words.

Romance Book of the Month

The Gingerbread Bakery by Laurie Gilmore

As owner of her beloved Gingerbread Bakery, Annie Andrews should have a love life to match her business; sugary and sweet. But instead, she’s locked in a game of words with the irritatingly upbeat bar owner down the street.

Mac Sullivan has everything he wants, except the girl he dreams of. It’s easier to argue with Annie than get her to talk to him but with Jeanie and Logan’s wedding coming up, they're about to spend a lot more time together.

As the snowflakes fall and with romance in the air, will Annie see that the one she loves to hate might just be her perfect match after all?

The Gingerbread Bakery is a cozy romantic novel with an enemies to lovers dynamic, small-town setting and a HEA guaranteed!

Crime/ Thriller Book of the Month

The Hiding Place by Kate Mildenhall

They’re good people. Why shouldn’t they get what they deserve?

When Lou sees an ad for a long-abandoned mining town up for sale, it doesn’t take her long to convince her sister and their oldest friends to go in on the idyllic property buried in the bush – a place where the four families can hide away on weekends, get back to nature and unstick the kids from their screens.

But things start to go wrong before they even arrive for their first camping trip – a rogue deer sends a trailer off the road, a neighbour complains about the fence line and squatters have set up camp down by the river. Soon none of that will matter, though, because by the end of the first night someone will be dead.

At first it seems that hiding a body is easier than keeping other sorts of secrets: a lost job, an illegal crop, an outrageous affair, a little embezzlement. But what’s buried has a way of coming to the surface, and even in the bush, it’s hard to remain unseen.

Fantasy/ Romantasy Book of the Month

Daughter of No Worlds by Carissa Broadbent

The War of Lost Hearts Book #1

Ripped from a forgotten homeland as a child, Tisaanah learned how to survive with nothing but a sharp wit and a touch of magic. But the night she tries to buy her freedom, she barely escapes with her life.

Desperate to save the best friend she left behind, Tisaanah journeys to the Orders, the most powerful organizations of magic Wielders in the world. To join their ranks, she must complete an apprenticeship with Maxantarius Farlione, a handsome and reclusive fire wielder who despises the Orders. The Orders' intentions are cryptic, and Tisaanah must prove herself under the threat of looming war. But even more dangerous are her growing feelings for Maxantarius. The bloody past he wants to forget may be the key to her future... or the downfall of them both.

Tisaanah will stop at nothing to save those she abandoned. Even if it means gambling in the Orders' deadly games. Even if it means sacrificing her heart. Even if it means wielding death itself.

Non-Fiction Book of the Month

Future Boy by Michael J. Fox

The new book from Michael J. Fox, reflecting on the special year of 1985 and Back to the Future.

In early 1985, Michael J. Fox was one of the biggest stars on television. His world was about to get even bigger, but only if he could survive the kind of double duty unheard of in Hollywood. Fox's days were already dedicated to rehearsing and taping the hit sitcom Family Ties, but then the chance of a lifetime came his way. Soon, he committed his nights to a new time-travel adventure film being directed by Robert Zemeckis and produced by Steven Spielberg--Back to the Future. Sitcom during the day, movie at night--day after day, for months.

Fox's nightly commute from a soundstage at Paramount to the back lot at Universal Studios, from one dream job to another, would become his own space-time continuum. It was in this time portal that Alex P. Keaton handed the baton to Marty McFly while Michael J. Fox tried to catch a few minutes of sleep. Alex's bravado, Marty's flair, and Fox's comedic virtuosity all swirled together to create something truly special.

In Future Boy, Fox tells the remarkable story of playing two landmark roles at the same time--a slice of entertainment history that's never been told. Using new interviews with the cast and crew of both projects, the result is a vividly drawn and eye-opening story of creative achievement by a beloved icon.

Young Adults Book of the Month

The House Saphir by Merissa Meyer

Mallory Fontaine is a fraud. Though she comes from a long line of witches, the only magic she possesses is the ability to see ghosts, which is rarely as useful as one would think. She and her sister have maintained the family business, eking out a paltry living by selling bogus spells to gullible buyers and conducting tours of the infamous mansion where the first of the Saphir murders took place.

Mallory is a self-proclaimed expert on Count Bastien Saphir—otherwise known as Monsieur Le Bleu—who brutally killed three of his wives more than a century ago. But she never expected to meet Bastien's great-great grandson and heir to the Saphir estate. Armand is handsome, wealthy, and convinced that the Fontaine Sisters are as talented as they claim. The perfect mark. When he offers Mallory a large sum of money to rid his ancestral home of Le Bleu's ghost, she can’t resist. A paid vacation at Armand’s country manor? It’s practically a dream come true, never mind the ghosts of murdered wives and the monsters that are as common as household pests.

But when murder again comes to the House Saphir, Mallory finds herself at the center of the investigation—and she is almost certain the killer is mortal. If she has any hope of cashing in on the payment she was promised, she’ll have to solve the murder and banish the ghost, all while upholding the illusion of witchcraft.

But that all sounds relatively easy compared to her biggest challenge: learning to trust her heart. Especially when the person her heart wants the most might be a murderer himself.

Products of the Month

This month, we chose something to celebrate the festive season, whether you selected the alcohol or alcohol free option. We added a can of Prosecco from Tread Softly for those who chose the alcohol option, and a can of non-alcoholic sparkling wine from Lyres for those who decided not to have alcohol. Both options came with fun and sweet limited edition festive fairy floss from Fluffe including flavours like Popcorn, Gingerbread, Naughty or Nice and Cinnamon Sugar, and of course, 2x tea pyramids from our friends at Tea Drop.

With the long, warm days of December setting the stage, these hand-picked books are the ideal way to spend your time outdoors, diving deep into new worlds of fiction, romance, and fantasy. Remember that Booxies makes the perfect present, whether you're treating yourself to a well-deserved escape or want to spoil someone this holiday season. Whether you're after pulse pounding thrills, deeply moving tales, or an enthralling adventure, these amazing reads have a story waiting for you.

So, why wait? It's time to get your Mystery Booxies and enjoy the perfect bookish box this month and every month until you are booked out (if such a thing can happen).

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