Kendra Winchester is a Contributing Editor for Book Riot where she writes about audiobooks and disability literature. She is also the Founder of Read Appalachia, which celebrates Appalachian literature and writing. Previously, Kendra co-founded and served as Executive Director for Reading Women, a podcast that gained an international following over its six-season run. In her off hours, you can find her writing on her Substack, Winchester Ave, and posting photos of her Corgis on Instagram and Twitter @kdwinchester.
Kendra Winchester is a Contributing Editor for Book Riot where she writes about audiobooks and disability literature. She is also the Founder of Read Appalachia, which celebrates Appalachian literature and writing. Previously, Kendra co-founded and served as Executive Director for Reading Women, a podcast that gained an international following over its six-season run. In her off hours, you can find her writing on her Substack, Winchester Ave, and posting photos of her Corgis on Instagram and Twitter @kdwinchester.
In the book world, December means fewer book lists and award announcements. While the hubbub of big book season might be winding down, there are still new books on the horizon. For the past several years, I’ve become distracted by the holiday comings and goings and have missed December releases that I ended up loving later. This year, I’m determined to keep a lookout for potential new favorites.
Of course, as a fan of true stories, nonfiction is always at the top of my to-be-read pile. And December has plenty of hidden gems that you won’t want to miss! You could start with a guide to making handmade books. Or you could read the new book about the legal case surrounding Margaret C. Anderson’s publication of Ulysses. Or maybe you’ll check out the new memoir from a Cuban American writer journeying to her homeland for the first time. Or what about a meditation on the choices that surround the life of being a book lover?
In celebration of true stories, I’ve collected ten of the most exciting nonfiction titles hitting shelves in December. You might be new to nonfiction or a true stories pro, but whatever the case, there’s sure to be something on this list that catches your eye.
All publication dates are subject to change.
A Little Piece of Cuba: A Journey to Become Cubana-Americana by Barbara Caver (December 2)
Barbara Cava disconnected from her Cuban culture. Her mother left Cuba in 1959 and made her home in the U.S. Decades later, Barbara travels to Havana for the first time. There she feels an unexpected sense of recognition. Her family’s culture was everywhere. She may not have been as disconnected from her Cuban ancestry as she thought. What started out as a simple research trip turned into a powerful homecoming.
All access members continue below for more of the best nonfiction out in December.
Feast on Your Life: Kitchen Meditations for Every Day by Tamar Adler (December 2)
Life comes at you fast, so it can be difficult to slow down and appreciate the small things. Tamar Adler delights in the simple pleasures of the perfect bite of food or seeking out new ingredients. Whether it’s poetry, lists, or longer reflections, each entry of Feast for Your Life highlights the role food and cuisine play in your life.
A Long Game: Notes on Writing Fiction by Elizabeth McCracken (December 2)
Writing a novel can overwhelm even the best of authors. Every time a writer sits down to work, they’re faced with an endless slew of choices about how they approach their story. Critically acclaimed author Elizabeth McCracken has been helping her students make these decisions for years, and now she’s compiled all of that advice into a single volume.
Every Day I Read: 53 Ways to Get Closer to Books by Hwang Bo-reum, Translated by Shanna Tan (December 2)
Every Day I Read is a booklover’s dream. Hwang Bo-reum delves into the big ideas around a life centered around reading. What makes us choose a bestseller or read by whim? What inspired us to read outside of our favorite genres? Every Day I Read is a love letter to books and encourages readers to follow along and answer these questions for themselves.
Sikodiwa: Revisiting Filipino Indigenous Wisdom for Personal and Shared Well-Being by Carl Lorenz Cervantes (December 2)
Carl Lorenz Cervantes reclaims Filipino identity, presenting Filipino culture, folklore, and history through a decolonial lens. He centers an Indigenous worldview and reasserts that Filipinos have the right to self-determination. Through these ideas, Sikodiwa gives readers the framework to better understand cultural authenticity and embodied well-being.
A Danger to the Minds of Young Girls: Margaret C. Anderson, Book Bans, and the Fight to Modernize Literature by Adam Morgan (December 9th)
In 1921, Margaret C. Anderson found herself and her progressive magazine, The Little Review, declared, “a danger to the minds of young girls.” For years, Anderson has pushed the envelope by publishing authors like T.S. Eliot, Ezra Pound, and William Butler Yeats. But when she started serializing Ulysses, she found herself on trial. Adam Morgan brings Anderson’s story to a new generation, highlighting Anderson’s fight for everyone’s right to read.
Making Books: A Guide to Creating Hand-Crafted Books by Simon Goode, Ira Yonemura (December 30th)
Spend much time on the internet, and you’ll find yourself on a corner of BookTok where people make their own handcrafted books. Now, Making Books is your guide to making handmade books of your own. Perfect for beginners, readers will use step-by-step instructions to make six different book types.
There are so many good books — I don’t know where to start! If you’re looking for even more nonfiction book recommendations, check out 7 of the Best New Nonfiction Books of October 2025 and 7 of the Best New Nonfiction Books of November 2025.
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