I wish you all the rest and recharging you can get during the holidays, as I so love checking out what you've enjoyed. I had no intention of watching K-pop Demon Hunters, but ok, you've convinced me. Please read Murderbot! I've read them all, and the first is still my favorite. (Although I do love ART, who doesn't appear until book 2). I love the show, too, but the episodes are so darn short, and Sec Unit's interiority is so much sharper in the books. You won't be sorry!
Ah I wish I had seen before that you were playing Expedition 33! My husband and I loved this one and discussed it quite a lot, interesting to hear your thoughts! 💛 The story did definitely take me by surprise. My husband finished before I did and kept telling me “all your questions will be answered by the end” and.. that was totally not the case 😂 but very emotional and impactful. After each act I feel like I wandered around aimlessly (or with tears) going “What was that…” but then couldn’t help wanting to play more. And finally learning how to counterattack (I usually avoid that in games lol) - very satisfying “whooshes” and “whacks” :) ⚔️
I’m sorry to hear this has been such a difficult year, and hope 2026 is much much kinder 💛
I loved both seasons of This Is Us on Hulu, I think. The writing was fabulous and so were the quirky characters. The Hot Rabbi and the main character romance was fun too, but the moms in the second season were the best.
It's been such a rough dark year on so many fronts, and I would honestly struggle to find eight things, so good on you! A precancerous diagnosis with an upcoming painful surgery on the 2026 horizon do not fill me with hope. BUT I will say KPOP DEMON HUNTERS! OMG so real!
It started with our kids. Now, jaded, traumatized millennials have adopted those anthems! The scene with Rumi confronting Celene "Why couldn't you love me? ALL OF ME!" hits me right in the mother wound chest. But What It Sounds Like has helped heal deep parts of me <3
Music is so beautiful that way. And the music that has been the most healing for me: Citizen Soldier. The playlist and the heartbeat of my year I needed more than ever. The lead singer is a trauma therapist who weaves mental health rep into all his songs. So the abuse survivors and LGBT community are very drawn to them. And I never felt more like myself than when I went on the tour bus and saw them live. I've never cried so much at a concert. He literally told the whole concert hall. "I'll be in the back table. I'm not leaving till everyone gets a hug." And he gives the best hugs!
Songs like "Worth It All", "Burden", "Tattoos", "You Are Enough", "Still Breathing", "This is Your Sign" "Sit in the Shadows" -it's impossible to choose just one song. I've sent these songs to people struggling with crippling depression, and it's helped them heal.
So maybe it will help someone else to listen. I don't think I would have made it through 2025 without What It Sounds Like and Citizen Soldier <3
I really resonated with your comment about your Q2. That's me right now. And I'm in the same area of not really enjoying anything I'm consuming, and having no real creative spark or desire. But, there were a number of things earlier this year that I really did enjoy.
1. Critter Cove (cozy game from Steam reminiscent of Animal Crossing)
2. Ghosts (US/CBS version)
3. Hotel Galactic (another cozy games on Steam - Ghibli vibes)
There are a number of TV shows and a couple of movies for next year that I am interested to see. Devil Wears Prada 2 ought to be...interesting?
Please take care of yourself. I hope all of the recharging goes smoothly and you find the tanks filling up painlessly. <3 K-Pop Demon Hunters goes without saying because, screw it, we needed some hella affirmative positive stuff all of 2025. Rental Family is a newer film but, hot damn, Brendan Fraser continues to remind us that he really can bloody ACT. Marianne Cronin's book Eddie Winston Is Looking For Love reminded me earlier this year that love exists and comes in all forms and, yes, it's patient but it is also tough and the bravest thing anyone can do.
I discovered the Australian cartoon Bluey this year, and I'm obsessed. It's just the sweetest, purest, most heart-warming thing. Two young sisters playing earnest make-believe, with their parents, friends and other grownups playing along. That's it. And that's all it needs to be. It was the perfect antidote to an incredibly challenging year.
I just started playing Blue Prince and it's so much fun. I'm very new to gaming and my husband picked this one out for me and MAN did he get it right. I love building and exploring the world. Also went hard on mysteries at the end of the year; Wake Up Dead Man was delightful.
Okay so not actually from this year but season 3 drops at the end of January so now's an excellent time to watch School Spirits on Paramount+. It's part ghost story/afterlife, part high school murder mystery and I found the storytelling fantastic. I think it would be right up your alley based on what you've been writing lately! Also Wednesday season 2.
I'm currently playing Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and I enjoy it so far! It's a bit different than what I'm used too but I think when I have played some more it will get better! I'm sorry to hear that you've had a tough year and I feel for you. I hope you recharge well and enjoy yourself! And thanks for some new game suggestions! Love from Norway ❤️
I enjoyed reading about what you loved this past year. The book that stayed with me the most was The Witch Roads by Kate Elliot. She built such tender, fragile emotions between characters and kept the tension hiigh with gradual reveals, pulling the reader into an epic yet realistic world. There were quite a few books I really liked, and you can find the full list here: https://iridescentwords.substack.com/p/my-top-books-of-2025?r=cqffp&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
here are some of my faves from this year:
📺 heated rivalry - it has so much heart and the performance from the lead actors are astounding
💿 a matter of time by laufey - some of my favorite lyricism
🎬 kpop demon hunters - of course
📖 the blue castle by lm montgomery - surprisingly hilarious!
📖 you between the lines by katie naymon - YEARNING
I wish you all the rest and recharging you can get during the holidays, as I so love checking out what you've enjoyed. I had no intention of watching K-pop Demon Hunters, but ok, you've convinced me. Please read Murderbot! I've read them all, and the first is still my favorite. (Although I do love ART, who doesn't appear until book 2). I love the show, too, but the episodes are so darn short, and Sec Unit's interiority is so much sharper in the books. You won't be sorry!
I discovered Bards of New York (Dark Age) this year! They're a D&D podcast and they destroyed me emotionally so many times
Ah I wish I had seen before that you were playing Expedition 33! My husband and I loved this one and discussed it quite a lot, interesting to hear your thoughts! 💛 The story did definitely take me by surprise. My husband finished before I did and kept telling me “all your questions will be answered by the end” and.. that was totally not the case 😂 but very emotional and impactful. After each act I feel like I wandered around aimlessly (or with tears) going “What was that…” but then couldn’t help wanting to play more. And finally learning how to counterattack (I usually avoid that in games lol) - very satisfying “whooshes” and “whacks” :) ⚔️
I’m sorry to hear this has been such a difficult year, and hope 2026 is much much kinder 💛
I loved both seasons of This Is Us on Hulu, I think. The writing was fabulous and so were the quirky characters. The Hot Rabbi and the main character romance was fun too, but the moms in the second season were the best.
Skipping over your books because I hope you know they'd be on the list haha
Dives into Indie books for the first time this year - Gamma Raids, First Spark, To Avenge a Fallen Star.
Along with Water Moon, My Friends, Broken Blades trilogy
Tv - Andor, Paradise, and Murderbot (also haven't read the novellas yet).
Games - Assassin's Creed Shadows, Indiana Jones, and Prey (thanks to you! - Hoping to do Dishonored next year)
It's been such a rough dark year on so many fronts, and I would honestly struggle to find eight things, so good on you! A precancerous diagnosis with an upcoming painful surgery on the 2026 horizon do not fill me with hope. BUT I will say KPOP DEMON HUNTERS! OMG so real!
It started with our kids. Now, jaded, traumatized millennials have adopted those anthems! The scene with Rumi confronting Celene "Why couldn't you love me? ALL OF ME!" hits me right in the mother wound chest. But What It Sounds Like has helped heal deep parts of me <3
Music is so beautiful that way. And the music that has been the most healing for me: Citizen Soldier. The playlist and the heartbeat of my year I needed more than ever. The lead singer is a trauma therapist who weaves mental health rep into all his songs. So the abuse survivors and LGBT community are very drawn to them. And I never felt more like myself than when I went on the tour bus and saw them live. I've never cried so much at a concert. He literally told the whole concert hall. "I'll be in the back table. I'm not leaving till everyone gets a hug." And he gives the best hugs!
Songs like "Worth It All", "Burden", "Tattoos", "You Are Enough", "Still Breathing", "This is Your Sign" "Sit in the Shadows" -it's impossible to choose just one song. I've sent these songs to people struggling with crippling depression, and it's helped them heal.
So maybe it will help someone else to listen. I don't think I would have made it through 2025 without What It Sounds Like and Citizen Soldier <3
I really resonated with your comment about your Q2. That's me right now. And I'm in the same area of not really enjoying anything I'm consuming, and having no real creative spark or desire. But, there were a number of things earlier this year that I really did enjoy.
1. Critter Cove (cozy game from Steam reminiscent of Animal Crossing)
2. Ghosts (US/CBS version)
3. Hotel Galactic (another cozy games on Steam - Ghibli vibes)
There are a number of TV shows and a couple of movies for next year that I am interested to see. Devil Wears Prada 2 ought to be...interesting?
Please take care of yourself. I hope all of the recharging goes smoothly and you find the tanks filling up painlessly. <3 K-Pop Demon Hunters goes without saying because, screw it, we needed some hella affirmative positive stuff all of 2025. Rental Family is a newer film but, hot damn, Brendan Fraser continues to remind us that he really can bloody ACT. Marianne Cronin's book Eddie Winston Is Looking For Love reminded me earlier this year that love exists and comes in all forms and, yes, it's patient but it is also tough and the bravest thing anyone can do.
I discovered the Australian cartoon Bluey this year, and I'm obsessed. It's just the sweetest, purest, most heart-warming thing. Two young sisters playing earnest make-believe, with their parents, friends and other grownups playing along. That's it. And that's all it needs to be. It was the perfect antidote to an incredibly challenging year.
I just started playing Blue Prince and it's so much fun. I'm very new to gaming and my husband picked this one out for me and MAN did he get it right. I love building and exploring the world. Also went hard on mysteries at the end of the year; Wake Up Dead Man was delightful.
Okay so not actually from this year but season 3 drops at the end of January so now's an excellent time to watch School Spirits on Paramount+. It's part ghost story/afterlife, part high school murder mystery and I found the storytelling fantastic. I think it would be right up your alley based on what you've been writing lately! Also Wednesday season 2.
I'm currently playing Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and I enjoy it so far! It's a bit different than what I'm used too but I think when I have played some more it will get better! I'm sorry to hear that you've had a tough year and I feel for you. I hope you recharge well and enjoy yourself! And thanks for some new game suggestions! Love from Norway ❤️
I enjoyed reading about what you loved this past year. The book that stayed with me the most was The Witch Roads by Kate Elliot. She built such tender, fragile emotions between characters and kept the tension hiigh with gradual reveals, pulling the reader into an epic yet realistic world. There were quite a few books I really liked, and you can find the full list here: https://iridescentwords.substack.com/p/my-top-books-of-2025?r=cqffp&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web