A new year is an opportunity; a new book is an opportunity. A chance to practice gratitude, to implement change, to be thoughtful and intentional in one's life. Who were you last year? What did you do? What do you want to do more of, or less of?

 

New Years Eve and New Years Day have historically been my most favorite holidays. There is no misunderstanding of the passage of time, so why not have it be cause for glitter and champagne? Even as a little girl, I loved the challenge to stay up until midnight and pop the sparkling apple cider. As a teenager, I love New Year’s for a lot of different reasons, mostly as a time of self reflection. This is my third New Year’s with Erin. We have spent NYE with Grace in 2023 and 2024, both times in LA making an appearance at the bar and then immediately going home to read a book. Honestly a perfect compromise. I don’t know what we will do this year, and truth be told, I don’t care. As long as I get to kiss Erin at midnight, anything else is icing on the cake. Or more accurately, the cherry liquor in my $17 glass of prosecco. 

 

My sights are set on the new year itself, 2026! Oh, the places I thought I’d be. But I love where I am. There will be a lot of change for me this year. A lot of exciting and scary changes. Lulu has been telling me for years that I am “too good at protecting my peace” and that I “honestly need to have my peace disturbed" (thanks Peaches!!!!) so I know this is all good change. When I am feeling nervous about the future, I find it important to have a guiding light. Having goals to reach is grounding and gives us reasons to have our own celebrations. My goals for this year are listed if you care to read. 

 

I’m a busy woman this year, and I know you all are too. So, I am giving us all a little more time. Ella Luna Book Club will now be meeting every other month. This means you have 60 days to plan ahead for the meeting and 60 days to read the book, so no excuses this year! It also means that I will be able to choose some books that are a bit longer. For the first two years of ELBC, I kept all books under 300 pages, but now I am able to choose some I have always wanted you to read! I’m really excited.

For January and February, I wanted to highlight my guiding force: Ella Fitzgerald. The First Lady of Song, The Queen of Jazz, with a range spanning over three octaves. But before all of this, Ella was a girl coming of age in Harlem in the 1930’s, facing countless challenges as a young black woman. Ella by Diane Richards is a work of historical fiction about Ella Fitzgerald’s life prior to her singing career. It is a story you won’t be able to put down. I’ve also provided a playlist of my favorite Ella songs for your listening pleasure as you read this novel. Should you finish it early and be interested in learning more about Ella, I highly recommend Judith Tick’s biography Becoming Ella Fitzgerald: The Jazz Singer Who Transformed American Song. I cannot wait to chat all about this beautiful novel with you at the end of February. Cheers!