📚 December 2025: Our Book Recommendations!


Hello Reader,

We know you’re always looking for your next good read, so we have some great recommendations.

Every month, you’ll receive team CGF’s top picks of books to help you improve your finances, advance your career, practice self-care, or get lost in a fantasy world.

Here is our list of MONTH book recommendations!

  • Note: This book list contains affiliate links from Amazon. Clever Girl Finance is an Amazon Associate which means we may earn commissions from qualifying purchases. These commissions help us grow!
  • We also encourage you to support your local independent booksellers! You can search by your location here.

Finance pick:The Psychology of Money - Timeless lessons on wealth, greed, and happiness

You might be surprised to learn that managing money isn’t just about tracking expenses or balancing spreadsheets.

At its core, personal finance is driven by behavior, by the stories we tell ourselves, the habits we form, and the emotions that shape our choices.

Every money decision we make is influenced by experiences, upbringing, personality, and sometimes even pride or fear. That’s why understanding money means looking beyond math and into mindset.

In The Psychology of Money, award-winning author Morgan Housel explores how the way people think about money, through attitudes, biases, and life lessons, matters in better money management.

His insights help readers build a healthier, more balanced relationship with their finances by recognizing the human side of wealth.

Self-help pick:Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before?

The holidays and the end of the year probably have you feeling tired, burnt out, stressed, or all of the above.

During these hectic times, it can be easy to neglect self-care when we’re worried about taking care of others. Don’t let your mental health fall apart.

Dr. Julie Smith’s book Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before provides practical, everyday tips that will teach you how to maintain your mental health no matter what’s going on in your life.


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Business/Career pick: Power Moves - How Women Can Pivot, Reboot, and Build a Career of Purpose

If you’re a hard-working career woman, chances are you’ve struggled and fought for everything you’ve gained in your career.

You spent nights struggling to fall asleep, wondering if you're good enough, obsessing over the smallest things, and trying to get everything perfect.

You don’t have to let struggle or disappointment be your career story.

Power Moves is your roadmap to building a better career and future. It’s pretty much a handbook for professional women.

Lauren McGoodwin teaches women to utilize power moves and let go of shame and self-doubt. She also shares insights on how to make better financial decisions.

Fiction Pick:Silo Series (3 book series)

For the first time, The Silo Saga Omnibus brings together the complete collection of Hugh Howey’s acclaimed and bestselling series, including the novels Wool, Shift, and Dust.

Set in a future where humanity survives deep underground, life inside the silo is governed by rigid rules—rules that mean the difference between life and death. The harshest law of all forbids any talk of the outside world, with exile (and certain death) as the punishment.

But when the silo’s sheriff dares to break this rule, an unexpected hero steps forward: Juliette, a tenacious mechanic from the lower levels, known for fixing machines and challenging the status quo.

As Juliette pushes back against the silo’s suffocating authority, she begins to unravel dangerous truths that could upend everything its inhabitants believe.

What happens when a society built on rigid order is confronted by someone who refuses to obey? And when the world begins to crack open, who will have the courage to rebuild it?

Personal development pick: The Art of Letting GO - How to Let Go of the Past, Look Forward to the Future, and Finally Enjoy the Emotional Freedom You Deserve!

This is a book we highly recommend before you go to a family dinner or holiday party. While the holidays often bring family and friends together, sometimes this coming together can create tension.

Perhaps you’re dreading going to your parents’ house for the holidays because you’ll have to spend time with your straightforward aunt who made a rude comment about your career choice.

While everyone’s told you to let the comment go, you can’t. Their judgmental words still sting like a two-day-old sunburn.

If you can relate, then The Art of Letting Go is a must-read. Don’t waste time being unhappy because you keep replaying in your mind the same hurtful moment.

This book isn’t filled with shallow self-help advice. Instead, it’s a complete toolkit to help you overcome your emotional anguish.

You’ll receive 21 strategies to help you retrain your brain and let go of negative thoughts so you can live a more positive and rewarding life.



Which end-of-the-year reads will you choose?

Which book are you considering? Let us know in the comments!

Don’t forget you can stay motivated and learn other financial tips and tricks from our completely free financial courses.

Happy reading! ❤️
Team CGF

Clever Girl Finance

Clever Girl Finance isn’t just about money. We are about freedom, choices, and confidence. We know how overwhelming finances can feel, especially when you’re juggling career, family, and personal goals. That’s why we’ve built one of the largest personal finance communities for women, with over 100,000 women learning, growing, and winning with their money together.When you subscribe, you’re not just signing up for financial tips, you’re joining a movement. You’ll get access to relatable, judgment-free advice designed to help you ditch debt, save consistently, and invest with confidence. We break down money topics in a way that’s simple, practical, and actually fun. Whether you want to build your first emergency fund, pay off thousands in debt, or finally start building wealth for the long term, we’ve got the tools and support you need. With our resources, tools, and strategies, you’ll know you’re not alone on this journey. Subscribe today—because your future self deserves the financial freedom you’re dreaming of!

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