December 2025 Literary Road Trip Box: Oregon

Our December state has the only state flag that’s double-sided. Fun fact number two: 99% of the hazelnuts grown in the United States come from this state. Authors Beverly Cleary and Raymond Carver were born here. It’s home to the deepest lake in the country, and—perhaps most importantly—tater tots were invented here. You’ll also find the world’s largest independent bookstore within its borders. For December, we’re exploring “The Beaver State” — Oregon!

Our December book pick is Brian Doyle’s Martin Marten. Doyle’s sharp observations and lyrical prose whisk you straight to Oregon’s Mount Hood region in a coming-of-age story that resonates beautifully with adults—and will absolutely charm animal lovers, too.

This month’s indie bookstore partner is Spoke & Word Books from Milwaukie. A big thank you to road-trip subscriber Colette for this wonderful recommendation! We’ve included their store-logo sticker in your box so you can show them some love.

Now, let’s talk goodies.

Is your TBR shelf a little out of control? (No judgment—mine is, too.) Well, Santa has his eye on you! This month you’ll find a wooden ornament from Rustic Raleigh, a small design company that opened in North Carolina in 2017.

You’ll also enjoy a few sweet treats straight from Oregon. First up: two packets of hot chocolate from Moonstruck Chocolate Co. Moonstruck has been a Portland favorite since 1993. On a personal note, my family lived in downtown Portland for a year, and Moonstruck was one of our absolute favorite local companies.

And because no cozy reading session is complete without something chewy and delicious, we’ve added a bag of wildflower honey caramels from One Fork Farm Caramels. Based in McMinnville and opened in 2013, this company proudly sources ingredients from all over Oregon—think sea salt from the coast and butter from the Willamette Valley.

If you’ve been craving a bookish adventure, December’s box is packed with Oregon charm and ready to delight. Happy reading and happy snacking!