’Tis the Season for Comfort Reads
Grab your fluffy blanket, light a Christmas candle & curl up
❄️ December is here, and if you need some help getting in the holiday spirit — we’ve got you covered. It’s the perfect time of year to stay in, snuggle up with a hot drink and blanket, and devour a comfort read. 📚
Whether you like mystery, romcoms, or classic, our holiday reading list has something for everyone.
10 Books to Read During the Holidays 🎄
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
The timeless themes of family, love, and responsibility this a favorite read around the holidays.
While this classic isn’t exactly about the holidays, many of its prominent scenes take place around Christmas and the winter season. The story is about four New England sisters growing up in the Civil War Era, each sister unique in their desires and ambitions. The timeless themes of family, love, and responsibility make Little Women a favorite to read around the holidays.
‘Christmas won’t be Christmas without any presents,’ grumbled Jo, lying on the rug.”
Comfort and Joy by Kristin Hannah
This quick read from Kristin Hannah is for those who love a good sentimental read around this time of year.
The main character, Joy, struggles to find the excitement she used to have for Christmas after her divorce. She makes an impulse move to board a plane for the Pacific Northwest without telling anyone. This decision takes her on an adventure unlike anything she dreamed possible for her holiday.
Christmas Days: 12 Stories and 12 Feasts for 12 Days by Jeanette Winterson
This collection will bring you back to the childlike wonder of Christmas as the stories feature a bit of mystery and magic.
Winterson shares 12 stories she has written throughout the years around Christmas time, plus a personal story of her own Christmas memories.
“What’s the big deal? Snow’s just rain that’s been left out in the cold.” — Christmas Days
Winter Solstice by Rosamunde Pilcher
On the shortest day of the year, the lives of five people are brought together by a tragedy. The story takes place in a large, neglected estate house near the Scottish fishing town of Creagan. Maybe consider this your holiday traveling if you’re staying home this season.
“Winter Solstice is a novel of love, loyalty and rebirth.” — Goodreads
The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey
Set in Alaska, 1920, this Pulitzer Prize nominee centers on Jack and Mabel, who are struggling in their new Alaskan environment and drifting apart. After the season’s first snowfall, they build a child out of snow. The next morning, the snow child is gone, but they spot a real, blonde-haired girl running through the trees. The little girl, Faina, seems to be a child of the woods, and Jack and Mabel come to love her as their own. Of course, there’s more to Faina than they know.
“In my old age, I see that life is often more fantastic and terrible than stories we believed as children, and that perhaps there is no harm in finding magic among the trees.” — The Snow Child
Mr. Dickens and His Carol by Samantha Silva
If you’re a fan of Dickens, you won’t be disappointed by this historic fictional tale of what happens to him after he writes A Christmas Carol.
Charles Dickens should be looking forward to Christmas. But when his latest book is a flop, his publishers give him an ultimatum: he must write a Christmas book in a month or they will call in his debts and he could lose everything. Dickens has no choice but to grudgingly accept.
Holidays on Ice by David Sedaris
Need a laugh this holiday season? David Sedaris delivers with his holiday collection of personal essays. In addition to Christmas tales, this book gives you stories for Halloween, Easter and more. It’s a great collection to have on hand all year.
Midwinter Murder: Fireside Tales from the Queen of Mystery by Agatha Christie
Maybe comfort reading for you is curling up by a fire with a good murder mystery. If so, this collection of chilling short stories from the legendary Agatha Christie will delight you this season. Deadly snowdrifts, poisoned meals, mysterious gifts — this book is the perfect holiday read for mystery lovers.
The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry
Set in New York at the turn of the twentieth century, this classic book is a story on the value of love over material gifts. A husband and wife make big sacrifices to afford gifts for each other, leading them both to discover that the real gift of Christmas can be found right in their tiny apartment rather than a store.
One Day in December by Josie Silver
While the recent bestseller isn’t based on holiday themes, the novel does center around one magical moment on a snowy day in December, giving you the holiday feels.
Laurie believes she experiences love at first sight at a bus stop one day. She then spends the entire next year searching for the man she saw on the bus, only to meet him at a Christmas party, when he is introduced as her best friend Sarah’s new boyfriend.
What books do you love to read during the holidays? Share your favorites by leaving a comment!
