24 holiday books an adult can cozy up with this holiday season while avoiding parties, parking lots and Santas that smell like scotch.
WINTER books are like the season, slow, heavy and almost never ending. They're the kind of books with some heft that more often than not have won some sort of literary award. The one time this doesn't hold true is in the winter month of December.
A time when even the most austere of readers has been known to bundle under the covers with a hot chocolate, a shortbread cookie and secretly crack open a Christmas romance novel.
Yup, romance novels. The literary world's most sneezed upon genre. It's also the most profitable. Romance novels make more money for the publishing world than any other books - by a lot.
Book Genres by Earnings
- Romance & Erotica - $1.44 billion dollars
- Crime & Mystery - $728.2 million
- Religious & Inspirational - $720 million
Now that I've sort of legitimized romance novels I will now confess that although I've never read a "regular" romance novel, I had a period in my life when I was absolutely obsessed with Christmas themed romance novels. Which I read of course around Christmas. When I was in University a friend and I would start buying these books around the month of October and we'd read them nonstop until Christmas.
I said it was a way to avoid writing papers and nothing more. I was a University student for God's sake. I had better literary tastes than this. But I didn't. I liked those books. I actually liked them.
They just made me feel cozy, happy, relaxed ... all the things one normally doesn't feel while trying to avoid writing 2,000 word papers. Cozy, happy and relaxed are all the things we all want to feel 100% of the time which probably explains why romance is indeed the most read genre in the world.
So while they aren't normally what I reach for when I'm looking for a book I've included a couple of romance books on this list of Christmas novels.
18 Great Christmas Reads for Adults
The Best Christmas Books
Something for everyone to cozy up with this holiday season no matter what your reading taste. Humour, mystery, romance and literary fiction.
Letters From Father Christmas
If you're a Tolkien fan or you know of a Tolkien fan this is the book for you. If you're also a Christmas fan this collection of letters might actually prompt you to spontaneously combust and become invisible from excitement.
The Deal of a Lifetime - Feel good
I'd also like to recommend if you haven't read his novel A Man Called Ove that you do it now. Well, after you read this Christmas one I mean.
Visions of Sugar Plums - Humour/Romance
This is a Christmas/Crime/Humour novel with tiny bit of romance. I know! You didn't think such a thing existed. But it does! Janet Evanovich is my go to writer when I just want something easyyyy and guaranteed entertaining.
Redbird Christmas - Feel Good
Fannie Flagg is a storyteller. Plain and simple. She cultivates complex, quirky characters grown out of small town soil. You don't just read a Fannie Flagg novel, you feel like you live it with every turn of the page.
A Treasury of African American Christmas Stories
A curated collection that reflects the Christmas experiences of everyday African Americans in the years 1880 - 1953.
Little Women - Literary Fiction
Louisa May Alcott begrudgingly wrote Little Women at the demand of her publisher. After she finished the first 12 chapters they both agreed it was dull. But her publisher's niece loved it, so they decided they might as well finish it. And history was made.
A Christmas Carol - Literary Fiction
I'm pretty sure I don't have to tell you anything about this book that you don't already know. It's the story of Ebenezer Scrooge and how on Christmas Eve he gets visited by the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future. You've seen the movie, now read the book. We all know the book is always better.
Mr. Dickens and His Carol
The fictional tale of the story behind Charle's Dickens classic A Christmas Carol and how he came to write it. (with historically accurate details of Dickens' actual life.)
Hercule Poirot's Christmas - Mystery
Mystery fans unite. Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot in a classic English Christmas setting. Just add a blanket, fireplace and hot toddy.
Holidays on Ice - Humour
David Sedaris is the funniest human on Earth. Period. This collection of short stories proves it.
A Christmas Memory - Classic
Just his description of going out to buy fruitcake ingredients makes the book worth it. 91% of readers give A Christmas Memory a 5 out of 5 star rating.
A Cowboy's Christmas - Romance
I'm not a romance reader but I *do* love every single awful Hallmark Christmas movies. If you do too AND you like romance, then this book will be the greatest gift you can give yourself.
The Christmas Mystery - Mystery
Want to read a Christmas book but don't have time? THIS is the one for you. The Christmas Mystery is a quick 160 pages you can speed through on a snowy weekend.
An Irish Christmas Feast - Short stories
Another option if you're short on reading time. A collection of Irish Christmas short stories. Get your whiskey glass polished up and ready.
The Greatest Gift: A Christmas Tale
From the Amazon description:
"Unable at first to find a publisher for his evocative tale about a man named George Pratt who ponders suicide until he receives an opportunity to see what the world would be like without him, Stern ultimately published the story in a small pamphlet and sent it out as his 1943 Christmas card. One of those 200 cards found its way into the hands of Frank Capra, who shared it with Jimmy Stewart, and the film that resulted became the holiday tradition we cherish today."
Trading Christmas - Romance/Feel Good
Yet another Hallmark movie type book. In fact, this book was actually made into a Hallmark movie (of the same name)!
One Day in December: Romanceish
Reese Witherspoon loved this one so much she included it in her book club. Since then it's received a near 5 star review from over 50,000 readers.
Last Christmas in Paris - Historical Romance
This wouldn't have made my list but it gets such good reviews that I thought I had better add this in. I love Christmas novels as well as war novels, I just wasn't all that keen on a combination of the two for some reason. I also don't like my foods touching on my dinner plate sooooo that could account for my initial opposition, lol.
My personal favourites on this list are Holidays on Ice by David Sedaris which is absolutely hysterical and A Redbird Christmas by Fannie Flagg because she's such a good storyteller.
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Bonus Books
Jewish holiday books
The Latke Who Couldn't Stop Screaming How could a book titled The Latke Who Couldn't Stop Screaming be anything but fantastic? A Lemony Snicket book.
Love You a Latke "... as the only Jew on the tourism board of her Vermont town, Abby's been charged with planning their fledgling Hanukkah festival. Unfortunately, the local vendors don’t understand that the story of Hanukkah cannot be told with light-up plastic figures from the Nativity scene, even if the Three Wise Men wear yarmulkes."
Gay Holiday Books
The Merriest Misters New Jersey newlyweds Patrick Hargrave and Quinn Muller accidentally whack Santa one night and end up in charge of Christmas.
Small Town Christmas Gay romance Christmas novels don't seem to differ from straight ones very much. This one focuses on a small town sheriff who tries to hide his gay truth from coming out before an election. Enter, the highly successful businessman, who wanders into town for a business deal during the holiday season.
Lesbian Holiday Books
Make the Season Bright A string ensemble escapes Manhattan for a Christmas in Colorado. Horseback riding, cookie decorating and an ex, await them.
A Swedish Christmas Fairytale The premise of this sounds like a PERFECT Christmas book. Excerpt from Amazon - "Amber Tate is about to lose her job at a London publishing house. And it’s nearly Christmas. Her boss gives her one last chance. Sadly, it’s the impossible task of obtaining the rights to the popular Lund Collection of fairy tales. The rights to the fairy tales are held by the author’s granddaughter, Emilia Lund, who lives a reclusive life in Sweden and has steadfastly refused to talk to anyone about the rights for the last several years. However, in order to convince her one and only friend that she can be sociable, Emilia agrees to invite Amber - under strict conditions - to the cosy setting of wintry Sweden.
There's only a 1-2 month long window where this kind of book will feel magical. Get that book, go to bed early with a mug of hot chocolate, a plate of shortbread cookies and settle into some holiday rest, relaxation and reading. It's not just for University students trying to avoid writing papers.
It's for anyone trying to avoid anything.
David
Yikes, I am following Marcia’s example below by posting twice.
I would also like to recommend “The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse” by Charlie Mackesy. It is a story about the importance of relationships. I read it the beginning of each new year.
Karen
Thanks David. I'll also have a look at Bread and Wine! ~ karen
David Franklin
Hello, Karen:
I found you for drilling bricks, chicken swings and now books.
While not a Christmas book may I suggest “Present over Perfect” by Shauna Niequist. In this book she revamps her overloaded life into a simpler, more grounded and fulfilling life. I first fell in love with her book “Bread and Wine” it is a love letter about life around the table, with a recipe in every chapter!
Regards, David
susang
Not exactly Christmas but Wintering by Katherine May is great for the season
Marcia
Love the David Sedaris book! l love A Redbird Christmas! I look forward to your Christmas book list every year. I'm sure I've mentioned this in past years, but I've read "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" every year since my sister told me about it years ago. I give it to friends. I still laugh out loud and still get warm fuzzies at the end. Now they've made it into a movie, which I'm sure will ruin it. I won't see the movie, but I will be reading it again this year. Christmas books are my favorite and I have a collection of adult and children's Christmas books that keeps growing. Growing this year with the addition of the John Keane book and the Janet Evanovich books. I already have several of the books on your list.
Merry Christmas, Karen!
Marcia
Oh gosh! I see that I responded to your book list last year (which seems to have the comments here?) with my favorites. Oh well...still recommend those books!
Helen Whaley
Seven Days Of Us by Frances Hornak is a great December read. It's about a family forced to spend Christmas together in quarantine at their Norfolk stately pile.
Tanya
Who has time to read Christmas books? There's 3 (count them) THREE Hallmark channels all running Christmas movies 24/7. I'm exhausted.
Wanted to share with you these hilarious bingo cards created by Jen Lancaster, a hilarious writer, you can use while watching the movies. Heck, they'll probably work for some of these books! https://www.jenlancaster.com/holiday-movie-pdf
Ho Ho Ho,
Tanya
Barb
Thanks for the recommendations. I'll be checking out several of these for my Christmas reading!
I have a favorite book that I've read and reread for about 8 years. It's "A Pioneer Christmas Collection". There are 9 stories by different authors that cover different periods from 1781 - 1897, historical fiction. It's one of those easy read books that also brings adventure and love during the Christmas season.
Jan in Waterdown
Hallmark movies??? I’d rather stab myself in the eye than watch one 🙄. I used to think we “might” be sisters from another mother but now? Pffft. Not so much.
Kat - the other 1
"A Christmas Carol,"
"You've seen the movie, now read the book. We all know the book is always."
But have you / y'all seen the "Muppet Christmas Carol?"
My favorite! Lol ;)
Rose
Christmas at Fontaines is also a great fast read. LOVE the Sedaris pick as well.
Cherie
I have the movie, several copies of the story, a CD of Dylan Thomas himself reading "A Child's Christmas in Wales" and I cannot imagine a Christmas without seeing the movie and reading the book while listening to Thomas's mellifluous voice. I have been doing this for at least 50 years -- not the DVD and the movie but reading the book and listening to a recording by Thomas -- since one of my profs at UNB invited his small creative writing class over before Christmas for a meal and what he said was a "treat". And a treat it was, too, the LP recording and the meal. Des Pacey, the prof, turned out the lights, lit candles and told us all to be very quiet and just listen. It was magical. I have many other Christmas books, a couple of dozen Christmas CDs, lots of glass ornaments on my never staged Christmas tree, and so many happy memories of Christmases past. I'll peruse your list, Karen, and know that I will read some of them. Thank you and a much too early "Merry Christmas." Cherie
Andie Anstess
Love this list. Got the 2 you personally recommended as your faves.
Randy P
Well, I've just now read everything YOU have written about all these books in this posting... so I'm calling that good enough..... but the Poirot one DOES appeal to me ( a serial binge watcher of the many series and movies). So mayhaps I shall get that one and read it. Thanks for the recommendations.
Sue T.
Hi, Karen. I want to let you know that your link to Amazon for the first book on your list, Tolkien's "Letters from Father Christmas," doesn't send your readers to the correct Amazon page. (As of 4:30 a.m. Central Time, U.S., Friday, November 12, 2021)
I love all your columns. Thank you for your witty take on everything!
Karen
Thanks Sue! I'll have a look. Oftentimes it's an issue with Amazon US links not playing nice with Amazon Canada links. ~ karen!
Sabina
It’s funny, I consider myself a bookaholic. I read probably a dozen books over this past summer. Now that we’re all cooped up I find I can’t concentrate long enough to get hooked, or I fall asleep one and a half pages in. I have a stack of books I was itching to devour when I bought them and a couple more on this list I’d like to grab. Maybe I will pick one of your “easy reads” and hope that it jumpstarts my brain lol!
Grammy
Another: The Farolitos of Christmas by Rudolfo Anaya. "With her father away and her grandfather too sick to create the traditional luminaria, Luz helps create farolitos, little lanterns, for their Christmas celebration." Beautiful children's story.
In addition, I began reading O. Henry's "Gift of the Magi" to my son when he was three (he's 56 now) and read it every year until he was in middle school. It remains one of his favorites. I began again with my grandson and, even though he's in middle school now, he still wants to continue it each year. He told his mother, last year when she wasready to leave our house, "Sit down and wait. This is a TRADITION." That story was written 120 years ago, so you have to paraphrase in a couple of places for very young ones because of the different phrasing (and also explain decorative hair combs and pocket watches) but the story still holds all the charm from the first time I read it around 1950. And after the first few readings they can handle even the quaint original wording.
Grammy
Oh, dear -- I see that I already wrote about Gift of the Magi in response to this a couple of years ago. Oh, well, it's worth repeating the recommendation.
Karen
Hahaha! I probably thought I'd read it then too.😆 I need about a year off to get caught up on reading. And cleaning out drawers and closets. ~ karen!
Karen
Thanks Grammy! I'll have a look. :) ~ karen!
Cindy Peterson
My Childhood Christmas https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LYJG8I4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_5S3Z3ZRX9X8RXK1QDEZX
You won’t be sorry ! 🙂
Darcy
Please make a fruit cake recipe based on a Christmas Memory. Makes me cry every time. My absolute favorite. I made my own mediocre fruit cake and gave it out with the story.
Kat - the other 1
I have many Christmas memories of vomiting. I don't think I should make a cake based on those memories... 😉😆
Sorry, couldn't help myself. 😁😂
Marcia
I collect Christmas books (children's and adult's) and have a few favorites that aren't on your list:
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson. I Love this book and re-read it every year. It still makes me laugh.
The Cat Who Came for Christmas by Cleveland Amory I think someone else recommended this.
The Shepherd, the Angel and Walter the Christmas Miracle Dog by Dave Barry. If you're a fan of Dave Barry, you'll love this
Wishin' and Hopin', A Christmas Story by Wally Lamb
Why Christmas Trees Aren't Perfect by Richard Schneider
Red Ranger Came Calling by Berkeley Breathed
The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey by Susan Wojciechowski
The last three books are children's books, but they're wonderful. You'll enjoy reading to the children in your life.
Karen
Thanks Marcia! ~ karen
Mary Fehlman
Oh, Marcia, for sure "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever!" Back when I was teaching 3rd/4th grade, it was my read-aloud book for December. It is absolutely hilarious, but brings me to tears at the end every time.
Marcia
Me to, Mary!
Violet
Has anyone tried The Christmas Gift by J. Dietrich? It's an illustrated indie book that the author wrote for his wife. Very sweet.