Christmas is the time of bundling up and finding activities indoors. What better way to get through your TBR list than in a cozy chair by your sparkling Christmas tree? But if you happen to not have any new books to read, we are here to help! From sugar plum sweet romances, murder-frosted thrillers, and even Victorian classics, keep reading to see which tale may accompany you by the fireplace this holiday season!
Starting with the tales we all know best, these are the comforting pages that can always be turned back to when the snow begins to stick.
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
A timeless classic, our beloved Grinchy Mr. Scrooge spends a whirlwind Christmas Eve facing his past, present and future.
The Christmas Banquet by Nathaniel Hawthorne
A Victorian novel detailing the comparison of an aristocrat’s miserable life on Christmas Eve as he shares a banquet with no one but his money (he could use an appointment with Ebenezer’s ghosts).
Old Christmas by Washington Irving
Five festive stories detail English traditions of Christmas and recount the joys that Irving experienced while visiting his own family at Aston Hall in the UK.
A Classic Christmas Collection by Louisa May Alcott, et al.
If one read simply isn’t enough, enjoy a fantastical collection of holiday poems and short stories by some of the greatest classic writers, including Louisa May Alcott, Charles Dickens, Hans Christian Andersen, and many more!
The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg
Who wouldn’t want a beloved train overflowing with hot chocolate to whisk us away to the magic of the North Pole? Sink into holiday nostalgia with this classic.
Letters from Father Christmas by J.R.R. Tolkien
Our beloved creator of the Middle Earth tales brings together tales of mischief, adventure, and disaster that Tolkien wrote for his own children under the guise of Father Christmas.
The Nutcracker and the Mouse King by E.T.A. Hoffmann
The timeless book of the famous ballet, young Marie must team up with her wooden nutcracker doll, who comes to life with magic to defeat the evil Mouse King and save Christmas.
Moving on to those who prefer a dark and moody Christmas tale laced with murders, thrillers, and fantasy to engross yourself in on dark winter nights.
A Court of Sugar and Spice by Rebecca Kennedy
A festive combination of ACOTAR and the Nutcracker? Please, count me in!
The Wedding Witch by Erin Sterling
The third book in a standalone holiday series, this fantasy novel stars a paranormal romance between a magical artifact hunter and a Welsh witch who are transported back in time to solve a wedding mishap.
A Soul as Cold as Frost by Jennifer Kropf
This title is the first book in The Winter Souls series of fantasy Christmas-inspired novels. If you’re not a fan of rom-coms, this whimsical Yule fantasy may be the perfect pick for you.
Upon a Frosted Star by M.A. Kuzniar
A struggling artist, bewitched by the first snowfall, is invited to a notorious annual party at an abandoned manor, laced with the desperate calls of a cursed woman he is destined to save.
The Haunting Season: Ghostly Tales for Long Winter Nights by Natasha Pulley, et al.
A moody collection of eight ghostly stories by award-winning authors that are set in 19th century Christmastime.
Call Forth a Fox by Markelle Garbo
Any fan of Holly Black will love this sapphic faerie-filled twist on Snow White, where a village girl meets a cursed boy in the dead of winter.
The Christmas Guest by Peter Swanson
After an American art student living in London is invited by a classmate to celebrate Christmas at their family’s country manor, she learns of a recent murder and the potential connection to her host family as strange things plague her stay.
The Christmas Murder Game by Alexandra Benedict
Twelve clues, twelve keys, and a deed to Endgame manor. Will Lily beat the annual tradition and escape the game alive?
The Christmas Appeal by Janice Hallett
A community theater group must solve a murder during their Christmas production. Will the show be able to go on?
Finally, the rom-coms that keep us cheery and warm our holiday spirits as much as our fire does.
In A Holidaze by Christina Lauren
A young woman spends her holidays with her best friends at their cabin, but soon finds herself caught in a holiday love triangle between the two brothers.
All I Want for Christmas by Maggie Knox
A pitch perfect holiday story in which a bubbly aspiring singer and a boozy son of a legend begin an oil-and-water fake romance to win the opportunity of a lifetime.
One Day in December by Josie Silver
Have you ever gone out in public, and found someone that you instantly connect with but don’t have the confidence to speak to? Well, Laurie does exactly that, but after a year of hunting down her mysterious new love, she finally has a Christmas miracle.
How My Neighbor Stole Christmas by Meghan Quinn
Grouchy recluse meets Christmas-obsessed new neighbor and fakes a relationship to win a small town contest, but is their prize a dreamy romance?
Holiday Romance by Catherine Walsh
A lovely and soft friends-to-lovers romantic comedy about two lifelong friends who find themselves snowed-in on their annual trip to Ireland for Christmas.
Five Gold Rings by Kristen Bailey
A hilarious festive novel, Eve and Joe must spend their Christmas frantically finding five wedding rings that got misplaced around their town and must return them before some very angry brides knock on their door.
The Christmas Bookshop by Jenny Colgan
Infused with humor, wit, suspense, and a perfectly cast love triangle, this literary hot cocoa novel is hot and sweet with a surprising emotional kick.
Merry Little Meet Cute by Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone
If you need some extra spice when sipping your cider this winter, this small town romance is the perfect way to add a little more heat to your reading list.
The Christmas Fix by Lucy Score
A reality TV star and a local town manager may be known enemies, but they must work together to rebuild their hometown in time for Christmas.
We hope some of these recommendations find their way to you this Christmas, either as a gift from a loved one or as a holiday treat for yourself, and that you enjoy these quality vintage, thriller, and romance stories meant for this festive season!
Need some more holiday book recommendations? Click here for another list!
Find these books and more at Bookshop.org.
