12 Christmas Books to Read This Holiday Season
One of the many joys of winter is snuggling up by a warm fire, sipping a cup of hot cocoa, and reading a Christmas story. For kids, picture books like How the Grinch Stole Christmas and The Polar Express fill this role perfectly. But the tradition doesn't have to end once you grow up. So celebrate the 12 days of Christmas with these wonderful novels and short story collections that exude the spirit of the holiday season. When you click links from this website, we may receive advertising revenue to support our research. This video was made with Ezvid Wikimaker.
12 Christmas Books to Read This Holiday Season
| Title | Author(s) | More by the Author | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Christmas Days | Jeanette Winterson | The Passion |
| 2. | Wishin' and Hopin' | Wally Lamb | I'll Take You There |
| 3. | Candlelight Christmas | Susan Wiggs | The Winter Lodge |
| 4. | A Very Merry Christmas | Cathy Lamb | What I Remember Most |
| 5. | A Snow Garden and Other Stories | Rachel Joyce | The Music Shop |
| 6. | The Christmas Pearl | Dorothea Benton Frank | By Invitation Only |
| 7. | The Mistletoe Secret | Richard Paul Evans | The Mistletoe Promise |
| 8. | Let It Snow | Maureen Johnson, John Green, & Lauren Myracle | Truly Devious |
| 9. | A Lowcountry Christmas | Mary Alice Monroe | The Summer Girls |
| 10. | Twice Upon a Christmas | Shanna Swendson | Much Ado About Magic |
| 11. | Santa's Secret | Heidi McLaughlin | Forever My Girl |
| 12. | A Lot Like Christmas | Connie Willis | I Met a Traveller in an Antique Land |
Why Do We Kiss Under Mistletoe?
Classic Holiday Reads
The contemporary authors on our list are following in the footsteps of many great writers from the past who have written lasting tales about Yuletide. Here are a few classic books you may want to add to your Christmas canon:
- A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
- The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry
- The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding by Agatha Christie
- The Nutcracker and the Mouse King by E. T. A. Hoffmann
- Letters From Father Christmas by J.R.R. Tolkien
- The Little Match Girl by Hans Christian Andersen
In Depth
Christmas is the time of the year for joy and merriment. 'Tis the season for good reads as well. If you are looking for some novels to get you in the festive spirit, you can count down the advent with these 12 Christmas books, listed here in no particular order.
Starting off at #1 is "Christmas Days: 12 Stories and 12 Feasts for 12 Days," written by Jeanette Winterson, a novelist and professor from England. It includes twelve tales, each told in a different genre and theme. There are also several recipes, which are associated with the author's personal experiences. In addition, Winterson provides a historical background on how Yuletide celebrations began.
At #2 is "Wishin' and Hopin'," which is a prequel to Wally Lamb's "I'll Take You There." It transports readers back to the mid-60s, narrated in the perspective of a 10-year-old boy named Felix Funicello. It recounts his time at a parochial school dealing with nuns, coping with a new teacher, outsmarting bullies, befriending a Russian girl, and preparing for the annual pageant.
It transports readers back to the mid-60s, narrated in the perspective of a 10-year-old boy named Felix Funicello.
Next, at #3 is Susan Wiggs' "Candlelight Christmas," the tenth book of the "Lakeshore Chronicles." It tells the story of Logan O'Donnell, a single father who wants to spend the holidays with his son. Enter Darcy Fitzgerald, a divorcee who is a newcomer to Willow Lake. When the two come across each other, they try to restrain themselves from falling in love again. But their romance gradually develops as they get to know one another better.
At #4 is "A Very Merry Christmas" by Cathy Lamb. Meredith Ghirlandaio owns a bed and breakfast in Montana. She was in an accident years ago, due to her sister's carelessness. Even though her customers see her as a jolly person, this woman continues to carry the burdens of the past. She is so drawn into her family and business affairs, that she has to resist being smitten by the handsome Logan Taylor.
At #5 is "A Snow Garden and Other Stories," penned by British author Rachel Joyce. It is a compilation of seven tales about the Yuletide season that tackle themes of kinship, love, and life. Although each story is unique, they are all intertwined, with characters who appear briefly in other plots. Some of these characters are taken from Rachel's previous works.
Although each story is unique, they are all intertwined, with characters who appear briefly in other plots.
Next, at #6 is "The Christmas Pearl" by Dorothea Benton Frank. It centers on Theodora, a 93-year-old matriarch who holds a gathering at her mansion. The party doesn't meet her expectations at all, and she turns her mind to memories of her childhood festivities. As she yearns for the good old days, something magical happens as someone dear to her arrives in time for the holidays.
#7 is entitled "The Mistletoe Secret." It is the third book from the "Mistletoe Collection," written by Richard Paul Evans. This novel revolves around a lonely female blogger who calls herself "LBH." She feels that no one cares about her. However, a divorced man named Alex Bartlett bumps into her posts and is drawn in by her published thoughts. Using the clues from her blog, he decides to travel to Utah and find out who she really is.
At #8 is "Let It Snow: Three Holiday Stories." Writers John Green, Lauren Myracle, and Maureen Johnson collaborated for this trilogy of short literary pieces, which are all interlinked with one another. Each story follows a different teenager struggling with relationships and a huge winter storm. The first teen falls for a stranger, the second confesses his feelings for an old friend, and the third reunites with her boyfriend.
The first teen falls for a stranger, the second confesses his feelings for an old friend, and the third reunites with her boyfriend.
Next, at #9 is Mary Alice Monroe's novel, "A Lowcountry Christmas." Miller McClellan is a young boy who considers this year's holiday season to be the worst one ever. His family is going through a series of unfortunate events. He cannot have the dog he badly wants, his father's boat gets docked, his mother has to work on two jobs, and his soldier brother returns home with post-traumatic stress disorder.
At #10 is Shanna Swendson's "Twice Upon a Christmas. It centers on Natalie Miller, a woman who is torn between a passion for singing and a profitable career. She decides to flip a coin to help her make a decision, but she chooses not to see the result. Suddenly, she is living every day of December twice. In one timeline, Natalie is successful in her PR job. In another, she becomes a famous singer.
At #11 is "Santa's Secret," by Heidi McLaughlin. It revolves around Delaney Du Luca, a movie star whose holiday plans are ruined, thanks to her boyfriend dumping her in public. As an alternative, she goes back to her hometown in Vermont. Upon her arrival, she encounters her high school sweetheart Aiden, now a single father to a young girl named Holly. The two rediscover their romance, but are hindered by their totally different lives.
The two rediscover their romance, but are hindered by their totally different lives.
Finally, at #12 is "A Lot Like Christmas." Author Connie Willis offers her readers an anthology of narratives, which depict Yuletide icons and traditions with twists. She adapts tales from other famous writers, and employs themes of humor, absurdity, generosity, and hope. This compilation includes aliens, artificial intelligence, time travelers, terrorists, and talking animals.
