‘TIS THE SEASON for holiday books!! To be honest, I hadn’t made much of a concerted effort to read Christmas books prior to last year, when we chose a Christmas-themed book for our December meeting and loved it so much, we decided to do that every year! Since then, I’ve gone down the rabbit hole of holiday reads (not a bad place to be!) and have found SO MANY great options. Here’s what’s on my list this December!
City Baker’s Guide to Country Living by Louise Miller. This is our Pennlyn Reads book club selection for the month, and though I have yet to dig in, I’ve heard really good things from those members who have already finished (including my mom, who’s a tough critic!). And – let’s be honest – this book’s setting (VERMONT!) and the comparison to Gilmore Girls are both big reasons why it’s this month’s pick…no one does those perfect New England snowy holiday scenes quite like Lorelei and Rory, am I right?
The Hunting Party by Lucy Foley. Slightly differing from what one might typically associate with the idea of a ‘holiday read,’ this is a mystery-thriller about a group of seven friends who go away to celebrate New Year’s…and let’s just say, only six live to tell the tale. I was intrigued by the premise – looking for something different than that cutesy-Christmas vibe – and this book really delivered. I was also really intrigued by the setting in this book, which is way-up-north Scotland. Told in the differing perspectives of the three female main characters and the two groundskeepers of the estate where the group is staying, this book keeps you on the edge of your seat and guessing throughout. The characters are really well developed, and it’s a great thriller that stands out overall among the sea of predictability that I’ve recently read in the genre. This would be a great ‘between Christmas and New Year’s’ read.
Winter in Paradise & What Happens in Paradise by Elin Hildebrand. This author always takes us away to the best locations (most of her books are set on Nantucket), and for this three-book series (the third will be released next year), she brings us to her favorite island of St. John. I won’t lie – the setting is magical and gives me more than the passing thought of running away to an island, myself! It’s a typical Hildebrand read (which is a good thing) with great characters and a bit of mystery and intrigue. I’m about halfway through the second book… and I’ve got to get reading – this is due back at the library on Wednesday!
Last Christmas in Paris by Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb. I’m about halfway through this one and I’m loving every page. Unsurprisingly, I was initially sold by the title (as well as the super-sale on Kindle – I think you can still get it for about two dollars), and it’s turned out to be a very good story set in the time of WWI. I’ve taken a bit of a sabbatical from WWII historical fiction (which I love but just needed a break) and it’s been really interesting to read about 1915 London and France and how the war affected everyone. There have been sad parts, but also a really sweet love story – told entirely in letters sent back and forth between those at home in England and the characters who are fighting the war in France, which is something near and dear to my heart. I’m also participating in a buddy-read for this novel with some bookish IG friends, and I’ve just reached the first stopping point…I can’t wait to read further!
Snow Angel Cove by RayAnne Thayne. This came highly recommended by a bookstagrammer I follow, and it was another super-sale from Kindle, so I gave it a go. I’ve read a bit of it, and it’s good! Light, easy, and more of your Hallmark Christmas Movie-type read, which definitely has its place during the holiday season!
Covent Garden in the Snow & Notting Hill in the Snow by Jules Wake. These two are also along the lines of a sweet and frothy Christmas movie read, and come highly recommended, as well. After a few trips to London in the past year, I totally fell in love with the city and I couldn’t resist ‘going back’ to two of my favorite neighborhoods!
One Day in December by Josie Silver. This book has stuck out as one of the most commonly mentioned Christmas reads, and I can’t wait to check it out! Also set in London, it seems like a sweet love story, and who doesn’t need more of that this time of year?
Seven Days of Us by Francesca Hornack. This is another one that I’ve been meaning to get to for the past few years,and we *almost* selected it as our book club holiday pick. A family gets together for the holiday and ends up having to stay quarantined for a week – you can imagine how that goes! Looking forward to diving in to this one!
Christmas Bells by Jennifer Chiaverini. Speaking of the holiday book club pick, the ONLY reason I didn’t pick this one is because it seemed so similar to our selection from last year (listed next). This is a fictional telling about the poem ‘Christmas Bells’ by American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Written in on Christmas morning in 1863 during the Civil War, the poem is beautiful, and also speaks out against slavery, referring to how the Christmas bells sent an uplifting message in the midst of all the tragedy and unrest in the country. The Christmas carol ‘I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day’ is from this poem (the Bing Crosby version is the best). I plan on reading this one during Christmas week!
Mr. Dickens and His Carol by Samantha Silva. Even better than reading A Christmas Carol itself, this book is a fictional re-telling of how Charles Dickens went about writing that quintessential holiday story in December 1843. The background of nineteenth century London provides the perfect setting, and you can almost *feel* the lightly falling snow as it’s described in the book. A truly PERFECT Christmas read!
What’s on your Christmas reading list this year? I’d love to hear it! And for sure let me know if you pick any of these up!
Photo by Krista Brackin Photography