Readers, there’s nothing like a good long book list for the holidays, am I right?
These past years I received numerous requests for holiday fiction recommendations for adults, ranging from “please no cheesy Hallmark stories” to “books set during this holiday but not specifically about it” to “give me all the holiday romance.” We put it up as a #WSIRNReaderRecs post and the responses flooded in. But as the holiday fiction requests keep coming, I thought an easy-to-use, easy-to-reference reader-generated book list would be so helpful—and we’ve added even more titles to this year’s new list!
A few notes. We’ve separated this into three main categories: holiday fiction, holiday romance, and books set during the holidays but not about the holidays. There are a few subcategories for the first two. However, you’ll have to do some detective work to figure out whether something is to your reading taste, as one person’s definition of cheese is someone else’s definition of the perfect book, one person’s steamy romance is someone else’s version of tame, and so on. We included books that are part of a series and in most cases, the recommender said they could be read as standalones. But again, you’ll want to do your research.
New this year: we’ve chosen ten titles to highlight—we hope you enjoy browsing the extra info on these books! The featured titles are a mix of titles I particularly love and newer titles of note. And because we’ve received so many requests for holiday audiobook recommendations, we’ve also added notes in parentheses for titles that are great on audio. (Please drop your favorite listens in the comments section!)
I’d also love to hear about your favorite Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa novels in the comments as this holiday fiction list is quite Christmas-heavy.
10 stand-out book selections for the holiday season
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Winter Solstice
The Snow Child
Jane and the Twelve Days of Christmas (Being a Jane Austen Mystery)
The City Baker’s Guide to Country Living
Mr. Dickens and His Carol
Royal Holiday
10 Blind Dates
In a Holidaze
Mangos and Mistletoe: A Foodie Holiday Novella
Little Women
Holiday Fiction
General:
- Wishin’ and Hopin’ by Wally Lamb
- A Redbird Christmas by Fannie Flagg
- Seven Days of Us by Francesca Hornak (Great on audio: British accent alert!)
- A Different Kind of Christmas by Alex Haley (out of print)
- Pride and Prejudice and Mistletoe by Melissa de la Cruz
- Shepherds Abiding (Mitford Years #8) from Jan Karon
- The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus by L. Frank Baum
- Last Christmas in Paris by Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb (Excellent audio, multiple narrators)
- Winter Street series by Elin Hilderbrand (Well-loved on audio)
- Skipping Christmas by John Grisham
- A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
- The Christmas Box by Richard Paul Evans
- The Noel Collection series by Richard Paul Evans
- Christmas at Little Beach Street Bakery (Little Beach Street Bakery #3) by Jenny Colgan
- Christmas at the Cupcake Cafe by Jenny Colgan
- Christmas on the Island by Jenny Colgan
- Christmas at the Island Hotel by Jenny Colgan (all of Colgan’s titles are charming on audio)
- The Mistletoe Matchmaker (Finfarran Peninsula #3) by Felicity Hayes-McCoy
- The Bishop’s Wife by Robert Nathan
- Christmas Bells by Jennifer Chiaverini
- The Further Adventures of Ebenezer Scrooge by Charlie Lovett
- 2 A.M. at the Cat’s Pajamas by Marie-Helene Bertino
- The Last Noel by Michael Malone
- Hogfather (Discworld #20) by Terry Pratchett
- Marley by Jon Clinch
- An Anne Perry Christmas: A Christmas Journey / A Christmas Visitor by Anne Perry
- The Christmas Sisters by Sarah Morgan
- Comfort and Joy by Kristin Hannah
- The Shepherd, the Angel, and Walter the Christmas Miracle Dog by Dave Barry
- Christmas at High Rising by Angela Thirkell
- The Christmas Train by David Baldacci
- The Christmas Pearl by Dorothea Benton Frank
- We Met in December by Rosie Curtis
- Home for Christmas (Yorktide, Maine #7) by Holly Chamberlain
- The Mischief of the Mistletoe (Pink Carnation #7) by Lauren Willig
- It’s a Wonderful Wife by Camille Pagan (An Audible Original audiobook)
Mystery:
- Christmas at The Grange (Lady Hardcastle Mysteries #3.5) by T E Kinsey (Amazing on audio)
- The Mistletoe Murder And Other Stories by P.D. James
- Blue Christmas (Weezie and Bebe Mysteries #3) by Mary Kay Andrews
- Midwinter Murder: Fireside Tales from the Queen of Mystery by Agatha Christie
- Hercule Poirot’s Christmas (Hercule Poirot #20) by Agatha Christie
- The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding (Hercule Poirot #33) by Agatha Christie
- Twelve Clues Of Christmas (Royal Spyness #6) by Rhys Bowen
- Aunt Dimity’s Christmas (Aunt Dimity Mystery #5) by Nancy Atherton
- I Am Half-Sick of Shadows (Flavia de Luce #4) by Alan Bradley
- Murder For Christmas by Francis Duncan
- The Christmas Egg by Mary Kelly
- An English Murder by Cyril Hare
Short Story/Anthology:
- A Christmas Memory by Truman Capote
- The Most Wonderful Tales of the Year: Holiday Memories Written and Performed by Our Favorite Narrators (An Audible Original audiobook)
- Louisa May Alcott’s Christmas Treasury by Louisa May Alcott
- The Greatest Gift by Philip Van Doren Stern
- Christmas at the Vinyl Cafe by Stuart McLean
- Miracle and Other Christmas Stories by Connie Willis
- Christmas Days: 12 Stories and 12 Feasts for 12 Days by Jeanette Winterson
- Christmas in My Heart edited by Joe Wheeler
- The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry
- The Penguin Book of Christmas Stories: From Hans Christian Andersen to Angela Carter edited by Jessica Harrison
- A Literary Christmas edited by British Library
- The Valancourt Book of Christmas Ghost Stories edited by Tara Moore
Holiday romance
Heat rating is noted if the recommender included it. As a reminder, if you prefer sex scenes to be minimal or only hinted at, look for “closed door” romance. If you’re okay with your romance being more explicit, look for “open door.” If you don’t want there to be anything more than kissing, then look for romance described as “chaste.” (I, along with many writers and readers, prefer not to use the term “clean,” because it implies books with sex are then dirty— although plenty of authors writing along these lines still use the term.)
Hanukkah Romance:
- Hearts Alight by Elliot Cooper (chaste)
- One Hot December by Tiffany Reisz (Hanukkah/Christmas hybrid) (open door)
- The Remaking Of Corbin Wale by Roan Parrish (open door)
- Eight Cozy Nights (The Sublime #6) by Julia Wolf (open door)
- Lighting the Flames by Sarah Wendell
- Ben’s Bakery and the Hanukkah Miracle by Penelope Peters
Christmas Romance:
- Glass Tidings by Amy Jo Cousins (open door)
- Merry Inkmas by Talia Hibbert (open door)
- A Christmas Promise by Mary Balogh (open door)
- A Family For Christmas by Jay Northcote (open door)
- Stocking Stuffers by Erin McLellan (open door)
- Secret Santa by Kati Wilde (open door)
- If The Fates Allow anthology edited by Annie Harper
- Merry and Bright by Debbie Macomber
- A Holiday by Gaslight by Mimi Matthews (chaste)
- One Bed For Christmas by Jackie Lau
- American Christmas by Adriana Herrera (open door)
- Christmas Island by Natalie Normann
- The Twelve Dates of Christmas by Jenny Bayliss
- A Princess for Christmas by Jenny Holiday (open door)
- Why I Held Your Hand by Augusta Reilly (open door)
- Sweet on You: A Fillipino Christmas Romance by Carla de Guzman (open door)
- The Christmas Swap by Sandy Barker
- Missing Christmas by Kate Claybourn (open door)
- Right Beside You by Mary Monroe
- Better Not Pout by Annabeth Albert
- A Wedding One Christmas by Therese Beharrie (closed door)
- Love Around the Corner by Sally Malcolm (open door)
Kwanzaa Romance:
- Kwanzaa Angel (The Holiday Collection #3) by Shirley Hailstock
- Kiss Me at Kwanzaa by LL Bucknor
- A Mistletoe Affair (Wintersage Weddings #2) by Farrah Rochon (Kwanzaa/Christmas hybrid)
- Guess Who’s Coming to Karamu by Cy Bianca
- The Kwanzaa Brunch by D.L. White
Set during the holidays but not about them
- We Are Okay by Nina LaCour
- A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving
- Commonwealth by Ann Patchett (I enjoy Hope Davis’ audiobook narration)
- Named of the Dragon by Susanna Kearsley
- Evvie Drake Starts Over by Linda Holmes (delightful audiobook)
- Landline by Rainbow Rowell
- One Day in December by Josie Silver (Another British accent alert and multiple narrators!)
- Dead in a Dumpster by B.L. Blair
- Written in the Stars by Alexandria Bellefleur
- The Women in Black by Madeleine St John (charming Australian audiobook narration)
- Recommended For You by Laura Silverman
P.S. If that’s not enough holiday fiction recs—or if you’d like more details on the books you’re considering reading, try this list of cozy winter reads, and browse all our book lists here.
58 comments
Anne, Thank you! This is awesome!!
Thanks for putting together this great list, Anne!
Here is another excellent newly released Christmas-themed book — “A Very Bavarian Christmas” by Katie M. Reid.
Happy holidays, and happy reading, all!
Thank you so much for the mention, Jenn!
I can’t believe none of the Christmas Chronicles books by Jeff Guinn were on this list! I read The Autobiography of Santa Claus every year, but The Great Santa Search & How Mrs. Claus Saved Christmas were equally well written. Wonderful blend of history, whimsy, and the true meaning of the holidays.
Yes!! I came down here to say the same thing! It’s not Christmas until I’ve read one of Guinn’s Christmas Chronicles!
I read The Great Santa Search every December! Started that tradition when I was a young teenager, I think. It’s so good and happy!
Same!!!!! The first book is the best but the others are fun reads too. And the first book conveniently has 24 Chapters- a built in Advent Calendar for Readers!!!!
The first Inspector Gamache mystery, Still Life, is set during Canadian Thanksgiving. I read it during the American holiday this year and it felt appropriate.
I’ve heard that A Fatal Grace, the second book, is set around Christmas. Do you know?
Yes it is!
This is great, thanks! Do have a list a new children’s books for this years holidays, or know someone who does? Thanks
Janssen at Everyday Reading has TONS on her blog
Look at Read Aloud Revival for children’s books, novels and audio!!
The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey! It is wonderful!!
Great list but you could add The Big Book of Christmas Mysteries, edited by Otto Penzler and published by Vintage. Many thanks for your newsletter!
I love love love your lists! The only thing that would make it better is if it could be in a printer format so I can take it with me to the library or book store. I know it’s in my phone and all that but I’m a girl that still loves a hard copy. Thanks and keep up the good work!!
Great idea! I love an “old fashioned ” paper list.
Published last year, The Christmas Boutique (Elm Creek Quilts #21) by Jennifer Chiaverini – sweet and heartwarming.
She also has a couple that take place during Thanksgiving – A Quilter’s Holiday and The Giving Quilt.
The Complete Christmas Books and Stories by Charles Dickens Kindle edition is free on Amazon.
Another good book is Mrs. Miracle Christmas by Debbie Macomber.
For Thanksgiving, I enjoyed The Ramblers by Aidan Donnelley Rowley! It takes place in New York City over the week of Thanksgiving, and it was fun to read passages about the Macy’s parade from a local point of view, as well as the family stories that unfolded around the holiday.
Thanksgiving Night by Richard Bausch is very good. Published in 2007 but I read it a few months ago.
Fantastic list! I would add Nina Stibbe’s Almost Perfect Christmas. She is so funny in the way that only a really great British author can be.
This list is missing the very funniest Christmas book – Christopher Moore’s The Stupidest Angel. Totally irreverent but so hilarious and festive.
Thank you so much!! Just exploded my hold list and Amazon order. Also second the nomination for the Big Book of Christmas Mysteries. I
t’s great for dipping into all through the year.
Such a good list – thank you! I look forward to reading many of these.
Others I could think of were:
The Other Wiseman (Henry Van Dyke)
One Christmas (Truman Capote)
The Thanksgiving Visitor (Truman Capote)
Thank you for such a great list. I was looking for a seasonal read for the next couple of weeks.
I plan on reading Half Spent Was the Night: A Witches’ Yuletide (Ami McKay’s Witches Book 2) the week of Christmas. I began my reading year (12/26/19-12/25/20) with The Witches of New York by Ami McKay. I loved this book! You recommended it in one of your episodes. So I will get to end my reading year with the same author.
Thanks for this, Sarah. I loved The Witches of New York. Just downloaded Half Spent. Can’t wait to read. If you want another witchy Christmas read, check out The Twilight Before Christmas, by Christine Feehan.
I have been looking for a holiday books list, so thank you for the early gift:)
Two great Thanksgiving reads are The Holiday Quilt and The Giving Quilt, both by Jennifer Chiaverini.
Thank you for this list! I’ve just purchased the Winter Solstice audiobook based on this list. I can’t wait to start listening…perfect companion to my long winter nights in the mountains, knitting by the fire.
I’m surprised that Dash and Lily did not make the list. I re-listen to Dash & Lily’s Book of Dares and the sequel, Twelve Days of Dash and Lily, every December. This year, a third book was released, but I haven’t gotten to it yet. The Dash and Lily books are the perfect holiday reads. Cute YA romance, with all the magic of NYC at Christmas time, bookish references all over (the whole thing starts at The Strand bookstore), and a Gilmore-style cast of idiosyncratic characters. I really love these books.
I really enjoyed the series on Netflix.
Agreed! The Netflix movie about Dash and Lily is cute, and based on the first book, I think, but the trio of Xmas books about their adventures and love are really good!
Thank you for this list! Winter Solstice is my annual “It’s getting close to Christmas” read (despite my festive seasons being dominated by heat, cicadas and the beach), so I am looking forward to adding so many of these titles to my TBR list. Merry Christmas!
For mystery lovers: Janet Rudolph of Mystery Readers International collects holiday mysteries, and she has tons of Thanksgiving titles listed on her blog: http://mysteryreadersinc.blogspot.com/2020/11/thanksgiving-crime-fiction-thanksgiving.html
You can see all of her holiday mystery lists here: https://mysteryreaders.org/holiday-mystery-lists/
For Thanksgiving Non-Fiction, I love 365 Thank Yous by John Kralik. Very good and practical about a life changing moment in his life.
A book I haven’t seen mentioned is Evergreen Tidings from the Baumgartners by Gretchen Anthony. I originally thought I wouldn’t enjoy this but it turned out to be a very good winter read.
I recently listened to Jenny Colgan’s Christmas at Rosie Hopkin’s Sweetshop, sweet and cozy. A Christmas Date by Camila Isley, sweet and romantic. And Debbie Macomber’s Dashing Through the Snow, hilarious. All three were quick listens also.
Sophie Kinsella’s Christmas Shopaholic was delightful. A little cheesy, but funny and everything I wanted during this weird time.
Christmas at Fairacre, by Miss Read.
I am wondering if you have a list of Christmas books that are written by Christian authors. thank you
For laugh-out-loud humor I recommend Christmas at the Vinyl Cafe by Stuart McLean. The chapter on Dave cooking his first turkey was so hilarious that I had to read it to my husband — and he even listened!
Shepherds Abiding by Jan Karon is a wonderful read this time of year.
Holidays on Ice by David Sedaris is such a funny read. And a great Christmas anthology is A Family Christmas by Caroline Kennedy; we pull it out every year.
Thank you for all of the suggestions!
Clean romance: RaeAnne Thayne “Coming Home For Christmas.” She has lots of other great Christmas romance books.
The Handmaid and the Carpenter by Elizabeth Berg tells the story of Mary and Joseph. It’s a quick, pleasant read for the season!
I read it every year since I was a little girl, and LOVE it: ‘THE BIRDS’ CHRISTMAS CAROL’ by Kate Douglas Wiggin.
Another lovely read is THE CHRISTMAS BOX TRILOGY by Richard Paul Evans.
Has anyone else mentioned Maeve Binchy’s short-story anthology This Year It Will Be Different? Inimitable Binchy, full of Irish angst and charm.
The Nan Who Invented Christmas is another about Dickens writing his famous story. Songs of the Season is about the origins of many Christmas carols. An awesome childrens book about Christmas is The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey. I’m not 💯% sure about the spelling of the last word in the title.
The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey is the best! I cry every time I read it!
For those who like to read manga, Anime Planet has a list of manga set at Christmas time: https://www.anime-planet.com/manga/tags/christmas
When you hover your mouse over a title it will show you the tags, so you will know if you’re looking at a sweet romance, or a spicy yaoi manga or whatnot.
My annual December reads are both short & both feature girl-children as protagonists:
The 24 Days before Christmas by Madeleine L’Engle
I Saw Three Ships by Elizabeth Goudge
Another great English (with Christian undercurrent) novel for Christmas is The Deans Watch again by E Goudge
All About Us by Tom Ellen is a marvelous retelling of the A Christmas Carol. I loved it so much that I chose it for my book club last December.
I don’t generally get into seasonal reading, but I coincidentally happen to be reading two sequels currently that take place over the holidays (The Last Devil to Die by Richard Osman in the Thursday Murder Club series) or have a winter theme (Wintersmith by Terry Pratchett in the Tiffany Aching series) and am enjoying the coincidence so much that I think I will read one of your recommendations next. Maybe Winter Solstice or maybe Hogfather (need to check if this one is better read after other Pratchett books). Thanks!