Thanksgiving is over. The pumpkins and mums are past their prime. The tree has been trimmed. The Christmas music is playing. It’s officially time to choose a few holiday books to get us in the spirit. I’ve compiled a few lists for you to build your own holiday TBR this year. Read on to see books I’ve read and loved and books that are on my list to read this year.
As a reminder, I’ve linked all books on Amazon, Pango Books, and Bookshop. Amazon will allow you to access physical, ebooks, or audiobooks. Pango Books is a website where I buy second hand books. Bookshop is a website that allows you to support an indie bookstore of your choice if you aren’t able to visit the brick and mortar location. If adding books to your physical shelf is not for you, don’t forget about your local library and the Libby app for ebooks and audiobooks.
Holiday Romance- Catherine Walsh
Friends for a decade, Andrew and Molly travel every year together from Chicago to Dublin. This year a snow storm has them grounded in Chicago. Rather than spend the holiday together, Molly makes it her mission to get Andrew home. In this book you’ll find friends to lovers, a travel journey, romance, and fun, fun, fun! Get your copy from the library, Amazon, Pango, or Bookshop.
Snowed In- Catherine Walsh
Christian bumps into Megan at a Dublin pub. She’s fresh off a breakup, and they both need a significant other to help soften the blow of the holidays. Enter fake dating and forced proximity which inevitably leads to romance. Loved this one. Get your copy from the library, Amazon, or Bookshop.
The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year- Ally Carter
Maggie and Ethan are both popular authors who accept a cryptic invitation to visit Eleanor Ashley’s English estate. Eleanor is a prolific crime author, but she’s aging and nearing the end of her career. As these enemies settle in for their visit, they become snowed in and Eleanor goes missing. Can they trust each other as they try to solve the mystery? Think Knives Out meets Clue and enjoy the enemies to lovers “romystery”. Get your copy from the library, Amazon, Pango, or Bookshop.
The Takedown- Carlie Walker
Sydney Swift is a CIA field officer that hasn’t been home for Christmas in quite some time. When her sister announces her engagement to Johnny Jones, the head of a major crime family, the FBI approaches Sydney to take him down under the guise of going home for a family holiday celebration. Sydney didn’t anticipate Johnny’s bodyguard, Nick, being so cute. Can she do her job without losing her sister? Can she do her job and find romance? If you like a little action with your romance, this one is for you. Get your copy from the library, Amazon, Pango, or Bookshop.
The Santa Suit- Mary Kay Andrews
Ivy Perkins moves into a farmhouse to renovate it. In the attic, she finds a beautiful old Santa suit with a letter inside from a little girl with a Christmas wish. This letter sets Ivy on a quest that brings her to the community she knows nothing about but soon discovers is lovely. There’s a bit of mystery, a bit of romance, and a whole lot of heart and Christmas spirit. Under 250 pages, you’ll fly through this and be left with some holiday cheer. Get your copy from the library, Amazon, Pango, or Bookshop.
Little Women- Louisa May Alcott
A classic tale of the four March sisters, their Marmie, their Laurie, and coming of age through hardships and triumphs. While I’ve never read the whole book, I do love this story and definitely recommend all versions of the movie. Get your copy from the library, Amazon, Pango, or Bookshop.
A Christmas Carol- Charles Dickens
Another classic tale of Ebenezer Scrooge and the ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future. Can the ghosts change Scrooge from being, well, a Scrooge, or will he remain a curmudgeon for the rest of his days? Get your copy from the library, Amazon, Pango, or Bookshop.
Christmas with the Queen- Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb
Jack and Olive meet on VE Day after WWII and celebrate the end of the war. They part ways but bump into each other over the years every now and then. (Think When Harry Met Sally.) Now Jack has landed himself a job in the kitchens of Sandringham cooking for the royal family for Christmas. Olive is a journalist working for the BBC, and she, too, is spending Christmas at Sandringham as a bit of a coach to Her Majesty, the new Queen Elizabeth II, as she prepares for her first Christmas radio broadcast. As Olive’s and Jack’s paths cross again, things are different and they wonder why they keep meeting and if it means something. This was a sweet holiday story with a royal backdrop that I really enjoyed. Get your copy from the library, Amazon, Pango, or Bookshop.
Christmas Charms- Teri Wilson
Ashley James is heading home for Christmas. On her train journey, she sits next to an older woman who shares a loving conversation a charm bracelet with Ashley. Ashley falls asleep on the train and wakes up with the bracelet on her wrist, and it won’t come off. When she returns to her hometown, she bumps into her high school boyfriend and sparks fly. Strange things start to happen- like the charms on the bracelet start showing up in real life. If this sounds too silly or “Christmas magic-y” to you, steer clear. If you’re charmed, READ IT! I thought it was delightful. I Hallmark movie in book form. Get your copy from the library, Amazon, Pango, or Bookshop.
Bright Lights, Big Christmas- Mary Kay Andrews
Kerry Toliver is a North Carolina girl who heads to New York City to help her brother sell Christmas trees in Greenwich Village. She falls in love with the city and with the people of the neighborhood. When an elderly neighbor goes missing, Kerry uses her country girl smarts to help with the search. Get your copy from the library, Amazon, Pango, or Bookshop.
Baggage Claim- Juliana Smith
Olive Moore hasn’t been home in three years, but a phone call from her mom has her promising to come home for Christmas. She also agrees to bring home a boyfriend she doesn’t have. Lucky for Olive, she meets a handsome guy on the plane, and he agrees to pretend to be her boyfriend. They spend lots of time together on Christmas themed dates, and I’m hoping they fall in love because of all that forced proximity. Get your copy from the library, Amazon, or Bookshop.
The Holiday Honeymoon Switch- Julia McKay
Holly and Ivy are best friends. When Holly is jilted, she’s left with a nonrefundable Hawaiian honeymoon, but she can’t stomach going alone. Ivy decides to switch vacations with Holly. Ivy had a snowy retreat planned, but she decides to send Holly to the cabins while she heads to Hawaii for a holiday in the sun. Imagine Ivy’s horror when Holly’s fiancé shows up in Hawaii with another woman. Lucky for her, the cute hotel manager finds her another room and maybe love. Holly arrives at the cabins to discover the owner is an old high school rival, but he’s had a glow up and is really cute. I imagine this one to be full of drama and fun. Get your copy from the library, Amazon, Pango, or Bookshop.
The Christmas Tree Farm- Laurie Gilmore
Kira North just bought a Christmas tree farm in Dream Harbor, but she hates Christmas. Bennett Ellis needs a break from life and finds himself in Dream Harbor to escape. When Ben gets trapped at the tree farm due to a snow storm, the two of them are forced to get to know each other. Can Ben’s sunshine demeanor soften Kira’s grumpy attitude toward Christmas? Get your copy from the library, Amazon, Pango, or Bookshop.
The Gingerbread Bakery-Laurie Gilmore
Back to Dream Harbor where bakery owner, Annie, is always arguing with bar owner, Mac. Problem is, Mac is kind of in love with Annie. With a wedding on the horizon for their friends, Annie and Mac are about to spend a lot more time together. Will Annie realize that maybe her biggest enemy is actually the one? A little caveat about this series: I know there’s not a lot of depth here and people don’t love these books because they’re surface level. If you go in knowing that you’re getting just that, you’ll have a better time. I love these books for the fluff. If fluff isn’t your thing, you won’t like any of the Dream Harbor series. If that is your thing, get your copy from the library, Amazon, Pango, or Bookshop.
I think we’re all set for holiday reading this year. If I’ve missed any of your favorites, leave them in the comments so we can add to our list. Don’t forget to follow along on Instagram where I’ll share real-time reviews of the books I get to. You can also find me yapping about my holiday TBR and my holiday recs in reels.
Happy Reading,
