I’ll admit that holiday themed books are another one of favorite things this time of year! I’ve read countless holiday themed books over the years and the ones I’m sharing today are my all-time favorites. Any one of them will put you in the holiday spirit! *affiliate links used*
Christmas Shopaholic 5/5 Stars
If you haven’t read Christmas Shopaholic, put it on your list STAT! Sophie Kinsella’s Shopaholic series has been one of my favorites for a long time but I have to admit the last couple of books in the series have fallen a little flat for me. Until Christmas Shopaholic! This book was classic Becky Brandon with Christmas magic exploding off of every page. I read the book when it came out last year and I’m currently listening to the audiobook. Both are fantastic! (I don’t think you have to have read the other books in this series to enjoy this one.)
From Amazon: Becky adores the traditions of Christmas: Her parents hosting, carols playing on repeat, her mother pretending she made the Christmas pudding, and the neighbors coming ’round for sherry in their terrible holiday sweaters. Things are looking cheerier than ever, until Becky’s parents announce they’re moving to ultra-trendy Shoreditch—unable to resist the draw of craft beer and smashed avocados—and ask Becky if she’ll host this year. What could possibly go wrong?
The Winter Street Series 5/5 Stars
It’s been a few years since I read this series and I think it’s about time to pick them up again! From queen of the summer beach read, Elin Hilderbrand, The Winter Street series is set in Nantucket (where else!) over the holiday season. These are the only books on this list that could be considered a little more serious (I generally like to keep my holiday right light & cheery) but these books are SO worth a little bit of sad. They are warm and cozy but also just FANTASTIC stories. Another highly recommend!
From Amazon: As Christmas approaches Kelley Quinn, owner of Nantucket’s Winter Street Inn, is looking forward to getting the family together for some quality time at the inn. But when he walks in on his wife kissing Santa Claus (or the guy who’s playing Santa at the inn’s annual party), utter chaos descends. With the three older children each reeling in their own dramas and Bart unreachable in Afghanistan, it might be up to Kelley’s ex-wife, nightly news anchor Margaret Quinn, to save Christmas at the Winter Street Inn.
I Heart Christmas 4.5/5 Stars
I Heart Christmas is another one I read a few years ago and I’m itching to read it again! I have such fond memories of this book. (All the books in the I Heart series are fantastic, BTW!) Angela is a bit like Becky Brandon (IYKYK) always hilariously juuust missing the mark. Set in NYC at Christmas time…need I say more?! I listened to the audiobook and loved!
From Amazon: Angela’s planning her very own fairytale of New York: Enormous Christmas tree, eggnog, eccentric British traditions, and a gorgeous man. But Santa’s throwing her a few curveballs – new job (as if it’s not mental enough already), new baby-craze from her best friend Jenny, and Alex determined they should grow up and settle down. Once friends start turning up uninvited on her doorstep (and leading her astray), can Angela really have a merry little Christmas? So much for happy holidays – something’s got to give…
In a Holidaze 4/5 Stars
I’ll admit that I was a little skeptical with the Groundhog Day aspect going in to this super-popular holiday read but I’m happy to report that I LOVED this book! Totally lives up to the hype. It’s another that is just a good story wrapped up in a ton of holiday cheer! I thought I had the ending figured out from about a third of the way in but I was pleasantly surprised to be wrong. Listened to the audiobook of this one, too!
From Amazon: It’s the most wonderful time of the year but not for Maelyn Jones. She’s living with her parents, hates her going-nowhere job, and has just made a romantic error of epic proportions. But perhaps worst of all, this is the last Christmas Mae will be at her favorite place in the world—the snowy Utah cabin where she and her family have spent every holiday since she was born. Mentally melting down as she drives away from the cabin for the final time, Mae throws out what she thinks is a simple plea to the universe: Please. Show me what will make me happy. The next thing she knows, tires screech and metal collides, everything goes black. But when Mae gasps awake…she’s on an airplane bound for Utah, where she begins the same holiday all over again. With one hilarious disaster after another sending her back to the plane, Mae must figure out how to break free of the strange time loop—and finally get her true love under the mistletoe.
The Twelve Dates of Christmas 4/5 Stars
Another book with a lot of buzz this year and for good reason! The ending of this one was quite predictable but I enjoyed every minute of getting there. I loved the charming English setting and the different holiday themed dates made this one oh-so-fun! I listened to the audiobook and loved.
From Amazon: When it comes to relationships, thirty-four-year-old Kate Turner is ready to say “Bah, humbug.” The sleepy town of Blexford, England, isn’t exactly brimming with prospects, and anyway, Kate’s found fulfillment in her career as a designer, and in her delicious side job baking for her old friend Matt’s neighborhood café. But then her best friend signs her up for a dating agency that promises to help singles find love before the holidays. Twenty-three days until Christmas. Twelve dates with twelve different men. The odds must finally be in her favor . . . right? Yet with each new date more disastrous than the one before–and the whole town keeping tabs on her misadventures–Kate must remind herself that sometimes love, like mistletoe, shows up where it’s least expected. And maybe, just maybe, it’s been right under her nose all along.
Royal Holiday 3.5/5 Stars
This is actually part of The Wedding Date series but you don’t need to read the other books to enjoy this wintery story. While not my favorite on this list it was still pretty good! I think I was expecting a story about Royals and this is basically about people who work with royals. So royal adjacent lol. And that’s fine! I just wish I would have adjusted my expectations (or read the synopsis perhaps? Ha!) before diving in.
From Amazon: Vivian Forest has been out of the country a grand total of one time, so when she gets the chance to tag along on her daughter Maddie’s work trip to England to style a royal family member, she can’t refuse. She’s excited to spend the holidays taking in the magnificent British sights, but what she doesn’t expect is to become instantly attracted to a certain private secretary, his charming accent, and unyielding formality. Malcolm Hudson has worked for the Queen for years and has never given a personal, private tour—until now. He is intrigued by Vivian the moment he meets her and finds himself making excuses just to spend time with her. When flirtatious banter turns into a kiss under the mistletoe, things snowball into a full-on fling. Despite a ticking timer on their holiday romance, they are completely fine with ending their short, steamy affair come New Year’s Day. . .or are they?
Christmas Bliss 4/5 Stars
I read this a loooong time ago (pre-kids for sure) but when I came across it on our library’s website the other day I knew I had to include it on this list. Such a cute, fun holiday read! Sigh, I miss old school MKA.
From Amazon: ‘Twas the night before Christmas, and Savannah was breezy. But there’s trouble afoot – and it’s heading toward Weezie. Seems BeBe’s been holding a big secret back that would make Santa’s reindeer stop dead in their tracks. Can these two best friends wriggle out of these twists? Will they do it in time to ensure CHRISTMAS BLISS?
One Day in December 5/5 Stars
Okay, okay this isn’t technically a holiday read but it begins and ends over the holidays and has December in the title so I’m counting it. This book is magic but also not warm and fuzzy the entire time. Cozy up with this one during your Christmas to New Years break if you haven’t read it yet. You will not be dissapointed!
From Amazon: Laurie is pretty sure love at first sight doesn’t exist anywhere but the movies. But then, through a misted-up bus window one snowy December day, she sees a man who she knows instantly is the one. Their eyes meet, there’s a moment of pure magic…and then her bus drives away. Certain they’re fated to find each other again, Laurie spends a year scanning every bus stop and cafe in London for him. But she doesn’t find him, not when it matters anyway. Instead they “reunite” at a Christmas party, when her best friend Sarah giddily introduces her new boyfriend to Laurie. It’s Jack, the man from the bus. It would be. What follows for Laurie, Sarah and Jack is ten years of friendship, heartbreak, missed opportunities, roads not taken, and destinies reconsidered. One Day in December is a joyous, heartwarming and immensely moving love story to escape into and a reminder that fate takes inexplicable turns along the route to happiness.
Clearly I’m a sucker for holiday-themed books! Drop me your recs in the comments!
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