Cozy Up with These Must-Read Christmas Books for the Holiday Season

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Is there anything quite cozier than curling up with a warm blanket, a hot beverage, and a great Christmas read? I don’t think so. I love seasonal reading and at this time of the year I always try to find some great Christmas reads to add to my list!

If you enjoy a great classic or even a great mystery there is something on this list for you! This is a fantastic list of Christmas books for adults.

Christmas Books for Adults

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

Classics

Meg is grown-up and responsible, Jo is the spirited tomboy, Beth is the gentle peacemaker, and Amy is the lively youngest—they’re four very different March sisters. With their father away at war and their mother working nonstop to keep the family going, the girls learn to depend on each other. From staging homemade plays and forming secret clubs to preparing for Christmas, they share everyday joys while holding onto one big question: Will Father make it home safely?

I hear debate on this one all the time. Is it a Christmas book or not? I say for many it is a Christmas tradition and they think of this book when they think of Christmas. So, to me for that reason alone it must be on the list. If it is not for you at Christmas there are plenty of others, I have on the list that have a more Christmas feel.

Once Upon a Wardrobe by Patti Callahan

Historical Fiction

In 1950, seventeen-year-old Margaret “Megs” Devonshire is studying math and physics at Oxford University. Her younger brother George, who is eight and very ill, is obsessed with The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. When he asks Megs if Narnia is real, she tells him it’s just a children’s story. Still curious, George urges her to find out where Narnia came from.

Even though she’s nervous about talking to a famous author, Megs gathers her courage and visits C.S. Lewis, who teaches at her university. Over tea with Lewis and his brother Warnie, she asks the question that’s been weighing on George’s heart.

This was an interesting read for me. It doesn’t have a strong Christmas vibe (although it does take place at that time) but it makes a great winter read regardless.

Mr. Dickens and His Carol: A Novel by Samatha Silva

Historical Fiction

Charles Dickens is struggling. His latest book has flopped, critics are harsh, and his extended family keeps asking for money. Meanwhile, his wife is planning an extravagant Christmas party, but Dickens fears they may end up in debtors’ prison. When his publishers demand he write a Christmas book to save their finances, he refuses—and then gets hit with severe writer’s block.

Overwhelmed and doubting himself, Dickens wanders the streets of London seeking inspiration. One night, in a familiar square, he meets Eleanor Lovejoy—a mysterious woman who becomes an unlikely muse. As deadlines loom, she takes him on a journey reminiscent of Scrooge’s ghostly visits, challenging his ideas about kindness, ambition, love, and what truly matters. What he discovers leads him to write a story that will reshape the way the world celebrates Christmas.

We read this with book club and we all really enjoyed it! It really helps put you in the Christmas spirit!

The Christmas Train by David Baldacci

Fiction

Tom Langdon, a burned-out journalist, needs to get from Washington, D.C. to Los Angeles in time for Christmas. When flying is no longer an option, he boards a cross-country train, expecting an inconvenient trip. Instead, he finds a journey filled with unexpected encounters, eye-opening moments, and a touch of holiday magic.

Along the way, the train’s passengers—with their quirks, wisdom, and secrets—help Tom rediscover his faith in people. Even more surprising, the journey leads him back to someone from his past—someone he thought he’d lost forever.

So many people on my Crazy Book Lady Facebook page suggested this over the years and last Christmas I finally read it. I really enjoyed it! It has a wonderful cozy vibe! I enjoyed the movie too! You can find the movie in my store!

The Christmas Wish by Richard Siddoway

Fiction

When Will Martin was just four, he lost his parents and went to live with his grandparents in a small town. The memories of cozy Christmases and their close-knit life became a source of comfort as he grew up and moved to New York City.

Years later, Will returns home after his grandfather’s passing to help with the family real estate business. But while there, he learns something that shakes him: his grandmother reveals that she’s been reading his grandfather’s journals and found out that every Christmas Eve—while Will and his grandmother were out shopping—his grandfather met a woman named Lillian. For over twenty-seven years, this secret went unspoken.

This has a hallmark feel for sure. I’m very picky with my hallmark feel type books or movies that I enjoy, and this one makes that list!

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

Classics

What is there not to love about A Christmas Carol? This is a timeless classic that should not go unread by anyone! I know many people who read it every year! They have several audio versions as well. My favorite is the version read by Jim Dale (the narrator of the Harry Potter books). Unfortunately, it is hard to find because Audible doesn’t have it but you can get it at Audio Book Snow!

Letters from Father Christmas by J.R.R Tolkien

Fantasy

Can you even imagine J.R.R Tolkien as your dad and writing letters from Father Christmas (Santa) to you growing up? What a wonderful gift he gave to his children. The letters themselves were written over a period of over 20 years to entertain Tolkien’s children each Christmas. I was so into the story of Santa and the Polar Bear; he sucked me right in. He didn’t plan on publishing these letters, they were just for his children, but after his death they were published. They have dates and illustrations and everything! Great Christmas read!

Last Christmas in Paris: A Novel of World War I by Hazel Gaynor & Heather Webb

Historical Fiction

We read this book last Christmas for book club, and I loved every minute! It is a book that takes place during World War I. This book is multiple letters between different characters in the book. The main character is Evie, and she watches her brother, Will, and his best friend, Thomas Harding, depart for the front, she believes—as everyone does—that it will be over by Christmas, when the trio plan to celebrate the holiday among the romantic cafes of Paris.

Of course this is not how it turns out.

This is a story of friendship, love, and the hardship of war. The story goes back and forth from Tom’s elderly life to his young years writing to Evie. This book is just delightful! Loved it.

Another one that has several narrators.

Christmas with Anne and Other Holiday Stories by L.M. Montgomery

Short Stories/Classics

Experience Anne’s excitement as she finally receives her dream dress, feel the heartwarming joy of a young woman welcoming her long-lost brother on Christmas Eve, and laugh along with three sisters who accidentally bring peace to a longstanding family feud by showing up at the wrong uncle’s house for Christmas dinner.

This charming collection of Christmas-themed short stories by L. M. Montgomery includes beloved characters from the Anne of Green Gables universe, along with many delightful new faces. It’s the perfect cozy escape for Christmastime—or anytime you need a little comfort and joy.

Short Stories can be a great way to get some Christmas reading in and this one does not disappoint. We are doing this one in my book club this year! These stories have such a cozy, old fashioned Christmas to them.

Hercule Poirot’s Christmas by Agatha Christie

Mystery

On Christmas Eve at Gorston Hall, the Lee family gathers for what should be a festive celebration. But the night turns horrifying when a loud crash and a piercing scream echo from upstairs. In a locked bedroom, they discover the cruel and controlling family patriarch, Simeon Lee, murdered—his throat brutally slashed.

With secrets swirling and emotions running high, Poirot must unravel the twisted motives behind this holiday tragedy—proving that even at Christmas, murder doesn’t rest.

I read this last year because who could resist a great who dun it at Christmas time?

The Adventures of the Christmas Pudding by Agatha Christie

Mystery

In Agatha Christie’s short story “The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding,” Hercule Poirot is invited to a traditional English Christmas gathering with a secret mission: to catch a jewel thief who has stolen a priceless gem from an unsuspecting eastern prince. Rich with holiday customs, mystery, and Christie’s signature charm, the story originally appeared in The Sketch magazine on December 12, 1923.

The collection also includes other gems such as The Under Dog, The Dream, Greenshaw’s Folly, and The Mystery of the Spanish Chest. Each showcases Christie’s mastery of the short form, with unexpected twists and Poirot’s meticulous logic shining through.

Winter Solstice by Rosamunde Pilcher

Fiction

Elfrida Phipps, once an actress in London, has moved to the quiet village of Dibton hoping for a fresh start. She’s grown used to the cozy rhythm of village life—shopkeepers who know her preferences and neighbors who greet her by name—but even with all that, she can’t shake a feeling of loneliness.

Oscar Blundell left behind his music career when he married Gloria. They now have a daughter, Francesca, and loving her is the one thing that makes his sacrifice feel worthwhile.A single unexpected tragedy sets off a chain of events that pulls very different people together in a large, run-down estate house near the fishing village of Creagan.

I cannot tell you how much I loved this book! People have been telling me for years to read it and I finally did. I read this in January, and I still am thinking about it time to time. It is about second chances, friendship and family, and one beautiful Christmas. I know I will be reading it again in the future!

The Box of Delights by John Masefield

Fantasy

Strange things start happening as soon as young Kay Harker boards the train home for Christmas. Two suspicious men seem to be watching him, and when he arrives, an energetic old man pulls him aside with a chilling warning: “The wolves are running.”

Kay soon discovers that danger is everywhere. A criminal gang—led by the wicked wizard Abner Brown and his witch wife, Sylvia Daisy Pouncer—is after a powerful magic box the old man has given Kay. This box can transport someone through both time and space, and Abner Brown will do anything to get it.

Christmas with the Queen by Hazel Gaynor

Historical Fiction

It’s the most festive time of year! This charming historical novel brings together the elegance of The Crown with the romantic spark of When Harry Met Sally. From bestselling duo Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb—authors of Last Christmas in Paris, Meet Me in Monaco, and Three Words for Goodbye—comes another warm, heartfelt holiday story you won’t want to miss.

I’m reading this one now and I’m really enjoying it. It has a very cozy feel and it’s wonderful to read about a Christmas with the Queen. It does a great job describing the food, the grounds of the beautiful estates, and all that is involved with Christmas at the palace.

A Christmas Carol Murder by Heather Redmond

Mystery

London, December 1835: Charles and Kate are enjoying a frosty evening of caroling with friends when their merriment is shattered by a horrifying sight—a man suddenly crashes out of an upper-story window and falls to his death. The victim, his neck oddly wrapped in chains, is soon identified as Jacob Harley, business partner to the grumpy, tight-fisted owner of the house, Emmanuel Screws.

Charles, ever the determined journalist, is eager to uncover who committed this shocking murder. But before he can dig in, Harley’s body mysteriously disappears. Then Charles is visited in his own rooms by what seems to be Harley’s ghost… unless it’s simply his imagination running wild.

He must solve the mystery quickly, before someone else ends up in chains—and this time, it had better be the murderer.

Stories Behind the Best Loved Songs of Christmas by Ace Collins

Non-Fiction

Add extra joy and meaning to your holiday season by exploring the fascinating stories behind the Christmas songs you already know by heart. Discover the inspiration, history, and heartwarming origins of classics like:

Jingle Bells
Mary, Did You Know?
The First Noel
O Holy Night
Silver Bells
White Christmas

Each song has its own remarkable journey—perfect for deepening your appreciation of the music that makes the season shine

The Christmas Appeal: A Novella by Janice Hallett

Mystery

The holiday season has returned to Lower Lockwood, and the Fairway Players are hard at work rehearsing their Christmas show, Jack and the Beanstalk, all to raise money for a much-needed church roof. But for a festive production, there’s not much cheer behind the scenes. The group is tangled in petty arguments, a maybe-dangerous beanstalk prop, and cast members who seem to vanish whenever rehearsal time comes around.

And then there’s the small issue of a dead body turning up onstage. With tensions high and secrets everywhere, someone clearly had the victim on their “naughty” list. Follow lawyers Femi and Charlotte as they sift through Christmas cards, emails, and police reports to uncover who died—and who wanted them gone—before the final curtain falls on this holiday performance forever.

I just finished this and if you loved The Appeal you will enjoy this short novella. I was disappointed the play wasn’t a Christmas play, it would had a much festive feel if it would have had been. I love reading books with letters, texts, emails, etc. so it will still fun!

It’s the Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally Carter

Mystery

Maggie is the rising star of cozy mysteries.
Ethan is the king of high-octane thrillers.
She can’t stand him.
He keeps calling her Marcie—even though she’s corrected him a thousand times.

Both receive an enigmatic invitation to a Christmas house party at an English estate, hosted by an anonymous superfan. What they don’t expect is that the fan turns out to be Eleanor Ashley, the legendary “Duchess of Death” and one of the most powerful authors alive.

This one is so much fun. It has wonderful banter, it’s funny, and it has romance and mystery!

The Secret Christmas Library by Jenny Colgan

Romance

Mirren Sutherland never meant to become an antiquarian book hunter—it all started when she uncovered a priceless old volume in her great aunt’s attic. Now, with Christmas just around the corner, she’s been hired by Jamie McKinnon, the unexpectedly young (and very charming) laird of a Highland clan whose family lives in a grand but crumbling castle. According to legend, the McKinnons own a rare book so valuable it could save the entire estate… if only someone could find it. Jamie is convinced the treasure is hidden somewhere within his own walls, and he needs Mirren’s expertise to track it down.

But on her train ride to the Highlands, Mirren bumps straight into rival book hunter Theo Palliser—proving immediately that this is no coincidence. She knows Theo far too well: the easy smile, the slick charm, and his infuriating talent for showing up exactly when a legendary book is rumored to be within reach.

Christmas at Little Beach Street Bakery by Jenny Colgan

Romance

Christmas has arrived in the charming Cornish village of Mount Polbearne, where twinkling lights line the narrow streets and shop windows glow with holiday cheer. Inside Polly’s Little Beach Street Bakery, the scent of gingerbread and sweet holiday treats drifts out the door, drawing in anyone looking to escape the chill.

Polly may be swamped with seasonal baking, but she still carves out time for her beekeeper boyfriend, Huckle. She’s especially excited to spend Christmas Eve with him—snuggled up by the fire, eggnog in hand, soaking in the warmth of the season.

But the cozy holiday she imagined is threatened when a fierce storm isolates the village from the mainland. Suddenly, it’s up to the whole community to pull together and make sure no one is left without a bit of Christmas magic.

Harry Potter Book 1- The Sorcerers Stone by J.K Rowling

Fantasy

I know you don’t think of Christmas when you read Harry Potter but there is a Christmas scene in almost every book of the series. I really love Harry’s first Christmas at Hogwarts, and I love the part of the book that talks about that. Harry has never had a good Christmas due to family members that are raising him that show him no love. It’s a beautiful time seeing him experience Christmas in such a different way with friends that love him. I just love it and sometimes go back at Christmas just to read this part again!

Holmes for the Holidays by Martin Harry Greenberg, Jon L Lellenberg, and Carol-Lynn Waugh

Mystery

For more than a hundred years, Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes has captivated readers with his sharp mind, uncanny deductions, and unforgettable adventures. From his iconic rooms at 221B Baker Street, Holmes—with a frequently astonished Dr. Watson at his side—has taken fans through mysteries unlike anything else in literature.

Now, Berkley Prime Crime brings readers Holmes for the Holidays, a sparkling collection of fourteen brand-new Sherlock Holmes stories written by some of today’s top mystery authors. In these festive tales, Holmes and Watson tackle their most chilling crimes amid the glow and cheer of the holiday season.

A Wreath of Snow by Liz Curtis Higgs

Historical Fiction

Wrapped in a cloud of steam, the train screeched to a halt, the harsh sound echoing through the icy air. Snow swirled over the platform, gathering around Meg’s calfskin boots. The weather was getting worse by the minute.

She ordered a hot tea—milk and sugar—and glanced at the currant buns and mincemeat tarts displayed under a glass dome. Maybe later. Right now, her stomach was too tight with worry to even think about food.

“Anything else for you?” the cashier asked, passing her the fragrant, steaming cup. Meg’s hands trembled as she took it. “All I want is a safe journey home.”

The woman huffed. “On a day like this? Only the Almighty Himself can promise you that, lass.”

I love a cozy, snowy, train story any day!

A Return to Christmas by Chris Heimerdinger

Fiction

Until he was three, Artemus Holiday and his twin brother, Andrew, were inseparable—partners in every childhood adventure. But when Andrew died in a tragic accident on Christmas Day, the magic of the season faded for Artemus, leaving behind only heartache and shadows.

Yet Christmas is a time when miracles can break through even the deepest sorrow.

Return to Christmas blends sorrow, hope, and wonder into one unforgettable story. Once you step into its pages, you’ll never look at the holiday season the same way again.

One Day in December by Josie Silver

Romance

Laurie is convinced that love at first sight only happens in movies—until one snowy December day when she spots a man through a foggy bus window. Their eyes lock, the moment feels electric… and then her bus pulls away, taking him with it.

Believing fate has something in store, Laurie spends the next year searching every London café, street corner, and bus stop for the stranger she can’t forget. But she never finds him—at least, not when it would have mattered. Instead, they cross paths again at a Christmas party when her best friend Sarah excitedly introduces her new boyfriend. It’s Jack. The man from the bus. Of course it is.

What unfolds over the next decade for Laurie, Sarah, and Jack is a tangle of friendship, heartbreak, missed chances, and reimagined futures. One Day in December is a warm, emotional love story that sweeps you away and reminds you that fate has a funny way of leading you exactly where you’re meant to be.

The Life and Adventures of Santa Clause by L Frank Baum

Fantasy

From the creator of The Wizard of Oz comes a timeless story about how Santa Claus came to be.

Peeking through the trees, she spotted the baby lying peacefully on the grass. Now that its hunger had been eased with milk from Shiegra, the little one slept contentedly, unaware of danger or the world around it. Too young to understand fear, it rested simply because its tiny needs were met.

This beautifully illustrated edition brings L. Frank Baum’s enchanting tale of Santa Claus’s beginnings to life with warmth, magic, and wonder.

A Magical New York Christmas: A Novel by Anita Hughes

Romance

Set against the glittering backdrop of the Plaza Hotel, this magical holiday romance begins the week before Christmas, when 26-year-old Sabrina Post arrives at the door of the Vanderbilt Suite. She’s been hired to ghostwrite the memoir of Grayson Westcott, a world-renowned art dealer—and she can hardly believe her luck. Six nights in her own Plaza suite and a generous paycheck? For a struggling journalist, it feels like stepping straight into one of the Eloise stories she adored as a child.

As Christmas week unfolds, truths come to light, feelings grow stronger, and Sabrina and Ian must decide whether honesty—and love—can bridge the misunderstandings between them.

The Twelve Dates of Christmas by Jenny Bayliss

Romance

At thirty-four, Kate Turner is more than ready to declare “Bah, humbug” on romance. Life in the quiet village of Blexford isn’t exactly bursting with eligible men, and she’s perfectly content focusing on her work as a designer—plus her irresistible side gig baking treats for her friend Matt’s café.

But everything changes when her best friend secretly signs her up for a dating service that promises to match singles before Christmas. The challenge? Twenty-three days. Twelve dates. Twelve different men. Surely the odds of finding love have to tip in her favor… right?

Faking Christmas by Cindy Steel

Romance

It started with one tiny white lie.

That’s all it took for me to suddenly end up fake dating my workplace nemesis for an entire week at a cozy Vermont Christmas lodge with my family.

And when the fake feelings start feeling a little too real—and his arms suddenly feel like the safest, warmest place in the world—I start to wonder if Miles had his own plan all along.

Christmas Bells by Jennifer Chiaverini

Historical Fiction

I heard the bells on Christmas Day…
The familiar carols rang out—sweet and strong—echoing the timeless hope for peace on earth and goodwill to all.

Back in 1860, the Longfellow family was celebrating Christmas at Craigie House, their home in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow had just sent “Paul Revere’s Ride” to his publisher, and although the nation was on the brink of the Civil War, he still tried to focus on the joy of the season with his wife, Fanny, and their five children.

Christmas Bells retells the true events of 1863, when tragedy shattered the peace of Longfellow’s household and the hardships of war became personal and devastating. Yet even in grief, his love for his country and the power of his writing endured. The poem he penned that Christmas, “Christmas Bells,” still resonates today in both spoken and sung form.

A Jane Austen Christmas by Carlo Devito

Non-Fiction

Carlo DeVito takes readers inside Jane Austen’s most treasured Christmas moments with her family—everything from receiving her first writing desk, to falling in love and facing heartbreak, to making mead and beer for the season. As you read, you’re invited to experience Christmas in the Austen household, celebrate Jane’s birthday, discover the real people who inspired many of her characters, join in a festive series of holiday balls, and even learn the family’s favorite recipes and how she came to dedicate a novel to the Prince Regent.
Fresh, lively, and full of charm, A Jane Austen Christmas brings Jane’s world to life in a way that feels new and wonderfully entertaining.

The Wish Book Christmas by Lynn Austin

Historical Fiction

Best friends Audrey Barrett and Eve Dawson are excited to celebrate Christmas in postwar America and to create new traditions with their five-year-old sons. But when the 1951 Sears Christmas Wish Book arrives and the boys become fixated on every toy in its pages, the two mothers realize they need to help their children understand the real meaning of Christmas.

They start by guiding Bobby and Harry in choosing acts of kindness and service for people in their neighborhood. Their first project is walking an elderly neighbor’s yellow Lab—especially fitting since a dog is at the top of the boys’ Christmas list. As the story unfolds, Audrey and Eve discover that these simple acts of giving help mend their own hearts after the pain of war, opening them up to forgiveness, hope, and even the chance for new love.

IN CONCLUSION

This is the perfect time to read some beautiful books at Christmas. It helps you relax during a busy season and helps put you in the Christmas spirit!

I hope you enjoyed our favorites. I would love to hear yours, I may just add to this list. Leave them in the comments!

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