Although the holiday season is full of the small pleasures that come with a break, few are more rewarding than cozying up indoors with a cup of hot chocolate and a good book.
If you want to get in the holiday spirit, consider the following Christmas books for the season.
From romance to horror, there is something for every taste—give them a look!
A Christmas Carol
📙 Genre(s): Classics, Fantasy
No Christmas is complete without referencing the best Christmas book for adults and children alike: the famed tale of Ebenezer Scrooge and his fated meeting with the ghosts that change how he lives forever, one Christmas at a time.
Although you’re undoubtedly familiar with the tale thanks to its countless adaptations, reading the original work by Charles Dickens will give you new insight.
The Christmas Bookshop
📙 Genre(s): Contemporary Romance
Without a job or money, Carmen is in a pinch. Reluctantly, she moves in with her sister Sofia, with whom she hardly gets along, and finds a cozy little job in Mr. McCredie’s ancient bookshop.
But Christmas is around the corner and there is no time to waste. Now, Carmen has to revamp the store before the holiday shopping season, heal her broken family, and decide between naughty Blair or nice Oke.
The Christmas Fix
📙 Genre(s): Contemporary Romance
When the small town of Merry in Connecticut is hit by a late-season hurricane, grumpy city manager Noah Yates makes the difficult choice of canceling the Christmas Festival. Luckily, TV diva Catalina King is here to make Christmas happen with a camera crew and a big budget.
However, Noah is skeptical and is determined to stop her. Will there be a Merry Christmas?
Feel free to explore more books by Lucy Score Books.
The Clause in Christmas
📙 Genre(s): Contemporary Romance
Cassie Hayward has given up on Christmas by the time she inherits a lovely Victorian cottage in Poppy Creek. Without money or hope, she didn’t feel the need to celebrate anything at all.
However, her cottage comes with a clause: she has to complete festive tasks each December day up until Christmas. To fulfill her mission, she will be overseen by lawyer and Christmas enthusiast Luke Davis,
Hercule Poirot’s Christmas
📙 Genre(s): Classics, Mystery Thriller
There is no such thing as a Merry Christmas for Hercule Poirot. A family Christmas is stained by murder after wealthy Simeon Lee summons his four sons and their wives to announce changes in his will and their allowances.
Now, dealing with a bloody aftermath, it’s up to the investigator to uncover the truth in this locked-room mystery deemed one of the best Christmas books for adults.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
📙 Genre(s): Children’s Fantasy
While thinking of The Boy Who Lived may not bring Christmas immediately to mind, the first book of the series shares the heartwarming moment of the young boy’s first happy Christmas, making it a fantastic read during the season.
For those wondering How Many Books Are In The Harry Potter Series, this seven-part story captures countless magical moments, including Harry’s first holiday with his best friend Ron, where he experiences warmth and love from the Weasleys—and a few other wonderful gifts, as well.
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
📙 Genre(s): Classics, Children’s Fantasy
The first entry of The Chronicles of Narnia series (one of the best book series of all time) follows the four Pevensie siblings as they discover a hidden world inside a wardrobe. Together, they work to save Narnia from the White Witch’s rule and restore it to Aslan, the Great Lion.
Narnia is often called the land of always winter but never Christmas—at least until Father Christmas returns when Aslan’s power overtakes the Witch’s. Likewise, the book is a clear Christian allegory, making it one of the best Christmas books for adults who seek a bit of spirituality alongside a fantastic story.
One Day in December
📙 Genre(s): Contemporary Romance
Laurie is sure she saw the love of her life on a snowy December day through a bus window, only to lose the chance to meet him—until a year later, when her best friend Sarah introduces her to her new boyfriend, Jack
Missed opportunities, friendship, and everlasting heartbreak follow Laurie, Sarah, and Jack for ten years, all because of one day in December.
Falling Stars
📙 Genre(s): Contemporary Romance
Emily Ammerman and her family run Snowdrift Summit, a Colorado resort for snow sports enthusiasts. She knows everything about skiing, so she is in her element when famous actor Zach Ryder hires her to train him to ski a treacherous run.
The problem is that she’s his biggest fan and refuses to let anyone know—even less so him. She will keep it professional and won’t fall for the star.
In a Holidaze
📙 Genre(s): Contemporary Romance
Maelyn Jones is having a bad Christmas. Still living with her parents, dreading her job, and struggling with romance, her breaking point is never visiting the snowy Utah cabin where she has spent all her holidays again.
But as she drives away in despair, an accident happens—and when she opens her eyes, she is back at the start of her holiday. Caught in a time loop, she must figure out how to break free, find her true love, and enjoy Christmas once and for all.
Winter Street
📙 Genre(s): Contemporary Romance
Kelley Quinn owns Nantucket’s Winter Street Inn, but spending the holidays with the Quinns is difficult. Upon discovering his second wife cheating on him with Santa Claus—the hired actor version—chaos unravels. To make things worse, his four children all pose different challenges: one is a hedge fund manager feeling guilty about his actions, the other has a secret rendezvous with a French maid, the other found her perfect man but cannot get him to commit, and the other is unreachable in Afghanistan.
Luckily, Kelley’s ex-wife is here to reign in the Holiday chaos.
Doomsday Book
📙 Genre(s): Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Science Fiction
During the Christmas holidays, researchers at Oxford prepare for a dangerous time-travel mission at one of the deadliest eras in human history: the 14th century, right before the Black Plague outbreak.
But despite the preparations, vaccines, and inoculations, something goes wrong. Thus, Kivrin remains stranded in the past in one of the most devastating moments in history while her colleagues desperately try to bring her back—while facing a disease outbreak of their own.
Greenglass House
📙 Genre(s): Children’s Fantasy, Mystery
12-year-old Milo Pine spends the Christmas holidays at Greenglass House, an old inn. However, the unexpected arrival of five mysterious guests shakes things up—things going missing, a legendary smuggler’s treasure, and a mystery that he and his new friend Meddy must solve to protect what they love.
Although a fantasy for kids, this is also one of the best Christmas books for adults seeking childlike wonder during the holidays.
Bright Lights, Big Christmas
📙 Genre(s): Contemporary Romance
The Tolliver Family has a tree farm in the mountains of North Carolina and a tradition of traveling to New York City before Christmas to sell freshly-cut trees.
This time, Kerry Tolliver goes with her older brother and his dog, enjoying the city for the first time. Upon her arrival, she grows closer to the neighbors, develops new bonds with charming strangers, and is unfathomably attracted to Patrick, a single dad.
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📙 Genre(s): Horror, Fantasy, Thriller
Victoria McQueen has a talent, a gift, and a curse: she can find anything on her bike after crossing the bridge. Anything she wants. On the other hand, Charles Talent Manx has a 1938 Rolls-Royce Wraith to take children to Christmasland, a playground where Christmas never ends.
As a child, Vic survived her encounter with Manx and escaped. Manx has been after her since then—and now, he will get her son for it.
Found Your Cozy Read?
Naughty or nice, old romance or horror, adult fantasy or historical fiction—you deserve the relaxation and enjoyment of reading a good book during the holidays.
All of the books mentioned in this list are considered some of the best Christmas books for adults in their respective genres and audiences. That’s why, if any of them speak to you, they’re guaranteed to be a fantastic story to submerge yourself as you watch the snowfall.
For more captivating reads and festive recommendations, explore our other articles and find the perfect book for your holiday season:
14 Best Christmas Books for Kids
13 Charming Christmas Gifts for Book Lovers
Jolabokaflod and Other Book Christmas Traditions
Christmas Gifts for College Students
9 Things To Do During Winter Break
