I’ve always thought it would be so cool to be reading a book with a holiday or Christmas plot, during the ACTUAL season. But that would involve planning, and actually being on top of things, right?
Well, this year! This year, I put my tree up much earlier, started watching seasonal movies much sooner, and hey, I might just be on top of it this year!
So, I’ve created a list of books that have a plot surrounding the holidays, in case you’re looking for something festive, aside from children’s books or the classic, “Skipping Christmas” by John Grisham (but if you haven’t read it, you should).
If holiday reading isn’t your style, feel free to hop over to my Fall Reading Guide – where there’s still some pretty cool reads waiting for you.
“Christmas Letters” by Debbie Macomber – Of course, Debbie Macomber has several books circling around the holidays, but I picked “Christmas Letters” because I thought it sounded a little different. Here’s the book’s description:
Katherine O’Connor often spends her days at a cozy café on Blossom Street in Seattle—where she writes Christmas letters for other people. She’s good at making their everyday lives sound more interesting. More humorous. More dramatic.
But for Dr. Wynn Jeffries, who also frequents the café, Christmas means lies and deception. In fact, the renowned child psychologist recommends that parents “bury Santa under the sleigh.” Katherine, however, feels that his parenting philosophy is one big mistake—at least, based on her five-year-old twin nieces, who are being raised according to his “Free Child” methods.
She argues with Wynn about his theories, while he argues that her letters are nothing but lies. They disagree about practically everything—and yet, somehow, they don’t really want to stop arguing. As the days—and nights—move closer to Christmas, Katherine and Wynn both discover that love means accepting your differences. And Christmas is about the things you share….
Let it Snow: Three Holiday Romances by John Green, Lauren Myracle, & Maureen Johnson – I’m kind of really disappointed in myself for not reading this one yet – but I had no clue John Green had any sort of part in a holiday book! Here’s the scoop on “Let it Snow“:
Three interconnected stories from three bestselling authors: John Green (Paper Towns, The Fault in our Stars), Maureen Johnson (The Name of the Star), and Lauren Myracle (The Internet Girls series.)
Major motion picture in the works!
A Christmas Eve snowstorm transforms one small town into a romantic haven, the kind you see only in movies. Well, kinda. After all, a cold and wet hike from a stranded train through the middle of nowhere would not normally end with a delicious kiss from a charming stranger. And no one would think that a trip to the Waffle House through four feet of snow would lead to love with an old friend. Or that the way back to true love begins with a painfully early morning shift at Starbucks. Thanks to three of today’s bestselling teen authors—John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle—the magic of the holidays shines on these hilarious and charming interconnected tales of love, romance, and breathtaking kisses.
“Winter Street” by Elin Hilderbrand – I saw this on a list on GoodReads and thought it sounded most like the holidays – because what’s the holiday season without a story of family dysfunction? Here’s the description for “Winter Street“:
Kelley Quinn is the owner of Nantucket’s Winter Street Inn and the proud father of four grown children: Patrick, a hedge fund manager; Kevin, a bartender; Ava, a school teacher; and Bart, who has recently shocked everyone by joining the Marines. As Christmas approaches, Kelley looks forward to spending the holidays with his family at the inn. But when he walks in on his wife Mitzi kissing another man, utter chaos descends, and things only get more interesting when Kelley’s ex-wife, news anchor Margaret Quinn, arrives on the scene.
Before the mulled cider is gone, the delightfully dysfunctional Quinn family will survive a love triangle, an unplanned pregnancy, a federal crime, and endless rounds of Christmas caroling in this heart-warming novel about coming home for the holidays.
“Christmas Jars” by Jason F. Wright – I’ll admit, I saw the cover of this online and it got me to click for the description, which sold me. Here’s the scoop on “Christmas Jars“:
Rising newspaper reporter Hope Jensen uncovers the secret behind the “Christmas Jars” glass jars filled with coins and bills anonymously given to people in need. But Hope discovers much more than she bargained for when some unexpected news sets off a chain reaction of kindness and brings above a Christmas Eve wish come true.
“The Christmas Train” by David Baldacci – I pretty much cannot pass up a story about a journalist, but this one really had me with the added train ride. I took a train from New Orleans to Chicago a few years ago, and it was so much fun! I’m always down for a good story, especially when it includes a “ridiculous cast of characters”! Here’s the description for “The Christmas Train“:
Tom Langdon, a weary and cash-strapped journalist, is banned from flying when a particularly thorough airport security search causes him to lose his cool. Now, he must take the train if he has any chance of arriving in Los Angeles in time for Christmas with his girlfriend.
To finance the trip, he sells a story about a train ride taken during the Christmas season. Thereupon begins one of the most hilarious-and heartwarming-journeys ever told. Along the way, Tom encounters a ridiculous cast of characters, unexpected romance, and an avalanche that changes everyone’s Christmas plans. As the mighty Southwest Chief chugs along, Tom learns what really makes the holiday special in a remarkable novel that will charm all who read it.
“Dashing Through the Snow” by Mary & Carol Higgins Clark – This one’s for the mystery lovers! I couldn’t make my holiday reading guide complete without a little secret adventure to tackle, right? Here’s the scoop on “Dashing Through the Snow“:
From beloved mother-daughter duo Mary Higgins Clark, America’s Queen of Suspense, and Carol Higgins Clark, author of the hugely popular Regan Reilly mystery series, comes Dashing Through the Snow, a holiday treat you won’t want to miss.
In the picturesque village of Branscombe, New Hampshire, the townsfolk are all pitching in to prepare for the first (and many hope annual) Festival of Joy. The night before the festival begins, a group of employees at the local market learn that they have won $160 million in the lottery. One of their co-workers, Duncan, decided at the last minute, on the advice of a pair of crooks masquerading as financial advisers, not to play. Then he goes missing. A second winning lottery ticket was purchased in the next town, but the winner hasn’t come forward. Could Duncan have secretly bought it?
The Clarks’ endearing heroes — Alvirah Meehan, the amateur sleuth, and private investigator Regan Reilly — have arrived in Branscombe for the festival. They are just the people to find out what is amiss. As they dig beneath the surface, they find that life in Branscombe is not as tranquil as it appears. So much for an old-fashioned weekend in the country. This fast-paced holiday caper will keep you dashing through the pages!
And there you have it, Blache’s Book Club’s Holiday Reading Guide. Of course, there are tons of novels that have Christmas at the centerpoint of the plot; these are just a few. Got a favorite? I’d love to hear it! Happy Reading!
The Bitter Lemon 
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