Welcome, book friends!
If you’d prefer to listen to this book list, you can check out the full episode on The Bookmarks ‘n Blankets Podcast on your favorite podcast platform or listen below.
I invite you over to Instagram or X (aka Twitter) to let me know what you’re reading this month or what you want to read before the end of the year or what you thought of any of the books on my list.
As you’re holiday shopping for your loved ones, don’t forget that you can get $5 off your first order of $25+ on Book Outlet, which is a heavily discounted bookstore that I LOVE! USE my link here.
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It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas…
Happy Holidays, everyone! I don’t know if you celebrate Christmas or not, but I do, so I’m going to be very festive in this episode. I’m so excited we finally made it to December. Christmas is my favorite holiday of the year, and I’m ready to get even more into the holiday spirit with some good holiday books.
December Reading Theme
Growing up, I read all the Christmas picture books, like How the Grinch Stole Christmas, The Polar Express, Santa Claus is Coming to Town, Rudolph, Frosty, etc. My dad always read Twas the Night Before Christmas on Christmas Eve right before bed. So I have a lot of fond childhood memories of holiday reading. However, as I grew up, I never picked up specific holiday books to read around this time of year. Crazy, I know!
So this is technically, my first year of reading adult Christmas or holiday books. So I’m really, really excited to jump in and get a few of these under my reading belt.
I’m going heavy on the contemporary romance this month. I haven’t had a month like this since July, but love is definitely in the air around the holidays. I’ve also chosen a lot of these types of books because I’m also mood reading. I’ve had some heavy reads these past couple of months, and I really just want to lighten things up in December. I’m really in the holiday spirit this year and want to read happy, sweet, and uplifting stories. Also, I am a fan of those cute, cheesy Hallmark Christmas movies, and I know many of these romcom books are compared to those types of movies. So if you don’t like those seasonal movies, then you probably won’t like these books, but I do, so I’m excited to see if they are any good.
I will say that I haven’t been the biggest fan of modern or contemporary romances in the past. But I am willing to give some more a try and check out some new-to-me authors. I have quite the selection and if some are rubbing me the wrong way, I have plenty of backups to take their places. There is no shortage for me to read.
However, I’m not going 100% romantic this month. I do have some classics on the list as well as a cozy mystery, a mystery & thriller, and a YA fantasy. Plus, I have a couple of middle grade Christmas fantasy books mixed in as well. So there is a variety for me to choose from in December.
I also have a few books on NetGalley that I need to read and write reviews for. These aren’t holiday books, so it’ll be nice to cleanse my palette with a few other regular genres.
December To Be Read (TBR) Book List
Here are all the books I want to read this month.
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
Average GR Rating: 4.07
Genre: Classic | Historical Fantasy
Buy on Amazon here.
GR Description: To bitter, miserly Ebenezer Scrooge, Christmas is just another day. But all that changes when the ghost of his long-dead business partner appears, warning Scrooge to change his ways before it’s too late.
Why I Chose This Book: My absolutely favorite story at Christmastime is A Christmas Carol. It’s one of my all-time favorite stories. I see it not just as a holiday story but also as a ghost story, and I’m a huge paranormal/supernatural/fantasy gal. I think I’ve seen every movie or made-for-TV adaptation of this work. I think I own close to 10 different versions of this story, between live-action and animated movies. However, I have never read the book! I know it’s wild to think that but it’s true. So this is going to be the year that I finally pick it up. It’s super short, so I’m sure I will fly through it. I also got the special 200th-anniversary edition because it’s illustrated, including original artwork. I’m really, really excited to read this, and it’ll probably be one of the first holiday books that I pick up.
The Greatest Gift by Philip van Doren Stern
Average GR Rating: 4.12
Genre: Classics | Short Stories & Novellas
Buy on Amazon here.
GR Description: For almost seventy years, people the world over have fallen in love with Frank Capra’s classic Christmas movie It’s a Wonderful Life. But few of those fans know that Capra’s film was based on a short story by author Philip Van Doren Stern, which came to Stern in a dream one night.
Unable at first to find a publisher for his evocative tale about a man named George Pratt who ponders suicide until he receives an opportunity to see what the world would be like without him, Stern ultimately published the story in a small pamphlet and sent it out as his 1943 Christmas card. One of those 200 cards found its way into the hands of Frank Capra, who shared it with Jimmy Stewart, and the film that resulted became the holiday tradition we cherish today.
Now fans of It’s a Wonderful Life, or anyone who loves the spirit of Christmas, can own the story that started it all in an elegant, illustrated edition that’s perfect for holiday giving. It includes an Afterword by Stern’s daughter, Marguerite Stern Robinson, that tells the story of how her father’s Christmas card became the movie beloved by generations of people around the world.
Why I Chose This Book: My second favorite Christmas story is It’s a Wonderful Life. I adore this movie and watch it every single year. In fact, one of my annual holiday movie traditions is the Saturday before Christmas, which I deem “Old Christmas Movie Day,” is a relaxing day where I watch Meet Me in St. Louis, White Christmas, and It’s a Wonderful Life. Those are my three favorites, but I also enjoy Christmas in Connecticut. Well, when I heard that the movie It’s a Wonderful Life was based on this short novella, I knew I had to pick it up.
Skipping Christmas by John Grisham
Average GR Rating: 3.54
Genre: Contemporary
Buy on Amazon here.
GR Description: Imagine a year without Christmas. No crowded shops, no corny office parties, no fruitcakes, no unwanted presents. That’s just what Luther and Nora Krank have in mind when they decide that, just this once, they’ll skip the holiday altogether. Theirs will be the only house on the street without a rooftop Frosty the snowman; they won’t be hosting their annual Christmas Eve bash; they aren’t even going to have a tree. They won’t need one, because come December 25 they’re setting sail on a Caribbean cruise. But, as this weary couple is about to discover, skipping Christmas brings enormous consequences – and isn’t half as easy as they’d imagined.
Why I Chose This Book: The holiday movie, Christmas with the Kranks, is one of my favorite Christmas movies that I watch every year. I knew it was based on a book, so I decided that this year was finally going to be the year to read it. I want to see how the movie and book differ and which one I prefer. I’ve also never read a John Grisham book.
In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren
Average GR Rating: 3.72
Genre: Contemporary Romance
GR Nominee for Best Romance (2020)
Buy on Amazon here.
GR Description: 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, along with two other beloved families. 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.
Why I Chose This Book: I read these authors’ book, The Unhoneymooners, back in August. I didn’t really care for it, but I thought I would give them another try. I saw that this is a very popular Christmas romcom, and it was up for a GoodReads award a few years ago, so I thought I would give it a shot. However, I am going in with low expectations based on my past reading experience with them. This is also the Groundhog Day trope, and I seem to like it so I’m interested to see how this story plays out.
Faking Christmas by Kerry Winfrey
Average GR Rating: 3.83
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Buy on Amazon here.
GR Description: Laurel Grant works as the social media manager for Buckeye State of Mind, an Ohio tourism magazine and website. She is most definitely not an owner of a farm…but one tiny misunderstanding leads her boss, Gilbert, to think she owns her twin sister Holly’s farm just outside of Columbus. Laurel only handles the social media for the farm, but she’s happy to keep her little white lie going if it means not getting fired.
And keep it going she must when Gilbert, recently dumped by his wife, invites himself over for the farm’s big holiday dinner (as advertised on Meadow Rise Farm’s Instagram, thanks to Laurel herself). Laurel immediately goes into panic mode to figure out how she can trick Gilbert into thinking she’s basically the Martha Stewart of rural Ohio and keep her job in the process.
Laurel and Holly come up with a plan–all Laurel has to do is pretend to own the farm for one dinner. But when Laurel shows up at the farm, an unwelcome guest is there: Max Beckett, her nemesis since Holly’s wedding. The annoyingly attractive man she hates will be posing as Laurel’s husband just for the evening, but when a snowstorm traps them all for the entire weekend, Laurel is going to have to figure out how to survive with her job and dignity intact. Whatever the case, this promises to be the most eventful Christmas in ages…
Why I Chose This Book: When I was sifting through the numerous holiday romcoms, because there are a lot, this one especially stuck out to me because it’s based in Ohio, specifically around the Columbus area, which is where I live. So I knew I had to pick this one up. It’s also a new release. It just came out in September. The plot also sounds like the movie, Christmas in Connecticut, which I watched for the first time last holiday season and really enjoyed it. So I’m hoping for a cute, funny holiday romcom.
The Santa Suit by Mary Kay Andrews
Average GR Rating: 3.85
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Buy on Amazon here.
GR Description: When newly divorced Ivy Perkins buys an old farmhouse sight unseen, she is definitely looking for a change in her life. The Four Roses, as the farmhouse is called, is a labor of love―but Ivy didn’t bargain on just how much labor. The previous family left so much furniture and so much junk, that it’s a full-time job sorting through all of it.
At the top of a closet, Ivy finds an old Santa suit―beautifully made and decades old. In the pocket of a suit she finds a note written in a childish it’s from a little girl who has one Christmas wish, and that is for her father to return home from the war. This discovery sets Ivy off on a mission. Who wrote the note? Did the man ever come home? What mysteries did the Rose family hold?
Ivy’s quest brings her into the community, at a time when all she wanted to do was be left alone and nurse her wounds. But the magic of Christmas makes miracles happen, and Ivy just might find more than she ever thought a welcoming town, a family reunited, a mystery solved, and a second chance at love.
Why I Chose This Book: I’ve heard of this author but haven’t ever read anything by her. She’s been writing for over 30 years, and I’ve heard good things about her books, so I thought I would give her a try. She just had a new release a few weeks ago, but the wait is too long at my library, so I’m going with this one instead. I’ve seen a few other book reviewers that I follow give this good ratings, so I’m hoping it’s good. This book also sounds like a very cute, sweet story. Plus, I love a good mystery and family reunions.
Lovelight Farms by B.K. Borison
Average GR Rating: 4.03
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Buy on Amazon here.
GR Description: Two best friends fake date to reach their holiday happily ever after in this first romantic comedy in the Lovelight series.
A pasture of dead trees. A hostile takeover of the Santa barn by a family of raccoons. And shipments that have mysteriously gone missing. Lovelight Farms is not the magical winter wonderland of Stella Bloom’s dreams.
In an effort to save the Christmas tree farm she’s loved since she was a kid, Stella enters a contest with Instagram-famous influencer Evelyn St. James. With the added publicity and the $100,000 cash prize, Stella might just be able to save the farm from its financial woes. There’s just one problem. To make the farm seem like a romantic destination for the holidays, she lied on her application and said she owns Lovelight Farms with her boyfriend. Only…there is no boyfriend.
Enter best friend Luka Peters. He just stopped by for some hot chocolate and somehow got a farm and a serious girlfriend in the process. But fake dating his best friend might be the best Christmas present he’s ever received.
Why I Chose This Book: This is a really hyped-up book, so I wanted to see what all the fuss is about. I’ve seen so many reviewers that I follow rave about this book. It’s also the start of a romcom series, so if I like it, then I’ll probably continue in the series. I’m not the biggest friends to lovers fan, but if it’s done right, I could enjoy it. But I do love the fake dating trope, so I’m hoping for some sweet moments as well as some laughs. Again, this sounds a lot like the plot of Christmas in Connecticut. So that will be two books with this reference, so we’ll see which one I like better.
One Day in December by Josie Silver
Average GR Rating: 3.87
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Buy on Amazon here.
GR Description: Laurie is pretty sure love at first sight doesn’t exist anywhere but in 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.
Why I Chose This Book: There are a lot of rave reviews for this book, so I thought I would give it a try. It also sounds like the romcom movie, Serendipity, which is one of my favorites, so I’m curious to see how this story plays out. This book sounds more like a love romance than a lighthearted, funny romcom, so hopefully it’s good.
The Holiday Swap by Maggie Knox
Average GR Rating: 3.59
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Buy on Amazon here.
GR Description: All they want for Christmas is a different life.
When chef Charlie Goodwin gets hit on the head on the L.A. set of her reality baking show, she loses a lot more than consciousness; she also loses her ability to taste and smell–both critical to her success as show judge. Meanwhile, Charlie’s identical twin, Cass, is frantically trying to hold her own life together back in their quaint mountain hometown while running the family’s bustling bakery and dealing with her ex, who won’t get the memo that they’re over.
With only days until Christmas, a desperate Charlie asks Cass to do something they haven’t done since they were kids: switch places. Looking for her own escape from reality, Cass agrees. But temporarily trading lives proves more complicated than they imagined, especially when rugged firefighter Jake Greenman and gorgeous physician’s assistant Miguel Rodriguez are thrown into the mix. Will the twins’ identity swap be a recipe for disaster, or does it have all the right ingredients for getting their lives back on track?
Why I Chose This Book: A few years ago, on Netflix, I watched a Christmas movie with a similar plot, and enjoyed it. So when I read this summary, I thought I would give it a try. It sounds cute and fun. I’m a big fan of The Parent Trap and stories where twins or lookalikes swap places, so I’m hoping for some fun chaos and mayhem. Also, one of my trusted romance book reviewers that I follow enjoyed it, and she said it’s clean and language-free, so that makes me happy to read.
The Twelve Dates of Christmas by Jenny Bayliss
Average GR Rating: 3.59
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Buy on Amazon here.
GR Description: 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. . . .
Why I Chose This Book: I used to be a fan of the TV series, The Bachelor/Bachelorette, back in the day, and this story kind of sounds like that, so I thought I would give it a try. There are many mixed reviews on this book, but I’m hoping I like this one. It sounds like it could be a fun, charming, and funny story.
Just Like Magic by Sarah Hogle
Average GR Rating: 3.55
Genre: Romance Fantasy
Buy on Amazon here.
GR Description: Bettie Hughes once knew the comfort of luxury, flaunting a ridiculous collection of designer shoes and a stealthy addiction to CBD oils. That is until her parents snipped her purse strings. Long obsessed with her public image, Bettie boasts an extravagant lifestyle on social media. But the reality is: Bettie is broke and squatting in Colorado, and her family has no idea.
Christmas, with its pressure to meet familial expectations, is looming when a drunk Bettie plays a vinyl record of “All I Want for Christmas Is You” backward and accidentally conjures Hall, an unexpectedly charming Holiday Spirit in the form of a man. Once the shock wears off, Bettie knows she’s stumbled upon the greatest gift: a chance to make all her holiday wishes come true, plus a ready-made fiancé.
But as the wiles of magic lose their charm, Bettie finds herself set off-kilter by Hall’s sweet gestures. Suddenly, Bettie is finding her heart merry and light. But the happier she gets, the shorter Hall’s time on earth grows. Can Bettie channel the Christmas spirit and learn to live with goodwill toward all men? Or will her selfish ways come back as soon as the holidays are over?
Why I Chose This Book: So with all the romance books that I’ve chosen, I wanted to mix in a romance fantasy book. I saw this had a lot of great reviews, so I added it to the list. It sounds like a really interesting plot, almost Grinch-like in how the main character is trying to get into the Christmas spirit. It sounds like she will learn a lot of good life lessons, so I’m hoping for a good redemption story. Also, it says she’s in living in Colorado. I lived in Colorado for 10 years and absolutely loved it, so knowing the location of the story got me excited too.
The Afterlife of Holly Chase by Cynthia Hand
Average GR Rating: 3.96
Genre: YA Fantasy
Buy on Amazon here.
GR Description: On Christmas Eve five years ago, Holly was visited by three ghosts who showed her how selfish and spoiled she’d become. They tried to convince her to mend her ways.
She didn’t.
And then she died.
Now she’s stuck working for the top-secret company Project Scrooge–as the latest Ghost of Christmas Past.
Every year, they save another miserly grouch. Every year, Holly stays frozen at seventeen while her family and friends go on living without her. So far, Holly’s afterlife has been miserable.
But this year, everything is about to change…
Why I Chose This Book: This book wasn’t even on my radar until recently. I was watching old videos from some of my favorite BookTubers. I went back to their best books of previous years, and one reviewer said this was her favorite book of the year, so it immediately piqued my interest. Then, she said it’s A Christmas Carol retelling, and right then and there, I added it to my list. This sounds so interesting and heartfelt. I may cry with this one, but I love these types of stories where people are redeemed, see the error of their ways, and try to do better.
Murder at the Christmas Cookie Bakeoff by Darci Hannah
Average GR Rating: 4.19
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Buy on Amazon here.
GR Description: With the spirit of the holidays wafting through the Beacon Bakeshop, Lindsey thinks she has the recipe for the sweetest Christmas ever–winning the town-wide cookie bake-off. Low on staff and bombarded by visits from family, Lindsey can barely meet demands at work, let alone summon the confidence to face fierce competition . . . Self-appointed Christmas know-it-all Felicity Stewart is determined to take the top spot in the bake-off, and she’s not afraid to dump a little coal in everyone’s stocking to do it. Just as the competition heats up, everything falls apart when the judge is found dead–and covered in crumbs from Lindsey’s signature cookie! Solving a murder was never on Lindsey’s wish list. But with her reputation on the line during the happiest time of the year, she’ll need to bring her best talents to the table in order to sift out the true Christmas Cookie culprit.
Why I Chose This Book: For this book, I think I screamed a little when I saw that my library had just gotten this book on audio. Then immediately, I added it to my list. I read my first Darci Hannah book in October, Murder at the Pumpkin Pageant, and absolutely adored it. I gave it five stars because I had such a good time. It was SO seasonal. The characters were wonderful, and I loved the small town feel and community atmosphere. Plus, the murder mystery was really interesting. So I’m definitely ready to read another book in the Beacon Bakshop series. This is book two, but you can read these as standalones. The book I read in October was book four and I didn’t miss anything by not having read the other three books. I’m really, really excited to listen to this book. It may be one of the first that I listened to this month.
The Christmas Murder Game by Alexandra Benedict
Average GR Rating: 3.43
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Buy on Amazon here.
GR Description: Twelve clues. Twelve keys. Twelve days of Christmas. But how many will die before the Twelfth Night?
The annual Christmas Game is afoot at Endgame House, the Armitages’ grand family home. This year’s prize is to die for–deeds to the house itself–but Lily Armitage has no intention of returning. She hasn’t been back to Endgame since her mother died, twenty-one years ago, and she has no intention of claiming the house that haunts her dreams.
Until, that is, she receives a letter from her aunt promising that the game’s riddles will give her the keys not only to Endgame, but to its darkest secrets, including the identity of her mother’s murderer.
Now, Lily must compete with her estranged cousins for the twelve days of Christmas. The snow is thick, the phone lines are down, and no one is getting in or out. Lily will have to keep her wits about her because not everyone is playing fair, and there’s no telling how many will die before the winner is declared.
Why I Chose This Book: I wanted to add one dark book to my list this month. There are many horror and mystery & thriller books focused on the holidays, but I chose this one because I saw some other book reviewers that I follow give it rave reviews. One lady in particular, she reads a lot of mystery & thrillers, so I trust her opinion on this genre of books more than others. This also sounds like things I like: a murder mystery, family secrets, and a game or competition during bad weather. I’m very interested in this book.
The Christmas Pig by J.K. Rowling
Average GR Rating: 4.17
Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy
Buy on Amazon here.
GR Description: A heartwarming, page-turning adventure about one child’s love for his most treasured thing, and how far he will go to find it. A tale for the whole family to fall in love with, from one of the world’s greatest storytellers.
One boy and his toy are about to change everything…
Jack loves his childhood toy, Dur Pig. DP has always been there for him, through good and bad. Until one Christmas Eve something terrible happens — DP is lost. But Christmas Eve is a night for miracles and lost causes, a night when all things can come to life… even toys. And Jack’s newest toy — the Christmas Pig (DP’s replacement) — has a daring plan: Together they’ll embark on a magical journey to seek something lost, and to save the best friend Jack has ever known…
Why I Chose This Book: Like most people, the only thing I’ve read of J.K. Rowling’s is the Harry Potter series. So when I saw that she wrote a kid’s Christmas book, immediately, I was intrigued. I think she’s a wonderful storyteller, so I’m excited to check this one out. I’m a big fan of hers. I can also relate to having a favorite stuffed animal as a kid. Growing up, there was a dog, Kernel, that I took everywhere with me. He was my favorite stuffed animal from when I was really small all the way up to high school. So this story feels very relatable.
A Boy Called Christmas by Matt Haig
Average GR Rating: 4.16
Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy
Buy on Amazon here or the box set here.
GR Description: You are about to read the true story of Father Christmas.
It is a story that proves that nothing is impossible.
If you are one of those people who believe that some things are impossible, you should put this book down right away. It is most certainly not for you.
Because this book is FULL of impossible things.
Are you still reading?
Good.
Then let us begin . . .
A Boy Called Christmas is a tale of adventure, snow, kidnapping, elves, more snow, and an eleven-year-old boy called Nikolas, who isn’t afraid to believe in magic.
Why I Chose This Book: I watched the Netflix movie a few years ago and enjoyed it. Then I saw that it’s a book, so I decided to check it out. I actually have the trilogy of this book set. There was a really good deal on Amazon during one of their Prime Days a couple of months ago, so I grabbed all three books for around $15. However, I think I’ll either do tandem reading or just listen on audio because it’s narrated by British actor, Stephen Fry. I listened to a sample on Libby, and it sounds so good.
Wrap-Up
Well, there you have it, my fellow bookworms – all the books I’m attempting to read in December. It does feel really ambitious, yet again, especially during the holiday season when I want to rest and relax more. But I am taking the last week of the month off, so I’m sure I’ll be able to still get a lot of books in and recharge my batteries. So check back at the end of the month to see which ones I chose to read and what I thought about them.
Until next time, my friends, happy reading and… Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
*Please note that I am a participant in the Amazon Associates Program and a member of other affiliate programs. I may receive commissions from qualifying purchases made through links in this article.
