Reading under a warm blanket, next to a crackling fire that illuminates the twinkling Christmas tree lights is my very favorite place to be.
And reading books that embrace the holiday spirit is the frosting on the Christmas cake.
Here’s a list of books that embody the ultimate holiday read: they take place in the holiday season, with a holiday spirit, with all the trappings of the holiday, too.
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Christmas at the Cupcake Cafe by Jenny Colgan
I purposefully waited to read this until right before the holiday and I’m glad I did. Colgan reintroduces us to Issy and the gang at The Cupcake Cafe. We catch up on all the characters’ lives and then join Issy on her latest adventure: contemplating what will happen if her boyfriend, Austin, moves to New York. Delightfully filled with friendship, family and sweet treats, Colgan yet again whisked me away (pun intended) to another place and time in another life I think might be beckoning me. The story moved quickly, too quickly, and ended with a satisfying close…but I’m holding out that a #3 in the series will debut soon. I’m just too caught up with Issy Randall and her Cupcake Cafe.
The Santa Suit by Mary Kay Andrews
I started reading The Santa Suit by Mary Kay Andrews VERY early on a sleepless Sunday morning next to twinkling holiday lights. It was the perfect holiday reading environment for the perfect holiday book. Andrews introduces us to Ivy, a newly divorced woman who bravely bought a rambling farmhouse, sight-unseen, hours from home in an attempt to start over. What she doesn’t expect is a house full of repairs, missing furniture or losing her job. As she comes to terms with her new reality, a note from years ago captures her attention and her heart. Following her curiosity, she connects with her neighbors, learns more about her new town and gets her creative mojo back in the process. This book will delight, will give you that warm and cozy feeling and will have you finding ways to bring it into your own life, too. Oh, how I loved this book.
Comfort & Joy by Kristin Hannah
Comfort & Joy by Kristin Hannah was truly a comfort and joy to read. It starts out with a bang, connecting readers with Joy Candellaro, a newly divorced woman who flees to find a new life, but ends up in a horrific plane crash instead. Miraculously surviving, Joy makes a bold decision to leave her life behind and escape from the crash site to make a new life for herself. She meets Bobby, a six year old boy truly in need of a friend and his father, Daniel, someone who could use a friend himself. As she helps them both heal from their own traumatic events, she begins to find herself again…until her world is tipped upside down once again. This book truly embodies the magic of the season and left me thinking….what if? It’s a cozy read for any time of the season, but fit my cozy holiday mood in December perfectly.
Royal Holiday by Jasmine Guillory
This was a delightfully cozy book about a whirlwind romance in England. I’ve been obsessed with all things Princess Diana since I was young, so I couldn’t wait to dive into this book. And I loved every page. If I’m being honest, the book was very predictable….but a beautifully cozy, romantic, happy-ending kind of predictable and for me, that’s the best kind. So, if you want a dreamy read about traveling to England, experiencing royal culture and getting the man too, then this book is for you.
