Hot Chocolate? Cosy weighted blanket? A cosy Christmas books for adults? Check, check, and triple check!
Nothing gives me festive vibes like snuggling up with a good book in my Christmas Pjs. Curled up under a blanket, next to the Christmas Tree with a hot chocolate in hand! Even better if it’s a wintery, Christmas book for adults.
The festive season is stressful. Especially in 2020! Running around the shops last minute, cooking all the festive grub and playing hostess – it’s difficult sometimes to get into the festive spirit. Reading is a form of self-care and nothing can relax you more than reading a good Christmas book.
While everyone is watching Christmas TV, you will find me snuggled up under a blanket with my nose in a good book. Nothing makes feel the spirit of Christmas more than reading a good festive novel.
I thought I would recommend some seriously festive Christmas books that you can snuggle up with in your festive PJs.
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The Best Christmas books for adults to snuggle up with
Classic Christmas Books for Adults
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
Charles Dickens invented Christmas. There have been countless adaptations of a Christmas Carol (The Muppets is my fave!) But, have you read the original story? A Christmas Carol is a festive classic for good reason – it’s the story of Christmas. Miserly Scrooge learns to value spending time with his family at Christmas. Ironically, Dickens wrote this because he desperately needed money and it caused a bitter war over profits. If you’re a fan of the classics you should read this because it’s had a profound cultural impact.
The Adventure of The Blue Carbuncle by Arthur Conan Doyle
Elementary, my dear Watson. A different kind of classic now! This Murder Mystery is a quick and easy read. This Sherlock Holmes short story about a sparkly blue carbuncle takes place the day after Boxing day. I had to look up what a Carbuncle is – it’s a gem not some weird skin disease. Not only is this story easy to read in one sitting but you can even find it for free online.
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes – Book Depository
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
A land where it’s always winter and never Christmas. It’s not a traditional Christmas story but it is set in a snowy, wintery backdrop, in a magical land with talking animals. The White Witch is actually based on the Snow Queen. If you’re a fan of Young Adult Fantasy books or if you’re looking for a nostalgic re-read then this is the book for you.
Christmas Stories
The Snow Queen by Hans Christian Andersen
Let it go, let it go! Frozen fan? Frozen was loosely based on this Hans Christian Andersen Christmas classic. The fairy tale is filled with beautiful winter imagery such as snowflakes, shards of glass and sleighs. Gerda rescues her good friend Kai from the evil Snow Queen after he loses all memory of his loved ones. It’s widely considered to be one of Hans Christian Andersen’s best works. I love the quote: “Cannot you give this little maiden something which will make her as strong as twelve men, to overcome the Snow Queen?” “The Power of twelve men!” said the Finland woman. “That would be of very little use.” If you’re a fan of fairy tales, classics or Frozen then you should pick this one up.
A Treasury of African American Christmas Stories by Bettye Collier-Thomas
Looking for a Christmas book to add to your family traditions? This is an incredible collection of stories from well known Black writers, activists and visionaries such as Pauline Hopkins, Langston Hughes and John Henrik Clarke. Most of the stories are just 2 or 3 pages long so they can be easily read in one sitting. A few of the stories are retellings of familiar holiday tales but with an African American theme. This is a delightful collection of stories that I would highly recommend for anyone. It would also make a lovely gift.
Romantic Christmas Books for Adults
Finding love at the Christmas Market by Jo Thomas
This new release oozes festive feeling! It made me want to curl up with a hot chocolate and watch a Christmas movie. It follows Connie, a residential-home caterer, who is set up on a date at a German Christmas market. I’m not typically a fan of the love triangle trope but I loved the festive vibes in this book. A great choice if you’re a foodie – I loved the vivid descriptions of baked goods. Jo Thomas describes herself as an author who writes about food and love. If you are looking for an easy to read, light-hearted, cheesy festive book then this is definitely the Christmas book for you.
One Day in December by Josie Silver
Warning: This book might break your heart. If you are looking for a romantic, emotional, heart-wrenching love story this is the book for you. Laurie meets someone at a bus stop who she instantly knows is the one. When she meets him again – she discovers he is dating her best friend. It’s pure escapist joy and a romantic Christmassy book you can lose yourself in. Josie Silver is a bestselling author who also wrote the bookstagram favourite ‘The Two Lives of Lydia Bird’. If you’re a Romantic Fiction fan looking for a book that will make you cry – this is the book for you.
Emotional/Heartwarming Christmas Books for Adults
Twas The Nightshift Before Christmas By Adam Kay
Hilarious, poignant and unlike any other Christmas book. Adam Kay’s writing about the life of a junior doctor in the festive period is hilarious and heart-warming. The book recounts 25 shocking Christmas incidents. This book shows the challenges the NHS face and the unsung NHS heroes. Adam Kay is a former Junior Doctor and has written several award-winning, best-selling books about his experience working in the NHS. I would recommend this for anyone. It would also make an excellent stocking filler for anybody working in healthcare.
LGBTQ+ Christmas Books for Adults
All I want for Christmas by Clare Lydon
I don’t want A Lot For Christmas there is just one thing I need. Now I’ve written the title – I have the song in my head. This is a sweet, light-hearted lesbian romance with festive vibes. The British humour was excellent and although the first person POV isn’t my preferred writing style it works well. It’s a light-hearted, romantic novel that you might read on holiday but with lesbians. Honestly, we don’t have enough happy, light-hearted lesbian books where they fall in love and nothing bad happens at the end. Clare Lydon is a lesbian from Southend, Essex who has published a series of bestselling books similar to this one. If you want a quick read to get you in the Christmas spirit then you should pick this one up.
Snow Globe by Georgia Beers
Friends to Lovers is such an underrated trope! A cute lesbian love story set at Christmas time. Mackenzie is set to have the perfect Christmas wedding when she is jilted just two weeks before the big day. She decides to go on the honeymoon anyway with her best friend. A simple story but the characters are likeable and relatable. The author has won multiple awards including Lambda awards and published her first lesbian novel in the year 2000! If you want a simple but sweet lesbian love story with Christmas feels then you should pick this one up.
Non-Fiction Christmas books for adults
How to Spell Chanukah…and other holiday dilemmas by Emily Franklin
Funny and poignant. I don’t typically read collections because you often find that some are excellent while others are lacking. However, this is a delightful series of short stories describing the cultural, spiritual and traditional experiences of celebrating Hannukah. While there are standouts such as The Only Dreidel in Idaho – all of the contributions are excellent quality. A quick read that will bring a smile to your face – you should absolutely pick this up.
The Man Who Invented Christmas by Les Standiford
I’ll say it again, Charles Dickens invented Christmas. I’m not kidding – if you don’t believe me you should read this book! He has influenced how we celebrate Christmas more than anyone else. At the start of the Victorian Era, Christmas was in decline but Dickens’ stories rekindled the joy of Christmas. Informational, engaging and full of interesting trivia – pick this up to find out more about the man who wrote A Christmas Carol.
Conclusion
Christmas isn’t just a season – it’s a feeling. I hope these books will give you all the festive feels. I read some of these in August and wanted to wish some people a Merry Christmas!
Now, excuse me while I go and sip a hot chocolate in front of the fireplace (well…it’s actually a Youtube video of a fire).
What are your favourite Christmas books for adults? What Books make you feel festive? Do you agree with my choices? Let me know in the comments section below
What should you read next? If you liked this you might enjoy…
This post on the best autumn reads
Recommendations for the best romance books to read
This post with the best YA Dystopian books like the Hunger Games
