At this time of the year, there is little I enjoy more than nestling down with a book, sugar cookies, and a dozen warm blankets. Because I know I’m not alone in enjoying a cozy read, I wanted to share these 9 festive holiday reads with you.
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Mystery Holiday Reads
Maybe it’s the Hallmark fan in me, but I have a love for mystery holiday reads. These are some of my current favorites!
First, The Christmas Appeal by Janice Hallett is the book that inspired this post! This is a novella that follows Hallett’s The Appeal. Like all of Hallett’s books, the mystery unfolds through a series of emails, text messages, message boards, and interviews. The style of Hallet’s writing appeals to the epistolary lover in me. Overall, this was a fun, quick read! Plus, the sequel The Silent Appeal comes out next year!
Similarly, Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret by Benjamin Stevenson is a holiday novella following the antics of Ernest Cunningham, a kind of hapless mystery writer who continually finds himself playing the part of Mr. Pirot. This is the sequel to Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone and Everyone on This Train is a Suspect. I am also eagerly awaiting the next novel Everyone in This Bank is a Thief.
Finally, Mistletoe Murders is an Audible original. I fell for this after watching the television show on Hallmark. I don’t listen to many audiobooks, so when I find one that I enjoy, you know that it’s good. In particular, the romance element of this one sets it apart from the other holiday reads on my list.
Young Adult Holiday Reads
As an English teacher, I am always on the look out for novels to add to my classroom library. In the past few years, these are the holiday reads that have stood out to me.
First, For the Rest of Us, edited by Dahlia Adler, actually made it onto my list of Best Books of 2025. This anthology covers a variety of holidays throughout the year. However, some of the most memorable entries discuss winter celebrations. The Hannukah, Winter Solstice, and Kwanza chapters are all stand outs. Each one features a delightful, relatable cast of characters. I also enjoy the diverse characters and holidays.
The Kingdom of Sweets by Erika Johansen is a dark take on the Nutcracker. Of the holiday reads on this list, this one definitely has the most macabre elements. As an adult reader, this one is not my favorite, but it’s one I keep recommending to students because it’s high interest and immediately engaging for young readers.
Finally, Dash and Lily’s Book of Dares and its sequel Twelve Days of Dash and Lily by David Levithan and Rachel Cohen are young adult Christmas royalty. The first time I read Dash and Lily, I sailed through it, and the sequel is equally charming. The third book Mind the Gap, Dash & Lily also has a healthy does of holiday cheer. I have to admit that I grew up a David Levithan fan, and his collaborations with Rachel Cohen are among my favorite. My classroom library also includes Naomi and Ely’s No Kiss List and Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist.
Honorable Mention
I can’t write a list of holiday reads without mentioning Pride and Prejudice. For whatever reason, Pride and Prejudice often appears in the collective Christmas consciousness. As a young reader, I tried reading Pride and Prejudice numerous times before I finally finished the novel and really understood the hype. At the time, I realized you have to make it to Christmas time in the book for it to really pick up. For others, the romance makes this a cozy and familiar read. For others, this should not be on a list of holiday reads at all. Maybe the real takeaway is that Pride and Prejudice is a romance for all seasons!
