There’s something about Christmas that makes curling up with some good winter books feel even more magical. If you’re looking to maximise that feeling of cosiness this holiday season, dive into a selection of captivating reads that will transport you to different worlds, stir your emotions, and capture your mind from page to page.
So, grab a blanket, heat up the kettle or coffee, and settle in with one of these fantastic reads that are ideal for cosy holiday nights.
“The Secret History” by Donna Tartt
Set in New England during the late months of fall and winter, this book follows a close-knit group of elite students at a liberal arts college who are led down a path of corruption, secrets, and murder. As their professor begins to show them new ways of thinking and living, the students quickly begin to learn the true meaning of morbid obsession. Its dark academic setting is immersively atmospheric, making it a perfect book to get cosy with.
Shop “The Secret History” here.
“Snow Country” by Yasunari Kawabata
Get lost in snowy Japan in this compact, quiet little book. Shimamura, a married man from Tokyo who is tired of the city, takes a train to a remote village where the geisha Komako works at a mountain resort. A beautiful love story begins to unravel, but Komako’s life of seclusion and servitude as a geisha offers them no freedom as a couple.
Shop “Snow Country” here.
“Little Women” by Louisa May Alcott
Following four sisters through adolescence and early adulthood, this classic book has some heavy emotional currents – from grief to poverty – but its enduring charm is in being a heartfelt love letter to sisterhood. It’s the perfect holiday read because of its timeless, uplifting messages, lovable characters, and cosy atmosphere.
Shop “Little Women” here.
“The Snow Child” by Eowyn Ivey
Set on a 1920s homestead in remote Alaska, a couple build a snowman of a little girl, complete with gentle features, a scarf and mittens. Soon, the arrival of a wild and secretive young girl on a couple’s snowy doorstep changes their lives forever. Descriptions of snowflake patterns, crunching ice, and cutting winds are so perfectly detailed, they’re enough to give you the shivers.
Shop “The Snow Child” here.
“Winter in Sokcho” by Elisa Shua Dusapin
This book follows a French-Korean girl working in a guest house in Sokcho, a resort town in South Korea located very close to the North Korean border. A French comic book writer then moves into the guesthouse during the cold, non-touristy winter months, and their interesting, complex relationship begins. It’s a perfect story about human connection, melancholy, and winter.
Shop “Winter in Sokcho” here.
“Small Things Like These” by Claire Keegan
With only 70 pages, this book is for those looking to enjoy a quick read this holiday. In the mid-1980s, a coal merchant named Bill discovers the local convent while delivering an order. In the weeks leading up to Christmas, he decides he must confront his past while also having to make a difficult moral choice.
Shop “Small Things Like These” here.
“Before The Coffee Gets Cold” by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
Perfect for reading while cosying up with a hot beverage, this book follows the story of a cafe in Tokyo that allows its customers to travel back in time. But the journey doesn’t come without risks, as the customers must sit in a particular seat and return before their coffee gets cold. It’s a beautiful, simple tale that tells the story of people who must face up to their past in order to move on with their lives.
Shop “Before The Coffee Gets Cold” here.
