Best Festive Books: Your Holiday Reading List

There is something deeply magical about settling into an armchair with a warm drink and a great book while the world outside turns cold and sparkly. Whether you are snuggled beneath a blanket on Christmas Eve, winding down after a long family dinner, or simply looking for the perfect way to get into the holiday spirit, a festive book is one of life’s great pleasures.

But with so many titles out there from timeless classics to brand-new romances it can be hard to know where to start. That’s why we have done the work for you. This curated guide covers the very best festive books for every type of reader: die-hard romantics, mystery lovers, families with young children, and everyone in between. Think of it as your one-stop holiday reading list.

Whether you want something heartwarming that feels like a Hallmark movie, a spine-tingling mystery set against a snowy backdrop, a picture book to read aloud by the fire, or a classic story you return to every year, you will find it here.

What Makes a Book “Festive”?

Not every Christmas book has to feature Santa Claus and reindeer. The best festive books share a certain atmosphere: a cozy winter setting, themes of family, love, generosity, and second chances, and that special sense of magic that the holiday season brings. Some are set explicitly at Christmas; others simply capture the warmth and intimacy of the colder months. A festive book is one that makes you want to pour another cup of tea, stay in your pyjamas a little longer, and lose yourself completely in its pages.

With that broad but meaningful definition in mind, here is your ultimate festive reading list, organised by mood and genre so you can find exactly what you’re looking for.

Classic Christmas Stories That Never Get Old

Some books have earned their place on the Christmas shelf for a reason. These timeless classics have been read by generations of families, and they remain just as powerful and resonant today as the day they were written. If you have never read them, this is the year. If you have, you already know how good they are.

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

Perhaps the most famous festive story ever written, A Christmas Carol has been in print since 1843 and shows no signs of slowing down. The story of the cold-hearted miser Ebenezer Scrooge, who is visited by three spirits on Christmas Eve and forced to confront the consequences of his greed, is one of literature’s great tales of redemption. It is surprisingly short — you can read it in a single evening — and Dickens’ prose is alive with dark humour, pathos, and the unmistakable atmosphere of a Victorian Christmas. Perfect for anyone who loves themes of transformation, generosity, and the enduring power of human kindness.

Perfect for: Fans of literary classics, anyone who enjoys a morally rich story with a satisfying ending.

The Night Before Christmas by Clement Clarke Moore

First published in 1823, this beloved narrative poem is the quintessential Christmas Eve read-aloud. The rhythmic, joyful verse and iconic imagery — the sleigh, the reindeer, the jolly man in red — have shaped the way we imagine Christmas more than almost any other single work. Reading it aloud to children (or even just to yourself) has an almost ceremonial quality. It is nostalgic, warm, and over in a matter of minutes, which makes it perfect for Christmas Eve, when there are stockings to hang and excitement to contain.

Perfect for: Families with young children, those who love holiday traditions, anyone who wants a quick but meaningful read.

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

Strictly speaking, Little Women is not a Christmas book — but its famous opening chapters, which take place on Christmas morning and capture the warmth of the March family despite their poverty, are among the most beautifully written festive scenes in all of literature. The themes of family bonds, generosity, and finding joy in simple things feel especially resonant during the holiday season. If you haven’t read it since school, now is the perfect time to revisit it.

Perfect for: Anyone who loves classic American literature, character-driven family sagas, and stories about women’s resilience.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas! by Dr. Seuss

This brilliantly subversive little book is, at its heart, a story about what Christmas actually means. The grumpy, cave-dwelling Grinch schemes to ruin Christmas for the cheerful Whos down in Whoville — and what happens next is one of the most uplifting moral surprises in children’s literature. Dr. Seuss’s wonderfully inventive rhymes and illustrations make this a joy to read aloud, and the central message — that the spirit of the season cannot be bought, wrapped, or stolen — lands just as hard for adults as it does for children.

Perfect for: All ages. Especially good for anyone feeling a little overwhelmed by the commercialism of the season.

Heartwarming & Romantic Holiday Reads (Like a Hallmark Movie)

If you love a feel-good, swoony romance that wraps everything up in a big festive bow, this is your section. The Christmas romance genre has exploded in recent years, producing some genuinely wonderful books that blend the magic of the season with irresistible love stories. These are the books that will make you smile, sigh, and fall just a little bit in love.

In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren

This charming novel puts a festive spin on the time-loop conceit made famous by films like Groundhog Day. After making a secret wish, protagonist Mae finds herself reliving the same holiday vacation over and over again. Funny, warm-hearted, and genuinely romantic, it is the perfect book for fans of the classic will-they-won’t-they romance. Christina Lauren’s writing duo always deliver sparkling dialogue and characters you root for from the very first page.

Perfect for: Fans of Hallmark movies, time-loop romances, and books that leave you feeling thoroughly cheerful.

One Day in December by Josie Silver

One of the most beloved Christmas romances of recent years, this sweeping love story begins when Laurie spots a man through a bus window — and then loses him again. The novel follows their story across an entire decade, with all the joy, heartbreak, and hope that entails. It is genuinely moving, beautifully written, and manages to be both funny and deeply romantic. It captures that particular feeling of a love story that unfolds over years rather than weeks, which makes the eventual resolution feel thoroughly earned.

Perfect for: Readers who love epic, emotional love stories and don’t mind a few tears along the way.

The Holiday Swap by Maggie Knox

A delicious premise: identical twin sisters secretly swap lives just before Christmas, with one heading to a small mountain town and the other to the bright lights of LA. As you might expect, romantic complications ensue. The Holiday Swap is cosy, funny, and filled with the kind of small-town winter atmosphere — log fires, holiday markets, freshly baked treats — that makes you want to wrap a blanket around yourself and never leave the sofa. The dual romance storyline means there is double the swooning.

Perfect for: Fans of twin-swap plots, small-town romance, and feel-good stories with a dash of seasonal magic.

Lovelight Farms by B.K. Borison

This slow-burn, friends-to-lovers romance set on a Christmas tree farm is exactly as cosy as it sounds. Stella needs someone to pose as her boyfriend at a TV appearance meant to save her struggling farm, and her best friend Luca steps in. What follows is a delightfully warm and tender love story that unfolds against a backdrop of pine trees, hot chocolate, and twinkling lights. Borison’s prose has a gentle, dreamy quality that makes the whole book feel like being wrapped in a very soft blanket.

Perfect for: Readers who love slow-burn romance, fake-dating tropes, and an irresistibly cosy atmosphere.

Cozy Mysteries & Thrillers Set at Christmas

The long, dark nights of winter are perfect for a good mystery. There is something particularly atmospheric about a crime story set against a backdrop of snow and festivities, where the contrast between seasonal cheer and sinister goings-on creates an almost irresistible tension. Whether you prefer a classic whodunit or something more contemporary and twisty, these festive crime reads will keep you up well past midnight.

Hercule Poirot’s Christmas by Agatha Christie

Agatha Christie could write a compelling Christmas mystery in her sleep, and Hercule Poirot’s Christmas is one of her best. When the tyrannical patriarch Simeon Lee is found brutally murdered in his locked study on Christmas Eve, the entire family — gathered reluctantly under one roof for the holidays — comes under suspicion. Christie is the undisputed queen of the locked-room mystery, and she is in fine form here: the clues are there, the misdirection is masterful, and the solution is entirely surprising. A stone-cold classic of the genre.

Perfect for: Agatha Christie fans, lovers of golden-age detective fiction, and anyone who enjoys a properly puzzling whodunit.

The Christmas Guest by Peter Swanson

A more modern option, this compact and twisty novella is ideal for reading in a single sitting. When a stranger arrives at a remote English country house on Christmas Eve during a snowstorm, the story that unfolds is full of suspense, dark secrets, and unexpected reveals. Swanson is a master of the tightly plotted thriller, and The Christmas Guest makes excellent use of its wintry setting to create a real sense of claustrophobia and dread. Perfect for dark winter evenings when you want something genuinely gripping.

Perfect for: Fans of psychological thrillers, readers who enjoy a quick but satisfying page-turner.

Magical Books for Kids and Families to Read Together

Some of the very best festive books are written for children — and the best of them are treasures for adults too. These are the books that become family traditions, pulled out year after year and read aloud by the fire. Whether you are looking for a picture book for little ones or an adventure story for slightly older readers, this selection has you covered.

The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg

Few books capture the magic of believing quite like The Polar Express. On Christmas Eve, a young boy boards a mysterious train that takes him on a journey to the North Pole, where he receives a very special gift from Santa Claus himself. Van Allsburg’s illustrations are extraordinary — luminous, dreamlike, and full of wonder — and the story’s central message about the importance of faith and imagination is one that resonates long after childhood. Reading this aloud on Christmas Eve has become a beloved family tradition in households around the world.

Perfect for: Children aged 4–8, families who love a read-aloud tradition, anyone who wants to reconnect with the magic of Christmas.

A Boy Called Christmas by Matt Haig

Matt Haig’s reimagining of the origin story of Father Christmas is a genuine delight. Young Nikolas sets off on an extraordinary adventure to find his father, who has gone north in search of elves, and what he discovers changes everything. Full of warmth, humour, and genuine excitement, A Boy Called Christmas is a perfect middle-grade read — funny and fast-paced enough to hold a child’s attention, but layered and heartfelt enough to move adults too. The series has since expanded into multiple sequels, so if your family falls in love with Nikolas’s world, there is plenty more to explore.

Perfect for: Children aged 7–12, families who love adventure stories, Matt Haig fans.

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson

First published in 1971, this beloved American classic has been making families laugh — and cry — for over fifty years. When the Herdman children, the most badly behaved kids in town, take over the annual church Christmas pageant, the results are chaotic, funny, and ultimately deeply moving. Robinson’s book is a masterclass in finding unexpected grace and meaning in unlikely places, and its message about the real spirit of Christmas — inclusive, generous, and a little bit surprising — is as relevant as ever. Read it aloud together for maximum effect.

Perfect for: Children aged 8–12, family read-alouds, anyone who enjoys a story that is both funny and genuinely heartfelt.

Funny & Light-Hearted Festive Fiction

Not everyone wants to feel their heartstrings tugged at Christmas — sometimes you just want to laugh. These books take a more comic approach to the festive season, finding humour in the chaos, the family tensions, and the sheer absurdity of trying to create the perfect Christmas.

Skipping Christmas by John Grisham

Best known for legal thrillers, John Grisham proves he has a deft comic touch with this sharply funny novel about a couple who decide, in a moment of sanity-saving resolve, to skip Christmas entirely. No tree, no decorations, no parties — just a cruise. Of course, their neighbours and community have other ideas. What follows is a wonderfully relatable satire of holiday excess and the social pressure to perform festivity whether you feel like it or not. If you have ever found Christmas slightly overwhelming, this book will make you laugh out loud in recognition.

Perfect for: Anyone who has ever wanted to opt out of Christmas, readers who enjoy sharp, funny social comedy.

Festive Book Bundles: Get More for Your Money

If you are shopping for a book-loving friend or family member, or if you have discovered a new favourite author and want to dive deeper, consider picking up a series or collection. Here are a few excellent options:

• The Winter Street series by Elin Hilderbrand — a four-book series following the Quinn family through four memorable Christmases on Nantucket Island. Warm, escapist, and brilliantly character-driven.
• My True Love Gave to Me, edited by Stephanie Perkins — a short story collection featuring twelve holiday romances by some of the best YA authors working today. Perfect as a dip-in-and-out read over the festive period.
• The Father Christmas Files by Matt Haig — a beautiful gift edition collecting the three Nikolas novels. An ideal stocking filler for the young readers in your life.

Frequently Asked Questions About Festive Books

What is the most famous Christmas book of all time?

Without question, A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens holds that title. Published in 1843, it has never gone out of print and has been adapted into films, plays, musicals, and TV specials more times than any other Christmas story. Its themes of redemption and generosity remain as powerful today as they were in Victorian England.

What are some good festive books for adults?

It depends entirely on what you enjoy. For romantic reads, we recommend One Day in December by Josie Silver or Lovelight Farms by B.K. Borison. For something with a little more edge, try Hercule Poirot’s Christmas by Agatha Christie. For literary fiction, you can’t go wrong with revisiting A Christmas Carol.

I want a book that feels like a Hallmark movie. What should I read?

Head straight to our Heartwarming & Romantic section above. In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren and Lovelight Farms by B.K. Borison are both spot-on for that warm, cosy, everything-will-be-okay feeling that Hallmark movies do so well. The Holiday Swap by Maggie Knox is another excellent choice.

Are there any good Christmas thrillers?

Yes! Hercule Poirot’s Christmas by Agatha Christie is the gold standard of festive crime fiction, but if you want something more contemporary and fast-paced, The Christmas Guest by Peter Swanson is a gripping modern thriller that reads beautifully in a single sitting.

What festive books are good to read aloud to children?

The Night Before Christmas by Clement Clarke Moore and The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg are both practically designed for Christmas Eve read-alouds. For something longer that you can dip into over several nights, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson and A Boy Called Christmas by Matt Haig are both wonderful.

What are the best new Christmas books?

The festive fiction market grows every year, with new romance novels and cozy mysteries arriving each autumn. Keep an eye on our site as we update this list annually with the best new additions to the genre. Recent standouts include The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally Carter and a strong crop of new Christmas romances from authors like Talia Hibbert and Helen Hoang.

Your Perfect Festive Read Awaits

Whatever kind of reader you are, the festive season is a wonderful excuse to slow down, put your phone away, and lose yourself in a great story. Whether you reach for a timeless Dickens classic, curl up with a swoony Christmas romance, puzzle through a wintry mystery, or share a picture book with a child who still believes in magic, the right festive book has the power to make the season feel genuinely special.

We hope this guide helps you find exactly what you are looking for — and perhaps introduces you to a new favourite or two along the way. Happy reading, and happy holidays.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE BLOG POSTS