There are a lot of great things about the holidays — pretty lights, time with family, hallmark films, and the list goes on. And while all of these are things I look forward to, my favorite winter activity is curling up with a good book. Okay, I do this all the time — but it’s infinitely better with a fireplace and snow outside the window.
If you’ve got some extra time on your hands and are looking for a new read to fill it, I’ve picked out five novels for you to try. They’re not holiday-themed specifically, but once you start them, you’ll be thankful you don’t have classes or homework so you can finish them in one sitting.
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- Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
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This novel is worth all the hype it gets. If you still haven’t read it, you need to ASAP. Set in the North Carolina marshes, Delia Owens’ writing is as beautiful as the first snowfall of winter. The novel follows a young orphan named Kya, who lives alone in a small shack, from early childhood to adulthood. Owens weaves together her coming-of-age tale and a murder mystery all wrapped into one ode to nature.
- Group by Christie Tate
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Christie Tate’s debut memoir is simultaneously funny and heartbreaking, though its best quality lies in the unparalleled vulnerability. Group recounts Tate’s experience in group therapy as she struggles with depression and an eating disorder. The book starts with Tate in law school, and it’s perfect for anyone who isn’t quite sure what their place in the world is yet.
- Such a Fun Age by Kylie Reid
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Set in Philadelphia, Such a Fun Age starts when the protagonist Emira Tucker is accused of kidnapping the child she babysits for at a supermarket. The novel focuses on race, biases, and class while challenging the all-too-common “white savior” trope. While the writing itself can seem light and breezy, there’s a lot of depth and nuance to uncover as well.
- Can’t Even: How Millenials Became the Burnout Generation by Anne Helen Peterson
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If nonfiction books are more your speed, Can’t Even should go straight to the top of your list. I’m not sure if I’m a young millennial or an old Gen Z-er (Gen Zennial, anyone?) but I’m certainly not immune to the effects of hustle culture and burnout. The work serves as cultural criticism and an educational tool, weaving interviews, personal anecdotes, and in-depth research into one cohesive narrative.
- Perfect Tunes by Emily Gould
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Emily Gould wasn’t on my radar until I read an essay of hers in an anthology about New York City. I later learned she graduated from my school and decided to give her most recent work a shot. Perfect Tunes blends music, love, and motherhood into a beautiful narrative I couldn’t put down.
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Reading is so much fun when it’s not required for class, hopefully, these books are just that.