December is upon us and many of us are getting into the winter and holiday spirit! I personally love to read books seasonally, and here are some books that felt very “winter” to me. Books are a great way to make the cold days spent indoors more enjoyable, and there are amazing books to transport you into different worlds and help you romanticize your own. In this list is a wide variety of fiction novels that offer different winter vibes, from scary, dark, or mysterious, to cozy, warm, or uplifting!
10. ‘The chirstmas tree farm’ (2024)
To start, a cute and cozy romance novel! The Christmas Tree Farm is a novel by Laurie Gilmore, a part of her Dream Harbor series: a collection of standalone romances that all take place in the same small-town. This book is a “grumpy/sunshine” Christmas story about Kira North (the grump) and Bennett Elis (the sunshine). Kira buys a Christmas tree farm in Dream Harbor, despite hating Christmas, and is determined to find independence and build her business. She then meets Bennett, the handsome handyman visiting town, and denies his repeated efforts to help, until a snowstorm changes everything.
9. ‘The night circus’ (2011)
The Night Circus is a fantasy novel by Erin Morgenstern. This book is so whimsical and full of magic, that I can’t help but feel it makes a great read for the holiday season. In a Victorian-reminiscent setting, we follow the mysterious “Le Cirque des Rêves,” French for “The Circus of Dreams,” that appears in random cities, opening at night and closing at dawn. The main characters are Marco and Celia, two young magicians who are raised pitted against each other by their mentors/guardians, the circus acting as their battlefield of sorts. While this is the central plot, the book is full of a fascinating cast of characters and has an incredibly vivid atmosphere. If you like magical and intricate world building, with found family, mystery, and passion… you’ll love The Night Circus.
8. ‘misery’ (1987)
If you’re more into horror or thriller books, Misery by Stephen King is the perfect winter pick. It follows author Paul Sheldon, who is in a terrible car accident during a snowstorm that leads to extreme injuries, including two broken legs. Luckily (or unluckily), he is found by Annie Wilkes, a used-to-be-nurse and a Sheldon superfan. She brings him to her home, and uses her medical skills to help him heal. She may have ulterior motives and an unsettling past, but Paul is completely at her mercy.
7. ‘Wuthering heights’ (1847)
In winter, I love a classic, gothic novel. Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë is the ultimate gothic novel. It follows a family living on the Yorkshire moors and takes place on two estates “Wuthering Heights” and “Thrushcross Grange.” It tells the dramatic story of the orphan Heathcliff and the well-bred Catherine Earnshaw, and the passionate yet devastating love that ends in tragedy. It represents the flaws of human relationships and societal ideals and judgements. The story is a wild rollercoaster with a eerie, cold setting that really elevates the tale.
6. ‘The secret history’ (1992)
For a dark academia and moody winter read, The Secret History by Donna Tartt is an iconic pick. It is about an exclusive group of classics students at Hampden College in Vermont. The narrator is Richard Papen, a new transfer student to the school and the book follows his becoming a member of this elite group of students. The five others are Henry, Bunny, Francis, Camilla, and Charles. These students venture into an exploration of moral boundaries inspired by their obsession with Greek and Roman history, leading to mistakes, anger, corruption, and eventually murder. This book is intense and addictive, and the New England setting is perfectly cold for wintertime.
5. ‘Peniitence’ (2025)
Penitence is a novel by Kristin Koval about family tragedy. It starts when 13-year-old Nora shoots and kills her 14-year-old brother, Nico. We follow the perspectives of Nora’s parents, her lawyer, Martine, and her son Julian (also a lawyer). From this modern tragedy, the characters must explore a longer history of trauma and unresolved conflict. How is this related to winter? Other than taking place in winter, it also takes place in Colorado and skiing is a big part of the families’ history and past. This book is a lot of criminal trial drama, if that’s what you like, as well big, deep, and emotional family lessons.
4. ‘Divine Rivals’ (2023)
Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross is one of my favorite novels. It is a mix of romance, fantasy, and historical fiction. The setting is inspired by Europe during WWI. It follows Iris and Roman, young rivaling journalists at the Oath Gazette, both trying to achieve the columnist position. In the background, two Gods are at war, and humans are at the front lines, including Iris’ brother. Iris writes letters to him for comfort, even though she can’t send them. But after she tucks them into her wardrobe, they disappear. Iris then begins a pen-pal love story with the mysterious receiver of her letters, who might just be closer than she thinks. After tragedy strikes, Iris is determined to report on the war and find her brother, and her pen-pal wants to help. This story is magical and a lovely winter read.
3. ‘In five years’ (2020)
Rebecca Searl’s In Five Years is a magical realism story that is entertaining, emotional, and thought-provoking. It is also, in my opinion, inspirational. It follows lawyer Dannie Kohan at the top of her game. She has a great job interview, gets engaged to her long-time boyfriend, then suddenly wakes up five years in the future. She wakes up in December of 2025, in a different apartment, with a different man, and a different ring. She spends only one hour there, and wakes up in 2020 again. So she brushes it off… until four years later when she meets the same man from her vision. This story is full of emotion and life lessons about the choices we make and how we choose to lead our short and complicated lives. It may be sad, but it is also inspirational overall.
2. ‘VIcious’ (2013)
For a more science-fiction style read, Vicious by V.E. Schwab has a little of that in her novel Vicious. It follows college friends Victor and Eli, who discover the existence and functionality of extraordinary people, AKA people with superpowers, shorted “EO”s. The two end up having an intense conflict, and form a deep rivalry, leading to an adventurous and addictive story of Victor’s attempt to take Eli down. This book is great to keep you entertained during a boring winter day, as well as in love with the unique cast of characters.
1. ‘The Life Impossible’ (2024)
In the cold months, it’s good to have some self-reflection and inspiration. Matt Haig is just the author for that. The Life Impossible follows an elderly woman named Grace, who is alone and gloomy since her husband’s death. She suddenly gets informed that an old friend, a woman she hasn’t seen in decades, had left her home in Ibiza to her upon her death. Grace is confused, but with nothing to lose, she makes her way to the island. There, she tries to trace the steps of her friend and what might have happened to her, but ends up discovering strange things, but I won’t spoil them for you. Overall, this book empowers readers to live with an open mind, and not let your past or biases stop you from growing. It is very emotional and magical, and a gorgeous story to uplift your winter and prepare you for the new year.