Christmassy fiction

9 replies

StormySimon · 13/11/2024 13:05

Can anyone recommend an easy to read, cosy Winter fiction book? Preferably Christmassy

I feel overwhelmed in book shops so thought I’d ask here.

I need pure escapism and distraction. Life is a bit bleak at the mo

Not really into books that are busy girl meets farmer boy at Heart Throb Harbour or whatever.

Open to all suggestions. I like the sound of an exciting murder mystery but I’ve never read one before. I struggle with finishing books 😳

OP posts:

sproutsandparsnips · 14/11/2024 23:01

Yes I enjoyed Winter Solstice (albeit a good few years ago).
Nora Lofts How far to Bethlehem was really good (but obviously based on Biblical themes).
Will try some of the other recommendations.

wlv12 · 14/11/2024 21:59

I love Winter Solstice by Rosamunde Pilcher

Scrimt · 14/11/2024 19:18

I saw a book in the window of Waterstone's yesterday that I thought looked like a good Christmas read. A 1950s Christmas set murder mystery.

Murder at Holly House by Denzil Meyrick

https://www.waterstones.com/book/murder-at-holly-house/denzil-meyrick/9781804992357

yoozer16427942 · 14/11/2024 19:12

Gifts by Laura Barnett, 12 interlinked short stories about the residents of a small Kent town at Christmas. Nice, gentle, festive and heartwarming reading (I don't really do 'cosy' or romance so this is as close as I'd get!).

thursday22august · 14/11/2024 09:23

I agree that I wish it could be Christmas every day is fantastic.

The 12 topsy turvy very messy days of Christmas by James Patterson is also good.

Original poster

StormySimon · 14/11/2024 09:16

I love these recommendations!!

thank you! @InnerPlop the short stories sound very tempting! I may actually finish a book written in this style!

Thanks everyone ☺️ I’ll update the thread once I’ve chosen!

OP posts:

InnerPlop · 13/11/2024 18:26

I love a Christmas book! And have more then I'll be able to read during December, but here they are...

I haven't read these yet, but:
I have The Secret Christmas by Anna Abney about a Catholic family secretly celebrating Christmas while it was banned under Cromwell's reign. I haven't read the book that it's the prequel to (didn't realise it was a prequel when I bought it) - I'm hoping it won't matter! And it's only about 150 pages long.
I also have Midnight in Everwood by M A Kuznier. A retelling of the nutcracker. I'm sure it's been recommended on here before and I'm really looking forward to it.
Christmas is Murder a collection of short stories by Val McDermid.
I'm also eyeing up The Christmas Card Crime and other stories which is a collection of short mysteries that's in my local library.

Not what you've asked for, but for something a bit different I really recommend The Haunting Season - a collection of spooky short stories set at christmas or during the winter. I hate horror and normally don't like anything paranormal, but I loved this. I have the follow up called The Winter Spirits to read this year.

ObtuseMoose · 13/11/2024 14:27

I always recommend this one, it's been a few years since I read it but I remember not being able to put it down, Dying for Christmas by Tammy Cohen.
Last year I read Holiday Romance by Catherine Walsh, it is a romance but it's also funny and not too schmaltzy. It's on KU so worth a try.
I've just downloaded Snowed In by the same author so fingers crossed.

ThatsNotMyTeen · 13/11/2024 13:06

It came out a couple of years ago but i absolutely loved I wish it could be Christmas every day my Milly Johnson. such lovely characters

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