Christmassy fiction

[StormySimon]

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 😳

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

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.

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.

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!

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.

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!).

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

I love Winter Solstice by Rosamunde Pilcher

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.