Christmas Books: Novels for the Holiday Season
For many (including me!) the holiday season is the most magical time of the year. This ultimate list of Christmas books, captures the spirit of the season and ranges from classic literature through to contemporary fiction. 🎄
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Christmas Books: An Introduction
This list of Christmas books is sure to get you into the holiday spirit, with plenty of cozy reads to snuggle up with. There are a wide range of festive titles for adults; including Christmas classics, holiday romances, chick lit, cozy mysteries, memoirs, contemporary fiction and a heap of new releases too. Some of these titles are a little different to our usual selections, and include more lighthearted reads to end the year with.
I hope you’ll find something here to treat yourself, or even someone else, as these Christmas books also make the perfect holiday gifts. If we’ve missed one your favorite Christmas books, please let us know in the comments below. Wishing you a wonderful holiday season, full of incredible reads! ✨
Christmas Books: The Shortlist
The reading list below is one of our longest (and most comprehensive) yet! If you’re short on time, these are our picks, which include some of the most loved Christmas books from the list below:
- The Christmas Train by David Baldacci
- A Redbird Christmas by Fannie Flagg
- Christmas Bells by Jennifer Chiaverini
- Last Christmas in Paris: A Novel of World War I by Hazel Gaynor
- Seven Days of Us by Francesca Hornak
Also, just in case you’re looking for gifts for a book lover (or yourself!) I’ve put together a gift guide for readers who travel and a list of my all time favorite books from around the world.
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Christmas Books 1800-1900
1. The Night Before Christmas by Nikolai Gogol, 1832
This dark tale relates the adventures of Vakula, the blacksmith, in his fight against the devil, who has stolen the moon above the village of Dikanka and is wreaking havoc on its inhabitants, all to win the love of the most beautiful girl in town. The basis for many film and opera adaptations, and still a story traditionally read aloud to children on Christmas Eve in Ukraine and Russia.
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2. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, 1843
Carol tells the story of a bitter old miser named Ebenezer Scrooge and his transformation resulting from a supernatural visit by the ghost of his former business partner Jacob Marley and the Ghosts of Christmases Past, Present and Yet to Come. Published in the early Victorian era, a period when there was strong nostalgia for old Christmas traditions together with the introduction of new customs, such as Christmas trees and greeting cards. Note: this has been adapted to film many times!
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3. The Chimes by Charles Dickens, 1844
A novella that concerns the disillusionment of Toby ‘Trotty’ Veck; a poor working-class man. When Trotty has lost his faith in Humanity and believes that his poverty is the result of his unworthiness he is visited on New Year’s Eve by spirits to help restore his faith and show him that nobody is born evil, but rather that crime and poverty are things created by man.
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Christmas Books 1900-2000
4. The Greatest Gift: A Christmas Tale by Philip Van Doren Stern, 1943
For almost seventy years, people the world over have fallen in love with Frank Capra’s classic Christmas movie It’s a Wonderful Life. But few of those fans know that Capra’s film was based on a short story by author Philip Van Doren Stern, which came to Stern in a dream one night.
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5. Miracle on 34th Street by Valentine Davies, 1947
The lives of three people are changed by an old man who insists that he is Santa Claus. Generations of believers in hope and goodwill have made Miracle on 34th Street a treasured part of their holiday traditions. Millions of copies of this award-winning story have sold since its first publication, delighting readers of all ages. Note: also famous as the movie of the same name.
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6. A Christmas Memory by Truman Capote, 1956
The classic story of Truman Capote’s childhood Christmas ritual is more endearing than ever. Seven-year-old Buddy inaugurates the Christmas season by crying out to his cousin, Miss Sook Falk: “It’s fruitcake weather!” Thus begins an unforgettable portrait of an odd but enduring friendship between two innocent souls – one young and one old – and the memories they share of beloved holiday rituals.
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7. The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding (Hercule Poirot #35) by Agatha Christie, 1960
In this short story, Poirot is asked to attend a Christmas celebration in order to apprehend a jewel-thief who has taken advantage of an unwary eastern prince. First came a sinister warning to Poirot not to eat any plum pudding, then the discovery of a corpse in a chest, an overheard quarrel that led to murder, the strange case of the dead man who altered his eating habits and the puzzle of the victim who dreamt his own suicide. What links these five baffling cases?
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8. The Christmas Box by Richard Paul Evans, 1993
When Richard Paul Evans wrote The Christmas Box, he intended it as a private expression of love for his two young daughters, Jenna and Allyson. Though he often told them that he loved them, he didn’t feel that they could ever really understand the depth of his feelings until they had experienced the joy of rearing their own children, and by that time their relationship would have changed forever.
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9. Miracle and Other Christmas Stories by Connie Willis, 1999
The winner of multiple awards, Connie Willis captures the timeless essence of generosity and goodwill in this magical collection of Christmas stories. These eight tales boldly reimagine the stories of Christmas while celebrating the power of love and compassion.
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Christmas Books 2000-2010
10. Deck the Halls (Regan Reilly Mystery) by Carol Higgins Clark and Mary Higgins Clark, 2000
In this collaboration, Mary Higgins Clark and her daughter, Carol Higgins Clark, create an exciting and entertaining story of a holiday kidnapping. Three days before Christmas, Regan Reilly, the dynamic young sleuth featured in the novels of Carol Higgins Clark, accidentally meets Alvirah Meehan, Mary Higgins Clark’s famous lottery winner and amateur detective, at a New Jersey dentist’s office. That’s where it all begins.
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11. Winter Solstice by Rosamunde Pilcher, 2000
Elfrida Phipps loves her new life in the pretty Hampshire village. She has a tiny cottage, her faithful dog Horace and the friendship of the neighbouring Blundells – particularly Oscar – to ensure that her days include companionship as well as independence. But an unforeseen tragedy upsets Elfrida’s tranquillity: Oscar’s wife and daughter are killed in a terrible car crash and he finds himself homeless when his stepchildren claim their dead mother’s inheritance. Oscar and Elfrida take refuge in a rambling house in Scotland.
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12. The Christmas Train by David Baldacci, 2001
Disillusioned journalist Tom Langdon must get from Washington D.C. to L.A in time for Christmas. Forced to travel by train, he begins a journey of rude awakenings, thrilling adventures and holiday magic. He has no idea that the locomotives pulling him across America will actually take him into the rugged terrain of his own heart, as he rediscovers people’s essential goodness and someone very special he believed he had lost.
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13. The Christmas Shoes (Christmas Hope #1) by Donna VanLiere, 2001
Robert is a successful attorney who has everything in life-and nothing at all. Focused on professional achievement and material rewards, Robert is on the brink of losing his marriage. He has lost sight of his wife, Kate, their two daughters, and ultimately himself. Eight year old Nathan has a beloved mother, Maggie, whom he is losing to cancer. But Nathan and his family are building a simple yet full life, and struggling to hold onto every moment they have together. Note: part of a 9 book series.
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14. Skipping Christmas by John Grisham, 2001
Imagine a year without Christmas. No crowded shops, no corny office parties, no fruitcakes, no unwanted presents. That’s just what Luther and Nora Krank have in mind when they decide that, just this once, they’ll skip the holiday altogether. Theirs will be the only house on the street without a rooftop Frosty the snowman; they won’t be hosting their annual Christmas Eve bash; they aren’t even going to have a tree. They won’t need one, because come December 25 they’re setting sail on a Caribbean cruise.
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15. Love Actually by Richard Curtis, 2003
Set in contemporary London just before Christmas, the cast of this screenplay includes a lovelorn Prime Minister, an aging rock star, a sexually ambitious assistant, a newly widowed stepfather, a beautiful housekeeper, a straying husband, and other characters entangled in the silly, sloppy, sexy, sweet business of finding love. Note: this is a screenplay of the infamous movie of the same name.
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16. A Christmas Journey (Christmas Stories #1) by Anne Perry, 2003
It’s Christmas and the Berkshire countryside lies wrapped in winter chill. But the well-born guests who have gathered at Applecross for a delicious weekend of innocent intrigue and passionate romance are warmed by roaring fires and candlelight, holly and mistletoe, good wine and gorgeously wrapped gifts. It’s scarcely the setting for misfortune, and no one anticipates the tragedy that is to darken this light-hearted holiday house party. Note: this is the first of a 17 book series.
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17. Under the Mistletoe by Mary Balogh, 2003
In this collection of five Christmas-themed stories, beloved author Mary Balogh brings together tales of love, marriage, friendship, loneliness, and healing. Includes four holiday classics, The Star of Bethlehem, The Best Gift, Playing House, and No Room At the Inn, as well as A Family Christmas.
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18. A Redbird Christmas by Fannie Flagg, 2004
Deep in the southernmost part of Alabama, along the banks of a lazy winding river, lies the sleepy little community known as Lost River, a place that time itself seems to have forgotten. After a startling diagnosis from his doctor, Oswald T. Campbell leaves behind the cold and damp of the oncoming Chicago winter to spend what he believes will be his last Christmas in the warm and welcoming town of Lost River.
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19. The Christmas Thief (Regan Reilly Mystery) by Mary Higgins Clark and Carol Higgins Clark, 2004
Alvirah Meehan, the lottery winner turned amateur sleuth, teams up with private investigator Regan Reilly to solve another Christmas mystery. In Deck the Halls, they rescued Regan’s kidnapped father. This time they get in the middle of a case involving a beautiful eighty-foot blue spruce that has been chosen to spend the holidays as Rockefeller Center’s famous Christmas tree.
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20. Amazing Peace: A Christmas Poem by Maya Angelou, 2005
In this beautiful, deeply moving poem, Maya Angelou inspires us to embrace the peace and promise of Christmas, so that hope and love can once again light up our holidays and the world. A radiant affirmation of the goodness of life, and a beautiful holiday gift for people of all faiths.
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21. Christmas Letters (Blossom Street #3.5) by Debbie Macomber, 2006
Katherine O’Connor often spends her days at a cozy café on Blossom Street in Seattle – where she writes Christmas letters for other people. She’s good at making their everyday lives sound more interesting. More humorous. More dramatic. But for Dr. Wynn Jeffries, who also frequents the café, Christmas means lies and deception. In fact, the renowned child psychologist recommends that parents “bury Santa under the sleigh.”
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22. On Strike for Christmas (Holly #1) by Sheila Roberts, 2007
At Christmastime, it seems as though a woman’s work is never done. Trimming the tree, mailing the cards, schlepping to the mall, the endless wrapping – bah humbug! So this year, Joy and Laura and the rest of their knitting group decide to go on strike. If their husbands and families want a nice holiday – filled with parties, decorations, and presents – well, they’ll just have to do it themselves. The boycott soon takes on a life of its own when a reporter picks up the story and more women join in.
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23. The Christmas Promise (Christmas Hope #4) by Donna VanLiere, 2007
This is a story about how a promise from one person to another shows us the true meaning of faith, remembrance, and love. Seven years ago Gloria endured a family tragedy that almost shook her faith entirely. Each Christmas she places a card in an envelope on her tree, restating a promise she made to her husband before he died. Now, having moved from her small town and all the painful memories it held, she is building a life by caring for people in need. Note: part of a 9 book series.
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24. Let it Snow by John Green, 2008
Sparkling white snowdrifts, beautiful presents wrapped in ribbons, and multicolored lights glittering in the night through the falling snow. A Christmas Eve snowstorm transforms one small town into a romantic haven, the kind you see only in movies. Well, kinda. After all, a cold and wet hike from a stranded train through the middle of nowhere would not normally end with a delicious kiss from a charming stranger.
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25. The Gift by Cecelia Ahern, 2008
Everyday Lou Suffern battled with the clock. He always had two places to be at the same time. He always had two things to do at once. When asleep he dreamed. In between dreams, he ran through the events of the day while making plans for the next. When at home with his wife and family, his mind was always someplace else. On his way into work one early winter morning, Lou meets Gabe, a homeless man sitting outside the office building. Intrigued by him and on discovering that he could also be very useful to have around, Lou gets Gabe a job in the post room.
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26. A Winter’s Tale by Trisha Ashley, 2008
Sophy Winter is not your typical Lady of the Manor. When she unexpectedly inherits Winter’s End – a crumbling mansion in the beautiful Lancashire countryside – it seems like all Sophy’s prayers have been answered. She eagerly swaps life as an impoverished housekeeper in favour of her own team of staff. But Sophy quickly realises the challenge on her hands – the house is decrepit and its eccentric inhabitants are a nightmare.
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27. The Christmas Secret (Christmas Hope #5) by Donna VanLiere, 2009
When a struggling young single mother saves the life of an elderly woman, she sets into motion a series of events that will test her strength, loyalty, and determination, all the while setting her on the path to finding true love. Christine Eisley is the mother of seven-year-old Zach and five-year-old Haley. Her ex-husband provides little, if any, child support and makes life difficult for Christine. Note: part of a 9 book series.
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28. Fairytale of New York by Miranda Dickinson, 2009
Once upon a time an English girl went to New York to live out her very own fairytale. Florist Rosie Duncan’s life couldn’t be better, she has a flourishing business on New York’s Upper West Side and fantastic friends. Moving to Manhattan feels like the best decision she ever made. Even though at the time, it was her escape route from heartbreak.
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29. Last Christmas (Christmas #1) by Julia Williams, 2009
Catherine Tinsall is gearing up for Christmas – in the middle of summer. As the Writer in Chief on Happy Homes magazine, she is putting together a ‘perfect Christmas’ competition, to remind readers of the festive season’s true meaning. In the sleepy Shropshire village of Hope Christmas, Marianne Mistletan enters with the suggestion that her village’s nativity play be held in the ancient chapel of Fitzcross Manor, home to the St Nicholas family.
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30. A Chesapeake Shores Christmas (Chesapeake Shores #4) by Sherryl Woods, 2010
After years apart, Mick and Megan O’Brien are finally ready to make it official again. Most of their grown children couldn’t be happier about their rekindled love and impending marriage this holiday season. Only Connor is a holdout. Driven to become a divorce attorney after what he views as his mother’s abandonment of their family, Connor’s not about to give his blessing to this reunion romance.
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31. The Snow Globe by Sheila Roberts, 2010
On a blustery afternoon, Kylie Gray wanders into an antique shop and buys an enchanting snow globe. “There’s a story behind that snow globe,” the antique dealer tells her. The original owner, he explains, was a German toymaker who lost his wife and son right before Christmas. When the grieving widower received the handcrafted snow globe as a Christmas gift, he saw the image of a beautiful woman beneath the glass – a woman who would come into his life, mend his broken heart and bring him back to the world of the living.
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32. Twelve Days of Christmas by Trisha Ashley, 2010
Christmas has always been a sad time for young widow Holly Brown, so when she’s asked to look after a remote house on the Lancashire moors, the opportunity to hide herself away is irresistible – the perfect excuse to forget about the festivities. Sculptor Jude Martland is determined that this year there will be no Christmas after his brother runs off with his fiancee and he is keen to avoid the family home. However, he will have to return by the twelfth night of the festivities, when the hamlet of Little Mumming hold their historic festivities and all of his family are required to attend.
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33. All I Want for Christmas by Amy Silver, 2010
It’s Bea’s first Christmas with her baby son, and this year she’s determined to do everything right. But there is still so much to do: the Christmas menu needs refining; her café, The Honey Pot, needs decorating; and she’s invited the whole neighbourhood to a party on Christmas Day. She really doesn’t have time to get involved in two new people’s lives, let alone fall in love.
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Christmas Books 2011
34. The Nine Lives of Christmas by Sheila Roberts, 2011
When a guy is in trouble, he starts making deals with his Creator and Ambrose the cat is no exception. In danger of losing his ninth and final life, Ambrose makes a desperate plea to the universe. He’ll do anything – anything! – if he can just survive and enjoy a nice long, final life. His prayer is answered when a stranger comes along and saves him – and now it looks like he has to hold up his end of the bargain.
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35. The Christmas Note (Christmas Hope #6) by Donna VanLiere, 2011
Gretchen Daniels has recently moved into a condo with her two children to be closer to her mother, Miriam. As they build a life together in their new community, they notice a mysterious young woman, Melissa McCreary, who lives next door. She has few possessions, little personality, and keeps to herself. One day a local landlord who is looking for Melissa knocks on Gretchen’s door for assistance. Note: part of a 9 book series.
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36. Bring Me Home for Christmas (Virgin River #14) by Robyn Carr, 2011
This year, Becca Timm knows the number one item on her Christmas wish list – getting over Denny Cutler. Three years ago Denny broke her heart before heading off to war. It’s time she got over her silly college relationship and moved on. So she takes matters into her own hands and heads up to Virgin River, the rugged little mountain town that Denny calls home, as an uninvited guest on her brother’s men-only hunting weekend.
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37. The Night Before Christmas by Scarlett Bailey, 2011
All Lydia’s ever wanted is a perfect Christmas. So when her oldest friends invite her to spend the holidays with them, it seems like a dream come true. She’s been promised log fires, roasted chestnuts, her own weight in mince pies – all in a setting that looks like something out of a Christmas card. But her winter wonderland is ruined when she finds herself snowed in with her current boyfriend, her old flame and a hunky stranger.
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38. Christmas at Tiffany’s (At Tiffany’s #1) by Karen Swan, 2011
Cassie settled down too young, marrying her first serious boyfriend. Now, ten years later, she is betrayed and broken. With her marriage in tatters and no career or home of her own, she needs to work out where she belongs in the world and who she really is. So begins a year-long trial as Cassie leaves her sheltered life in rural Scotland to stay with each of her best friends in the most glamorous cities in the world: New York, Paris and London.
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39. Wrapped Up in You by Carole Matthews, 2011
Thirty-something hairdresser Janie Johnson’s single status is a constant source of gossip for her friends and clients. So after too many nights in with her cat, a blind date disaster and news that her ex is getting married, Janie realises it’s time to do something dramatic with her life. It’s time for an adventure! Leaving winter behind, Janie takes the plunge and books an exotic trip to Africa.
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Christmas Books 2012
40. Merry Ex-Mas (Life in Icicle Falls #2) by Sheila Roberts, 2012
Cass Wilkes, owner of the Gingerbread Haus bakery, was looking forward to her daughter Danielle’s wedding – until Dani announced that she wants her father, Cass’s ex, to walk her down the aisle. Seriously? Even worse, it appears that he, his trophy wife and their yappy little dog will be staying with Cass. Her friend Charlene Albach arrives at their weekly chick-flick night in shock. She’s just seen the ghost of Christmas past: her ex-husband, Richard, who left a year ago when he ran off with the hostess from her restaurant, Zelda’s.
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41. A Winter Dream by Richard Paul Evans, 2012
Joseph Jacobson is the twelfth of thirteen siblings, all of whom are employed by their father’s successful Colorado advertising company. But underneath the success runs a poisonous undercurrent of jealousy; Joseph is his father’s favorite and the focus of his brothers’ envy and hatred. When the father seems ready to anoint Joseph as his heir, the brothers make their move, forcing Joseph from the company and his Denver home.
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42. Christmas at the Cupcake Café (Cupcake Café #2) by Jenny Colgan, 2012
Issy Randall, proud owner of The Cupcake Cafe, is in love and couldn’t be happier. Her new business is thriving and she is surrounded by close friends, even if her cupcake colleagues Pearl and Caroline don’t seem quite as upbeat about the upcoming season of snow and merriment. But when her boyfriend Austin is scouted for a possible move to New York, Issy is forced to face up to the prospect of a long-distance romance. And when the Christmas rush at the cafe – with its increased demand for her delectable creations – begins to take its toll, Issy has to decide what she holds most dear.
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43. Winter Wonderland (LoveTravel #10) by Belinda Jones, 2012
Imagine waking up in a snow globe. That’s how travel journalist Krista feels when she arrives in magical Quebec to report on Canada’s glittering Winter Carnival. Over ten sub-zero days Krista’s formerly frozen heart begins to melt as she discovers an enchanting world of ice palaces, husky dog-sledding and maple-syrup treats galore. And then she meets Jacques, a man as handsome and rugged as he is mysterious.
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44. A Winter Flame by Milly Johnson, 2012
Eve has never liked Christmas. So when her adored elderly aunt dies, the last thing she is expecting is to be left a theme park in her will. A theme park with a Christmas theme. And that’s not the only catch. Her aunt’s will stipulates that Eve must run the park with a mysterious partner, the exotically named Jacques Glace. Who is this Jacques, and why did Aunt Evelyn name him in her will?
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45. One Perfect Christmas (One Perfect #1.5) by Paige Toon, 2012
Part of the One Perfect series, snuggle up in front of the fire to read this magical wintery short story about what happened next. One Perfect Christmas picks up with Alice and Joe one year on. He’s a bigger star than ever, and Alice has managed to maintain her anonymity. But how long can that last?
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Christmas Books 2013
46. Starry Night by Debbie Macomber, 2013
Carrie Slayton, a big-city society-page columnist, longs to write more serious news stories. So her editor hands her a challenge: She can cover any topic she wants, but only if she first scores the paper an interview with Finn Dalton, the notoriously reclusive author. Living in the remote Alaskan wilderness, Finn has written a megabestselling memoir about surviving in the wild. But he stubbornly declines to speak to anyone in the press, and no one even knows exactly where he lives.
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47. Calling Mrs Christmas by Carole Matthews, 2013
Cassie Smith has been out of work for a while but she has an idea. Drawing on her love of Christmas, she begins charging for small things: wrapping presents; writing cards; tree-decorating. She’s soon in huge demand and Cassie’s business, Calling Mrs Christmas, is born. Carter Randall wants to make Christmas special for his children so he enlists Cassie’s help, and his lavish requests start taking up all her time.
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48. Christmas at Rosie Hopkins’ Sweetshop (Rosie Hopkins’ Sweet Shop #2) by Jenny Colgan, 2013
Rosie Hopkins is looking forward to Christmas in the little Derbyshire village of Lipton, buried under a thick blanket of snow. Her sweetshop is festooned with striped candy canes, large tempting piles of Turkish Delight, crinkling selection boxes and happy, sticky children. She’s going to be spending it with her boyfriend, Stephen, and her family, flying in from Australia. She can’t wait. But when a tragedy strikes at the heart of their little community, all of Rosie’s plans for the future seem to be blown apart.
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49. Just for Christmas (Poldore #1) by Scarlett Bailey, 2013
When Alex Munro learns that the love of her life is getting married to another girl, all she wants is to be alone – and as far away from Edinburgh as possible. Moving to a Cornish cottage, which comes complete with the world’s scruffiest dog, Alex finds that her new neighbours are determined to involve her in their madcap Christmas festivities. Then she meets her sexy neighbour Ruan – and somehow Alex doesn’t want to be alone this Christmas after all.
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50. Christmas at the Beach Café (Beach Café #2) by Lucy Diamond, 2013
After a hectic summer running her beach café in Cornwall, Evie Flynn is looking forward to her first Christmas with new boyfriend Ed – she’s determined that it’s going to be the most perfectly romantic one ever. Cosy nights in front of the fire, spicy mulled wine, mince pies. What’s not to love? But the peace is shattered when Ed’s ex suddenly gets in touch again, and then some unexpected guests arrive.
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51. Christmas on 4th Street (Fool’s Gold #12.5) by Susan Mallery, 2013
Noelle Perkins just got a second chance at life, and she intends to make the most of every minute. That’s why she ditched a frustrating legal career to open her own store in Fool’s Gold, California. The Christmas Attic celebrates everything that’s magical about her favorite season. Business is booming, and as a bonus, gorgeous army doctor Gabriel Boylan has offered to help out during the holiday rush.
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52. Christmas at Claridge’s by Karen Swan, 2013
Portobello – home to the world-famous street market, Notting Hill Carnival and Clem Alderton. She’s the queen of the scene, the girl everyone wants to be or be with. But beneath the morning-after makeup, Clem is keeping a secret, and when she goes too far one reckless night she endangers everything – her home, her job and even her adored brother’s love.
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Christmas Books 2014
53. The 13th Gift: A True Story by Joanne Huist Smith, 2014
After the unexpected death of her husband, Joanne Huist Smith had no idea how she would keep herself together and be strong for her three children – especially with the holiday season approaching. But 12 days before Christmas, presents begin appearing on her doorstep with notes from their “True Friends.” As the Smiths came together to solve the mystery of who the gifts were from, they began to thaw out from their grief and come together again as a family. Note: this is a memoir.
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54. Snow Angel Cove (Haven Point #1) by RaeAnne Thayne, 2014
Nothing short of a miracle can restore Eliza Hayward’s Christmas cheer. The job she pinned her dreams on has gone up in smoke – literally – and now she’s stuck in an unfamiliar, if breathtaking, small town. Precariously close to being destitute, Eliza needs a helping hand, for her sick young daughter’s sake as well as her own. But she’s not expecting her holiday hero to almost run her down with his car! Note: part of a 9 book series.
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55. The Lodge on Holly Road (Life in Icicle Falls #6) by Sheila Roberts, 2014
James Claussen has played Santa for years, but now that he’s a widower, he’s lost interest – in everything. So his daughter, Brooke, kidnaps him from the mall (in his Santa suit!) and takes him to Icicle Falls. She’s arranged a special Christmas at the lodge owned by long-widowed Olivia Wallace and her son, Eric. And yet, Brooke wants Dad to be happy, but she’s not ready to see someone else’s mommy kissing Santa Claus.
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56. The Mistletoe Promise (Mistletoe #1) by Richard Paul Evans, 2014
Elise Dutton dreads the arrival of another holiday season. Three years earlier, her husband cheated on her with her best friend, resulting in a bitter divorce that left her alone, broken, and distrustful. Then, one November day, a stranger approaches Elise in the mall food court. Though she recognizes the man from her building, Elise has never formally met him. Tired of spending the holidays alone, the man offers her a proposition.
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57. Winter Street (Winter #1) by Elin Hilderbrand, 2014
Kelley Quinn is the owner of Nantucket’s Winter Street Inn and the proud father of four, all of them grown and living in varying states of disarray. Patrick, the eldest, is a hedge fund manager with a guilty conscience. Kevin, a bartender, is secretly sleeping with a French housekeeper named Isabelle. Ava, a school teacher, is finally dating the perfect guy but can’t get him to commit. And Bart, has recently shocked everyone by joining the Marines. As Christmas approaches, Kelley is looking forward to getting the family together for some quality time at the inn. Note: part of a 4 book series.
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58. My True Love Gave to Me by Stephanie Perkins, 2014
Whether you enjoy celebrating Christmas or Hanukkah, Winter Solstice or New Year’s there’s something here for everyone. So curl up by the fireplace and get cozy. You have twelve reasons this season to stay indoors and fall in love. This collection features stories by twelve bestselling young adult writers, edited by international bestselling author Stephanie Perkins.
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59. The Great Christmas Knit Off (Tindledale) by Alexandra Brown, 2014
Heartbroken after being jilted at the altar, Sybil has been saved from despair by her knitting obsession and now her home is filled to bursting with tea cosies, bobble hats, and jumpers. But, after discovering that she may have perpetrated the cock-up of the century at work, Sybil decides to make a hasty exit and, just weeks before Christmas, runs away to the picturesque village of Tindledale.
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60. Christmas Gifts at the Beach Café (Beach Café #3) by Lucy Diamond, 2014
With her Cornish Beach Café closed for the winter, Evie Flynn should be looking forward to lazy days and a happy Christmas, with nothing more pressing to think about than when to have her next mince pie. But her sister Ruth is coming to stay, in a cloud of heartbreak and bitterness following her marriage breakdown, along with her three unhappy children, and Evie knows she’ll have her work cut out, trying to spread some festive cheer.
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61. Christmas in the Snow by Karen Swan, 2014
In London, the snow is falling and Christmas is just around the corner – but Allegra Fisher barely has time to notice. She’s pitching for the biggest deal of her career and can’t afford to fail. And when she meets attractive stranger, Sam Kemp, on the plane to the meeting, she can’t afford to lose her focus either. She learned to shut off her emotions long ago and only her sister and best friend Isobel knows why. But when Allegra finds herself up against Sam for the bid, their passion quickly turns sour.
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62. The Christmas Surprise (Rosie Hopkins #3) by Jenny Colgan, 2014
Rosie Hopkins, newly engaged, is looking forward to an exciting year in the little sweetshop she owns and runs. But when fate strikes Rosie and her boyfriend, Stephen, a terrible blow, threatening everything they hold dear, it’s going to take all their strength and the support of their families and their Lipton friends to hold them together.
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Christmas Books 2015
63. Christmas Bells by Jennifer Chiaverini, 2015
New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Chiaverini celebrates Christmas, past and present, with a wondrous novel inspired by the classic poem “Christmas Bells,” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. In 1860, the Henry Wadsworth Longfellow family celebrated Christmas at Craigie House, their home in Cambridge, Massachusetts. In present-day Boston, a dedicated teacher in the Watertown public school system is stunned by somber holiday tidings.
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64. Christmas Wishes and Mistletoe Kisses by Jenny Hale, 2015
Single mother Abbey Fuller loves her family more than anything, and doesn’t regret for a moment having had to put her dreams of being an interior designer on hold. But with her son, Max, growing up, when a friend recommends her for a small design job she jumps at the chance. How hard can it be? Nick Sinclair needs his house decorated in time for his family’s festive visit – and money is no object.
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65. A Very Nantucket Christmas: Two Holiday Novels by Nancy Thayer, 2015
The Yuletide season’s wonderful traditions are much loved by Nicole Somerset, new to Nantucket and recently married to a handsome former attorney. But the cheerful mood is soon tempered by Nicole’s chilly stepdaughter, Kennedy, who arrives without a hint of holiday spirit. Determined to keep her stepmother at arm’s length – or, better yet, out of the picture altogether – Kennedy schemes to sabotage Nicole’s first Christmas with her new husband. Note: also contains An Island Christmas.
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66. The Mistletoe Inn (Mistletoe #2) by Richard Paul Evans, 2015
At thirty-two Kimberly Rossetti, a finance officer at a Lexus car dealership, has had her heart broken more times than she wants to remember. With two failed engagements, a divorce and again alone with no prospects, she hardly seems the type to dream of being a published romance author. Dreading another holiday alone, she signs up for The Mistletoe Retreat, a nine-day writing retreat in Burlington, VT.
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67. Christmas at Lilac Cottage (White Cliff Bay #1) by Holly Martin, 2015
Penny Meadows loves her home – a cosy cottage decorated with pretty twinkling fairy lights and stunning views over the town of White Cliff Bay. She also loves her job as an ice-carver, creating breathtaking sculptures. Yet her personal life seems frozen. When Henry and daughter Daisy arrive at the cottage to rent the annex, Penny is determined to make them feel welcome.
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68. Winter Stroll (Winter #2) by Elin Hilderbrand, 2015
Another Christmas on Nantucket finds Winter Street Inn owner Kelley Quinn reflecting on the past year as he writes a holiday letter to friends and family. Though the year has had its share of misfortune and worry, the Quinns have much to celebrate. Kelley, now single, at least is on better terms with his first wife Margaret, who is using her celebrity to lure customers to the inn in record numbers. Note: part of a 4 book series.
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69. The Chocolate Lovers’ Christmas (Chocolate Lovers’ Club #3) by Carole Matthews, 2015
Christmas is just around the corner but the women of The Chocolate Lovers’ Club have more to worry about than present shopping. Lucy loves running Chocolate Heaven but she hasn’t spent time with her boyfriend, Aiden, in weeks. Nadia hasn’t let herself get close to a man in a long time, yet she can’t help feeling drawn to Jacob. Chantal and her husband, Ted, are besotted with their baby daughter Lana – but she’s not sure that’s enough to base a marriage on.
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70. Home for Christmas (Sanctuary Island #4) by Lily Everett, 2015
‘Tis the season for family and love. At least it’s supposed to be. For Libby Leeds, however, the holiday season is just another reminder of things she’d rather forget. When she left Sanctuary Island as an orphaned child, she never thought she’d go back except in her dreams, dreams she’s kept alive by writing monthly column of her fictional small-town life, until her publisher sends her back home for the holidays.
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Christmas Books 2016
71. Christmas at Little Beach Street Bakery (Little Beach Street Bakery #3) by Jenny Colgan, 2016
Polly Waterford loves running the Little Beach Street Bakery. She’s at her happiest when she’s creating delicious treats and the festive season always inspires her to bake and knead something extra special for the village residents. In fact, the only thing she loves more than her bakery is curling up with her gorgeous boyfriend, Huckle. She’s determined that this Christmas is going to be their best one yet, but life doesn’t always work out as planned.
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72. Twelve Days of Christmas: A Christmas Novel by Debbie Macomber, 2016
Friendly and bubbly, Julia Padden likes nearly everyone, but her standoffish neighbor, Cain Maddox, presents a particular challenge. No matter how hard she’s tried to be nice, Cain rudely rebuffs her at every turn, preferring to keep to himself. But when Julia catches Cain stealing her newspaper from the lobby of their apartment building, that’s the last straw.
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73. Christmas Joy by Nancy Naigle, 2016
Joy Holbrook might be all work and no play, but that changes when her Aunt Ruby takes a fall that lands her in a rehabilitation center before the holidays. Joy takes a leave of absence from her job as a market researcher to run the family farm, even though the timing may hinder her chance at garnering the promotion of her dreams.
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74. All I Want for Christmas by Jenny Hale, 2016
Snowflakes are falling, there’s carol singing on every corner, and Leah Evans is preparing for a family Christmas at her grandmother’s majestic plantation house in Virginia. It won’t be the same now that her beloved Nan is gone, but when Leah discovers she has inherited the mansion, she knows she can give her daughter Sadie the childhood of her dreams.
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75. The Christmas Town (Christmas Hope #8) by Donna VanLiere, 2016
Lauren Gabriel spent many years of her childhood in foster homes, wishing her mother would come back for her and be the family she needs. Now twenty-years-old, she still longs for a place that she can truly call home. Her work as a cashier is unfulfilling, and at Christmas it’s unbearable with the songs and carols and chatter of Christmas that she hears throughout the day. Note: part of a 9 book series.
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76. Christmas at the Comfort Food Café (Comfort Food Cafe #2) by Debbie Johnson, 2016
Becca Fletcher has always hated Christmas but she has her reasons for being Little Miss Grinch. Now, though, she can’t avoid her version of ho-ho-hell – because she’s travelling to the Comfort Food Cafe to spend the festive season with her sister Laura and her family. She’s expecting mulled wine, 24-hour Christmas movie marathons and all kinds of very merry torture.
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77. The Cosy Christmas Teashop (The Cosy Teashop #2) by Caroline Roberts, 2016
After a rocky start, Ellie Hall baked her way into everyone’s hearts at Claverham Castle and the run-down teashop regained its old sparkle. Now Ellie has upgraded cupcakes for fairytale masterpieces as the proud caterer for an ever-growing list of weddings at the castle. The teashop team love baking to the tune of happy ever afters, but can they pull together when a certain bridezilla pushes them all to boiling point?
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78. Christmas in Paris by Anita Hughes, 2016
Isabel Lawson is standing on the balcony of her suite at the Hotel Crillon as she gazes at the twinkling lights of the Champs Elysee and wonders if she’s made a terrible mistake. She was supposed to be visiting the Christmas tree in the Place de la Concorde, and eating escargots and macaroons with her new husband on their honeymoon. But a week before the wedding, she called it off. Note: this has some pretty divided reviews, don’t confuse it with the much loved Last Christmas in Paris.
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79. The Christmas Eve Letter: A Time Travel Novel by Elyse Douglas, 2016
30-year-old Eve Sharland is browsing a Pennsylvania antique store when she discovers an old brass lantern tucked away on a shelf. She picks it up and sees something behind one of the sooty glass panes. To her surprise, she finds an unopened letter stuck inside. The letter is postmarked December 24, 1885, and it is addressed to Evelyn Sharland in New York City. Eve gasps and drops the letter. That’s her name.
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Christmas Books 2017
80. Last Christmas in Paris: A Novel of World War I by Hazel Gaynor, 2017
August 1914. England is at war. As Evie Elliott watches her brother, Will, and his best friend, Thomas Harding, depart for the front, she believes – as everyone does – that it will be over by Christmas, when the trio plan to celebrate the holiday among the romantic cafes of Paris. But as history tells us, it all happened so differently. Evie and Thomas experience a very different war.
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81. Winter Solstice (Winter #4) by Elin Hilderbrand, 2017
It’s been too long since the entire Quinn family has been able to celebrate the holidays under the same roof, but that’s about to change. With Bart back safe and sound from Afghanistan, the Quinns are preparing for a holiday more joyous than any they’ve experienced in years. And Bart’s safe return isn’t the family’s only good news: Kevin is enjoying married life with Isabelle; Patrick is getting back on his feet after paying his debt to society; Ava thinks she’s finally found the love of her life; and Kelly is thrilled to see his family reunited at last. Note: part of a 4 book series.
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82. Merry and Bright: A Christmas Novel by Debbie Macomber, 2017
Merry Knight is pretty busy these days. She’s taking care of her family, baking cookies, decorating for the holidays, and hoping to stay out of the crosshairs of her stressed and by-the-book boss at the consulting firm where she temps. Her own social life is the last thing she has in mind, much less a man. Without her knowledge, Merry’s well-meaning mom and brother create an online dating profile for her – minus her photo – and the matches start rolling in.
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83. The Deal of a Lifetime by Fredrik Backman, 2017
In this short story, a father and a son are seeing each other for the first time in years. The father has a story to share before it’s too late. He tells his son about a courageous little girl lying in a hospital bed a few miles away. She’s a smart kid – smart enough to know that she won’t beat cancer by drawing with crayons all day, but it seems to make the adults happy, so she keeps doing it.
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84. Christmas in London: A Novel by Anita Hughes, 2017
It’s a week before Christmas and Louisa Graham is working twelve-hour shifts at a bakery on Manhattan’s Lower East Side. When a young cooking show assistant comes in from the rain and begs to buy all the cinnamon rolls on her tray, she doesn’t know what to do. Louisa is just the baker, and they aren’t hers to sell. But the show burned the rolls they were supposed to film that day, so she agrees.
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85. Mr. Dickens and His Carol by Samantha Silva, 2017
Charles Dickens is not feeling the Christmas spirit. His newest book is an utter flop, the critics have turned against him, relatives near and far hound him for money. While his wife plans a lavish holiday party for their ever-expanding family and circle of friends, Dickens has visions of the poor house. But when his publishers try to blackmail him into writing a Christmas book to save them all from financial ruin, he refuses. And a serious bout of writer’s block sets in.
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86. A Very Merry Princess (Happily Inc #2.5) by Susan Mallery, 2017
When Princess Bethany’s father, the king, sells one of his best stallions, she insists the animal get the royal treatment. Disguised as Beth Archer, a mere stable hand, she takes him to Happily Inc. California, a quaint wedding destination that’s especially sparkly over the holidays.
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87. A Lot Like Christmas: Stories by Connie Willis, 2017
Christmas comes but once a year – which is too bad, because the stories in this dazzling collection are fun to read anytime. They put a speculative spin on the holiday, giving fans of acclaimed author Connie Willis a welcome gift and a dozen reasons to be of good cheer. Brimming with Willis’s trademark insights and imagination, these heartwarming tales are full of humor, absurdity, human foibles, tragedy, joy, and hope. Note: this is an update of Miracle and Other Christmas Stories.
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88. The Ghost of Christmas Past (Molly Murphy #17) by Rhys Bowen, 2017
Semi-retired private detective Molly Murphy Sullivan is suffering from depression after a miscarriage following her adventure in San Francisco during the earthquake of 1906. She and her husband, Daniel, are invited for Christmas at a mansion on the Hudson, and they gratefully accept, expecting a peaceful and relaxing holiday season. Not long after they arrive, however, they start to feel the tension in the house’s atmosphere.
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89. Holly and Ivy by Fern Michaels, 2017
The flames of memory always seem to glow a little brighter during the holidays. Perhaps that’s why this time of year is so difficult for airline heiress Ivy Macintosh, as she faces thoughts of yet another festive season alone. Since the plane crash that claimed the lives of her husband and two children eight years ago, she’s been submerged in grief.
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90. We’ll Always Have Christmas by Jenny Hale, 2017
Christmas has always been a special time for Noelle Parker. Winter evenings spent with family and friends, drinking hot chocolate and eating cookies at her family’s cozy bakery have shaped her love for all things festive. But this year everything is changing. The beloved bakery is facing closure and Noelle needs a miracle to save Christmas.
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91. Seven Days of Us by Francesca Hornak, 2017
It’s Christmas, and for the first time in years the entire Birch family will be under one roof. Even Emma and Andrew’s elder daughter – who is usually off saving the world – will be joining them at Weyfield Hall, their aging country estate. But Olivia, a doctor, is only coming home because she has to. Having just returned from treating an epidemic abroad, she’s been told she must stay in quarantine for a week and so too should her family.
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92. Morna’s Magic & Mistletoe (Morna’s Legacy #8.5) by Bethany Claire, 2017
Kenna McMillan would do anything for her grandchildren. She would even accompany one of them hundreds of years into the future for a week of Christmas celebrations with the old witch, Morna, just to make him smile. But unexpected guests at the inn upend all of their holiday plans. As she learns more about her new acquaintance, she starts to wonder if her week away might take a romantic turn.
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93. The Noel Diary (The Noel Collection #1) by Richard Paul Evans, 2017
Bestselling romance author Jacob Churcher hasn’t been home for almost twenty years – not since his mentally ill mother kicked him out of the house when he was just sixteen. When a lawyer calls, days before Christmas, to inform him that his estranged mother has passed away and left her house to him, Jacob returns not just to settle the estate but to try and reconcile with the past and the pain and abuse he experienced as a child.
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94. Moonlight Over Manhattan (From Manhattan with Love #6) by Sarah Morgan, 2017
Determined to conquer a lifetime of shyness, Harriet Knight challenges herself to do one thing a day in December that scares her, including celebrating Christmas without her family. But when dog walker Harriet meets her newest client, exuberant spaniel Madi, she adds an extra challenge to her list – dealing with Madi’s temporary dog sitter, gruff doctor Ethan Black, and their very unexpected chemistry.
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95. Christmas at Hope Cottage by Lily Graham, 2017
When twenty-eight-year-old food writer Emma Halloway gets dumped then knocked off her bike, she’s broken in more ways than one, and returns to her family’s cosy cottage in the Yorkshire Dales. Emma hasn’t been back in some time, running from her crazy relatives and her childhood sweetheart, Jack Allen. Emma’s grandmother is determined to bake her back to health and happiness, as the Halloways have done for generations.
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Christmas Books 2018
96. Catching Christmas by Terri Blackstock, 2018
As a first-year law associate, Sydney Batson knows she will be updating her resume by New Year’s if she loses her current court case. So when her grandmother gets inexplicably ill while she’s in court, Sydney arranges for a cab to get her to the clinic. The last thing cab driver Finn Parrish wants is to be saddled with a wheelchair-bound old lady with dementia. But because Miss Callie reminds him of his own mother, whom he failed miserably in her last days, he can’t say no when she keeps calling him for rides.
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97. The Christmas Sisters by Sarah Morgan, 2018
In the snowy Highlands of Scotland, Suzanne McBride is dreaming of the perfect cozy Christmas. Her three adopted daughters are coming home for the holidays and she can’t wait to see them. But tensions are running high. Workaholic Hannah knows she can’t avoid spending the holidays with her family two years in a row. Stay-at-home mom Beth is having a personal crisis. Posy isn’t sure she’s living her best life, but with her parents depending on her, making a change seems risky.
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98. The White Christmas Inn: A Novel by Colleen Wright, 2018
A New England inn seems like the picture-perfect place to spend the holidays. But when a snowstorm shuts the roads and keeps them all inside, the guests find themselves worrying that this Christmas may not be exactly what they dreamed of. Molly just needs to keep her head down and finish her latest book, but her writer’s block is crippling. The arrival of Marcus, a handsome widower with two young girls, is exactly the distraction she doesn’t need.
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99. One Day in December by Josie Silver, 2018
Laurie is pretty sure love at first sight doesn’t exist anywhere but the movies. But then, through a misted-up bus window one snowy December day, she sees a man who she knows instantly is the one. Their eyes meet, there’s a moment of pure magic and then her bus drives away. Certain they’re fated to find each other again, Laurie spends a year scanning every bus stop and cafe in London for him.
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100. Christmas At The Palace by Jeevani Charika, 2018
Campaigner, feminist, doctor, humanitarian – all words that Kumari would use to describe herself. Potential princess? Not even in the vocabulary. But when Kumari’s charity work catapults her into the limelight and brings her to the attention of Prince Benedict – playboy prince and sixth in line to the British throne – all bets are off.
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101. A Season to Celebrate by Fern Michaels, 2018
Make it a merry Christmas with four stories of the special way the holidays warm our hearts. Includes Christmas Homecoming by Fern Michaels, An Unexpected Gift by Kate Pearce, Christmas in Blue Hollow Falls by Donna Kauffman and Holiday Homerun by Priscilla Oliveras.
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102. A Lake House Holiday by Megan Squires, 2018
Jolene Carter lives in Merrylark Lake, a quaint town where neighbors are like family and vacationers become fast friends. With her dream of opening a downtown storefront on hold, Jolene volunteers wherever she can, whether it be at Cat’s Coffee Cart or the town’s annual tree lighting. It is while she’s tending to her neighbor’s vacation rental that Jolene meets Luke, a cowboy with a mustang rescue and a past he’s hoping to leave back at the ranch.
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103. The Christmas Star (Christmas Hope #9) by Donna VanLiere, 2018
Thirty-two-year-old Amy Denison volunteers at Glory’s Place, an after school program where she meets seven-year-old Maddie, a precocious young girl who has spent her childhood in foster care. Unbeknownst to Amy, Maddie is a mini-matchmaker, with her eye on just the right man for Amy at Grandon Elementary School, where she is a student. Note: part of a 9 book series.
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104. A Christmas by the Sea by Melody Carlson, 2018
When Wendy Harper inherits her family’s beachside cottage in Seaside, Maine, she sees it as a way to finally pay off the debts that have mounted since her husband died. But before it can be sold, the neglected property must be renovated. She and her 12-year-old son Jackson move in – temporarily, she reminds him – in order to do the work themselves, even though Christmas is coming.
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105. Alaskan Holiday by Debbie Macomber, 2018
Before beginning her dream job as sous chef in one of Seattle’s hottest new restaurants, Josie Avery takes a summer position cooking at a lakeside lodge in the remote Alaskan town of Ponder. Josie falls for the rustic charms of the local community – including Jack Corcoran, the crotchety keeper of Ponder’s famed sourdough starter, and, in particular, the quiet and intense Palmer Saxon, a famed master swordsmith.
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106. Dear Santa by Nancy Naigle, 2018
Angela Carson wants nothing more than to be the third-generation to run her family’s holiday store, Heart of Christmas, successfully. They’ve weathered over sixty tourist seasons, major hurricanes, and urban sprawl, in their old decommissioned lighthouse. But the national chain that set up shop in their small North Carolina town of Pleasant Sands may be more than Heart of Christmas can survive.
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107. Christmas at the Chalet: A Novel by Anita Hughes, 2018
It’s the day after Christmas, and Felicity Grant is at a gorgeous ski chalet in St. Moritz for the biggest fashion show of her career. Felicity is a rising star on the bridal design scene, and this is her best collection yet. But when her boyfriend gives her a spa day instead of a diamond ring for Christmas, she has to face the possibility that she may never walk down the aisle in one of her own stunning designs.
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108. Season of Wonder (Haven Point #9) by RaeAnne Thayne, 2018
Dani Capelli seized a chance to start over in a small town with her daughters. Now, facing her first Christmas in Haven Point, she wonders if leaving New York was a mistake. Dani loves working alongside veterinarian Dr. Morales, but her two children aren’t adjusting to small-town life. And then there’s Dr. Morales’s son, Ruben – Dani’s next-door neighbor. Note: part of a 9 book series.
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109. The Noel Stranger (The Noel Collection #2) by Richard Paul Evans, 2018
Maggie Walther feels like her world is imploding. Publicly humiliated after her husband, a local councilman, is arrested for bigamy, and her subsequent divorce, she has isolated herself from the world. When her only friend insists that Maggie climb out of her hole, and embrace the season to get her out of her funk, Maggie decides to put up a Christmas tree and heads off to buy one – albeit reluctantly.
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110. Christmas at the Beach Hut by Veronica Henry, 2018
When Ellen writes her annual Round Robin to send out with her Christmas cards, she realises it’s all about the rest of her family. Fed up and exhausted by yet another year of singlehandedly trying to make it a perfect Christmas, Ellen takes a pile of books, her cosiest clothes and the Ocado order and escapes to a beach hut on the North Devon coast. This year, Christmas is going to be all about her.
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111. Christmas Camp (Christmas Camp #1) by Karen Schaler
Haley Hanson’s idea of the perfect Christmas is escaping to the Caribbean to work so she can avoid all the traditional Christmas distractions. Over the years, she’s sacrificed her personal life to climb the corporate ladder at a prestigious Boston advertising agency. Now she just needs to land a coveted Christmas toy company account to make partner. But first, her boss, Larry, thinks she needs a holiday attitude adjustment, so he ships her off to a Christmas Camp at Holly Peak Inn to help her find her Christmas spirit. Note: by the writer of the Netflix film A Christmas Prince.
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Christmas Books 2019
112. Finding Christmas by Karen Schaler, 2019
With all the glittering decorations, twinkling lights, snow angels, gingerbread men and mistletoe, Christmas is Emmie’s first love. This year, she can’t wait to share her favorite Christmas traditions with her boyfriend, Grant. She thinks he’s “the one.” So when Grant’s hectic work schedule has him more “Bah Humbug” than “Ho, Ho, Ho,” Emmie creates a holiday-themed scavenger hunt to help him find his Christmas spirit.
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113. Christmas Shopaholic (Shopaholic #9) by Sophie Kinsella, 2019
Becky Brandon (née Bloomwood) adores Christmas. It’s always the same – Mum and Dad hosting, carols playing, Mum pretending she made the Christmas pudding, and the next-door neighbours coming round for sherry in their terrible festive jumpers. And now it’s even easier with online bargain-shopping sites – if you spend enough you even get free delivery. Sorted.
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114. The Christmas Boutique (Elm Creek Quilts #21) by Jennifer Chiaverini, 2019
Just weeks before Christmas, severe wintry weather damages the church hall hosting the Christmas Boutique – an annual sale of handcrafted gifts and baked goods that supports the county food pantry. Determined to save the fundraiser, Sylvia Bergstrom Compson offers to hold the event at Elm Creek Manor, her ancestral family estate and summertime home to Elm Creek Quilt Camp.
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115. Noel Street (The Noel Collection #3) by Richard Paul Evans, 2019
Elle Savas, a waitress at the Noel Street Diner, isn’t sure what to make of Emerson Stone when his sudden appearance creates a small stir in the town of Garland, Utah. As their lives unexpectedly entwine, Elle learns that Emerson, a decorated Vietnam POW, is not only fighting demons, but may also have the answer to her own past pain, leading to a remarkable act of forgiveness.
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116. Let It Snow by Nancy Thayer, 2019
Christina Antonioni is preparing for the holidays at her Nantucket toy shop, unpacking last-minute shipments and decorating for her loyal Christmas shoppers. But when her Scrooge of a landlord, Oscar Bittlesman, raises her rent, it seems nearly impossible for Christina to continue business on the wharf.
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117. Christmas in Vermont: A Novel by Anita Hughes, 2019
Emma can’t believe her luck when she finds an open pawn shop on Christmas Eve in Manhattan. She’s there to sell the beautiful bracelet her ex-boyfriend gave her when a familiar looking watch catches her eye. It’s the same engraved watch she gave her college boyfriend, Fletcher, years ago. On a whim, she trades the bracelet for the watch and wonders at the timing.
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118. Christmas from the Heart by Sheila Roberts, 2019
Olivia Berg’s charity, Christmas from the Heart, has helped generations of families in need in Pine River, Washington, but this year might be the end of the road. Hightower Enterprises, one of their biggest donors since way back when Olivia’s grandmother ran the charity, has been taken over by Ebenezer Scrooge the Second, aka CFO Guy Hightower, and he’s declared there will be no more money coming to Christmas from the Heart.
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119. Christmas in Winter Hill by Melody Carlson, 2019
Krista Galloway is not a fan of Christmas. After her rough childhood in multiple foster homes, the holiday season just brings too many bad memories to the surface. But when she accepts a job as a city manager in the mountain town of Winter Hill, Washington, Christmas is part of the deal. The small town is famous for its Christmasville celebration, something that the city manager… well, manages.
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120. Spirit of the Season by Fern Michaels, 2019
Joy Preston misses her beloved late grandmother dearly. But when she learns the terms of Nana’s will, she’s shocked—and more than a little irked. Joy moved to Colorado years ago and is now CEO of a successful nail polish company. Her life and career are in Denver. How can Nana have expected her to give that up, even temporarily, to take over a bed and breakfast in North Carolina for six months?
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121. Royal Holiday (The Wedding Date #4) by Jasmine Guillory, 2019
Vivian Forest has been out of the country a grand total of one time, so when she gets the chance to tag along on her daughter Maddie’s work trip to England to style a royal family member, she can’t refuse. She’s excited to spend the holidays taking in the magnificent British sights, but what she doesn’t expect is to become instantly attracted to a certain private secretary, his charming accent, and unyielding formality.
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122. We Met in December by Rosie Curtis, 2019
Twenty-nine-year-old Jess is following her dream and moving to London. It’s December, and she’s taking a room in a crumbling, but grand, Notting Hill house-share with four virtual strangers. On her first night, Jess meets Alex, the guy sharing her floor, at a Christmas dinner hosted by her landlord. They don’t kiss, but as far as Jess is concerned the connection is clear. She starts planning how they will knock down the wall between them to spend more time together.
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123. The Christmas Wish List (Wynbridge #7) by Heidi Swain, 2019
After being let go from her job in a swanky hotel just weeks before Christmas, Hattie is feeling lost. Even more so when her high-flying boyfriend announces he’s landed his dream job in Abu Dhabi and asks her to move with him. Luckily, Hattie’s long-time friend Dolly is on hand to help and invites Hattie to spend one last holiday in the small, festive town of Wynbridge, determined to give her a Christmas to remember.
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124. A Mrs. Miracle Christmas (Intervention #11) by Debbie Macomber, 2019
As the holiday season begins, Laurel McCullough could use some good news. She and her husband, Zach, have been praying for a baby that seems more and more like an impossible dream, and they’ve had to move in with her beloved grandmother, Helen, who’s having trouble taking care of herself. But when Laurel contacts a local home-care organization for help, there are no caregivers available.
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What do you think of these Christmas books?
Have you read many Christmas books? What are your favorites? Will you be reading any Christmas books this season? Do you know some great Christmas books that should be added to this list? I’d love to hear more about your experiences and your tips for Christmas books in the comments below!
Looking for more reading ideas?
If you’re looking for more Christmas books, check out our series for the holiday season:
- Christmas Books: Novels for the Holiday Season
- Christmas Books Set In England
- Christmas Books Set In America
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1 comment
I try to read one or two Christmas books every season. It helps get me in the mood for Christmas. I have read eight of the books you recommend and hope to read several more. I love Richard Paul Evans and can’t wait to read the Christmas Boutique by Adrianna Chiavarini. I loved Star over Bethlehem by Agatha Christi and Christmas on Jane Street ( a true story) by Billy Romp with Wanda Urbanska.