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The 27 Best Books to Read During the Holidays (2024)

From heartwarming romance to spine-chilling thrillers, check out our best holiday books that will keep you glued to your seat all holiday season long.
In this article, we will share the best books to read during the holiday season of 2024. Holidays seem to be the days when friends and acquaintances gather together. And myself, it seems that there is no one to ask for, and there is nowhere to go. 

Today's article is going to be filled with some of my favorite holiday books, like Christmas kind of just books that take place around Christmas and New Year's that have the holiday vibe.

I have a mixture of adult books and Why a Book, so let's get right into it because I actually have a lot this year when I first started my holiday reads I barely had any now I have a ton to recommend.

The more holidays, the more lonely I feel. It doesn't matter, if no one is available, you might as well make an appointment with holiday books. 

Not only can accompany you to a fulfilling festival but also lets you settle down in the hustle and bustle of the world.

Below, I have compiled some holiday books for everyone, whether it is warm, nostalgic, or thrilling. There is always one that suits you and accompanies you to spend a different kind of Christmas and holiday.

Christmas is the most important holiday of the year in the World, and it often appears in literary works. These literary works can be cheerful, hopeful, or sad. This festival is like the characters in every literary work.

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1. Little Reunions 


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Little Reunions (New York Review Books Classics) by Eileen Chang 

Most men have been loved by a woman before, and they will think that this woman will think of him more or less all his life. This is the common illusion of men and the common narcissism of men. 

If you do not understand this point, you will not be able to arrange your own love and marriage in the first place, and you will get a lot of breaks; at the bottom, it will be difficult to read "Little Reunion" willingly and calmly.

"Little Reunion" gave me the biggest feeling that I discovered that she remembered two things all her life: childhood and a love that had a beginning and an end. Moreover, the former can determine the appearance of the latter.

What "manuscripts to be destroyed" and what "self-destructed private lives" are all hype. This is just a memoir of a woman in her old age, plain and plain, with a slight stream of consciousness. Originally, most of "Little Reunion" was not about love, but about childhood. 

I'm afraid most readers don't pay much attention to her memories of childhood, but this is what moved me the most. 

Of course, I love "This Life and This Life", I love the hypocritical and blooming words, which can write nasty things in a gentle manner. Yes, gentlemen, especially like to tell other women about their gorgeous and clean love history; rough men, like many people I know, like to tell other people how much body looks they have slept. Not a single woman. 

This is actually the same, the same lack of confidence and the same narcissism. Of course, this is a common problem for men. If he doesn't take the initiative to speak today, he will speak tomorrow if he is passive.

However, in "Little Reunion", this matter is stated very clearly, to be precise, the distinction is very clear loved you back then, but then I really did not love it. It took only a few years. 

You don’t have to put my love for you in front of me and not fall in love in the back in "This Life and This Life" so that readers have to see our breakup through this veil of love. 

2. The Catcher in the Rye 



It's every Christmas. All the skinny Santa Clauses stood in the corner ringing their bells, and the Salvation Army girls who didn't wear powder or lipstick on their faces were also ringing bells there. 

I looked around looking for the two nuns I met during breakfast yesterday, but I didn't see them. I knew I couldn't see them because they told me that they came to New York to be teachers, but I kept looking for them. Well, no matter what, it's a Christmas scene at a moment's notice. 

Thousands of young children came to the city center with their mothers, going up and down in the bus, in and out of the shops. I really hope that old Phoebe is by my side. She is no longer that kind of naive child. She is so happy as soon as she enters the children's toy department, but she likes to watch the excitement and make fun of it. 

I took her to the city center for shopping the year before last Christmas. We did have fun for a while. We went into the shoe department together, pretending that she—Old Feibi—wanted to buy a pair of high-heeled rain boots, that kind of rain boots always have a million belted eyes. 

We literally tossed that poor salesperson to death. Old Feibi tried about twenty pairs. For each pair, the poor guy had to wear all the straps on one shoe. This is really an obscene trick, but it almost made Old Phoebe laugh to death. 

In the end, we bought a pair of moccasins and paid for it. That salesperson is very kind. I think he also knows that we are making fun because old Phoebe is always giggling.

3. Wuthering Heights 



Katie lived in Thrush Grange for five weeks until Christmas. At that time, her ankle had healed and her behavior had improved a lot. During this period, the hostess often visited her and started her reform plan. 

First, try to improve her self-esteem with beautiful clothes and flattery, and she accepts it without hesitation. Therefore, she was no longer a little savage without a hat who jumped into the room and rushed over to hug us out of breath, 

but a very dignified person with brown curly hair came down from a beautiful little black horse. Hanging from a beaver hat with feathers, he wore a long cloth riding uniform. 

She must wear her dress with both hands to walk in gracefully. Hindley helped her off the horse and exclaimed happily: "Why, Katie, you are such a beauty! I won't recognize you anymore. You are like a lady now. Isabella Linton Can't compare to her, is it, Francis?" 

"Isabella doesn't have her natural beauty," replied his wife, "but she has to remember, don't go wild here anymore. Allen, Help Miss Catherine take off her coat, don’t move, my dear, you are going to mess up your hair curls.—Let me untie your hat." I took off her riding uniform, and a piece was revealed inside. Plaid silk robe, white pants, and shiny leather shoes. 

When the dogs jumped up to welcome her, her eyes were bright with joy, but she did not dare to touch them, for fear that the dogs would pounce on her beautiful clothes. She kissed me tenderly: I was full of flour, and I was making Christmas cakes. It would not do to hug me. 

Then she looked around for Heathcliff. Mr. Earnshaw and Mrs. Earnshaw watched their meeting anxiously, thinking that this would enable them to judge whether they wished to separate the two friends. 

So I am left here alone. I smell the rich fragrance of overripe spices, admiring the shiny kitchen utensils, the polished clocks decorated with holly leaves, the silver basins arranged on the plates-they are meant to be poured at dinner With ale. 

What I admire most is the thing that I carefully scrubbed clean and flawless, that is, the floor that I have washed and swept. I secretly praised everything appropriately, 

so I remembered how old Earnshaw always came in when everything was cleaned up, saying that I was a fake and serious girl, and stuffed a shilling into my Hand as a Christmas gift. From then on I remembered his love for Heathcliff. 

He was afraid that Heathcliff would be left unattended after death, so I naturally went on to think about the position of this poor child. I sang and started crying. But after a while, I suddenly thought that it was more meaningful to make up for his grievances than to cry over these things.

4. Jane Eyre 



The first half of November, December, and January have passed in the blink of an eye. In Gateshead, Christmas and New Year’s Day are usually celebrated with joy, exchanging gifts, and holding Christmas dinners, and evening parties. 

Of course, these enjoyments are not for me. My share of the pleasure is to watch Eliza and In Georgiana's costumes, watch then go downstairs to the living room in tulle tops, red belts, and elaborate curly hair. 

Then listen to the sound of piano and harp playing downstairs, the footsteps of the housekeeper and servants, the clinking of cups and plates when serving snacks, and the intermittent conversations when the living room door opens and closes. Tired. I will leave the stairs and walk into the lonely nursery room. Although there is also a little sadness there, I am not uncomfortable. 

To be honest, I have absolutely no intention to join in the fun because there are very few people paying attention to me. Spending many nights is also a kind of enjoyment. 

It's like passing those moments under the intimidating gaze of the young lady, Mrs. and Mrs. Reed, but Bessie often leaves the ladies as soon as they stop dressing up. I went to lively places such as the kitchen and the housekeeper and always took the candles away. 

After that, I put the doll on my knees and sat withered until the fire gradually dimmed, and looked around from time to time to figure out that there was nothing more terrifying except me. 

Visit this dim room, and when the embers faded to dark red, I hurriedly Busy, take out the energy to breastfeed, undress and undress, get into the small bed, avoid the cold and darkness, 

I often take the doll with me to the bed, people have to love something, when I lack something more worthy of love, I imagine cherishing a faded puppet to get pleasure, even though the doll was already in tatters and looked like a little scarecrow. Recalling this past at this moment also puzzled me. 

At that time, I was carrying Absurd piety to spoil this little toy! I still believe that it has flesh and blood. I can only fall asleep if I wrap it in a nightgown. Once it lay there warm and sound, I feel much happier, and this doll feels the same way.

5. Gone with the Wind 



Hearing this, Scarlett pursed her lips impatiently. "As long as you say 'war' again, I will go in and close the door. I have never felt annoyed by the word 'war' in my life unless that word means seceding from the Union.' 

Dad always arrives early. Late to talk about war, war, all the gentlemen who came to see him also yelled about Fort Sumter, State Power, and Abel. Lincoln, it’s so annoying that I’m yelling! And all the boys are talking about it. And their army. 

This spring, I didn’t hear any happy things at any party, because the boys didn’t talk about anything else. What I am most happy about is that Georgia will not announce its separation from the Union until after Christmas. Otherwise, the Christmas party will be spoiled. If you talk about 'war' again, I'll go in immediately." ...

For Atlanta and for the entire South, Christmas in 1862 was a happy holiday. The Confederate League won a big battle in Fredericksburg. The Yankees suffered thousands of casualties. People are generally rejoicing during the holidays. 

The situation of celebration and prayer has reached a turning point. The troops in gray uniforms have become battle-tested teams. Their generals have made great contributions. Everyone knows that as soon as the spring battle begins, the Yankees will be completely defeated forever. 

6. Little Women 



"Little Women," tells the story of a family of four sisters during the American Civil War. It is delicate and beautiful, warm and timeless. In the book, the sisters' expectations and selfless dedication to Christmas are moving. 

Although the sisters were unable to own and give exquisite Christmas gifts under the influence of the war, their laughter, and joy filled the holiday of gatherings.

       "How do you spend Christmas without presents?" Joe mumbled lying on the rug.

       "Poverty is terrible!" Meg let out a sigh, looking down at her old clothes.

       "Some girls have glory and wealth, some have nothing. I don't think this is fair." Amy snorted slightly, three points out of contempt and seven points out of jealousy.

       "But we have parents and sisters." Beth, who was sitting in the corner, protested. This pleasant sentence brightened the four young faces illuminated by the fire.

       "We don't have a father, and we won't have one for a long time," Joe said sadly. Hearing these words, everyone's faces dimmed again. Although she didn't say "may never be", everyone said this quietly in their hearts, and at the same time remembered her father who was far away on the battlefield.

       Everyone was speechless for a while. After a while, Meg changed her tone and said, "Do you know why my mother suggested not to give gifts this Christmas? Because the cold winter is coming, and our men are suffering in the barracks, we should not spend money for fun. 

Although we have limited abilities, we can make a small sacrifice in this regard, and we should do it happily. But I am not happy.” Meg shook his head. Thinking of those beautiful gifts she had always dreamed of, she felt regretful.

       "I don't think our little money can help much. We only get one yuan each, and it's not very useful to give it to the army. We don't want to expect mothers to give us many gifts, but I really want to buy a copy of "Goddess," I wanted to buy that book a long time ago." Joe said. She is a bookworm.

       "I was going to buy some new sheet music," Beth said with a sigh, his voice so soft that no one could hear it.

       "I want to buy a box of exquisite Faber brushes. I really need them." Amy said simply.

       "Mom never said how to spend this money. She wouldn't be happy if we watched empty-handed. We might as well be happy to buy something we like each. How much effort have we spent to make this money!" Joe shouted Said, looking at his heel with a gentleman's style.

7. A Christmas Memory 


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A Christmas Memory: One Christmas, and The Thanksgiving Visitor by Truman Capote

    American writer Capotti became famous for "Breakfast at Tiffany's." This semi-autobiographical "Christmas Reminiscence Collection" tells the story of a boy and an elderly relative preparing a Christmas fruit cake. This book that combines warmth, sweetness, and loneliness is the most popular Christmas book in the Western world.

    This book brought me a touch that I haven't had in a long time. There is no gorgeous rhetoric, no exaggerated plot, only "me" and "me" good friends. "My" petite and flexible good friend "has very short white hair, a pair of tennis shoes on his feet, and a summer floral sarong covered with a shapeless gray sweater, like a bantam hen." 

We have no money, and Being bullied by relatives often makes us cry. But every November morning, when the inner flame is ignited, the imagination is also jubilant. On the day of making fruit cakes, we will also push a very dilapidated stroller to pick up the windblown. Pecan and the puppy Queenie returned to the kitchen happily. 

Just make 30 fruit cakes and give them to friends. Not necessarily neighbor friends, those who please us. Such as President Roosevelt. Or the little knife sharpener who comes to town twice a year. Or Abu Napac, the driver of the six o'clock shuttle bus from Moubayer, who swishes every day and waves to

    us from a cloud of smoke... We can’t give each other the best gifts. As a Christmas gift, you can only make a beautiful kite for each other every year. But when the wind blows, we plunge into the waist-high lush grass. The sun is warm. When we watch the kite joyously in the sky, we can imagine the scene of the Lord’s coming, as beautiful as the stained glass through the sun.

    We are not smart people, we can only live simply and simply, but what we enjoy is the feast of fools. There are always too many smart people around us, they know what to do and what not to do, and they always tell us what to do and what not to do. But a wise man has forgotten what is fun and what is a friend; what is wind and what is sunshine; what is peace and what is joy. Only a fool can see God. 

8. Les Misérables 



In Mengfeiying, Christmas in 1823 was very lively. In early winter, the temperature is mild, there is no freezing, and there is no snow yet. A few tricksters came from Paris. They got permission from the mayor to set up shacks on the streets of the village. 

At the same time, there were a group of merchants who walked the rivers and lakes. They also got the same accommodation. They were in the empty flat in front of the chapel. Some temporary paving was built on it and extended to Baker’s Alley. 

We may remember that Thenardier’s Inn was in that alley. All the inns and hotels are crowded with people, bringing a lively and joyous atmosphere to this quiet little place. 

There is one more thing, we should mention, this is a faithful speaker of the ancients. Among the bizarre things displayed in the empty flat, there is an animal exhibition hall. There are a few clowns there. I really don’t know where those people came from. Their clothes are ragged and they look very ugly. They are in 1823. So he took a scary vulture made in Brazil and showed it to the villagers of Mengfei. 

The eyes of that vulture looked like a three-color cap badge. The Royal Museum didn't get such one until 1845. Natural scientists call that kind of bird, I think, Caracalla Polypolus, which belongs to the bird of prey, the eagle family. 

There were a few kind-hearted veterans in the village, Bonaparte’s old army, and they went to see the bird, and the love for the lord rose spontaneously. Tricksters claim that the three-color cap badge-like eyes are a unique appearance, specially created by the merciful God for their animal gallery.

On Christmas night, there were many people, some drivers, and merchandisers, sitting around four or five candles on the table in the low hall of the Thenardier Inn, drinking. That hall, like the halls of all liquor stores, had tables, tin wine cans, glass bottles, drinkers, and smokers. The candlelight was dim and the voices were noisy. 

But in the year 1823, two fashionable things were indispensable on the table of the property-owning class: a kaleidoscope and a flashing tin lamp. Lady Thenardier was preparing dinner in front of a burning oven, and the boss of Thenardier accompanied his guests to drink and talk about politics.

9. War and Peace 



        The Christmas festival is here. Except for perfunctory afternoon prayers, solemn and tedious congratulations from neighbors and domestic servants, and for everyone to put on new clothes, 

there is nothing special about celebrating Christmas. In the windless cold of minus 20 degrees, under the starlight of this winter night, people feel a strong desire to celebrate this holiday.

       The servants disguised themselves as bears, Turks, small restaurant owners, and their wives. They were terrible and ridiculous. They brought air-conditioning and joy with them. 

At first, they huddled in the reception room, then hid behind each other and squeezed into the hall. At first, I was a little shy and replied, but then I became more and more happy, singing, dancing, and dancing in harmony more and more harmoniously, playing Christmas games. 

The countess recognized her face, smiled for a while at the man in fancy dress, and went into the living room. Count Ilya Andreitch sat in the hall with a smile, praising the people playing. Some young people have slipped somewhere.

       Half an hour later, another old lady in a whale-baleen skirt appeared among the other people in fancy dresses in the hall Nikolai. Petya disguised herself as a Turkish woman. Timber is dressed as a harlequin, Natasha is dressed as a hussar, and Sonya is dressed as a Circassian (with a beard and eyebrows painted in soft charcoal).

       After the people who did not put on fancy dresses graciously amazed them, expressed that they could not recognize the true face of Lushan Mountain, and praised them, the young people all agreed that the costumes were very beautiful and should be displayed in front of others.

       Luisa Ivanovna agreed. After half an hour, four troikas with tambourines and bells drove to the front of the steps, and the skates creaked on the frozen snow.

      Natasha was the first to give out the Christmas carnival and infect each other with joy, becoming more and more enthusiastic. When everyone went outside in the cold, shouting, echoing each other, talking and laughing, and getting on the sleigh, the carnival mood arrived. peak.

      The stagecoach carried the first two troikas, the old earl took the third sleigh, which was driven by Orlov’s big horse, and Nicholas took the fourth sleigh, which was measured by his short stature, The hairy black horse rides on its heels. Nikolai was wearing an old woman's clothes, wearing a hussar cloak with a belt, and standing in the middle of the sleds with the reins tightened.

     It was still bright, and he saw the eyes of the buckle and the horse shining under the moon, and the horses looked in horror at the yelling riders under the shade on the dark steps.

10. A Christmas Carol 



"A Christmas Carol" is a book that spreads the concept of "Generous Sharing" Christmas, profoundly changing the status and value of modern Christmas in British society. The rich but stingy Scrooge is visited by three Christmas elves on Christmas Eve. 

Under the leadership of the elves, he saw his poor but happy past, the present when his staff could not afford gifts but were happy, and his aging and lonely future himself. He realized that Shibina was happier. 

The language of this classic is simple and fluent, which is very suitable for improving English reading. It was also because of the influence of this book that people began to take turkey as the main meat for Christmas dinners.

text-- 

       "Uncle, Merry Christmas! God bless you!" a voice said cheerfully. Scrooge's nephew had arrived.

       "Bah!" Scrooge said angrily. "A lie!"

       "Christmas is a lie! Uncle, of course, you don't mean that?" said his nephew.

       "That's what I meant," Scrooge said. "Why do you call it a happy Christmas? You are too poor to be happy at all."

       "Hey." The nephew replied with a smile, "Why are you so angry? You shouldn't be upset that you are rich."

       "Of course I am angry." Uncle replied, "When I live in a world full of stupid people like you! You say ' Merry Christmas'! But what is Christmas? It's just a lot of flowers. In the days of money, you will find that you are one year old but your wealth has not increased by the slightest, and you have to pay all the bills. The tongues of all those who wander around and say Merry Christmas' should be cut off. Yes. Yes, he will!"

       "Uncle, please don't say that!" said the nephew. "I have always regarded Christmas as a day to help and be kind to others. There is only one day in a year for men and women to open their hearts freely to each other. So uncle, even though I have never made a Christmas fortune, I think it is for me Christmas has always been and will be a wonderful time! God bless you!"

       When Scrooge woke up, he immediately found that the church bell was about to ring at one o'clock. He was certain that the second ghost was coming to visit him soon. This time he wanted to be ready, so he opened the curtains around his bed by himself and lay there waiting. 

At one o'clock, the ghost did not come, but a strong light shone on Scrooge's bed from above. He was terrified. A few minutes later, he thought the light was coming from the next room, so he got up got out of bed, and came to the door. When his hand touched the door, a strange voice called his name and let him in, he obeyed.

       Although he recognized this as his own room, it looked completely different now. The walls were covered with bright green leaves, and a roaring flame was burning in the fireplace. On the floor are piles of excellent Christmas food-rich flavored chocolate cake, warm and fluffy bread, colorful apples and oranges, plates of butter, stewed chicken, boxes of chocolates, and candies. Sitting next to these things was a tall, smiling ghost who happily shouted to Scrooge, "Please come in! Come in, man! I am the ghost of Christmas today! Look at me!"

       Since the first ghost's visit, Scrooge hasn't been sure about himself. So even though the ghost’s eyes are bright and full of kindness, Scrooge still dares not look at its face, but he can see the ghost wearing a green robe, its long brown hair casually scattered on its back, and its face A warm and friendly smile. The light came from the torch held by his powerful right hand.

       "Ghost," Scrooge said softly. "You can go wherever you want to take me. I learned the lesson last night, and the lesson is now in effect. If you have anything to learn from me tonight, please let me learn from you."

       "Tugging on my robe!" said the ghost, and Scrooge died.

       The food, the room, and the fire all disappeared. It was Christmas morning, and they were standing outdoors in the ice and snow. Although the sky is gray and the streets are dirty, when people rush to the bakery with their Christmas dinners for baking, they all look surprisingly happy. The ghost seems to be particularly interested in the poor. 

It stood at the door of the bakery with Scrooge, and when the dinner passed by it, it shone the torch on it. Sometimes when he saw people crowding or losing their tempers, he held the torch on their heads, and they immediately became docile or stopped arguing, "Because it is Christmas." They warned each other.

       "What is your torch for, ghost?" Scrooge asked.

       "It can bring a special taste to people's dinner today." The ghost replied.

       "Why do you mostly use it on the poor?" Scrooge asked.

       "Because the poor need it most," the ghost replied. 

11. The Gift of the Magi 


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The Gift of the Magi (Holiday Classics Illustrated by P.j. Lynch) by O. Henry 

In today's extremely rich material life, "The Magi's Gift" is beautiful and sadly unreal. A young couple in love made a huge sacrifice in order to give each other the best gift. This kind of love that transcends the material reminds us that love is to give the best of everything to each other. "

 In "The Gift of the Magi", by author O. Henry, the founder of modern American short stories, the O. Henry-style ending has become synonymous with the unexpected results of the novel. 

"The Gift of the Magi" is such a masterpiece. So far, I have always been very worried about the ending. I feel that it is not perfect, but it can't be more perfect. I believe that everyone is not too unfamiliar with this story, because it once appeared in our text. I was impressed with the storyline, but now I know what I seem to be missing. 

Frankly speaking, I don't always remember foreign names, but I am very impressed with her other work "Grandma in the Perfume Village". The painting style of this book is actually very similar. The delicate depiction allows us to better understand the emotion of the protagonist in the book. 

   The reason is that Christmas is here and Della wants to give a gift to her husband Tom. But their family is really poor, and the rented house is as simple as a "beggar's den". 

The final ending is that the two young people discard each other's most important things, which is also the most valuable thing in the family. Purchased gifts for each other. 

The book mentions that "Maggie brought precious gifts, but such things are not among them." Maggie is the person in the Bible who gave three gifts when Jesus was born and also refers to the wise man. 

The three gifts they gave to Jesus were: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. The gift of gold represents honor, the gift of frankincense symbolizes sacredness, and the gift of myrrh indicates that Jesus was persecuted and died later. 

The thing mentioned in the book is love. Two poor young people are doing everything for each other. The ending looks a bit sad, but they are full of emotion. 

This novel was first published in 1906, and it has been more than a hundred years since then. In today's society, many young people pay more attention to the material world, and they are lacking in spirit to a certain extent. 

Such a good story is really meaningful no matter how long it takes to read and I am very happy to let my children come into contact with such a good story. 

12. Hercule Poirot's Christmas 



Agatha Christie has a soft spot for Christmas so Detective Poirot will not rest at Christmas. The wealthy Simeon Lee invites all family members to spend Christmas together, including illegitimate children who are conflicting with him. 

A Christmas party that was meant to be a pastime and insulting family members had a fatal problem and could only rely on Poirot's reasoning ability to find the real culprit.

This book is also known as Poirot's Christmas Detective. In this book, the grandmother described it as "blood violence." In fact, there was a blood sacrifice scene at the murder scene. 

If it were made into a movie, the picture would be terrifying. The others are nothing. The case is very bizarre. I believe that any reader, even any reader in the world can't guess the real murderer. Similar to the plot design of "***", I won't mention it, otherwise, a careful reader would have guessed it at once, hehe.

In the end, Poirot analyzed the various possibilities of the case until the real murderer was revealed, with twists and turns, and the final result was not only unexpected but also thrilling. Human nature has always been the focus of her description. 

This book still emphasizes the importance of inheritance in personal growth. Sons can inherit all the selfish and brutal characteristics of their fathers. Therefore, Lao Li was murdered.

The book mentions that Lao Li is lustful by nature, likes to seek flowers and ask willows, and is always merciful. He doesn't even know how many illegitimate children he has. In this regard, his wife swallows all the pain and hatred for David, making the young children. 

Growing up was burdened with many adult burdens and sins. Her tolerance for cowardice and inaction also aroused Lao Li’s evil, prompting him to intensify, ignoring his wife and children’s feelings, and playing tricks on others. Therefore, good and evil are one. Both sides are the extreme side of human nature.

13. The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding  



"Queen of Suspense" Agatha Christie's great detective Poirot (Poirot) was invited to an English country house. His visit was not to celebrate Christmas but to solve the mystery of the theft of a valuable ruby. 

The English-style Christmas elements in the book make people immersive: Christmas tree, Christmas plum pudding, Christmas dinner, and Boxing Day, all fresh and interesting. "

Agatha Christie's seasonal Poirot and Marple short story collection. First came a sinister warning to Poirot not to eat any plum pudding...then the discovery of a corpse in a chest...next, 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 of his own suicide. What links these five baffling cases? The little grey cells of Monsieur Hercule Poirot!

14. In a Holidaze 



the first book I want to recommend to you is The Holidays by Christina Lauren. This is their latest book they are an author duo and this is their first kind of holiday read this fall is a character named May and May loves Christmas time but this year she's just having not the best Christmas. 

she learns that she like her family is selling the cabin that they go to every Christmas she has the family she also has her parents' best friends and nurse sons and her other best friend other than her other parent's best friends and it's just like a big old like family pretty much and so when she learns that they're gonna sell their cabin she's very distraught and as she's leaving the cabin after Christmas she like throws a thought in the universe like show me what will make me happy. 

and then there we kind of have the Groundhog Day effect where she wakes up on the plane going to the cabin again and things keep happening and she keeps repeating and over and over until she eventually gets it right and of course at the center of this is a romance we have a character named Andrew who has been in her life ever since she was little because he is one of her parents best friend's son and of course, she's harbored a crush on him for many years.

you can guess it because kind of all romance follows the same you know similar line but I really enjoyed this one it takes place at a snowy cabin it's Christmas time it's friends to lovers with kind of a time travel element into it but it was just fun and adorable and the perfect book to read near the holidays. 

15. The Afterlife of Holly Chase 



I'm going try to switch back and forth from adult Hawaii so it's just kind of fair I guess I don't know but one of my favorites may be my favorite holiday read is The Afterlife of Holly Chase by Santan I remember reading this a few years ago I heard about it and I was like I'll try it because I did enjoy Cynthia hands books and I have to say I really loved it. 

it is a reimagining of the Christmas carol we all know the famous stories in this book we have a character named Holly Chase who is just let's be honest she's horrible she's not great and then she um she's visited by the ghost of Christmas past you know she's visited by all the ghosts Christmas past present future things like that to try to change her life otherwise like it's gonna be miserable and she does not change her life then she died and now she's stuck working at project scrooge and she's actually the current ghost of Christmas past so she has to visit all of these people to try to correct their errors because you know she didn't do it. 

and then she's assigned this one guy that she actually has feelings for and things get really complicated from there and it's very it's just a fun reimagining while also teaching you a lot about life and decisions and you know happiness when it comes to life and I loved it we'll always recommend it as a perfect like y a holiday read.

16. One Day in December: A Novel 



moving back into the adult we have one day in December by Josie Silver while the cover looks very Christmassy I don't know I thought I would classify it as a Christmas read it's hard you know to say what's a Christmas read and what's not but I did read this did I read this last year now I read this two years ago for the Seasonathon the readathon that I host it's like all holiday-themed and I think with that I'd always tie it to Christmas and the cover the title I mean and this was Christmas. 

so this book is all about a character named Lori and Laurie is just not happy with her life she's just really struggling and she's on the bus one day um going home from work in London and she meets eyes with a strange man on a bus stop and they both kinds of are instantly like drawn to each other and she tries to get off the bus he tries to get on it and you know it just didn't happen she's been trying to find this man for like a year. 

and then suddenly one day her best friend's like hey let's throw a party together and I want to introduce you to my new boyfriend and who should the new boyfriend be but Jack the mysterious man from the bus stop so what goes on from there is this book takes place during like many many years of you know Lori having feelings for jack but she can't Recep but she can't do anything about it because he is her best friend's boyfriend and it's very kind of it has as a love triangle element into it and I just really loved it. 

it's very like kind of a heart-wrenching love story it would be a great movie that I would definitely see so if you want one that's like Christmasy kind of New years but also takes place throughout the entirety of the year I would recommend this one also if you want like a really tragic love story go for this one as well.

17. 10 Blind Dates 



next up I have 10 blind dates by Ashley Elston. I read this last year during Christmas and it's honestly just really adorable in this book, we have a character named Sophie and she just wants freedom from overprotective parents her boyfriend breaks up with her so she travels back to her aunt's house to be with her family and things like that her aunts and all of her family members decide to set her up on these dates with just random. 

you know guys that they think they'll pair off with they even have like a pool of like whose date will be better and things like that basically she starts to have feelings for somebody that's been in her life forever and things go from there but this is just an adorable book it's got a whole big family in it. 

it's got the 10 blind dates element to it with Christmas and it was just a fun Christmas read if you want something light and fluffy and funny this is perfect to read during the holidays I will say that probably 50,000 times since our last book was about 10 blind dates.

18. The Twelve Dates of Christmas 



I have the 12 dates of Christmas with 12 blind dates so we're upgrading from y to adult but we have a character named Kate and Kate is also very unhappy about the holidays she's 34 and she's like she's ready to settle down she's ready to find the man of her dreams she decides to go on the site that offers these 12 blind dates. 

and so basically it's like group dates where one date she'll meet a guy they'll go salsa dancing they're all set up like or a cooking one and things like that and she's trying to find you know her leading man and again throughout it all, we have a character that's been in her life forever that maybe just she's like. 

I think I have feelings for you I mean yes a lot of holiday romances are very predictable, yes but I still love them so this was cute it takes place in this really small town in England called Blackford it was cute it's not one of my favorite holidays reads but it's still a cute one if you just want a fast cute holiday read look no further.

19. My True Love Gave to Me: Twelve Holiday Stories 


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My True Love Gave to Me: Twelve Holiday Stories by Stephanie Perkins

another one of my all-time favorite holiday reads that I always recommend every single year is my true love gave to me this is a 12-holiday story because of the 12 days of Christmas and this is edited by Stephanie Perkins we have a whole myriad of authors David leviathan rainbow Rowell Lainie Taylor Kirsten white Gail Forman holly black we have a whole bunch and so this has 12-holiday stories in it and some of them are the favorites that I've ever read. 

I read it probably like six years ago which is insanity but I think short stories a short story collection is actually a great thing to read near the holidays because you can just read one, especially leading up to Christmas the 12 days leading up to Christmas that's a great idea right there so do that um but they're just and they're all just cute and adorable. 

I think my favorites in this were Midnight's My Rainbow Roll it's a Yuletide Miracle charlie brown by Stephanie Perkins. I really liked it I think Jenny Han has a story in here as well yes Polaris is Where You'll Find Me by Jenny Han it's just fun really cute Christmasy books like all of these are.

20. This Time next year 



another recent read for me this year is this time next year by Sophie Cousins again this is kind of like we met in December it's not exactly overtly Christmas like the cover you know it came out around Christmas the cover looks kind of Christmassy but this one really kind of centers around new year's. 

I would say we have this character named Minnie and Minnie was born on New Year's like Eve like 12 o'clock am on New Year's Day and basically, the whole book starts with Minnie's mom giving birth to her, and Minnie's mom is paired with another woman in the same birthing like room Minnie's mom helps this other woman go through her birth as well as her own and Minnie's mom confides into the woman like she's gonna name her daughter Quinn. 

because nothing bad ever happens to Quinn's twins or winners and things like that and lo and behold the other woman steals the name and names her son Quinn leaving many left named Minnie and so pick up many years later as many as kind of seeing her birthday as a curse like everything that bad that happens always happens on her birthday. 

So basically when she's older she meets the Quinn that stole her name and they become friends and things kind of go from there this book has a lot of things in it Minnie struggles a lot with her love life her business life and Quinn also is very you know confident in his business life but his mom struggles a lot with anxiety and he hasn't had a really full-fledged relationship. 

because he can't commit himself because his mom is always there and always calling him all the time to help save her and so he's very conflicted Minnie and Quinn have kind of this um tumultuous relationship I guess you could say and we see a lot of new year's past where Quinn's new year's and Minnie's new year's and how they may have inadvertently met and not realized it. 

and it's a really cute book it's not one of my favorites nor again isn't overtly very Christmassy but it does give me Christmas vibes because the whole book starts off on a new year's it really kind of centers around the new year so I would recommend it again it's got kind of the same vein as one day December we have this really kind of I don't want to say tragic love story but just kind of an epic overarching love story like not insanely cute and fluffy but not like make you cry a thousand pieces somewhere in the middle of that maybe but I enjoyed it. 

21. Snow in love 



The last white book I want to recommend is Snow in Love this is four short stories by Melissa de la Cruz Nick Stone Amy Freeman and Casey West. I read this a couple of years ago it was cute it's not one of my favorites when I think of favorite short stories like a holiday I always go back to when my true love gave it to me but this was cute. 

I will say my favorite stories in this where I think from Nick Stone and Casey West they all have different ones one's about a snowy road trip one's about a Hanukkah miracle another one's about a Christmas Eve another one is about a scavenger hunt amid the holiday crowds and they're all just cute. 

it's really short it's only 250 pages so if you want a short read for your Goodreads goal to get into that I would recommend checking this one out. 

22. We Met in December: A Novel 



I read this last year and it was just okay oh it's about a girl named Jess who decides to move to London and she shares this flat with four strangers and one of them is Alex and she meets him on the first night and she knows there's an immediate connection and she's she decides you know when she gets back from versus vacation that she's gonna ask him out. 

and when she gets back from Christmas vacation he is actually in a relationship with another roommate in the same house and so again it's got that kind of one day in December where like they can't be together something's happening like something's keeping them apart because they're dating other people and it was cute. 

it just wasn't super rememberable but if you're trying to just find a cute fluffy Christmas read maybe check this one out it just wasn't one of my favorites but still wanted to talk about it.

23. The Tourist Attraction: A Sweet Vacation Romantic Comedy 


best-books-to-read-during-holidays

The Tourist Attraction: A Sweet Vacation Romantic Comedy by Sarah Morgenthaler

This one is not super Christmassy I don't even remember if it took place on Christmas but it does take place in Alaska and I think Alaska thinks of like North Pole and Christmas because of Alaska but this one is about a guy named Graham who owns this little like food shop called the tourist trap and he just kind of lows Taurus like he hates them even though he makes lifting off of them. 

and then one day a girl named Zoe comes to Alaska because she's always wanted to go there and she meets Graham and you can guess like a surly guy and like a really like happy-go-lucky girl get together things happen and there you go but this is I have some qualms with this number one the length it's like almost 400 pages. 

and I don't really feel like it needed to be but if you're looking for kind of Christmassy but set in a very very cold place I would check out the tourist attraction I know the sequel just came out as well called Mistletoe and Mr. Right maybe that one's more Christmassy I'm not a thousand percent sure. 

Best Favorite Short Stories to Read Over the Holiday

quickly before I am done with this article I do want to mention some short stories so I mentioned some books that are collections of short stories 

but I've also read a lot of just singular short stories that are very holiday-esque and perfect to read for Christmas especially you know when it gets to this year you don't have a lot of time to read 

as I read probably the least of all in December because of just life honestly so these are perfect to read for those times.

24. Wrapped Up in You: A Heartbreaker Bay Novel 


best-books-to-read-during-holidays

Wrapped Up in You: A Heartbreaker Bay Novel by Jill Shalvis

After a lifetime on the move, Ivy Snow is an expert in all things temporary—schools, friends, and way too many Mr. Wrongs. Now that she owns a successful taco truck in San Francisco and an apartment to call home, Ivy’s reinvented life is on solid ground. 

And she’s guarded against anything that can rock it. As the realities of the past, she’s worked hard to cover up. And especially Kel O’Donnell. Too hot not to set off alarms, he screams temporarily. If only his whispers weren’t so delightfully naughty and irresistible.

Kel, an Idaho sheriff, and ranch owner are on vacay, but Ivy’s a spicy reason to give his short-term plans a second thought. Best of all, she’s a tonic for his untrusting heart, burned once and still in repair. But when Ivy’s past intrudes on a perfect romance, Kel fears that everything she’s told him has been a perfect lie. Now, if only Ivy’s willing to share, Kel will fight for a true love story.

25. Booked for Christmas: A Short Story 


best-books-to-read-during-holidays

Booked for Christmas: A Short Story by Lily Menon

In this book, we follow a character named Sophie who is an author a romance author and she really loves this book critic called Wolf who is always leaving her books with scathing reviews like it's just horrible and so basically what happens in this little short story is she throws a holiday party with all her friends and somehow the book created wolf shows up. 

I guess she could stay and then somehow also he gets stuck with her alone in her own house because of like a snowstorm and it's great to hate to love romance I wanted more from it but again much like all these they're short they're cute they're romantic they're Christmasy and again short so perfect to read. 

26. The Christmas Pact 



then we also have the Christmas pack. this is a very short story. this one is about it's gonna be really interesting to explain so we follow a character named Riley Kennedy who always gets her email confused with Kennedy Riley so it's a guy and they're always emailing back and forth because their emails get sent because you know he they have the same names pretty much just the different combinations of them. 

she's Riley Kennedy and he's Kennedy Riley very interesting and somehow they work for the same company and they following me at this Christmas party and he decides hey like I'll go home with you to New York to like to pretend to be your boyfriend because your mom's on your back about all the time and you know it's great to hate to love to romance it's very cheesy very over the top but goodness I was it cute and I enjoyed it.

27. The Deal of a Lifetime 



and then the last one probably the saddest one on this entire list is The Deal of a Lifetime by Frederick Bachman this is a very short story about a father and son finally reuniting after many many tumultuous years and his father confiding him that there is this little girl at a hospital that is dying of cancer and he can and he has to make some decisions about it and it's very heart-wrenching just like Frederick robin's books um it's not one of my favorite books by him I love a lot of his books as well as a lot of his short stories this one I didn't love a ton. 

but if you want a short story that's going to resonate with you and pull your heartstrings this was a great one to check out those are all the holiday reads that I would like to recommend to you. 

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