Cozy Books to Read Over the Holidays

During the holiday season, there is nothing I love more than the slower pace and more relaxed days. If I’m not playing a game with our family or putting together a puzzle, you can often find me curled up next to our Christmas tree with a book.

If you’re looking for a cozy book to read this holiday season, check out some recommendations from our Head Staff crew…

Caroline recommends From The Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, a favorite of hers from growing up. What could be more cozy than spending the night in The Met?

Two cozy novels that Ellen-Anne particularly loves at Christmastime are Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society and City Baker’s Guide to Country Living. Both just make you feel warm inside and are perfect for this feel-good season.

Multiple members of our staff recommended the Harry Potter series. Even if you’ve read them many times, the holidays make the perfect time to curl up at Hogwarts. Consider trying the books on audio for the first time or reading one of the awesome illustrated editions.

Another series that Catherine particularly enjoys during the holidays is The Chronicles of Narnia series. Nothing says cozy like a journey back to Narnia with Aslan.

Speaking of journeys into new worlds, Jimboy enjoys re-reading The Lord of the Rings series over the holidays. These large tomes will keep you busy for a while, but the defeat of good over evil will spark remembrance of the true Christmas story.

You’ll find Katie in front of the fire with her Christmas books, especially enjoying her yearly reading of Eloise at Christmastime. Talk about a true cozy holiday read!

Smith volunteers in a local elementary school, and she enjoys reading The Polar Express to her class each year. Why not read this wonderful holiday story and then watch the movie as well?

Nothing gets you ready for watching a soon-to-be-released movie like re-reading an old classic. Alli is curling up with Little Women as she anticipates its upcoming theater release.

As for me, I enjoy reading Christmas-specific fiction over the holidays. It is like a Hallmark movie in book form (about as cheesy as you can get). Favorites include The Mistletoe Promise (and rest of series), The Noel Diary (and rest of series), Merry and Bright, The Bridge, and Finding Christmas.

Our family also reads so many picture books over the holiday season. Some of our favorites include: Mr. Willowby’s Christmas Tree, Three Trees, The Wild Christmas Reindeer (and all of Jan Bretty’s Christmas books), The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey, The Legend of the Candy Cane, Merry Christmas Strega Nona (and pretty much all of Tomie dePaola’s Christmas books), The Carpenter’s Gift, and Christmas Day in the Morning, just to name a few.

Find a good book as the school year is winding down so that you are ready for some cozy fire-side reading this holiday season. And, before you know it, we will see you back in the enos for reading this summer!