Those who know me will also know of my love of Christmas. I’m the person who checks how many ‘sleeps’ there are in August (there’s a phone app) and I’m the person who watches ‘Elf’ on the hottest day of the year. And as the dark nights arrive, I’m ridiculously excited about the prospect of being wrapped in a duvet devouring festive reads (and indulging in a box (or ten) of After Eights).
So, I’m calling on your help this year, dear friend. With a mere 75 ‘sleeps’ to Christmas, I’m after recommendations please of any Christmas-themed reads. I’m thinking any genre, short or long, but nothing with snakes or people touching fish (that makes sense to me).
I’ve decided I’m only going to read festive books between now and Christmas, so I think I’ll need around 10 (and it’s okay if they’re not published until later this month). So, dear friend, WHAT should I read?
{ 27 comments… read them below or add one }
Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor by Lisa Kleypas.
I’m not 100% certain, but I don’t remember any fish touching.
I don’t know, it’s got the word ‘harbor’ in the title… Thanks Cas, will check it out! x
I’m copying tweets of interest to here, simply so I can keep track of the ideas:
Home of Book Lovers @GoUKcom
@Caroline_S Gaarder’s The Christmas Mystery is a good Xmas read: http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0753808668/gouktheezinefo07 … Read it as an advent calendar each day of December
How about Franzen’s The Corrections? It took me ages though - maybe not enough sleeps left to finish it!
Just looking on Amazon, the ‘took me ages’ isn’t appealing, but it is satisfying? How many boxes of After Eights will it take to finish?
That first paragraph? You totally just described me! I LOVE autumn/winter with it’s cold, dark nights, festive scented candles and boxes (many boxes!) of After Eights! I love when it’s time to get out the fleece blankets and fluffy slippers!
So far I have three festive books on my to-read list this year - Meet Me Under The Mistletoe by Abby Clements, Santa Maybe by Scarlett Bailey, and A Winter Flame by Milly Johnson. They’re not all out yet, but they look good!
Last year I really enjoyed Miracle on Regent Street by Ali Harris, and Home For Christmas by Cally Taylor.
And I can’t leave without a cheeky shameless plug - I’ve got a children’s Christmas novel coming out in November. It’s called Creepy Christmas. (It’s not too creepy, honest!) And can definitely be read by people who aren’t children! And will be free on launch day!
And I will be following the comments you get on this post to find some recommendations for myself too! I love festive books!
I think you might be my ideal friend!
Meet Me Under The Mistletoe by Abby Clements is on my wishlist - is it out at the end of October? And I’m a big Scarlett Bailey fan, so will have to read her festive read. I’ll check out A Winter Flame, as that one hasn’t fallen into my radar yet and Milly is very ace. And I’ve read Home For Christmas by Cally Taylor, that was perfect!
And, please do let me know when your Christmas novel is out - I’m sure my kiddies would love to have a read. Free on launch day? You’ve certainly got the Christmas spirit.
Ditto! No one seems to understand my love of Christmas, and cosy nights curled up watching Christmas movies or reading Christmas books!
Yeah, I think Abby Clements book is the end of October - really looking forward to that one! I’m sure I won’t have time to read all these Christmas books before Christmas!
Hehe, thank you! And sorry for the shameless plug! I will let you know when it’s out - I’m hoping for November 15th, but my editor is away until the end of October, so depends on how long his second pass takes after that!
Good luck with your edits!
The Gift by Cecelia Ahern
Loved it!
Thank you - I’ll take a look. I haven’t read any Cecelia Ahern before.
Another from Twitter:
Scarlett Bailey Scarlett Bailey @ScarlettBailey
@Caroline_S well I can think of 1 and Married by Christmas may be the only novel ever to feature a reindeer drawn sleigh chase…! #Christmas
Six Geese a-Laying by Sophie Kinsella
I shall check it out, right now. Thank you! I’ve not read any Sophie Kinsella either… I need to live for a million more years to read all the books I want to read.
Auggie Wren’s Christmas Story by Paul Auster. Great author, tiny book and has pictures!
Just looked and it appealed straight away. I’ve ordered it. Thank you!
Pleasure. Hope you enjoy it!
I’ve got Lost Christmas by David Logan on my to-do list. It was dramatised last year for Sky and I’ve meant to read it ever since! Not that I’m slow or anything!
That’s going on my list! It looks amazing and someone on Facebook suggested the film to me yesterday. Thank you! I didn’t realise it was a book too.
With Love At Christmas by Carole Matthews. Reading it now for 2nd time. I won an early copy. I think it’s out early November. Soooo good! Xx
I’ll look out for it! And well done winning an early copy. I can’t remember the last book I read twice… I might start a Christmas book I’ve already read tonight… x
I love The Best Christmas Present in the World, which is a gorgeous little book from Michael Morpurgo. I’m pretty sure you’d love it too. x
That sounds perfect. I can read it with Littlest. She’s studying him at school at the moment. Off to order… x
If you can wait, I actually have two copies and once I’ve unpacked the boxes with all the books you can have it x
That’d be ace, thank you x
Caroline, off the top of my head, I can’t think of any specific Christmas reads but I just had to pop in and say YES! I can relate to everything you say about Christmas starting in October. I just love the build up, the weather turning (blue skies and cold air please), my children getting so excited, my annual shopping/coffee drinking day with my mum, ditto with one of my sisters who lives too far away… and that’s before any hint of carol singing and holly.
This year I have an even earlier case of it as I’ve just submitted my Christmas Cook Book review for a local magazine. If you need a Christmas bible, try Christmas with Gordon (yes, Ramsay), this book has made me DETERMINED not to trot out the same old culinary fare this year.
Is it too early to wish you a Happy Christmas…?
Oh thank you! I might have to get that for G (he cooks, I never do). And - MERRY CHRISTMAS! x