Photo credit: INSTAGRAM/@BOOKWORMANDTHECITY

Christmas book recommendations of every genre

From graphic novels, to horror and mystery books – there’s a Christmas-themed book for everyone.

Celeste Lim
Celeste Lim

Yogurt lover with a Spotify playlist for every mood.

Published: 11 December 2020, 11:03 AM

Christmas is approaching. This means virtual parties, watching movies, as well as giving and receiving gifts.

For others, it may mean reading books about Christmas.

If you’re one who prefers to spend the long weekend flipping pages while sipping a cup of coffee, here are some Christmas-themed books to add to your list! 

1. One Day in December by Josie Silver

For those who want to read a fluffy romance that will make you feel all warm and fuzzy, One Day in December by Josie Silver is the book for you.

When Laurie makes eye contact with a handsome stranger at the bus stop, she instantly knows he’s The One – but then her bus drives away. She spends a year trying – and failing – to find him again. Then, at a Christmas party, her best friend introduces her to the “love of her life”: the same person she saw a year ago.

 

In an interview, the author shared that she explored the concept of love at first sight in the book as it has always fascinated her. PHOTO CREDIT: INSTAGRAM/@SPELLBOOKSANDCOFFEE

 

The book follows the three characters every December for the next 10 years. Over the decade, the heartwarming coming-of-age story features friendship, missed opportunities, longing – and Christmas parties!

2. Hercule Poirot’s Christmas by Agatha Christie

You may have heard of the 2017 thriller film Murder on the Orient Express, which was based on the novel of the same name. If you enjoyed it and want to read something by the same author, Agatha Christie, try Hercule Poirot’s Christmas.

The story starts with the wealthy Simeon Lee inviting his four sons and their families to his home for Christmas. where he announces that he is updating his will. After their reunion dinner, he is found dead in his room.

With an investigation led by Belgian detective Hercule Poirot, this murder mystery story is sure to keep you on your toes.

 

The book is the 20th instalment in the Hercule Poirot series, but the books can be read in any order. PHOTO CREDIT: INSTAGRAM/@PIELADYBOOKS

3. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

It would be impossible to recommend Christmas books without bringing up the iconic novella, A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. 

The story features Ebenezer Scrooge, a cold-hearted and inconsiderate man who refuses to participate in Christmas. After being faced with happy memories from his past, he changes for the better.

 

The book has been adapted into various movies, musicals and even LEGO sets over the years. PHOTO CREDIT: INSTAGRAM/@LEGOCERTIFIEDSTORES_ANZ

 

The story teaches people to be open-minded and kind, making it the perfect festive read.

4. A Christmas Tale by Austin Crawley

The book’s ending may shock you. PHOTO CREDIT: AUSTIN CRAWLEY

 

If you would prefer to read a less jovial book this festive season, A Christmas Tale by Austin Crawley is a scary twist on A Christmas Carol. 

Inspired by the aforementioned story, three girls hold a séance to raise the fictional Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future. They are forced to face their past, but there are no happy memories – just trauma, fear and things they would rather forget.

5. The Man Who Invented Christmas by Les Standiford

There are non-fiction books about Christmas as well!

The Man Who Invented Christmas by Les Standiford is a biography about Charles Dickens himself and how A Christmas Carol helped to revive both his career and the holiday spirit in 1843. 

The short book describes how Dickens was as a child, how he struggled financially, the events leading up to him writing A Christmas Carol and the impact his novel had on the Christmas spirit.

 

The biography revealed that Charles Dickens had to use his own money to publish A Christmas Carol as his publisher refused to print it. PHOTO CREDIT: INSTAGRAM@/BETTY_BOOKS

6. Krampus! By Dean Kotz and Brian Joines

For a more exciting read with colourful illustrations, you can read a graphic novel about Christmas.

Krampus!, created by Dean Kotz and Brian Joines, is inspired by the legendary half-goat, half-demon figure of the same name. After being imprisoned for punishing misbehaving children, he finds himself freed for the first time in decades to recover the stolen power of the Secret Society of Santa Claus. 

 

There are currently five issues in the Krampus! comic series. PHOTO CREDIT: IMAGECOMICS

7. The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling

As they say, Christmas is magic, so why not combine the holiday with some magic itself?

While not exactly a Christmas book, many of the books in J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series take place during autumn or winter. The story’s protagonist, Harry Potter, also often celebrates Christmas at his school, the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

 

The cosy environments and magical festive traditions make the series a perfect Christmas read. PHOTO CREDIT: INSTAGRAM/@POP.TTERHEAD

 

The series is about Harry and his friends’ adventures in Hogwarts and his struggle against Voldemort, but you can also expect details about Harry’s many Christmas presents and drool-worthy descriptions of Christmas feasts.

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