Do you ever feel like Christmas arrives and you haven’t had a single quiet moment for yourself? I’ve often found that a lot of the things that traditionally help me get into the Christmas spirit involve going places, seeing people, and generally things just being hectic.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not about to tell you that it’s better to just not see people in the lead up to Christmas so that life feels calmer! Imagine how miserable I’d have to be to recommend that haha.
But, this year is the first Christmas in a very long time that I’m going into having rediscovered my love of reading that disappeared some years ago (more on that another time).
So, in a bid to honour my poor introverted nervous system, whilst also getting into the Christmas spirit, I’m planning to get through a festive, Christmas-only themed TBR list this December. Here I’m going to share the books that have made it onto that list of things to read, after recommendations from people whose taste I trust aligns with mine. And hopefully give you the permission you need along the way to carve out some time for yourself this Christmas too.
Firstly, I feel I need to caveat this post by saying, they’re mainly romance books, so if that’s not your bag, then you’re free to leave. OK, on with the list.
Please note, this post contains affiliate links – AD
Good Spirits by B. K. Borison
Ok so I’m not entirely sure why I’m so drawn to this book 😂
Every time I read the description or try and write what it’s about it feels absurd! But maybe that’s why it intrigues me. Or maybe it’s the pretty cover! But Good Spirits is basically about a nice as pie antique shop owner who gets haunted by the ghost of Christmas past, neither of them know why as she’s a proper goodie two shoes, and he’s a grumpy ghost.
I told you. Absurd. But it also feels like it’ll be a silly, lighthearted bit of fun which is always welcome at Christmas!
Get your copy here
The Christmas Tree Farm by Laurie Gilmore
If you’ve been to Dream Harbor before, you won’t need any convincing to read this book. But if you haven’t…let me explain.
Dream Harbor is the small coastal town setting for Laurie Gilmore’s series of books that started with The Pumpkin Spice Cafe. It’s a super cosy setting, and the ultimately mood read.
The Christmas Tree Farm is book 3 in the series, and although it can be read as a standalone, I happen to have read books 1 and 2 not so long ago, so knowing this one was next, I took a pause so I could read it in December.
This book follows two people, lost in their current lives; Kira North, who has bought the Christmas tree farm in Dream Harbor and Bennett Ellis, who’s on holiday in Dream Harbor to take a break from his real life.
I think this will be the first book in the series that doesn’t have an existing resident as one of the two main characters, so that will be interesting! I’m really looking forward to getting back to Dream Harbor – I’ve been there in Autumn for the Pumpkin Spice Cafe, Summer for The Cinnamon Bun Book Store and now, we head there in Christmas for The Christmas Tree Farm.
Holiday Ever After by Hannah Grace
If Hannah Grace is writing it, I’m reading it.
Icebreaker was the first romance book I ever picked up and I was hooked. I absolutely loved it and devoured Wildfire & Daydream soon after. So Holiday Ever After was always going to be on my Christmas reading recommendations list.
This story sees our FMC Clara, a high flying city girl, head to the small town of Fraser Falls to try and win the town over after her company was accused of stealing a doll design from an independent toy maker.
Enter grumpy Mr Jack Kelly – getting in the way at every turn of her attempt to solve this PR nightmare.
I do love a small town romance, so let’s hope this one lives up to my love of all things Hannah Grace I’ve read before!
Katabasis by R. F. Kuang
I have been entirely influenced with BookTok on this one.
Katabasis is about a post-grad magick student who accidentally sends her professor to hell and has to go there herself to get him out.
Absolutely not a romance, and not a Christmas novel.
But I know myself well, and know that I’ll likely need a pallet cleanser at some point, and this one has been sat on my bookshelf begging to be read since it was released, so I’m going to prioritise it for December.
So there you have it, my reading plans for December.
I have honestly found reading to be such a gift to myself. It brings me calm, and so my joy delving into other people’s stories and perspectives.
I’d really encourage you to add one of these books (or any that takes your fancy for that matter!) to your TBR this festive season, and create yourself a small reading ritual to carve out some calm at one of the busiest times of the year.
Follow along with my TBR updates on Instagram @bylauradavies or come and be my bookish pal on Goodreads or Fable
I also share all my other bookish content in my reading blog posts, here
Until next time,
Happy Reading fellow bookworm!
Laura x
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