The ultimate Christmas book list

1. The Bookseller's Gift by Felicity Hayes-McCoy

In this "festive feast of a novel" (Cathy Kelly), Catherine summons the courage to ask the tightknit community of Finfarran in Ireland for help when the future of her beloved Lissbeg Books is in real jeopardy.

2. Three Holidays and a Wedding by Uzma Jalaluddin & Marissa Staple

In this heart-warming, multi-faith festive read, an emergency landing finds Anna, Maryam and Saif snowbound at a quirky hotel in the picture-perfect town of Snow Falls…

3. A Midwinter's Tail by Lili Hayward

The more time Mina spends in her long-estranged godfather's Cornish cottage, Morgelyn, looking after his cat Murr, the harder it becomes to tear herself away. When she discovers that a set of ruthless property developers are coming for Morgelyn, she realises she might be the only one who can stand in their way to save it. The purrfect yuletide story for long winter nights. 

4. Gifts by Laura Barnett

A bittersweet story about twelve people, twelve gifts, and one Christmas to remember, from the author of The Versions of Us.

5. Make the Season Bright by Ashley Herring Blake

A swoon-worthy queer festive romance from the author of Delilah Green Doesn't Care.

It's been five years since Charlotte was ditched at the altar by her ex-fiancée, Brighton. This year, Charlotte's friend Sloane persuades her to spend Christmas in Colorado. But when Charlotte arrives, she discovers that Sloane's sister also brought a friend home – Brighton.

6. Christmas at the Bookshop by Jenny Colgan

When Carmen's sister, Sofia, mentions a job opportunity in a secondhand bookshop in Edinburgh, Carmen soon finds herself pulling into the snowy city just a month before Christmas. What Sofia didn't say is that the shop is on its last legs and that if Carmen can't help turn things around before Christmas, the owner will be forced to sell... 

7. Snowed In by Catherine Walsh

When Megan literally bumps into Christian in a Dublin pub, they come up with a pact to see them through the holiday season with their families. They're going to be the very best fake dates for each other, ever.

As well as the companion novel, Holiday Romance, this is one of Stacey's all-time favourite rom-coms!

8. Someday at Christmas by Lizzie Byron

With a store to save and her own romance going off-script, Christmas just got complicated for Shell. But this is the most wonderful time of the year, so there must be a happy ending awaiting… right?

9. The Winter Spirits: Ghostly Tales for Frosty Nights by Various

The tradition of a haunted tale at Christmas has flourished across the centuries. These twelve stories, written by some of today's most loved authors of historical and gothic fiction, are all centred around Christmas or Advent.

Check out the other wintry collections: The Haunting Season: Ghostly Tales for Long Winter Nights and, coming October 2025, The Witching Hour: Haunting Tales for Long Dark Nights.

10. The Wood at Midwinter by Susanna Clarke

An enchanting and haunting Christmas short story from the author of Piranesi and Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell.

19-year-old Merowdis can talk to animals and trees – and she is only ever happy when she is walking in the woods. One snowy afternoon, out with her dogs and Apple the pig, Merowdis encounters a blackbird and a fox. As darkness falls, a strange figure enters in their midst – and the path of her life is changed forever.

11. Hogfather by Terry Pratchett

'Twas the night before Hogswatch and all through the house... something was missing.

In this beloved Discworld Christmas classic, Death realises that belief in the Hogfather is dangerously low, and decides to take on the job. But it's just not right to find a seven-foot skeleton creeping down your chimney and trying to say 'ho, ho, ho'. If Susan, Death's granddaughter, doesn't sort everything out by morning, there won't be a morning. Ever again...

12. The Box of Delights written by John Masefield and illustrated by Quentin Blake

A classic fantasy adventure that definitely did not appear in this year's Hidden Books Game!

A magical old man has asked Kay to protect the Box of Delights, a Box with which he can travel through time. But Kay is in danger: Abner Brown will stop at nothing to get his hands on it. The police don't believe Kay, so when his family and the Bishop are scrobbled up just before Christmas, he knows he must act alone...

13. The Christmas Appeal by Janice Hallett

In this festive companion to the bestselling mystery novel The Appeal, join lawyers Femi and Charlotte as they attempt to find out the truth behind the dead body discovered at the town's festive panto. 

14. Murder Under the Mistletoe by Richard Coles

It is Christmas Day and at Champton Rectory, Canon Daniel Clement and his mother Audrey are joined by the residents and guests of the big house to drink, eat and be merry. Until two meet under the mistletoe. One of them falls down dead. And Daniel suspects murder has returned to Champton...

15. The Christmas Card Crime and Other Stories edited by Martin Edwards

With neglected stories by John Bude and E.C.R. Lorac, as well as tales by little-known writers of crime fiction, this collection of mysteries explores the darker side of the festive season, from unexplained disturbances in the fresh snow, to the darkness that lurks beneath the sparkling decorations.

16. Midnight in Everwood by M.A. Kuzniar

A magical fairy tale retelling of The Nutcracker.

Marietta longs to be a ballerina but, as Christmas draws nearer, her dancing days are numbered – she must marry and take up her place in society in the New Year. After mysterious toymaker Dr Drosselmeier constructs an elaborate theatrical set for her final ballet performance on Christmas Eve, Marietta discovers it carries magic – a magic darker than anyone could imagine. 

17. The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey

A bewitching tale of heartbreak and hope set in 1920s Alaska.

Jack and Mabel have staked everything on a fresh start in a remote homestead, but the wilderness is a stark place, and Mabel is haunted by the baby she lost many years before. When a little girl appears mysteriously on their land, each is filled with wonder, but also foreboding: is she what she seems, and can they find room in their hearts for her?

18. Snowdrift and Other Stories by Georgette Heyer

Affairs of honour between bucks and blades, rakes and rascals; affairs of the heart between heirs and orphans, beauties and bachelors; romance, intrigue, escapades and duels at dawn. All the gallantry, villainy and elegance of the age that Georgette Heyer has so triumphantly made her own are exquisitely revived in these wonderfully romantic stories of the Regency period.

19. Christmas at Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons

A festive treat from a treasured comic writer.

It's Christmas-time at Cold Comfort Farm and it's the worst sort of family gathering... Adam Lambsbreath dresses up as Father Christmas in two of Judith's red shawls. There are unsuitable presents, unpleasant insertions into the pudding and Aunt Ada Doom orders Amos to carve the turkey, adding: 'Ay, would it were a vulture, 'twere more fitting!'

20. Christmas Pudding by Nancy Mitford

A fun and festive story from the author of the modern classic, The Pursuit of Love.

The formidable fox-hunter Lady Bobbin is holding a Christmas house party; Christmas Pudding is a ribald tale of true love and false fidelity, hijinks and low morals, not to mention the consumption of a considerable quantity of Christmas spirit. 

21. The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper

It's Christmas-time in the Stanton family house: presents, carol singing, good cheer. But for 11-year-old Will, something sinister has begun. On Midwinter Day, Will wakes up to a different world: silent, covered in snow and ancient forest, a world of another time. A world where evil lurks.

A richly imagined classic, part of The Dark is Rising sequence of books.

22. A Child's Christmas in Wales written by Dylan Thomas and illustrated by Peter Bailey

All the Christmases roll down toward the two-tongued sea, like a cold and headlong moon bundling down the sky that was our street...

Dylan Thomas's lyrical account of his childhood Christmases in a small Welsh town, featuring wolves, bears, hippos and Mrs Prothero's cat.

23. The Christmas Chronicles by Nigel Slater

The Christmas Chronicles is the story of Nigel Slater's love for winter, the scent of fir and spruce, ghost stories read with a glass of sloe gin, and beeswax candles with shadows dancing on the ceiling. With recipes, decorations, fables and quick fireside suppers, Nigel guides you through the essential preparations for Christmas and the New Year.

24. The Dead of Winter: The Demons, Witches and Ghosts of Christmas by Sarah Clegg

Sarah Clegg takes us on a journey through midwinter to explore the lesser-known Christmas traditions, from English mummers plays and Austrian Krampus runs, to modern pagan rituals at Stonehenge and the night in Finland when a young girl is crowned with candles as St Lucy. We discover how these traditions originated and how they changed through the centuries, and we ask ourselves: if we can't keep the darkness entirely at bay, might it be fun to let a little in?

25. Village Christmas and Other Notes on the English Year by Laurie Lee

Village Christmas is a moving, lyrical portrait of England through the changing years and seasons.

Laurie Lee left his childhood home in the Cotswolds when he was nineteen, but it remained with him throughout his life until, many years later, he returned for good. This collection brings to life the sights, sounds, landscapes and traditions of his home – from carol singing in crunching snow to pub conversations and songs.

26. The Philosophy of Christmas by Caroline Taggart

Caroline Taggart takes a fascinating and quirky look at why we celebrate Christmas the way we do, illustrated in glorious full colour with images from the British Library Collections.

27. And So This is Christmas: 51 Seasonally Adjusted Poems by Brian Bilston

With his signature wit, bestselling poet Brian Bilston celebrates the festive season: from bizarre family traditions to the office Christmas party; from voting day for turkeys to the impossible art of gift-giving.

28. The Very Merry Murder Club edited by Serena Patel & Robin Stevens and illustrated by Harry Woodgate

A collection of wintery crime and mystery stories by thirteen of the most exciting and diverse authors in children's books today. Join them as part of the Very Merry Murder Club as they lead you on a snow-covered journey of festive foul play and murderously magnificent mysteries!

29. Christmas Wish-tastrophe written by Cariad Lloyd and illustrated by Ma Pe

When Lydia Marmalade makes a wish on the most magical night of the year, little does she know the chaos she’s about to unleash. Could one simple wish start a... wish-tastrophe?

A hilarious new Christmas story, from comedian and writer Cariad Lloyd.

30. Love in Winter Wonderland by Abiola Bello

Trey works at his family’s beloved Black-owned bookshop, Wonderland. Ariel is in need of a holiday temp job. An opening at Wonderland is the answer... and the start of a hate-to-love journey. Will Trey and Ariel find their happily ever after in this hopelessly romantic Christmas love story?

31. Stay Another Day by Juno Dawson

With four sleeps till Christmas, three secretive siblings, two hot houseguests, and one juicy secret, this Christmas there will be some big surprises under the tree!

Family secrets, chance encounters and festive traditions collide in this juicy Christmas treat.

And even more festive books will be frequently added to this list!