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Best Christmas Books: Cozy Stories for the Holiday Season

From A Christmas Carol to a Hercule Poirot case set at the holiday, these books bring Christmas atmosphere in many moods.

Each book has a one-line hook and a plain note on what you get from it, so you can choose without opening every page.

Best for: Readers who want a seasonal story for evenings by the fire.

This list: 15 books picked by hand for the season.
Order: Not a ranking.

15 books

A Christmas Carol
1843
A Christmas Carol
Charles Dickens
Classics · Warm
A miser is visited by three ghosts on Christmas Eve
What you get: A cozy, magical tale of ghosts and second chances that fills you with holiday spirit. It is the perfect story to enjoy by the fire.
Amazon Description
1845
The Cricket on the Hearth
Charles Dickens
Classics · Warm
A toy maker, a cricket and a household’s hidden kindness
What you get: A cheerful, warm tale perfect for a winter evening.
Amazon Description
1905
The Gift of the Magi
O. Henry
Classics · Warm
A poor young couple each sacrifice a treasure to buy a gift
What you get: A beautiful little story you can read in minutes, full of warmth and an ending that lingers.
Amazon Description
1932
Christmas Pudding
Nancy Mitford
Classics · Light
A comic country-house novel
What you get: A light, funny holiday-season romp in the country.
Amazon Description
1938
Hercule Poirot’s Christmas
Agatha Christie
Mystery & Thriller · Thoughtful
A locked-room murder at a family Christmas
What you get: A seasonal, cozy mystery with a classic locked-room feel.
Amazon Description
1940
Christmas at Cold Comfort Farm
Stella Gibbons
Classics · Light
A comic Christmas at the Starkadder farm
What you get: A short, funny, festive visit with a quirky family.
Amazon Description
A Christmas Memory
1956
A Christmas Memory
Truman Capote
Classics · Warm
A boy and his elderly cousin bake fruitcakes
What you get: A heartwarming, nostalgic story that you can read in one sitting.
Amazon Description
1960
The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding and a Selection of Entrées
Agatha Christie
Mystery & Thriller · Light
Poirot at a country house over Christmas
What you get: A festive collection of clever short cases for the winter season.
Amazon Description
The Shepherd
1975
The Shepherd
Frederick Forsyth
Fantasy · Warm
A pilot’s story at Christmas Eve
What you get: A quiet, memorable tale you can read in one sitting.
Amazon Description
1993
The Christmas Box
Richard Paul Evans
Literary Fiction · Warm
A widower, a stranger and a Christmas box
What you get: A short, moving story to read with a cup of cocoa.
Amazon Description
1996
Hogfather
Terry Pratchett
Fantasy · Light
The Discworld version of Santa Claus has gone missing
What you get: Witty, warm and unexpectedly moving, a perfect festive read for fantasy fans.
Amazon Description
2000
Winter Solstice
Rosamunde Pilcher
Literary Fiction · Warm
A retired actress starts over in a Scottish village
What you get: A warm, comforting read for a long winter evening.
Amazon Description
2001
Skipping Christmas
John Grisham
Literary Fiction · Light
A couple decides to skip Christmas altogether
What you get: Laugh-out-loud holiday fun with a warm heart.
Amazon Description
2004
A Redbird Christmas
Fannie Flagg
Literary Fiction · Warm
A small Alabama town and a visiting cardinal
What you get: A cozy, uplifting tale full of heart and community.
Amazon Description
2016
Christmas Days
Jeanette Winterson
Nonfiction · Warm
Twelve stories and twelve feasts for the twelve days of Christmas
What you get: A warm collection of festive tales paired with food.
Amazon Description