The best Christmas books for a festive read

If you like cosy murder mysteries (think Knives Out, Only Murders in the Building and The Thursday Murder Club), you’ll love Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret. It’s the third Ernest Cunningham book, following Everyone In My Family Has Killed Someone and Everyone On This Train Is A Suspect, and has a Christmas setting!

If you haven’t read the first two Ernest Cunningham books, this does work as a standalone. However, we highly recommend adding Everyone In My Family Has Killed Someone and Everyone On This Train Is A Suspect to your reading list; they’re incredibly good.

A Christmas Carol follows Ebenezer Scrooge, a wealthy grump who is visited by three ghosts on Christmas Eve. There’s a reason this Dickens book became a classic… It’s a wonderful tale of redemption that perfectly captures the holiday spirit. 

Following journalist Tom Langdon on a cross-country train trip, The Christmas Train blends romance, mystery, and humour. It’s a heartwarming read that’ll make you feel the magic of the season.

In this comedic novel, a couple decides to skip the holiday festivities, only to find that their friends and neighbours dramatically outcast them. The popular film Christmas with the Kranks, which stars Tim Allen and Jamie Lee Curtis, was inspired by this book. 

This classic short story is about a couple who make sacrifices to buy Christmas gifts for each other. It’s a poignant reminder of the true meaning of the holiday season.

This collection of interconnected stories follows a group of teens stranded during a Christmas Eve snowstorm. Ultimately, Let it Snow is a charming, feel-good read with romance and holiday cheer.

In this funny and heartwarming instalment of the Shopaholic series, Becky Bloomwood takes on Christmas preparations with her usual chaotic charm. It’s lighthearted and entertaining, perfect for readers looking for some holiday humour.