As stores fill with holiday music and winter break looms closer, what better time to dive into a cozy book? Whether you’re a seasoned reader looking to add to your winter TBR or just someone hoping to find a relaxing read after a long semester, this holiday book list has a little something for everyone! So, grab your hot cocoa (or whatever your preferred cozy drink is), and get ready to find your next festive favorite!
On the first day of Christmas, my library gave to me…
“Murder at Holly House” by Denzil Meyrick
This comedic mystery novel, set in the 1950s, follows an inspector sent to a remote Yorkshire village to investigate a series of horse thefts. What starts out as a normal inspection takes a wild turn when he discovers a dead body stuck up the chimney of the local manor! Filled with unique characters and a plot that twists more than a Christmas bow, this book is sure to leave you on the edge of your seat until the very last page!
A bonus about this novel is that our Valencia Barnes and Noble has this book for only $5 with a cafe purchase until the end of December! So, if you were looking for a fun stocking stuffer to go with your cozy drink, this is your sign to snag it while it lasts!
On the second day of Christmas, my library gave to me…
“You Better Watch Out” by James S. Murray and Darren Wearmouth
This fast-paced thriller, taking place 48 hours before Christmas, follows six strangers who wake up in a deserted, snow-covered town with no memory of how they got there. On top of being stranded, a mysterious killer has set up gruesome traps to take them out one by one! As the famous song goes, “It’s the most wonderful time… for fear!”
If you are looking for a fun and brutal holiday mystery that’s also only 240 pages, this book is definitely for you!
On the third day of Christmas, my library gave to me…
“Blame It on the Mistletoe” by Beth Garrod
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to swap lives with someone? Well, this holiday rom-com explores exactly that as two girls from completely different worlds (and continents) switch places for the holidays! Both girls bump into cute boys along the way, and the swap quickly changes from an innocent experiment into a snowstorm of new feelings and holiday chaos!
You can find this book on Sora, our Hart District’s online book application. Sora is stocked with thousands of e-books and audiobooks free for students to use, so make sure to check it out this winter break!
On the fourth day of Christmas, my library gave to me…
“Love in Winter Wonderland” by Abiola Bello
Bookstores and romance go hand in hand, so when creative artist Ariel Spencer applies for a temporary job at Wonderland, a black-owned bookstore, it should be no surprise when she meets Trey Anderson, a popular college student, conveniently working there. Their initial aversion to each other doesn’t last long as they band together to save the dying bookshop before their Christmas Eve deadline, finding their own happily ever after along the way!
On the fifth day of Christmas, my library gave to me…
“Dash and Lily’s Book of Dares” by David Levithan and Rachel Cohn
What would you do if you found a notebook of dares left on a shelf, waiting to be completed? Lily hopes the guy of her dreams will pick up that book and follow through with the dares—someone curious enough to follow the clues she’s planted across New York City. When Dash, a booklover trying to avoid the holiday chaos, discovers the red notebook at The Strand, he decides to play along. I mean… what could go wrong?
You can find this book right here on our Canyon Library shelves; make sure to check it out! Who knows… maybe you’ll be the next one to pick up a red notebook and start an adventure of your own!
On the sixth day of Christmas, my library gave to me…
“How to Excavate a Heart” by Jake Maia Arlow
Whoops! Running over someone with your mom’s Subaru is not a fun way to start your holiday season. Unfortunately, this is exactly how Shani’s winter break begins: slamming straight into May, a girl who ends up becoming much more than a chance encounter. Through fossil-digging, dog-walking, and plenty of awkward (yet adorable) moments, the two slowly uncover each other’s hidden layers.
This book can also be found here at our Canyon Library! If you would like to see it under your Christmas tree, you can always place a hold using our Destiny Discover website! Just log in with your school Google account and browse away!
On the seventh day of Christmas, my library gave to me…
“What Light” by Jay Asher
This YA romance revolves around Sierra, a teen girl who leads a double life: one in Oregon on her family’s Christmas tree farm, where they live for the majority of the year, and another in California, where they sell trees every December. As it goes with splitting your life between two places, Sierra has learned to avoid getting too attached…that is until she meets Caleb, a charming boy with a complicated past she’s not sure she should trust. As her parents consider making this trip their last, Sierra has to decide: where does her heart lie this holiday season?
This book can, once again, be found on Sora! If you love short and sweet romance stories, this one will definitely pique your interest!
On the eighth day of Christmas, my library gave to me…
“A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens
A beloved classic, this timeless holiday story follows Ebenezer Scrooge, a man visited by the ghost of his deceased business partner and three other spirits on Christmas Eve. I’m sure you’ve heard of the Ghosts of the Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come… well, this is the story where these originated! Talking to the ghosts transforms Scrooge and turns him into a changed man come Christmas morning!
If you’ve never read this classic, our Canyon Library has this book in stock and waiting to be taken home!
On the ninth day of Christmas, my library gave to me…
“Let It Snow” by John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle
This set of three interconnected holiday stories, written by three acclaimed authors, follows different characters whose lives and relationships intersect during a massive snowstorm. With a snowball effect beginning with a stranded train, holiday chaos ensues, and the characters soon find themselves caught up in situations they never thought they would be in! Together, the three tales wind together to make a book perfect for a cozy day in!
Currently on our Canyon shelves, this book is waiting for the right reader to curl up with it on a snowy afternoon… or as snowy as it ever gets here in California!
On the tenth day of Christmas, my library gave to me…
“Mint to Be” by Katie Cicatelli-Kuc
A Christmas twist for a typical love triangle, this book follows Emma, an ambitious teen who left her hometown of Briar Glen to attend a boarding school in New York City. When she comes back home, new boyfriend in tow, she doesn’t expect the pull she feels to her childhood best friend, Aiden. They used to be inseparable, but with time apart, will they ever be the same? And, if they try to bring back old memories, will old feelings arise as well?
This is yet another novel that can be found on Sora! Check it out if you enjoy warm and comforting winter reads!
On the eleventh day of Christmas, my library gave to me…
“It Happened One Christmas” by Chantel Guertin
Perfect for fans of cheesy Hallmark movies, this book follows Zoey Andrews, a director who finally has the chance to make a Christmas film of her own! The only thing standing in her way is Benoît Deschamps, the mayor of the town that is the hopeful center of her story. With just four days until Christmas, and an unexpected ice storm leaving them stranded in the middle of nowhere, Zoey has to melt his heart in time if she wants this movie to be made!
On the twelfth day of Christmas, my library gave to me…
“The Christmas Wager” by Holly Cassidy
One rivalry. Eight days until Christmas. Let the holiday games begin! In the quaint town of Maple Falls, Bella Ross, a famous LA real estate developer, arrives to buy the local failing Christmas shop, Always Noelle. Things are not so easy, though, as the shop’s owner’s grandson, Jesse Harrison, won’t budge on a selling price. With the sale at a standstill, there’s only one way to decide who will choose the budget: compete in the town’s Holiday Games, and may the best player win!
Whether you’re traveling with family, hanging out with friends, or just sitting at home bundled up in your blankets, I hope one of these festive reads might bring a little extra joy to your winter break! Happy holidays, Cowboys, and happy reading!
I’d like to give a special shoutout to our Teacher Librarian, Ms. Gilpin, for her wonderful recommendations that helped put this list together!
