Five Favorite Books Set at Christmas

For the past three years I’ve purposefully sought out books set during the Christmas season to read in the month of December. Christmas scenes in any book always feel cozy, and it’s especially enjoyable to read them during the season when I’m craving that cozy feeling. This list only has one full-length novel (and it’s not very long). The rest are short stories, which tend to work well during the month of December when there are so many extra activities. Happy Reading!

1. A Christmas Carol* by Charles Dickens

   With its many adaptations on film, from the Muppets to Mickey Mouse and everywhere in between, this story needs no introduction. But I highly recommend reading it because even when you’re familiar with the story, reading the original text always yields something new.

2. Christmas with Dull People by Saki

   A friend in her 90s introduced me to this little collection. I’d never heard of Saki before, but these short stories set at Christmas (which are probably included in this collection*) are very funny.

3. Twelve Doctors of Christmas

   This short story collection is obviously niche for the Doctor Who fan, but I thoroughly enjoyed each of these stories, one for each of the first twelve incarnations of the Doctor. I thought the writers captured the personality of each doctor so well.

4. An English Murder* by Cyril Hare

   I was pleasantly surprised to find out this book was set over the Christmas holiday since my vintage Penguin paperback didn’t give anything away by the cover. Maybe it was this surprise that made me enjoy this cozy mystery so much, but An English Murder brings together a varied cast of characters at an English country house on Christmas Eve, they are snowed in, and someone is murdered. What more could you ask for in a Christmas read?

5. Christmas at Thompson Hall* by Anthony Trollope

   I read this short story for the first time this week. I haven’t read much Trollope, but this was a funny tale set in a Paris hotel on the eve before Christmas Eve. Who knew there could be so much drama over mustard?

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