While I do love a good Hallmark Christmas movie, I have to confess that I love reading Christmas-themed novels and novellas even more. I’ve read some great ones through the years, so I thought I’d spotlight a few in case you need a book to read between now and New Year’s Day!
MOST ANTICPATED:
The book I’ve been most excited to read this season is Susan May Warren’s All I Want for Christmas. This was previous published as The Great Christmas Bowl, but I had never read it. Since Susie May is one of my favorite authors, I’ve been saving it for this week!
FAVORITE HISTORICAL:
An Archer Family Christmas—Karen Witemeyer
I think I go back to this one because I so loved the Archer family series! (If you haven’t read The Short-Straw Bride, the first book about the Archers, read it!) I loved getting to revisit some favorite characters—and in a sweet Christmas setting!
FAVORITE ANTHOLOGY:
Once Upon a Winter Wonderland—Susan May Warren with Rachel D. Russell, Andrea Christenson, Michelle Sass Aleckson
This novella collection in the Deep Haven Series was absolutely delightful! Again, not only revisiting some great characters, but I love how all the stories centered around a wedding that in the first book was a few days out and culminates in the last book with all the characters coming together. Deep Haven, MN, is one of my most favorite fictional places of all time!
FAVORITE CONTEMPORARY:
One Enchanted Christmas—Melissa Tagg
This was honestly a really hard choice! There are so many contemporary romance Christmas books that are so good! But I landed on Melissa’s. She always tells a great story, but when it’s a story about a writer and Christmas, it’s the best!
FAVORITE PICTURE BOOK:
Mr. Willowby’s Christmas Tree—Robert E. Barry
I have loved this story since I was a child. It about a Christmas tree top passed down from a grand house to a lowly mouse. Such great illustrations to go with the story, too!
FAVORITE CLASSIC:
A Christmas Carol—Charles Dickens
I love to go back and re-read this one. And watch all the versions. The story of redemptive transformation never gets old.
FAVORITE ALL TIME:
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever—Barbara Robinson
The classic story of a bunch of rowdy kids who show up to participate in the Christmas pageant—but they know nothing about Christmas! It’s the Christmas story filled with lots of laughter and child-like wonder. I currently can’t find my copy, which I’ve had since high school, and often read aloud to my brother and sisters on drives to Colorado during or just after Christmas, so I’m on the lookout for another copy (hopefully with the old cover I had!) I look forward to reading it to my grandchildren one day.
HONORABLE MENTIONS:
I’ve enjoyed so many Christmas books that I thought I would list a few that almost made it to the top!
- Christmas at Whitefriars—Elizabeth Camden
- Christmas at Carnton—Tamera Alexander
- The Stand-In Christmas Date—Rachel John
- Christmas Comes to Bethlehem, Maine—Ludwig, Beatty, Robbins, Vaughn
- A Sugar Creek Christmas—Jenny B. Jones
What are some of your favorite Christmas novels/novellas?
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Mary Did You Know?, The Polar Express, An American Tail
In all my years I’ve never actually read (or watched!) The Polar Express! I probably should do that. 🙂
Thank you for the kind mention, friend! Much appreciated. 😉 I have read some of the books you mentioned, but not all. My TBR stack just got higher! Merry Christmas, and I hope you guys have a warm and wonderful time with family and friends. ❤️
I know what you mean about that growing TBR pile! Merry Christmas to you and yours. Happy you will get plenty of baby snuggles!
I love A CHRISTMAS CAROL by Dickens, and this season I read JACOB T. MARLEY by R. William Bennett for the second time. It’s a retelling of A CHRISTMAS CAROL but giving the reader the story of Marley, both before he died and also showing why he returns to see Scrooge. It’s written in the style of Dickens so is a great companion piece.
Very fun! I’ll have to add it to my list! 🙂
I always start the Christmas reading season off with A Christmas Carol and I read it the day after Thanksgiving. I also only read Christmas in the month of December. This year’s books include Merry Ex-Mas by Courtney Walsh, Like a Holiday Inn by Lindsay Harrel, Second Chance Christmas by Betsy St. Amant, Keeping Christmas Vol. 1 collection, Destination Christmas collection, The Mistletoe Favor by Jill Kemerer, and The Holiday Husband by Jenny B. Jones. If I have time, I plan to toss in a Melody Carlson novella but I’m not sure which one.
Great list! I read a few of those this December as well! 🙂
Loved seeing your favorites! I haven’t read any of them but will need to add to my TBR (especially Karen Witemeyer’s – but I need to reach the Archers first). Some of my favorites are novellas: A Match Made at Christmas by Courtney Walsh (got me out of a reading slump two Christmases ago), You and Me by Becky Wade, and Holiday by Gaslight by Mimi Matthews. My favorite Christmas novel is The Mistletoe Countess by Pepper Basham.
Ack! I forgot about Holiday by Gaslight! Loved that one, too! And I need to read The Mistletoe Countess. I keep hearing good things about that one. 🙂
The only one of these that I’m familiar with is A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. It has been a long time since I’ve read the book but I enjoy the movie. Well, not all the variations . The 1938, with Reginald Owens but my favorite is the 1951 with Alastair Sims, which I watch every year.
I can’t remember all the Christmas books I read as the majority of them are loaned to me by my sister.
My all time favorite Christmas movie is It’s A Wonderful Life, which I’ve recently learned is based on a short story ‘The Greatest Gift’ by Philip Van Doren Stern. I must put that book on my wish list.
I love It’s a Wonderful Life, too, but didn’t know it was based on a short story! I need to look that one up, too! Thanks for that!