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Saturday, October 31, 2026

'Tis the Season For Holiday Reading!

Happy Halloween! 🎃 We don’t get any trick-or-treaters, so I’m already thinking about holiday books! Here are a few for your reading list—a little mystery, a little romance, and plenty of Christmas.

Merry Little Mysteries 🔎

The Mistletoe Murders — Ken Cuperus

A Christmas shop owner, a mysterious past, and small-town murders. Apparently, selling ornaments isn’t enough to keep her busy! This cozy mystery series is an Audible audio drama starring Cobie Smulders, Raymond Ablack, Anna Cathcart, and a full cast. A fun one to listen to while wrapping gifts!

https://www.audible.com.au/podcast/Mistletoe-Murders/B0BNLP5323

The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year — Ally Carter

Two rival writers get snowed in at an English estate, and then someone disappears. A little mystery, a little romance, and a Christmas gathering that has gone very wrong! Mystery/romantic comedy; reads on its own and is part of the Kiss, Merry, Kill series.

https://allycarter.com/books/the-most-wonderful-crime-of-the-year/

A Royal Christmas 👑

Christmas with the Queen — Hazel Gaynor & Heather Webb

A chef, a BBC reporter, and Christmas with the royal family in 1950s England. For those who like a little history with their holiday romance! Standalone historical fiction/romance.

https://heatherwebbauthor.com/?page_id=754

Meet Me Under the Mistletoe ❤️

Good Spirits — B. K. Borison

Falling for the Ghost of Christmas Past? Well, that could complicate the holidays! Paranormal romance; Book 1 in the Ghosted series.

https://bkborison.com/good-spirits

Grace & Henry’s Holiday Movie Marathon — Matthew Norman

Two people facing loss find friendship and another chance at love through Christmas movies. Holiday movie fans, this one might be calling your name. Maybe keep the tissues nearby! Standalone heartfelt romance.

https://www.thenormannation.com/grace-and-henrys-holiday-movie-marathon

The Holiday Swap — Maggie Knox

Twin sisters switch places just before Christmas. Add baking, romance, and the challenge of keeping their stories straight! Standalone romantic comedy.

https://marissastapley.com/the-holiday-swap/

Comfort & Joy — Kristin Hannah

Second chances, healing, and a little Christmas magic. Standalone emotional holiday fiction/romance.

https://kristinhannah.com/books/comfort-and-joy/

Books, Cookies & a Little Family Drama 🍪

The Christmas Bookshop Series — Jenny Colgan

An Edinburgh bookshop at Christmas, a fresh start, and some romance. A book about a bookshop? That feels like an easy yes for book club! Cozy fiction/romance series.

https://www.fictiondb.com/series/the-christmas-bookshop-jenny-colgan~92801.htm

The Christmas Cookie Club — Ann Pearlman

Friends gather for their annual cookie exchange and share what’s happening in their lives—the good, the hard, and everything in between. Cookies and catching up with friends sounds like a pretty good tradition to me! Friendship fiction with connected sequels.

https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Christmas-Cookie-Club/Ann-Pearlman/9781439159392

Moonglow Christmas — Deborah Garner

Small-town kindness, community, Christmas traditions, and cookie recipes. Something cozy for a busy time of year! Heartwarming holiday series, beginning with Mistletoe at Moonglow.

https://deborahgarner.com/books/

Winter Street — Elin Hilderbrand

Christmas at a Nantucket inn with the Quinn family. Of course, getting everyone together comes with a few complications! Family drama; a four-book series: Winter Street, Winter Stroll, Winter Storms, and Winter Solstice.

https://www.elinhilderbrand.net/series/elin-hilderbrand/winter-street/

What’s on your holiday reading list? Share your favorites—I can always make room for one more! ❤️📚

Thursday, December 11, 2025

Book Lovers 2026

Finding Ourselves in Every Chapter:

A Book Lovers Reading Year

Our 2026 list highlights the emotional and intellectual throughline of our choices: each book asks something of the reader—reflection, empathy, curiosity, courage. Whether it’s tracing lost identities, exploring messy families, standing in fierce community, or discovering the magic in everyday life, every month offers a new lens on what it means to be human. Cheers to another year of reading together!

January – Ladies, Ladies
Books: Brave the Wild River & First Ladies
January highlights women who forged their own paths. Brave the Wild River tells the true story of two trailblazing botanists navigating the treacherous Colorado River in 1938 to expand scientific understanding. First Ladies provides an intimate look at the women whose partnership, influence, and leadership shaped presidencies and national policy. A month celebrating audacity and impact.

February – Lovers Lane
Books: Atmosphere & Heart the Lover
February turns toward romance in all its shades. Heart the Lovers follows characters entangled in love’s sweetness and complications, while Atmosphere uses mood, setting, and emotional tension to reveal the invisible pressures and pleasures that shape relationships. A lovely blend of heartbeats and heartbreak.

March – True!
Books: The True True Story of Raja the Gullible & Everything Sad Is Untrue
March leans into storytelling as truth-seeking. Everything Sad Is Untrue combines memoir, myth, and memory as Daniel—an Iranian refugee—pieces together his family’s fractured history. The True True Story of Raja the Gullible plays with folktale structure to explore how truth can be stretched or misunderstood. Both books invite readers to question whose truth gets told and why.

April – Time to Reflect
Books: Ordinary Time & Secret Astronomers
April offers a contemplative pause. Secret Astronomers is a tender, introspective story about observing life and love from a distance—much like charting hidden constellations. Ordinary Time reflects on spirituality, seasons, and the profound meaning found within the quiet rhythms of life. A beautifully meditative pairing.

May – Fierce Women
Books: Lady Tan’s Circle of Women & The Lion Women of Tehran
May spotlights powerful stories of women whose bonds—and bravery—sustain them. Lady Tan’s Circle of Women immerses readers in 15th-century China, where a woman trained in medicine relies on her network of female healers. The Lion Women of Tehran portrays modern Iranian women confronting danger, secrets, and societal constraints through friendship and resilience. A month full of courage and connection.

June – Royal Reading
Book: Queen Esther
June focuses on a timeless narrative of bravery and calling. Queen Esther recounts the story of a young woman elevated to royalty who risks her position and life to save her people. It’s a month for reflecting on purpose, courage, and acting boldly when the moment demands it.

July – Reading the River
Books: How to Read a Book & The River Is Waiting
July centers on connection and reflection. How to Read a Book shows how shared reading can build relationships and open new paths forward, while The River Is Waiting captures the steady movement of life and the moments when we pause and listen. Together, these books reflect the gentle flow of summer and the ways stories carry us along.

August – Lost Lives, Found Stories
Books: The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau & The Book of Disappearance
August explores disappearance, identity, and the haunting power of absence. The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau follows a woman whose life shifts or is taken from her, forcing a journey of revelation and reclamation. The Book of Disappearance imagines a world where all Palestinians vanish overnight, leaving Israelis to confront memory, presence, and loss. Both novels examine what remains when people or identities disappear—and what truths rise to the surface.

September – Books About Books
Books: The Lost Bookshop & The Secret Book Society
September is a celebration of stories about stories. The Secret Book Society highlights readers who find refuge, healing, and community through shared reading. The Lost Bookshop adds a touch of magic and mystery as characters uncover a hidden literary haven that alters their lives. A joyful month honoring the transformative power of books.

October – Mystical and Mysterious
Books: The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris & Agnes Aubert’s Mystical Cat Shelter
October leans delightfully into whimsy and wonder. In The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris, a seemingly ordinary bakery brims with secrets and enchantment. Agnes Aubert’s Mystical Cat Shelter introduces magical cats, hidden powers, and a caretaker with an extraordinary story. A cozy, magical month perfect for fall.

November – Messy Families
Books: Buckeye & Good Dirt
November digs into the complexities of family—its roots, conflicts, loyalties, and the imperfect soil we grow from. Buckeye reflects on heritage and generational ties, while Good Dirt explores relationships shaped by land, lineage, and the messiness that gives families their unique shape. A warm, earthy pairing for a season centered on gathering.

December – It’s Draft Night Month!
Book: The Names
December closes the year with a thoughtful, layered exploration of identity and belonging. The Names traces the connections, histories, and personal stories that shape who we become. It’s an ideal end-of-year read—quiet, reflective, and rich with meaning as we consider the next chapter ahead.