Monday Musings: Holiday Reads

There are so many fun holiday books to read this time of year. Some definitely fall into the saccharine sweet category and some are more serious. Typically, they are easy-to-read, cheerful stories to heighten the positive mood of the season. We're sharing the ones we've read this year leading into the holidays and a couple classics!

The Santa Suit by Mary Kay Andrews: Though this follows a fairly traditional holiday trope including a younger middle-aged woman starting over, befriending an older man, advancing her creative career while also following in love, there's also a mystery to be solved and some genuine and charming elements.

Midnight at the Christmas Bookshop by Jenny Colgan: This sequel to The Christmas Bookshop was released this fall, and follows the story of Carmen and the struggling Edinborough bookstore where she works. The descriptions of Scotland's historic scenery at the holidays continues to be one of the most charming elements of this series. The protaganist, Carmen, is less frustrating and more endearing in this second story as well. And if you to love to read, you will enjoy the unusual evolution of the little bookshop. Highly recommend!

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott: An American classic about sisterhood, family, war and coming of age. It's a lovely story to reread during the holiday season and to gift to a tween or teen.

One Day in December by Josie Silver: Main characters, Laurie and Jack, experience a love at first sight moment from across the way at a bus stop on a cold London day in December. Before they can introduce themselves, Laurie's bus departs while Jack sits on a bench. The next December, at Laurie and Sarah's Christmas party, Laurie finally runs into what feels like her long lost love. But, it's the worst of circumstances — he is Sarah's new boyfriend whom she has been raving about to Laurie for weeks prior. Readers are carried through the ups and downs of the relationships between Laurie, Jack, Sarah and several other endearing characters, for the next 10 years. The story is a testament to the strength of friendship and love — the kind that feels like family.

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens: A wonderful classic with lessons about life, happiness, joy and family that deserves revisitng each year. In the spirit of Christmas, the story tugs at the heartstrings and helps readers refocus on what's important in life.

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