Favorite Christmas Reads

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?