Stories Worth Reading This Week (Merry Holidays!)
If you’re lucky enough to get some extra downtime this week, here are some stories worth your time and attention. Let me know what you would add to this list in the comments.
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
The basic plot?
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens follows Ebenezer Scrooge, a cold and miserly man who despises Christmas because it forces him to close his financial firm. On Christmas Eve, he is visited by the ghost of his former business partner, Jacob Marley, and three spirits who show him his past, present, and possible future. Through these visions, Scrooge sees the harm his greed causes others and the lonely fate awaiting him if he does not change. He wakes on Christmas morning transformed, embracing generosity, kindness, and the joy of human connection.
Why read it this week?
The best way to celebrate Christmas should entail haunting the rich until they gain empathy for others and agree to pay their fair share and give back to their communities, as well as those who help make them rich.
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
The basic plot?
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott follows the lives of the four March sisters—Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy—as they grow up during the American Civil War. The novel focuses on their everyday struggles, ambitions, and relationships as they learn lessons about love, work, family, and morality. Each sister pursues a different path, facing successes and disappointments that shape her character. Through joys and hardships, the story emphasizes personal growth, compassion, and the importance of home and family.
Why read it this week?
Little Women is especially meaningful at Christmastime because it opens with a Christmas scene that centers on generosity, family, and caring for others. The story reflects values often associated with the season—kindness, self-sacrifice, forgiveness, and gratitude—shown through the sisters’ everyday choices rather than grand gestures. Its cozy domestic atmosphere and emphasis on togetherness make it comforting winter reading. At a time when many people reflect on what truly matters, the novel gently encourages compassion, humility, and love within family and community.
Letters from Father Christmas by J.R.R. Tolkien
The basic plot?
Letters from Father Christmas is a collection of illustrated letters J.R.R. Tolkien wrote to his children, supposedly from Father Christmas at the North Pole. The letters describe humorous and adventurous events, often involving the mischievous Polar Bear, goblins, and preparations for Christmas. Through these stories, Father Christmas shares the challenges and joys of bringing gifts to children around the world. The book blends fantasy, warmth, and family affection, creating a gentle narrative that unfolds year by year.
Why read it this week?
Letters from Father Christmas is perfect for Christmastime because it captures the sense of wonder, imagination, and warmth that defines the season. Reading it during the holidays feels like opening a series of personal Christmas cards, filled with humor, kindness, and cozy magic. The book encourages slowing down and appreciating simple joys, family traditions, and storytelling. For adults, it can rekindle childlike delight while offering a comforting reminder of creativity, love, and the spirit of giving.
How the Grinch Stole Christmas! By Dr. Suess
The basic plot?
How the Grinch Stole Christmas! tells the story of the Grinch, a bitter creature who hates Christmas and the joyful Whos of Whoville, and is a good selection for adults as well as children. Believing Christmas is about presents and decorations, the Grinch disguises himself as Santa and steals everything from the Whos on Christmas Eve. When Christmas morning arrives, he is shocked to see the Whos celebrating happily anyway. Realizing that Christmas is about love and community rather than material things, the Grinch’s heart grows, and he returns the stolen items and joins the celebration.
Why read it this week?
In a lot of ways, this story is similar to A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens yet focuses more on reminding readers to reflect on how easily joy and meaning can be lost when holidays become focused on stress, spending money on gifts, or outer appearances rather than connection (which is especially useful for adults to remember). The story also shows that change and personal growth are always possible, no matter how set someone may seem. Beneath its playful rhymes, it offers a gentle but powerful critique of materialism and a reminder of empathy, community, and generosity.
Hercule Poirot’s Christmas by Agatha Christie
The basic plot?
Hercule Poirot’s Christmas centers on the wealthy and tyrannical Simeon Lee, who invites his estranged family to his estate for Christmas. When Lee is brutally murdered behind a locked door, suspicion falls on nearly every family member, each of whom has a motive. Hercule Poirot is called in to untangle the conflicting stories, secrets, and tensions within the household. The novel combines a classic locked-room mystery with themes of greed, family conflict, and justice set against a festive backdrop.
Why read it this week?
Hercule Poirot’s Christmas is fitting for the holidays because it combines the cozy, traditional Christmas setting—family gatherings, a decorated house, and winter festivities—with a suspenseful mystery. Reading it at Christmastime adds a playful contrast between the season’s warmth and the story’s intrigue, making the holiday tension-filled yet entertaining. It also highlights family dynamics, reminding readers that the holidays can bring both joy and conflict. For adults who enjoy puzzles, clever detective work, and a twist on seasonal storytelling, it’s a perfect festive read.
Some Holiday Romance Novels Worth Reading
My Personal Faves:
In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren follows Maelyn “Mae” Jones, who, after a disappointing Christmas and a wish to the universe about finding happiness, becomes stuck reliving the same holiday week at her family’s Utah cabin over and over again until she can figure out what will truly make her happy — including discovering where her heart really belongs.
Holiday Romance by Catherine Walsh follows lifelong friends Molly and Andrew, who have spent the last ten years flying together from Chicago to Ireland for Christmas. But when a freak snowstorm grounds their flight and forces an unexpected adventure to get home in time, they begin to realize their friendship might be turning into something more.
In A Home for the Holidays by Taylor Hahn, wedding singer Mel Hart returns to her late mother’s house shortly before Christmas, unexpectedly reconnects with her mother’s old friend and becomes part of her family’s holiday chaos, uncovers long‑hidden secrets about her mom, and finds new love while grappling with grief and reevaluating her future.
In A Very Merry Bromance by Lyssa Kay Adams, country music star Colton Wheeler seizes a second chance at love with immigration lawyer Gretchen Winthrop by agreeing to go on a series of Christmas‑season dates with her in exchange for helping her career, all while he and his Bromance Book Club friends try to show her the joy of the holidays and rekindle their spark despite past hurts and family ghosts.
This Time Next Year by Sophie Cousens follows Minnie Cooper and Quinn Hamilton, who were born minutes apart on New Year’s Day and lead very different lives until a chance meeting on their shared 30th birthday brings them together, challenging Minnie’s long‑held belief that her life has been unlucky and opening the door to an unexpected romance.
The Second Chance Year by Melissa Wiesner follows Sadie Thatcher, whose life has fallen apart. But after a mystical wish at a New Year’s Eve party magically sends her back to January 1 of the previous year, she gets a do‑over that forces her to reexamine her choices in love, career, and friendship — especially her growing feelings for her brother’s best friend, Jacob.
Other Popular Options:
The Holly Dates by Brittainy Cherry — A festive rom‑com with humor, emotional depth, and holiday vibes.
The Christmas Tree Farm by Melody Carlson — A sweet second‑chance romance set on a Christmas tree farm.
Grace and Henry’s Holiday Movie Marathon by Matthew Norman— A sentimental advertising creative and a blunt, no-nonsense bar owner find a second chance at love while binge-watching iconic holiday movies
Good Spirits by B.K. Borison — A whimsical holiday romance with a supernatural twist featuring Christmas magic and love.
I’ll Be Home for Christmas by Jenny Bayliss — A British holiday romance about returning home and reconnecting with old love.
Once Upon a Holidate: A Christmas Romance Novel by Susan Mallery — A sweet, feel‑good holiday romance.
Lighting Up Christmas by Katie Rosem— A cozy small‑town Christmas romance and fan favorite.
The Gingerbread Bakery by Laurie Gilmore — Holiday romance with cozy small‑town charm.
What stories would you add to this list?
© This work is not available for artificial intelligence (AI) training. All Rights Reserved by K.E. Creighton; Creighton’s Compositions LLC.
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