Are you ready for a cozy evening in by the fire, a hot cocoa in your hand, and a great book?
Here is our list for some great Wintery novels, from old classics to the newest work out there, an eclectic list, everyone will find something to read.
- The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis. The first book published in the Chronicles of Narnia series, it follows a group of four siblings and their adventures in the mystical land of Narnia. A perfect novel for the winter, there is all kinds of snow that abounds and is set in a wintery wonderland.
- The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah. Set in Alaska in 1974, a man moves his family up to Alaska after coming back from the Vietnam War. The landscape seems perfect at first, but then when winter comes the family has to make hard choices about who they really are and who they want to become.
- The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden. Set in the Russian wilderness, it is a fairy tale of family and there’s even an evil stepmother.
- In the Midst of Winter by Isabel Allende
- The Shining by Stephen King. If you’re looking for horror or just need a break from the Hallmark Christmas specials why not pick up this book set at the Overlook Hotel, when one family goes slowly crazy staying at a haunted hotel. Set against a wintery backdrop, the film is also incredible if you’re interested in a very anti-holiday tale.
- Winter in Paradise by Elin Hilderbrand. If you’re ready for a winter, not set in the snow, this might be the book for you. A vacation novel, Irene decides to ring in the new year on the island of St. John.
- The Push by Ashley Audrain. A psychological drama about motherhood and finding that your child is not what it seems. The Push is a novel that you can read in one sitting, utterly swept up in the drama of the story.
- A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. The classic tale of Mr. Scrooge finding empathy and gratitude is a classic for the winter season. And if you haven’t ever read it, it’s so short! You can read it in a day. Three ghosts come to visit Mr. Scrooge, the Ghost of Christmas Past, the Ghost of Christmas Present, and the Ghost of Christmas’ Yet to Come; the tale is a seminal work of the holiday season and is the perfect way to get in the mood of the season.
- Ariadne by Jennifer Saint. A reimagined story about the Princess of Crete and her time in the labyrinth with Daedalus and the Minotaur.
- The Inheritance of Orquidea Divina by Zoraida Cordova. In this fantasy novel, the Montoya family lives in a world without explanations, but all of their needs are taken care of. When the family starts to struggle with a hidden figure trying to tear down their family tree, it is up to the four descendants to figure out what is going on. The book plays with ancestry going back and forth in time and will leave you wondering about your own roots.
Do you have a book that you always read during this season? We’d love to hear about it! Email alice@jubilance.com to talk about your favorite novels and suggestions!
