It’s here, it’s finally here! Your wait is over, the 2021 Christmas Book Guide you’ve been waiting for has finally arrived.
This year there are twelve books on the list, and I personally read every single one of them before giving it a stamp of approval and a coveted spot in this guide. In case you were wondering, not every Christmas book that I read makes it to the final cut. I always have at least a few that I don’t finish or don’t enjoy enough to include.
I like to think there is something for everyone on this list, but if you don’t see one that tickles your fancy, don’t give up! There are five years worth of previous Christmas reading lists at this point, so check those out too and you will certainly be able to find something that suits you.
See Christmas book lists from previous years:
2016 // 2017 // 2018 // 2019 // 2020
As you will see, this list is comprised almost exclusively of fiction books, with only one nonfiction title making an appearance. I tend to lean heavily towards fiction most of the time anyway, but I especially love a good story around Christmas time, and I think all of these are entertaining or transportive in the best way.
Also, these books are not listed any particular order. If I had to choose a favorite, it would probably be a three-way tie between A Cross Country Christmas, The Mistletoe Countess, and Falling Like Snowflakes, but other than that they are pretty much all equal!
One final note: This isn’t all! I always continue reading holiday books for my own enjoyment after the guide is published, and I often share those via Instagram or email, so if you don’t want to miss those extras make sure you are following me and subscribed to my email list.
Also a quick FYI since I have become an evangelist for Kindle Unlimited, both of the Courtney Walsh books are available to KU subscribers, and several of the ones I’ll probably read in the next few weeks are on there as well.
This post contains affiliate links, which means I might make some extra coffee money at no extra expense to you if you buy something through one of my links. Read more about that here.
2020 Christmas Book Guide:
Amazon Description: Lauren Richmond isn’t a fan of Christmas. Which is why she rarely makes the trip home to the Midwest for the holidays. After all, she has plenty to keep her busy—namely, her duties as a set decorator on a TV sitcom. But this December, Lauren‘s brother and his wife are expecting a baby, so her brother arranges a ride home for her with his good friend, Will. Unfortunately for Lauren, she’s been trying to forget college baseball coach and childhood crush Will Sinclair for more than ten years.
Now, thanks to her fear of flying, she’s stuck in a car with him from California to Illinois. She’s circumspect and organized. He’s flirty and spontaneous. She’s convinced that people don’t change. He’s trying to prove to her (and himself) that he has. On this cross-country road trip, they’ll both discover that history doesn’t exactly repeat itself. . . but like any good Christmas carol, it does have a second verse.
🎄I loved this holiday-centric rom com. There are plenty of sparks from chemistry and tempers, and I love the way Lauren and Will each slowly discover that there is more to the other than what is on the surface. This one is great for anyone who loves a good enemies-to-more romance.
Amazon Description: With no memory, who can she trust? Robin Hardy survived an explosion in her university lab—but her memories are gone. With danger lurking behind every Christmas tree, she needs shelter from the attackers she can’t identify. She’ll trust fellow professor Toby Potter to safely hide her away. But when his secrets come between them, the truth could mean the difference between life and death this holiday season.
🎄This one is a short, action-packed read. It was probably the least holiday centered book on this list, so if you are looking for something that is lighter on the celebration, this could be a good pick for you. It does have a good mystery that kept me guessing to the end.
Amazon Description: Between holiday baking, hunting for the perfect tree, decorating, preparing for visiting relatives, and making sure everyone gets the ideal gift, Christmas can be anything but peaceful for a busy mom. Too often, the stress and busyness of the season make it difficult to find time to just sit and reflect on the wonder of the Savior’s birth.
If this sounds familiar, allow Simply Christmas to be your personal invitation to slow down and savor the beauty of the manger this year. These thirty-one devotions are not dated, so you’re welcome to begin reading anytime–whether that’s on December 1, Christmas Eve, the day after Thanksgiving, or the middle of July–without even a smidgen of guilt or shame.
Accompanied by seasonally inspired full-color photographs, this thirty-one-day devotional brings a bit of calm to each day through a short reflection and Scripture, together with points to ponder and fun ideas for simplifying your Christmas traditions.
🎄The distinction of the only non-fiction book on this list goes to Simply Christmas. As I mentioned earlier, I love fictional Christmas stories, but the message of this book really appealed to me. It sounds trite, but I think it really is important to remember the reason for the season and not get caught up in all the little things that don’t truly matter.
Amazon Description: Just weeks before Christmas, severe wintry weather damages the church hall hosting the Christmas Boutique—an annual sale of handcrafted gifts and baked goods that supports the county food pantry. Determined to save the fundraiser, Sylvia Bergstrom Compson offers to hold the event at Elm Creek Manor, her ancestral family estate and summertime home to Elm Creek Quilt Camp.
In the spirit of the season, Sylvia and the Elm Creek Quilters begin setting up market booths in the ballroom and decking the halls with beautiful hand-made holiday quilts. Each of the quilters chooses a favorite quilt to display, a special creation evoking memories of holidays past and dreams of Christmases yet to come. Sarah, a first-time mother expecting twins, worries if she can handle raising two babies, especially with her husband so often away on business. Cheerful, white-haired Agnes reflects upon a beautiful appliqué quilt she made as a young bride and the mysterious, long-lost antique quilt that inspired it. Empty nesters and occasional rivals Gwen and Diane contemplate family heirlooms and unfinished projects as they look forward to having their children home again for the holidays.
But while the Elm Creek Quilters work tirelessly to make sure the Christmas Boutique happens, it may take a holiday miracle or two to make it the smashing success they want it to be.
🎄 The Christmas Boutique is a cozy book that will appeal to anyone who sews or crafts, especially quilters. This book weaves together the stories of multiple women and brings them together in the present as they prepare for an annual Christmas fundraiser. Themes of female friendship and forgiveness are the backbone of a tale that is pieced together like a beautiful patchwork quilt.
Bespoke: A Tiny Christmas Tale
Amazon Description: While the elusive Secret Symphony of Giovanni St. John captivated the world’s fascination, it left his daughter closed away in the Silent House – she, the one who holds the fullness of truth about the ninth symphony. Now Aria St. John is determined to not only break free of the loss that has defined her, but to honor her father through one final gift in his last days.
On the tiny Isle of Espoir, only one man can help in her quest: James Shaw, the village blacksmith… and the lost friend of her childhood. Will they be able to overcome the tragedy that separated them before it’s too late?
🎄I was so surprised by this story. I don’t know how to describe it really, other than to say it was beautiful and utterly unexpected. It’s very short — only about 122 pages in paperback — so you could easily read it in one sitting. This one is actually free for anyone to download via Kindle right now.
Amazon Description: Hayes McGuire never believed the stories about a famous Nantucket matchmaker until she ropes him into taking over her duties while she’s off the island for Christmas.
So he enlists the help of the one person he can trust with this crazy scheme—his best friend, Prudence. Armed with a series of rules, a book of success stories and the promise of Christmas magic, the pair of old friends sets out to make a Christmas match.
Little do they know that magic doesn’t discriminate, and they soon find their years of friendship deepening into something more. Will Pru and Hayes ignore the electricity in the air between them or will there be more than one match made at Christmas?
🎄 If you are in the mood for just a hint of magical realism then definitely pick this one up. It’s a funny and touching friends-to-more romance, as Hayes very reluctantly becomes a matchmaker and sets about his duties with Prudence by his side.
Amazon Description: Mistletoe is beautiful and dangerous, much like the woman from Lord Frederick’s Percy’s past, so when he turns over a new leaf and arranges to marry for his estate, instead of his heart, he never expects the wrong bride to be the right choice. Gracelynn Ferguson never expected to take her elder sister’s place as a Christmas bride, but when she’s thrust into the choice, she will trust in her faithful novels and overactive imagination to help her not only win Frederick’s heart but also to solve the murder mystery of Havensbrook Hall before the ghosts from Frederick’s past ruin her fairytale future.
🎄Calling all book lovers, this one is for you! Grace is obsessed with books and her courtship with Frederick revolves around the library. This is such a sweet romance with wonderful characters. I loved how Gracelynn stepped up to take her sister’s place and how both of them committed to making the most out of their circumstances.
Amazon Description: When his ex is thrust into the crosshairs of a deadly syndicate, FBI agent Gavin McKade will do whatever it takes to protect her. Even work the case with his stubborn sheriff dad. Gavin’s holiday homecoming isn’t exactly warm and fuzzy, but he must set aside the past to make sure Lexie Grant survives. As if protecting Lexie from professional killers isn’t difficult enough, the unlikely reunion has rekindled their complicated romantic connection. But if Gavin can’t untangle Lexie from this dangerous web, the blurring line between duty and love may not matter…because this Christmas could be their last.
🎄 I really like stories with mostly helpful but sometimes interfering family, and that’s what you get with Holiday Secrets because bringing Lexie to the ranch makes protecting her a family affair. And if you like the McKade family, this is actually book one in a series, so you can keep reading into the new year. I also liked that there was a twist at the end that I wasn’t expecting either, especially from such a short book.
Amazon Description: Lawyer Andy Carpenter and his wife, Laurie, have started a new Christmas tradition. Their local pet store has a Christmas tree, where instead of ornaments there are wishes from those in need. One poignant wish leads Andy to a child named Danny, whose selfless plea strikes a chord. Danny asked Santa for a coat for his mother, a sweater for his dachshund, Murphy, and for the safe return of his missing father.
It turns out Danny’s father doesn’t want to be found, he’s on the run after just being arrested for a murder that took place fourteen years ago – a murder that Danny’s mother swears he didn’t commit.
With his trademark humor and larger-than-life characters – including a police officer and his K-9 partner, Simon – Rosenfelt never fails to deliver as Andy and his eccentric crew dash to reunite a family in time for Christmas.
🎄As you might guess from the title and cover, dogs and dog lovers play a big role in this story. The main character, Andy, has several dogs that feature prominently, and there is a side storyline about a retiring K-9. The thing that stood out about this book is the snarky, slightly off-beat sense of humor that the author brings to the table. I found myself smiling at Andy’s internal and external dialogue as he reluctantly investigates.
Amazon Description: In June 1972, John Creighton determines to build his wife Joan a kitchen table. His largest project to date had been picture frames but he promises to have the table ready for Thanksgiving dinner. Inspired to put something delicious on the table, Joan turns to her mother’s recipes she had given to Joan when she and John married.
In June 2012, Lauren Mabrey discovers she’s pregnant. Gloria, Miriam, and the rest of her friends at Glory’s Place begin to pitch in, helping Lauren prepare their home for the baby. On a visit to the local furniture builder, Lauren finds a table that he bought at a garage sale but has recently refinished. Once home, a drawer is discovered under the table which contains a stack of recipe cards. Growing up in one foster home after another, Lauren never learned to cook and is fascinated as she reads through the cards. Personal notes have been written on each one from the mother to her daughter and time and again Lauren wonders where they lived, when they lived, and in a strange way, she feels connected to this mother and her daughter and wants to make the mother proud.
The story continues to from 1972 to 2012 as Joan battles breast cancer and Lauren learns to cook, preparing for the baby’s arrival. As Christmas nears, can Lauren unlock the mystery of the table, and find the peace she’s always longed for?
🎄Recipes are the centerpiece of this dual timeline story centering around an old kitchen table with a stack of recipe cards hidden inside. It’s a sweet story of found and born family, and about how food can bring us together. The recipes on the cards are featured throughout the book, and while the story and dialogue are a little cheesy at times, I still thought is was a fun, cozy Christmas read.
Amazon Description: Travel magazine writer Celeste Bell is in a terrible mood. Not only was her flight to the Caribbean diverted to a Massachusetts island, now it looks like she’ll have to spend Christmas there. Single and still mourning the loss of her mother a year earlier, Celeste is desperate to avoid any emotional entanglements and all holiday festivities. She just doesn’t feel like celebrating.
But that’s exactly what community center director Nathan White and his young daughter Abigail want to do. Nathan is entirely focused on making sure that his daughter has a happy Christmas, especially with the knowledge that if he can’t raise money for the community center soon, it will close and they’ll have to leave the island. When he meets Celeste, Nathan begins to feel a connection and wonders if he’s brave enough to risk his heart once more. Thawing their frozen hearts, and saving the community center will require a Christmas miracle. But tis’ the season…
🎄 Two thumbs up for the descriptions in this story because I read it in August and still could feel and picture the snow drifts and freezing wind that keep Carrie trapped on the island. I liked the daughter in this story. Sometimes kids as a plot device gets kind of annoying, but I thought the author did a good job with Abby’s character and showing how she played a role in Nathan and Carrie’s romance. I also really liked all the side characters in this story, and how it all came together in the end.
Amazon Description: Speeding north through rural Maine, Eden Martelli wonders how her life came to this—on the run with her mute five-year-old son dozing fitfully in the passenger seat. When a breakdown leaves them stranded in Summer Harbor, Eden has no choice but to stay put through Christmas . . . even though they have no place to lay their heads.
Beau Callahan is a habitual problem solver—for other people anyway. He left the sheriff’s department to take over his family’s Christmas tree farm, but he’s still haunted by the loss of his parents and struggling to handle his first Christmas alone.
When Eden shows up looking for work just as Beau’s feisty aunt gets out of the hospital, Beau thinks he’s finally caught a break. Eden is competent and dedicated—if a little guarded—and a knockout to boot. But, as he soon finds out, she also comes with a boatload of secrets.
Eden has been through too much to trust her heart to another man, but Beau is impossible to resist, and the feeling seems to be mutual. But as Christmas Eve approaches, Eden’s past catches up to her
🎄 I’m overjoyed to be able to include my beloved Denise Hunter in this line-up. The romance in Falling Like Snowflakes is filled with layers, chemistry, and complexity, and Beau’s family and hometown are charming. The Callahans own a Christmas tree farm, so the holiday vibes are strong. There is an element of danger and suspense as Eden’s past begins to catch up with her that kept the story moving forward quickly. This one is also the first in a series, so if you like the Callahan brothers, stick around and read the next two as well! I did and they are all fabulous.
