Holiday Reads

In hindsight- I could have made this literally about anything, but instead I careened wildly into a genre I rarely go towards. Holiday reads. You know what I found out? Most holiday reads are romances or cozy mysteries, with a smattering of Dickinson’s thrown in for spice. But I was determined and had little else to occupy myself with, so I persevered and here we are- 10 titles based around this time of year; from ghost stories to Own Voices romance, not to mention dysfunctional families, Victorian period pieces, drinking, and a latke that couldn’t stop screaming.

You know, usual Holiday stuff.

Top Ten Tuesday is brought to you by That Artsy Reader Girl.

This Time Next Year by Sophie Cousens

Quinn and Minnie were born on (nearly) the same day in 1989 and 1990- and now years of missed connections and awkward encounters accumulate in one night, where they finally may realize that the things that make them opposites are also the things that make them work so well.

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Written in the Stars by Alexandria Bellefleur

This cover is so cute! An Own Voices novel that takes inspiration from Pride and Prejudice- A free spirited astrologist and a down-to-earth actuary fail spectacularly at a blind date with one another, but to save face- and to save themselves from further “helpful family members” they agree to continue as though they hit it off, at least until New Years Eve. Neither of them are expecting to fall for the other, which is exactly what they’re going to do.

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Wrapped Up in You by Talia Hibbert

Hollywood Hunk William Reid isn’t too interested in his million dollar career or his handsome face- because this Christmas he’s go the chance to finally win over his best friends sister, the women he’s been harboring a crush on for his entire life, Abbie Farrel. With the two of them are snowed in at Grandma Ferrel’s house, alone- save for 27 pets, it’s the perfect opportunity for him to finally win over the smart and fierce women of his dreams. Sadly this is an exclusive to Kubo?! Which I don’t fully understand how to even access, so… that’s probably fine. I really want to read this, though- Abbie is Scottish! Gimme! Also why isn’t this a movie with Chris Pine and Danielle Brooks? That is them on the cover, right?

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The Afterlife of Holly Chase by Cynthia Hand

Five years ago three ghosts appeared to Holly Chase, in an attempt to show her the selfish and cold person she had become, they told her to change her ways, or death would be the next visitor she received…

Flash forward five years, and Holly is a ghost- tasked with the same challenges those she faced half a decade before were given. Every years, she saves a new miser, every year, her family moves on without her, but this year- something is about to change…

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The Valancourt Book of Victorian Christmas Ghost Stories by Tara Moore (Editor)

Those crazy Victorian’s with their flower languages and love of dead things and also Being Proper. This is a collection of 19th century stories pulled from various periodicals of the time. Macabre and interesting, it goes well beyond the typical Dickinson ghosts and shows a wide range of stories from a eclectic collection of authors.

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Seven Days of Us by Francesca Hornak

Freshly returned from a third world country and possibly carrying the very illness she was tasked to fight- Olivia is going home for the holidays for the first time in years- and will have to quarantine with her family for seven days straight. Hit’s a bit close to home, doesn’t it? This comedy of family tensions sounds a bit like Arrested Development but with less ironic ignorance, and I always enjoy the perspective of someone returning to a first world country and being forced to deal with a multitude of now trivial problems.

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Holidays on Ice by David Sedaris

David Sedaris certainly has led a strange and interesting life- and this book collects all that he has experienced during the Holidays- from Halloween to New Years. Here we explore the difficulties of explaining the Easter Bunny to the French, or what Halloween is like at a medical examiners. There’s even a diary of a Macy’s elf in here, so a little something for everyone.

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An Irish Christmas Feast: The Best of John B. Keane by John Brendan Keane

Born in Listowel, Ireland during the late 1920’s, Keane was an essayist, playwright, and novelist- this book collects his writings on County Kerry and the many strange, interesting, and often humorous stories and people that fill that landscape during Christmas. I’m a sucker for rustic holiday stories and descriptions, and the idea of Christmas in Ireland during the last century is right up my alley.

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The Latke Who Couldn’t Stop Screaming: A Christmas Story by Lemony Snicket & Lisa Brown (Illustrator)

The title sort of says it all, doesn’t it? This is the story of a Latke- who is just trying to explain what Hanukkah is (and isn’t) to all the confused people and animals he encounters. With a voice hoarse from screaming, our courageous hero resists being put in hot oil and fights back against the wild misinformation circulating around a very important time of year for the Jewish community.

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A Holiday by Gaslight by Mimi Matthews

The cover caught my eye first, I’ll admit- but also the author. I’ve been reading Mimi Matthews’ blog for ages now; she’s very knowledgeable on the Victorian Era and writes great posts about it. And I really should read some of her nonfiction. A story of a women who must marry outside her social circle to ensure the survival of her family, and the gruff but golden man who she is determined to wed. It sounds fun, and I like the idea of a high class women going after a lower class guy, since so often it’s the other way around.

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Christmas is just around the corner, are you guys ready (if you celebrate)? I actually got most of my shopping done in… August? So I just have to get some gift cards, then I’m done. Hope your December is shaping up to be a nice one, I’m curious to see what you guys do for this, so that I can use those ideas in the future! Until next time, happy reading!

Previous Top Ten Tuesdays:

• Books I am Thankful Exist
• Character Names I’d Like to Name a Pet After
• Book Titles that Would Make Great Song Titles
• Non-Bookish Hobbies?!
• Halloween Reads