What are your favorite winter books?

And a few of my recommendations

In my opinion, there is no greater reading joy than reading seasonally. One of my favorite reading experiences was finishing Craig Davidson’s Saturday Night Ghost Club on a rainy, cold Halloween night, curled up on my couch with my dog on my feet. My job means that I’m often not reading seasonally at all—every summer I end up reading at least one yet-to-be-published Christmas book, and right now I’m already into summer vacation books. And sometimes I even end up writing a Christmas book in summer! Them’s the breaks!

But when I’m doing my own non-deadline, non-work reading, I love to read seasonally. I love doing this in all seasons, but there’s something really special about winter reading…and by this I specifically mean non-Christmas, post-holiday reading. Nothing against a Christmas book, obviously, but typically in February I’m less interested in tinsel and trees and way more interested in, like, harsh, unforgiving, snow-covered landscapes. Give me a cover with some snow on it! Give me something all-consuming! Something sad, but hopeful! Slush, boots, despair, ice, etc!

Here are some of my recent winter favorites, although I’m sure I’m forgetting plenty of books I loved.

Another Marvelous Thing by Laurie Colwin. I already wrote about this book this week so I’ll spare you the summary, but one of the reasons I needed to read it now is because of the cover. It isn’t even a super wintry book. But if I see a scarf and some snow…I’m in. I just realized, having finished the book, that the scarf pictured is incredibly important to the story…biggest scarf moment since All Too Well (I know this book came out before Taylor Swift was born).

A Quiet Life by Ethan Joella. This was my big winter read from last year and boy, did I ever love it. I absolutely judged this book by its cover. A window, a candle, snow-covered branches, and a cardinal? It’s like I dreamed this cover into life, Savage Garden style (if you don’t get that reference, honestly, good for you). This is really my ideal winter read…it’s sad and hopeful. I sobbed reading this book. Like, scary hard tears. But ultimately it was so uplifting! One of those books to read when you’re feeling down that will heal your heart but, like, not in a cheesy way.

The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon. I have to be honest: I haven’t yet finished this book because it was due back at the library, so I returned it and immediately put myself on the hold list, which is over 300 people long. I know I could buy it but at this point I’m committed. You don’t get a library receipt telling you the library has saved you almost $20,000 by giving up, okay? The cover is what drew me in…snow and a little pop of red is clearly the magic formula for me. Again, I haven’t yet finished it but this is a book I would recommend to a lot of people, even people who aren’t huge readers, because the plot draws you in immediately. It’s about a midwife in Maine in 1789 who’s trying to solve a murder case. It’s got birth details, a murder investigation, and a lot of sexism (everyone’s always underestimating the main character! There are so many terrible men!). Everything is difficult because it’s 1789. One thing I really love about this book is that the main character and her husband are older (their children are essentially grown) but she’s still constantly like, “Damn, my husband is so hot.” Good for them! Ariel Lawhon is going to be at Joseph-Beth on March 1st and I probably won’t make it down there, but you should go if you’re in the area!

Beartown by Fredrik Backman. Here’s a book I haven’t read, even though I own it. I meant to read it last winter, somehow missed it, and saved it for this year. I need to read it soon so I don’t repeat this pattern…I can’t read this book in summer! I cried a lot while reading A Man Called Ove, so I’m looking forward to having a great winter experience with this one.

And now for the real point of this post…I would love to hear your winter reading recommendations! The introduction post from a couple weeks ago reinforced what I already knew, which is that all of you have amazing taste, so please share. If you have any winter movie recommendations, feel free to share those, too! Mine is Chilly Scenes of Winter, which I bought during a Criterion sale last year and plan on rewatching this year. See you soon. xo