It's almost the end of the year, and a good time to look back on your 2022 reading resolutions. Regardless of whether you're on track to hit your reading goals or have scrapped them altogether, December is the perfect time to give your reading habit a quick reboot.
Read on for 4 short and sweet holiday books that will help you do just that!
1. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
Nothing will get you in the holiday spirit the way Charles Dickens' charming short novel, A Christmas Carol, will. It tells the tale of an old miser named Ebenezer Scrooge who is visited by four spirits on Christmas Eve. They offer him glimpses of the past, present, and the terrible future that awaits if he refuses to change his ways. The length (it's only 64 pages long) and heartwarming message of A Christmas Carol makes it the perfect short and sweet December read.
2. Christmas Days by Jeannette Winterson
Good food and uplifting tales are both a big part of the holiday season and Jeannette Winterson brilliantly combines the two in her book Christmas Days. Featuring 12 short stories AND 12 amazing recipes, this book has you covered in both the great story-telling and excellent food departments.
3. Letters from Father Christmas by J.R.R. Tolkien
Tolkien is pretty well-known for penning a little trilogy called The Lord of the Rings, but did you know the famous fantasy author dabbled in whimsical Christmas stories too? For years, Tolkien wrote letters to his children, posing as Father Christmas. These beautiful stories of mischief and magic make for excellent holiday reading—alone or with your kids!
4. Winter by Ali Smith
If the title doesn't already give it away, Winter by Ali Smith is a great cozy-up-by-the-fire book to read this December. Not only is it short and sweet, but it's a dreamy and immersive experience to get lost in this book. The story is told through the narrations of the aging Sophie and her son Art as they spend the Christmas holidays together. It slips seamlessly between past and present, memory and reality to give readers a melancholic but beautiful reading experience.
What's on your December reading list? Share your reading recs below!
And if you're looking for a few creative gifts for the bookworm in your life (other than books), check out our bookish holiday gift guide with something for every type of reader.