Want a book to curl up with this winter season? Here are some of our favourite cosy reads to get you through the festive period…
The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg
Who said picture books are just for kids? While reading The Polar Express has become a popular Christmas tradition for families with young children, it’s an equally fun read for adults!
The Polar Express is about a young boy who, while accompanied by other children, gets the chance to travel to the North Pole on a magical train. The richly drawn illustrations in the book offer a fully immersive experience and take the reader on an enchanting journey to Santa’s hometown.
The Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare
Our favourite comfort reads are always books we’ve loved for many years that we can go back to again and again. One series that is great to get into for the winter period is Cassandra Clare’s fantasy series The Infernal Devices.
The series is the prequel series to The Mortal Instruments, and follows Tessa Gray, an orphaned teenage girl who discovers she has the power to shapeshift, abilities that plunge her into a world she never knew existed. Set in Victorian London, Tessa will have to forge an alliance with the Shadowhunters of the London Institute if she wants to survive in this dangerous world. If you’re a fan of character-driven stories, addictive romance, historical fiction and exciting adventures – then this is perfect for you!
The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
A coming-of-age story that follows Charlie, an introverted observing teenager, through his freshman year of high school in a Pittsburgh suburb. In a series of letters, written by Charlie to an anonymous friend, we see Charlie navigate between the worlds of adolescence and adulthood, and the friends he meets along the way, including the compassionate and warm Sam and her charismatic step-brother, Patrick.
While the novel deals with some dark themes, it’s ultimately a moving and uplifting story about growth and identity. Chbosky writes with authenticity and realism, which as an adult it takes you back to when you were a teenager, as a child it shows you what lies ahead and as a teenager it inspires you.
Hercule Poirot’s Christmas by Agatha Christie
Agatha Christie’s seasonal mystery thriller that will keep you on your toes this winter.
In true Christie fashion, the Lee family come together for Christmas eve, but their reunion is marred by a murder. Upstairs, the tyrannical Simeon Lee lies dead in a pool of blood, his throat slashed. But when Hercule Poirot, who is staying in the village with a friend for Christmas, offers to assist, he finds an atmosphere not of mourning but of mutual suspicion. It seems everyone had their own reason to hate the old man.
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
A treasured American classic, Little Women is an adored festive read, as its story starts on Christmas day.
The beloved March sisters, Meg, Jo, Amy and Beth, continue to inspire and influence readers to this day. Over the generations, we still root for Laurie in his pursuit of Jo’s hand, cry over little Beth’s death, and dream of traveling through Europe with old Aunt March and Amy.
