Canadian writer Louise Penny poses during a portrait session. She is the author of a hugely … [+]
When the weather outside turns frightful, there’s nothing as delightful as curling up with a great book. Wintry books set the perfect tone for a long day of reading covered up by a blanket with a steaming mug of tea nearby. The best winter books revolve around either a seasonal element, such as Christmas or Hannukah, or a weather ordeal, such as a blustery blizzard that cuts the main characters off from civilization. Of course, books about winter can include any type of genre, from romance novels to thriller books. This list of top winter novels will keep you busy and satisfy all your cravings for cozy winter books until the spring thaw begins.
Good Books For Winter
Winter books include anything set from December through March, often focusing on the holidays. Common themes for wintry novels include finding the true meaning of Christmas, overcoming bad weather conditions, and discovering true love at the holidays. Many famous authors pen winter books, such as Stephen King, Louise Penny and Edith Wharton.
The rankings for this list are based on books’ commercial popularity, critical reviews, awards, creativity and continued long-term appeal.
Writer Isabelle Allende is one of the many famous authors to write a fantastic winter novel.
30. In the Midst of Winter by Isabel Allende (2017)
During a snowstorm, a professor runs into a car owned by an undocumented Guatemalan woman, who later seeks help at the professor’s door. Winter acts as a metaphor in the book, an Amazon Editor’s Pick, which explores critical but unexpected developments in the two characters’ lives.
This book is best for anyone who wants a nuanced look at immigration and values beautiful writing. Isabel Allende’s In the Midst of Winter is available from publisher Simon & Schuster.
29. A Girl in Winter by Philip Larkin (1947)
This tale told in three chapters, including two set in brutal winter during World War II, follows a British woman who becomes exiled and must deal with tough aspects of her past. It is not quite a mystery and not quite a romance, but it is an excellent character study.
This book is best for those looking for beautiful writing about winter. Philip Larkin’s A Girl in Winter is available from publisher Overlook Press.
28. The Christmas Appeal by Janice Hallett (2023)
A sequel to the bestselling The Appeal, this book again examines the follies of a community theater troupe trying to raise money for a new church roof. Instead, they descend into pettiness and holiday badwill, which is all very funny.
This book is best for anyone looking for Christmas-themed laughs or who loved the first book. Janice Hallett’s The Christmas Appeal is available from publisher Simon & Schuster.
26. Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah (2010)
Beloved author Kristin Hannah serves up a tale of family intrigue. Sisters Meredith and Nina have nothing in common except a frosty relationship with their mother, which worsens when they return home to their ill father. Flashbacks highlight family mysteries sparked during winters in Leningrad and Alaska.
This book is best for Hannah fans or fans of family drama. Kristin Hannah’s Winter Garden is available from publisher Macmillan.
25. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott (1868)
Another classic novel, Louisa May Alcott’s tale of four sisters coming of age after the Civil War includes notable Christmas and ice skating scenes that set a cozy tone. As each sister learns and leans into her strengths, you watch a family strengthen despite the difficulties they face.
This book is best for those who like classic books. Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women is available from Simon & Schuster.
The cast of the 1933 film “Little Women,” adapted from Louisa May Alcott’s classic cozy winter … [+]
24. August Snow by Stephen Mack Jones (2018)
The protagonist’s last name is snow—how’s that for wintry? The first in the August Snow series, the book follows a charismatic former cop who left a corrupt system and now solves mysteries on his own time, when he’s not improving his neighborhood or cracking wise.
This book is best for those who like humor in their mysteries. Stephen Mack Jones’ August Snow is available from publisher Penguin Random House.
23. The Widows of Malabar Hill by Suata Massey (2018)
One of India’s first female lawyers, Perveen Mistry is tough—you have to be to be a woman at Oxford in the 1920s. She investigates a man who left three widows under mysterious circumstances. If Mistry fails to find out what happened, the women and their children could be hurt.
This book is best for those who want to transport themselves somewhere else during the cold winter months. Suata Massey’s The Widows of Malabar Hill is available from publisher Penguin Random House.
22. Let It Snow by John Green, Maureen Johnson and Lauren Myracle (2008)
When a massive snowstorm hits town, teenagers facing serious life decisions deal with it in different ways. This sweet romcom benefits from a trio of experienced young adult (YA) authors leading the action. Each story within the story has a satisfying outcome, perfect for an afternoon read. This book is best for YA fans and people who enjoyed the Netflix movie based on the book.
John Green, Maureen Johnson and Lauren Myracle’s Let It Snow is available from publisher Penguin Teen.
21. Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz (2017)
An NPR and Washington Post Best Book of the Year selection, Magpie Murders tells the story of an editor trying to track down the ending to a late bestselling author’s final book. The mystery takes many twists and turns, and the book within a book is a cozy classic.
This book is best for those who enjoy books within a book or want something set in cozy Britain. Anthony Horowitz’s Magpie Murders is available from publisher HarperCollins.
20. Lunar Love by Lauren Kung Jessen (2023)
An ode to Lunar New Year, the traditional Chinese winter celebration, and a delightful enemies-to-lovers read, Lunar Love tells the story of Olivia, who is taking over her family’s matchmaking business. Problem is, a new app invented by an eligible bachelor is hurting her clientele.
This book is best for romance fans looking for a new take on an old trope. Lauren Kung Jessen’s Lunar Love is available from publisher Hachette.
19. Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton (1911)
Fancy some old-fashioned pining for your winter reading? The moody novel Ethan Frome, a literary classic, follows Ethan as he falls in love with his wife’s cousin but chafed against his desire to uphold aristocratic mannerisms instead of living the life he wants.
This book is best for those who enjoy dissections of traditional society. Edith Wharton’s Ethan Frome is available from Penguin Random House.
A 1930s play based on Edith Wharton’s classic winter novel “Ethan Frome.”
18. The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman (2020)
The colorful, delightful seniors who form the Thursday Murder Club enjoy solving mysteries while also busting stereotypes about older people. Richard Osman’s laugh-out-loud prose propelled this book to the top of the bestseller list, and a Netflix adaptation will appear in 2025.
This book is best for anyone who needs a laugh or a biscuit. Richard Osman’s The Thursday Murder Club is available from publisher Penguin Random House.
17. The Golden Spoon by Jenny Lawson and Jennifer Wright (2023)
At the bucolic Vermont estate where cooking reality show Bake Week is filmed, things suddenly start going dangerously wrong for the six contestants. The shenanigans escalate quickly from swapping salt for sugar to murder—and not even the show’s star can escape suspicion.
This book is best for anyone whose comfort binge watch is Great British Baking Show. Jenny Lawson and Jennifer Wright’s The Golden Spoon is available from publisher Simon & Schuster.
16. Under the Whispering Door by T.J. Klune (2021)
Cozy reads are often about second chances, and Wallace gets the chance of a lifetime from a mystical tea shop owner. Scratch that—it may be the chance of a deathtime, considering Wallace thinks he may have passed away. He gets a one-week reprieve to relive the things he wished he’d done.
This book is best for fans of queer fantasy. T.J. Klune’s Under the Whispering Door is available from publisher Macmillan.
15. Snowblind by Ragnar Jonasson (2010)
Is there anything cozier than a Scandinavian noir? The first book in the Dark Iceland series is set in a small Icelandic fishing village, two deaths spark a young detective to uncover secrets that the townspeople would rather keep hidden. Ari discovers more and more lies buried deeper than the snow that surrounds him.
This book is best for anyone who loved The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. Ragnar Jonasson’s Snowblind is available from publisher Macmillan.
14. Royal Holiday by Jasmine Guillory (2019)
What begins with a flirtation and blossoms into a kiss under the mistletoe culminates in a New Year’s Day surprise in one of Jasmine Guillory’s signature fun, funny romcoms. Vivian travels to England when her daughter gets a career opportunity, but instead it’s the mom whose life is in for a “royal” change.
This book is best for romcom fans looking for a holiday distraction. Jasmine Guillory’s Royal Holiday is available from publisher Penguin Random House.
Bestselling author Jasmine Guillory’s “Royal Holiday” is a fantastic winter novel to cozy up with.
13. Iron Lake William Kent Krueger (1998)
The first in William Kent Krueger’s acclaimed Cork O’Connor series, Iron Lake introduces the former Aurora, Minnesota, sheriff, who is now a private investigator looking into the murder of a judge and disappearance of an Eagle scout. The Irish Native American is also nursing his own family wounds that leave him feeling guilty.
This book is best for those who love hardboiled detective series, with the frozen tundra setting giving it a cozy rather than noir feel. William Kent Krueger’s Iron Lake is available from publisher Simon & Schuster.
12. Dash & Lily’s Book of Dares by David Levithan and Rachel Cohn (2010)
The book that inspired the Netflix series introduces Dash and Lily, teens whose chance meeting during the holidays sparks a romp around New York based on things Lily has recorded in her notebook. There’s a whole series of Dash and Lily books, too.
This book is best for those who love sharp young adult literature. David Levithan and Rachel Cohn’s Dash & Lily’s Book of Dares is available from publisher Penguin Random House.
11. The Verifiers by Jane Pek (2022)
This delightfully droll debut novel delivers an unexpectedly satisfying mystery and introduces some insightful moral dilemmas that will keep you thinking long after the book ends. Semi-closeted Claudia’s work at an online dating detective agency is only slightly more challenging than her traditional Chinese mom. The Verifiers was a Washington Post Mystery of the Year.
This book is best for those looking for a holiday book with wry twists. Jane Pek’s The Verifiers is available from publisher Penguin Random House.
10. The Shining by Stephen King (1977)
Everyone knows the line “Here’s Johnny” from Stephen King’s The Shining, a novel about a writer and his family who become snowbound in the hotel where he’s the caretaker. Jack’s 5-year-old son sees his father’s descent amid evil forces that seem to focus on the hotel. The book’s also an acclaimed moving starring Jack Nicholson.
This book is best for horror fans. Stephen King’s The Shining is available from publisher Penguin Random House.
A famous scene from the movie adaptation of Stephen King’s “The Shining,” a great winter thriller.
9. How the Penguins Saved Veronica by Hazel Prior (2023)
Nothing says winter like penguins, the newly discovered passion of 85-year-old Veronica McCreedy, who is inspired to travel to Antarctica by a documentary she watches on the birds. Estranged from her family, Veronica wants a worthy cause to leave her money to, but her grandson may change her mind.
This book is best for those looking for a heartwarming family tale. Hazel Prior’s How the Penguins Saved Veronica is available from publisher Penguin Random House.
8. The Unquiet Dead by Ausma Zehanat Khan (2015)
Ausma Zehanat Khan’s debut novel in the Esa Khattak and Rachel Getty series is the very definition of atmospheric thriller. The detectives investigate the death of a man who may not have been who he claimed, amid a brutal Canadian winter as Khattak battles suspicion from colleagues over his Muslim Serb identity.
This book is best for those looking for a new twist on the traditional detective series. Ausma Zehanat Khan’s The Unquiet Dead is available from publisher Macmillan.
7. The Crossing Places by Elly Griffiths (2009)
For those wanting to dive into a cozy series to take them through winter, try this first book in the Ruth Galloway series. Galloway is an archeologist called to consult on bones discovered by detectives searching for a missing girl. Her knack for crime solving and chemistry with Detective Harry Nelson set up the series.
This book is best for those who love cozy mysteries with substance and humor. Elly Griffiths’ The Crossing Places is available from publisher HarperCollins.
6. The Christmas Bookshop by Jenny Colgan (2021)
This New York Times bestseller follows down-on-her-luck Carmen, who reluctantly moves in with her sister and takes a job helping to revive a once-charming bookshop in Scotland. A love triangle with a famous author gives this book some spice, and the gentle humor makes it feel like a Christmas cookie—warm, sweet and satisfying.
This book is best for book lovers and romance lovers. Jenny Colgan’s The Christmas Bookshop is available from publisher HarperCollins.
Romance author Jenny Colgan has penned multiple Christmas cozy books.
5. The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon (2023)
When a man is found frozen in the ice in 1789 Maine, local midwife Martha is asked to figure out what killed him. She realizes he had been accused of a rape that tore the town apart. Now, she’s uncovering new secrets others wish would stay frozen.
Ariel Lawhon’s The Frozen River is available from publisher Penguin Random House.
4. Boy, Snow, Bird by Helen Oyeyemi (2014)
Imagine Snow White retold in the 1950s as a tale about race. In Boy, Snow, Bird, Boy is the evil stepmother, and the birth of her dark-skinned daughter with her new husband exposes the light-skinned Black couple, who have been passing for white.
This book is best for those who want an inventive twist on an old story. Helen Oyeyemi’s Boy, Snow, Bird is available from publisher Penguin Random House.
3. The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey (2012)
In brutal 1920 Alaska, a homesteading couple struggling with loneliness and their hard new life make a girl out of snow—who appears to come to life. As this girl becomes part of their lives, they realize she may not be what she seems in the retelling of a classic fairy tale.
This book is best for those who adore retellings of classic tales. Eowyn Ivey’s The Snow Child is available from publisher Hachette Book Group.
2. Beartown by Fredrik Backman (2017)
A junior ice hockey team trying to reach the national finals galvanizes a small town that has been losing population for years. But something happens that opens the door to a wealth of secrets the town has been keeping, forcing it to reckon with questions of morality and doing the right thing.
This book is best for sports fans who want some heft to their stories. Frederik Backman’s Beartown is available from publisher Simon & Schuster.
1. Still Life by Louise Penny (2007)
Still Life introduces one of the most beloved characters in modern mystery, the kind-hearted Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, who is called in to determine whether a woman in village Three Pines died in a hunting accident. You will want to settle in at the fire of the local inn and dive into the entire series.
This book is best for anyone wanting a cozy reprieve from modern technology amid characters who feel like friends. Louise Penny’s Still Life is available from publisher Macmillan.
Bottom Line
Cozying up to a winter-themed book is the perfect way to spend a crisp afternoon. Whether you choose one of the classic novels on this list or you decide to dive into a book series, you will lose yourself in another world. Stay warm and start reading!