Here are some tomes to keep you in the festive spirit this season
BY ELLA GAUCI, IMAGE BY UNSPLASH
There’s nothing better for digestion this Christmas than sitting down with a good book! Head to your local bookshop before Boxing Day to enjoy these reads with a cup of hot chocolate. We’ve got everything from queer joy to suspense with this list, so make sure you’ve got a comfortable chair and some time on your hands this winter to get through them all.
Kiss Her Once For Me by Alison Cochrun
If you want a festive, fake-relationship romance novel this Christmas, Alison Cochrun has got you covered. Kiss Her Once For Me follows the story of Ellie Oliver who had everything she could have dreamed of: the perfect job, a happy life, a budding romance with a woman she met in a bookshop. All this comes crashing down and she’s forced to work in a coffee shop this Christmas. That’s until her boss poses a marriage of convenience that will give him his recent inheritance and solve her financial struggles.
The only catch: his actual fiancee just so happens to be the woman Ellie was in love with last year. That’s certainly going to be one awkward Christmas dinner…
Whiteout by Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, Ashley Woodfolk, Nicola Yoon
If you want to enjoy a cosy read this Christmas, Whiteout is for you. A team of friends band together to try and help high school senior Stephanie pull off an apology to her girlfriend before midnight … all while Atlanta is completely submerged in snow. Written by a whole team of award-winning writers that also brought us Blackout, Whiteout explores friendship, Black joy, and of course romance.
Love & Other Disasters by Anita Kelly
Dahlia Woodson wanted to go on the cooking contest Chef’s Special to reinvent herself, not embarrass herself on live TV. Love & Other Disasters follows Dahlia’s chaotic journey on the show alongside her competitor London Parker. London has enough on their mind without having to worry about their clumsy opponent. But what happens when the pair realises that the heat in the kitchen isn’t just coming from the ovens? This non-binary love story is sure to make your heart burst (and also make you quite hungry).
Mangos And Mistletoe by Adriana Herrera
This steamy novella is a sapphic equivalent of The Great British Bake Off. When Kiskeya Burgos arrives in Scotland after leaving the Dominican Republic, she only has one goal: win the Holiday Baking Challenge. But will she get distracted by her assigned baking partner Sully Morales…
While definitely not a cosy read, this fiery book is jam-packed with chemistry, love, and a lot of sweet treats.
The Bluest Christmas by Deja Elise
This book is for those who don’t want a candyfloss-sweet read this holiday. The Bluest Christmas follows Lynn Harris. Holiday spirit doesn’t quite make it into Lynn’s house. Lynn’s quiet life is turned upside down, however, when Nola Wiles and her baby come to her for shelter after escaping Nola’s abusive ex-husband. Raw, gritty, and honest this book tackles a number of issues with wonderful storytelling.
Didn’t Nobody Give A Shit What Happened To Carlotta by James Hannaham
If you want a darkly funny book to read this Christmas, try Didn’t Nobody Give A Shit What Happened To Carlotta. Carlotta Mercedes had been serving over 20 years in prison for a robbery when she was finally granted parole. Sounding like Orange Is The New Black? The only difference is that Carlotta served her time in a men’s prison, during which she transitioned into her true self despite the abuse and bullying she received. Now finally back in society, Carlotta has to face not only the traumatic memories of prison but also her family and the life she left behind.
Mistakes Were Made by Meryl Wilsner
For those that want a sharp, sexy rom com this Christmas, Mistakes Were Made tells the story of a college senior who accidentally hooks up with her best friend’s mum. Steamy and full of chemistry, this book explores age gap relationships and identity.
We hope you’re already out the door to pick up these books this Christmas.
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