This is EXACTLY what I was looking for. Not a romance reader, but love Christmas. Hate Hallmark. But definitely wanted something in other genres with a Christmas vibe.
Oww thank you for that video !! I’m not a romance reader at all and each year I’m trying to find christmassy books to read in December. This year I finally have a bunch of options 😍
I am with you!! I’m not a romance fan either and it is hard to find Christmas books without it. Love your recommendations. I just ordered The Scary Book of Christmas lore, about a few of the fokelore spirits from different countries, sounds a little creepy but also interesting! ☃️🎄
I enjoyed After the Dark Forest with all of its wintery, gingerbread, cozy, witchiness with a touch of horror-ish vibes. I also think The Christmas Murder Game is worth a read. I can't wait to get Kingdom of Sweets! I chose it as my Book of the Month suggestion. Since you like wintery thrillers, you would probably really enjoy The Twelve Days of Murder by Adreina Cordani. I liked it!
Yay!! So happy to hear that about After the Dark Forest! You’ll have to let me know what you think of the other two if you read them. Omg The Twelve Days of Murder sounds amazing!!!! My library had it, so I just checked it out 🎉♥️🎄
This was such a great video! Even for those who are fans of romance (I am not as fond of that being the main draw either) its good to have a break so I am so excited to see these suggestions! There was one book I found where Santa and Mrs. Claus have a child but an evil person turns her heart to ice so she needs to stay cold to survive and it was so clever! Believe it was called Holly Claus :)
You got me at "no romance". I have no problems with romance, its a great genre. However, it often dominates in anything cozy or holiday-themed lists. Love looking for alternative genres that are feel-good, cozy or christmassy.
I think you would love The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street if you haven't read it. Also a middle grade book set during the Christmas season. Its super cute!!
I just started The Christmas Murder Game and it's pretty good so far! A little cringe but I can look past that for the holidays, haha. They're hinting at a sapphic romance, as well, which I don't think is in the synopsis. Im adding so many from this list to my Goodreads TBR. I read Marina because of your Goodreads review and I loved it. Thank you for the recs! Keep it up 🥰❄️🎄🥶
Haha yeah, I will accept a little cringe for the holidays too. 😂😂 I can def get down with a sapphic romance, so that is fine by me! Yay, so happy you found some options and that you loved Marina!! I picked it for bookclub with my girlfriends, and they all really liked it too! I was so proud of myself 😂😂 Thank you so much!!♥️🎅🏻
Looks like we have a lot of the same books on eachother’s TBR. I cannot wait for all the Creepmas vibes!! And I read secret Santa last year and really liked it! Happy reading!!
This was a great variety of holiday themed books. I, too, am not a fan of most romance, although I don't mind some romance within a larger story. Thank you.
Omg thank you for this 🤗 every Christmas rec I see is romance and I don’t hate the genre but it’s not a favorite either 😅 with people reading the Peter Swanson Christmas book lately it made me think there has to be more non-romance ones and then I found this! Happy it’s here 😂😇
Oh yay!! So happy you found some more options from this video. That is exactly why I made it! I felt like it was so hard to find ones that weren’t romance! 🎄 Merry Christmas 🎁
Great video! Midnight in Everwood is YA I believe and it was decent. Kingdom of Sweets is much darker and weirder and Adult. I liked both but didn't love them, unfortunately. Still hunting for the ultimate Nutcracker retelling!
I’m the same as you I really don’t enjoy romance but I like a little dark romance thrown into my bunch from time to time. I am mainly horror, thriller and fantasy 🤍
One I recently came across, a novella, is I’ll Be Alone for Christmas by Meyer Matthews. It has a cute cover, but according to the reviews it’s not a cozy, I just got it the other day. I recently read Christmas Presents by Lisa Unger, it was okay, I felt like it could’ve been set anytime, good writing though. I wanted to tell you Lucky Girl is actually a novella, but I thought it was fantastic, definitely Christmas vibes. I was so impressed how much story the author was able to pack into such a small book, I read it last year and it’s still stuck with me. You mentioned audible..I recently switched to Scrib’d, what a difference! There’s soooo many books there, half these you mentioned, and you can actually read multiple a month. I was dragging with audible, there was something about using a credit, buying a book, and only getting that as I didn’t listen to many of the member reads. Scrib’d I’m constantly finding new books, even ones that are just out, and I’d say 70% of the time I look a book up it’s there. I’ve been able to cancel library holds cause Scrib’d has them immediately. I really wish audible had that same model cause they do have some that are exclusive to them so even my libraries don’t have them. Another one I recently heard about is Dying for Christmas by Tammy Cohen, also on Scrib’d lol. Thanks for such an extensive list! Hope you find some books you enjoy.
Omg this is so helpful!! Lucky Girl sounds amazing. I’m not gonna lie. I’m in a bit of a reading slump, so maybe this is what I should go for! I’m a huge fan of scrib’d! For the past two years it’s the only reading app I’ve consistently kept. I usually cycle with KU and Audible cause I don’t use them as much so I cancel and wait for them to offer new sign up deals. Lol But Scrib’d is such a bargain! They do cut you off at some points from the new releases if you read too many in a month, but that’s totally fine. Super worth it! I also think their rebranding is super cute.
I’m in the same boat - not a big romance person though I don’t mind it in graphic novel form if it’s YA when it’s a bit more tame. I’ve been really enjoying the Heartstopper series for example. Love your recs here - I made a reading challenge on StoryGraph called winter scares and I just added a few of these to the list of potential reads ❄️🔪
I think cute romance like that is fine, and I also do tend to enjoy romance if it’s lgbtq+. Yay! So happy you found some options to add to your list🎉♥️
I absolutely HATE romance books! The closest I can do to romance is Lisey's story by stephen king but it was still a Horror book fundamentally ! something like that is fine with me, but even dark romance, I hate it!
Girl, in the second you said 'I don't like romance' I've subscribed 😃
😂😂 so happy you can relate!
This is EXACTLY what I was looking for. Not a romance reader, but love Christmas. Hate Hallmark. But definitely wanted something in other genres with a Christmas vibe.
Yay! So happy you found some options ❤️❄️
Oww thank you for that video !! I’m not a romance reader at all and each year I’m trying to find christmassy books to read in December. This year I finally have a bunch of options 😍
Oh yay! So happy you found some options to add to your list💖🎉
I am with you!! I’m not a romance fan either and it is hard to find Christmas books without it. Love your recommendations. I just ordered The Scary Book of Christmas lore, about a few of the fokelore spirits from different countries, sounds a little creepy but also interesting! ☃️🎄
Yay! Glad I’m not alone. I just looked that one up and it sounds SO good! I’m hoping my library gets it!♥️🎄
I'm going to be reading The Kingdom of Sweets this month. I got the BOTM edition but I'll also be listening while I decorate a Gingerbread House. 😄
No way!!! That sounds amazing!!!!
I enjoyed After the Dark Forest with all of its wintery, gingerbread, cozy, witchiness with a touch of horror-ish vibes. I also think The Christmas Murder Game is worth a read. I can't wait to get Kingdom of Sweets! I chose it as my Book of the Month suggestion. Since you like wintery thrillers, you would probably really enjoy The Twelve Days of Murder by Adreina Cordani. I liked it!
Yay!! So happy to hear that about After the Dark Forest!
You’ll have to let me know what you think of the other two if you read them.
Omg The Twelve Days of Murder sounds amazing!!!! My library had it, so I just checked it out 🎉♥️🎄
I love Greenglass House!
Yes!! So cozy!
This was such a great video! Even for those who are fans of romance (I am not as fond of that being the main draw either) its good to have a break so I am so excited to see these suggestions! There was one book I found where Santa and Mrs. Claus have a child but an evil person turns her heart to ice so she needs to stay cold to survive and it was so clever! Believe it was called Holly Claus :)
Thanks so much!!🥹💖 oh great! I will have to check that out. Hope you have a great holiday season!☃️
You got me at "no romance". I have no problems with romance, its a great genre. However, it often dominates in anything cozy or holiday-themed lists. Love looking for alternative genres that are feel-good, cozy or christmassy.
Right?! It’s always a struggle to find good cozy holiday reads that aren’t romantic!
Letters from Father Christmas by J.R.R. Tolkien
Ooh! Will add this to my holiday list! Thank you!
I think you would love The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street if you haven't read it. Also a middle grade book set during the Christmas season. Its super cute!!
I have heard of this! I didn’t realize it was set at Christmas. It sounds so freakin cute!! Adding to the list 😂🤞🏻
I just started The Christmas Murder Game and it's pretty good so far! A little cringe but I can look past that for the holidays, haha. They're hinting at a sapphic romance, as well, which I don't think is in the synopsis. Im adding so many from this list to my Goodreads TBR. I read Marina because of your Goodreads review and I loved it. Thank you for the recs! Keep it up 🥰❄️🎄🥶
Haha yeah, I will accept a little cringe for the holidays too. 😂😂 I can def get down with a sapphic romance, so that is fine by me!
Yay, so happy you found some options and that you loved Marina!! I picked it for bookclub with my girlfriends, and they all really liked it too! I was so proud of myself 😂😂
Thank you so much!!♥️🎅🏻
Looks like we have a lot of the same books on eachother’s TBR. I cannot wait for all the Creepmas vibes!! And I read secret Santa last year and really liked it! Happy reading!!
Oh yay! Can’t wait to watch your holiday vids!
Loved your list, Victoria, Happy Holidays ❤
Thank you!! 🖤 happy holidays to you!
The second i saw "NO ROMANCE" i clicked my finger faster than the speed of light
Hahaha amazing! Love that so much!
This was a great variety of holiday themed books. I, too, am not a fan of most romance, although I don't mind some romance within a larger story. Thank you.
Thank you! Glad you found some options without the dreaded full on romance novels 😂♥️ I knew I couldn’t be the only one that didn’t like them!
Omg thank you for this 🤗 every Christmas rec I see is romance and I don’t hate the genre but it’s not a favorite either 😅 with people reading the Peter Swanson Christmas book lately it made me think there has to be more non-romance ones and then I found this! Happy it’s here 😂😇
Oh yay!! So happy you found some more options from this video. That is exactly why I made it! I felt like it was so hard to find ones that weren’t romance! 🎄 Merry Christmas 🎁
Great video! Midnight in Everwood is YA I believe and it was decent. Kingdom of Sweets is much darker and weirder and Adult. I liked both but didn't love them, unfortunately. Still hunting for the ultimate Nutcracker retelling!
Thank you! 🖤 good to know! Finding good Christmas and holiday books in general is hard!
@victoriasampley It depends on your taste honestly and what you prefer but there are so many options!! I have more recs on my channel as well ❤️❤️
I’m the same as you I really don’t enjoy romance but I like a little dark romance thrown into my bunch from time to time. I am mainly horror, thriller and fantasy 🤍
Yes same! I don’t know why I’m this way, but romance novels make me eye roll so hard 😂
One I recently came across, a novella, is I’ll Be Alone for Christmas by Meyer Matthews. It has a cute cover, but according to the reviews it’s not a cozy, I just got it the other day. I recently read Christmas Presents by Lisa Unger, it was okay, I felt like it could’ve been set anytime, good writing though.
I wanted to tell you Lucky Girl is actually a novella, but I thought it was fantastic, definitely Christmas vibes. I was so impressed how much story the author was able to pack into such a small book, I read it last year and it’s still stuck with me.
You mentioned audible..I recently switched to Scrib’d, what a difference! There’s soooo many books there, half these you mentioned, and you can actually read multiple a month. I was dragging with audible, there was something about using a credit, buying a book, and only getting that as I didn’t listen to many of the member reads. Scrib’d I’m constantly finding new books, even ones that are just out, and I’d say 70% of the time I look a book up it’s there. I’ve been able to cancel library holds cause Scrib’d has them immediately. I really wish audible had that same model cause they do have some that are exclusive to them so even my libraries don’t have them.
Another one I recently heard about is Dying for Christmas by Tammy Cohen, also on Scrib’d lol.
Thanks for such an extensive list! Hope you find some books you enjoy.
Omg this is so helpful!! Lucky Girl sounds amazing. I’m not gonna lie. I’m in a bit of a reading slump, so maybe this is what I should go for!
I’m a huge fan of scrib’d! For the past two years it’s the only reading app I’ve consistently kept. I usually cycle with KU and Audible cause I don’t use them as much so I cancel and wait for them to offer new sign up deals. Lol But Scrib’d is such a bargain! They do cut you off at some points from the new releases if you read too many in a month, but that’s totally fine. Super worth it! I also think their rebranding is super cute.
I’m in the same boat - not a big romance person though I don’t mind it in graphic novel form if it’s YA when it’s a bit more tame. I’ve been really enjoying the Heartstopper series for example.
Love your recs here - I made a reading challenge on StoryGraph called winter scares and I just added a few of these to the list of potential reads ❄️🔪
I think cute romance like that is fine, and I also do tend to enjoy romance if it’s lgbtq+.
Yay! So happy you found some options to add to your list🎉♥️
You had me at No romance!
Haha 🖤😁
You had me at "no romance"
Haha🖤🖤
No romance? I already love you
😂🖤
I absolutely HATE romance books! The closest I can do to romance is Lisey's story by stephen king but it was still a Horror book fundamentally ! something like that is fine with me, but even dark romance, I hate it!
They’re all so cringey. Dark romance I am a little more open to, but that is rare. I do enjoy a sapphic romance subplot sometimes though.
what is it about romance people hate? 😭 asking because I want to add some romance in my story but I don’t want to annoy readers with it
I hate insta love, and the whole miscommunication troupe @@jasminbarrientos
Enjoying the fact that you don’t like romance!
We’re all in this together! Haha