Four books perfect for the Christmas season

There’s something about Christmas that makes us want to slow down. The year is ending, routines feel softer, and reflection comes more easily.

It’s a season shaped by journeys home and moments that feel small but linger.

Some books seem to belong naturally to this pause in time – stories that echo warmth, humour, belief, longing, or quiet self-examination.

Here are four books that make especially fitting companions for the Christmas weeks.

The Christmas Train by David Baldacci

The Christmas Train follows journalist Tom Langdon, who travels by train from Washington, D.C., to Los Angeles just before Christmas after being unable to fly. Over the course of the journey, Langdon meets a variety of fellow passengers and reconnects with someone from his past. Much of the novel unfolds within the enclosed world of the train, allowing conversations, memories, and relationships to surface naturally. Rather than suspense, the book focuses on human connection, making it well suited to the introspective mood of the season.

Hogfather by Terry Pratchett

Set in Terry Pratchett’s Discworld universe, Hogfather centres on the disappearance of the Hogfather – the Discworld’s equivalent of Santa Claus – on Hogswatchnight. When belief in the Hogfather begins to fail, Death steps in to take his place, while his granddaughter Susan investigates what has gone wrong. Beneath the satire and absurdity lies a thoughtful examination of belief, tradition, and the importance of stories in shaping the world. It’s a festive novel that balances humour with surprising philosophical depth.

The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey

Set in the Alaskan wilderness of the 1920s, The Snow Child tells the story of Jack and Mabel, a childless couple struggling with isolation and grief. One winter night, they build a snow child, and soon afterward a mysterious young girl begins appearing in the surrounding woods. Blending realism with fairy-tale elements, the novel is quiet, atmospheric, and deeply emotional. Though not a Christmas story, its winter setting and themes of hope and longing make it a natural seasonal read.

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson

This beloved children’s book follows the Herdman siblings – notorious as the worst kids in town – when they unexpectedly take over the church Christmas pageant. Their involvement leads to chaos, comedy, and a retelling of the Nativity that is both unconventional and sincere. Short, funny, and heartfelt, the story captures the spirit of Christmas through innocence, misunderstanding, and unexpected empathy.