I’m not going to lie, I read holiday chick lit from about August through the end of January. However, now is the time that more and more people are reading it, too! The days are short, the wind is blowing, and the Starbucks holiday drinks have appeared again. I also find that now is the time when we are all busy and out doing things- curling up with a book is a lovely way to recharge. So, look no further than this post: these are the 5 best holiday chick lit books to get you in the festive spirit!
What I love about holiday chick lit is that it is the fun and coziness of chick lit, multiplied! For me, chick lit is wonderful because it is expected. I enjoy a twist here or there, but I can relax because I have a general idea of what will be coming. And I adore the warmth and spirit of the holiday season. So, it brings all of my favourite things together!
Miracle on Regent Street, Ali Harris
Evie Taylor, a girl with a big heart, gets lost in the big city. For the past two years, Evie has lived an invisible life in London. Her neighbours think she’s just moved in, her sister mistakes her for a live-in nanny, and even Evie’s manager at work can’t remember her name. But all that is about to change …this Christmas has brought a flurry of snow and unimaginable possibilities into town. Evie works in the stockroom of an old-fashioned, family-run, London fashion department store. Hardy’s is a beautiful, wood-panelled jewellery box of a building, but it’s in dire need of a makeover. One day Evie overhears that if the entire store’s takings don’t turn round by Dec 26th – 3 weeks’ time – the family who own it will be forced to sell to one of the big chains. Hardy’s is in need of a Christmas miracle. Determined to save her beloved store, Evie hatches a plan to secretly transform it into a magical place to shop again. But has the time come for her to be noticed too? When an accidental romantic encounter with handsome, enigmatic Joel gives her the chance of a whole new identity, she takes it.
Retail and the holidays, what better combo is there? Evie might be quiet, but you can certainly feel her passion for the holidays, and for Hardy’s. It is the perfect setting for a Christmas chick lit book! Warning: a lot of people take issue with this book because Evie is quite introverted, and ends up quite angry when people that she hasn’t had the oomph to correct are still calling her the wrong name. However, I think that most of us have worked with this person (or are this person) and can understand that Evie is a realistic character. I think that there is the perfect amount of conflict and friction for the ending to be a nice payoff, and it will certainly get you into the holiday spirit. (It also makes me want to walk down Regent St to see the Christmas lights, but alas alack, one day!)
It Won’t Be Christmas Without You, Beth Reekles
Eloise, a self-confessed Christmas obsessive, can’t wait for the big day. Devoted to her Michael Bublé playlist, she’s organising the school nativity play and even her gorgeous Grinch of a neighbour, James, can’t get her down.
Her workaholic twin sister, Cara, on the other hand, plans to work over the holiday – and figure out what secrets her seemingly-perfect boyfriend George might be keeping from her.
The sisters used to be close but since Cara moved to London, everything’s been different. Only, Eloise isn’t giving up just yet, and with a white Christmas on the cards, Cara can’t fail to be moved by the magic of the season … can she?
Thank you to NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review! If this post proves nothing else, it proves that I read pretty much every Christmas chick lit book available. And I will be honest- this is one of my favourites of all time! Reekles perfectly balances the family relationships between Eloise and Cara and their parents with the romantic relationships. She skilfully builds multiple plots, and weaves them together. And the biggest asset? It is truly a Christmas novel! Christmas is a character in the book, and the setting is firmly in place. You can tell that Reekles loves the holidays herself. I loved this from start to finish and couldn’t put it down! If you are looking for realistic characters that you can truly root for, It Won’t Be Christmas Without You is a perfect choice. And if you are like me and adore Christmas with every fibre of your being and have to deal with Scrooges in your life, it can really hit home. (Also, I’ve heard rumours that this might be made into a movie- this would be the BEST holiday movie!)
Christmas at Carrington’s, Alexandra Brown
Carrington’s Department store is thrown into a spin when the staff learn that a hot new reality TV show is to be filmed in-store, featuring the formidable retail guru, Kelly Cooper. Georgie Hart, in charge of Luxury Handbags, is reluctant, but quickly realises that the show could give Carrington’s a new lease of life. With Christmas around the corner, she’s also hoping that the season will deliver her the perfect Christmas present, in the form of Tom, the store’s dishy boss.
When the film crew arrive, things start to go wrong. One of Tom’s old flames, Zara, is working on the show and then, to top things off, Tom and Zara are sent off to Paris and New York for a spot of extra filming. When Georgie settles down in front of the box to watch the first show, worse it to come – Georgie is shown in a far from flattering light and she is horrified to learn what Tom has been up to.
Georgie fears this is turning out to be the worst Christmas ever, but Santa might have a got a little surprise in store for her stocking this year – but she’ll just have to wait until Christmas to find out!
As someone who has worked retail for more than one Christmas season, clearly retail themed books hit home for me. Brown is a quintessential British chick lit author, and Christmas at Carrington’s is no exception. I read this book four years ago, and it still stands out as one of my favourite Christmas novels. It’s got plots and hijinks, which are always fun. Love triangles seem to be a must in most holiday chick lit. And I think its more relevant than ever, with luxury and department stores precariously trying to hang on left and right! It is a sequel, however, I think that you could certainly read this book without having read the first. (‘Tis the beauty of chick lit series- they tend to be like Babysitter’s Club books, you are caught up in a page or two!)
The Christmas Countdown, Donna Ashcroft
It’s that time of year again, snowflakes are fluttering and the countdown to Christmas has begun! Holly Devine is returning to the only place that feels like home, hoping that some festive magic will help to turn her life around…
Twenty-seven-year-old Holly Devine has just had her heart well and truly broken. Hurt by the two people she loves the most, she flees to her eccentric Aunt Clara’s cosy cottage to hide away over the winter season. But kind, impulsive Aunt Clara has other ideas… She’s not about to see her favourite niece wallowing in sadness during the most wonderful time of the year. So, with the help of her close circle of friends and plenty of gin, she creates a handmade advent calendar for Holly.
Every day in December, Holly opens a new door and has a different task to complete. She soon finds herself asking out a complete stranger – gorgeous, cheeky pub landlord, Finn Jackson. But as handsome Finn gets involved in her festive challenges, Holly’s determination to avoid romance is put to the test. Still, Finn’s far too carefree and single for true love, isn’t he?
As Holly begins to embrace each day – a complete makeover, building the biggest snowman she’s ever seen, singing in a karaoke contest – Finn is there adding fun and laughter to every moment. Holly starts to realise that she can become the person she’s always wanted to be…
But a secret from Finn’s past threatens to turn Holly’s Christmas upside down and makes her question everything she has experienced in the last few weeks. Will Finn open up to Holly in time to show her how he really feels? And will she complete the advent calendar challenges and fall in love this Christmas?
Thank you to NetGalley for providing an eARC of The Christmas Countdown in exchange for an honest review! This is certainly one of my other favourite ARCs that I’ve read all year. This was slightly tough for me to read at the beginning, as I had a bad breakup in December. However, I loved being able to follow Holly’s journey to peace and happiness again. The advent calendar of activities was a creative way to work Christmas into the story, and I’ve no idea why more authors don’t try to incorporate the advent idea. Also, Ashcroft does a wonderful job of building a strong supportive cast of characters. You actually feel like you are getting to know her aunt’s friends and the other townspeople, without it detracting from the main storyline at all. Finn is also a fairly complex love interest, which is lovely to see in a genre that often produces 2D interests.
Christmas at Pemberley: A Pride and Prejudice Sequel, Regina Jeffers
THE DARCYS AND THE BENNETS CORDIALLY INVITE YOU TO CHRISTMAS AT PEMBERLEY: A PRIDE & PREJUDICE HOLIDAY SEQUEL
Darcy has invited the Bennets and the Bingleys to spend the Christmastide’s festive days at Pemberley. But as he and Elizabeth journey to their estate to join the gathered families, a blizzard blankets the English countryside. The Darcys find themselves stranded at a small inn while Pemberley is inundated with refugees seeking shelter from the storm.
Without her brother’s strong presence, Georgiana Darcy tries desperately to manage the chaos surrounding the arrival of six invited guests and eleven unscheduled visitors. But bitter feuds, old jealousies and intimate secrets quickly rise to the surface. Has Lady Catherine returned to Pemberley for forgiveness or revenge? Will the manipulative Caroline Bingley find a soul mate? Shall Kitty Bennet and Georgiana know happiness?
Written in Regency style and including Austen’s romantic entanglements and sardonic humor, Christmas at Pemberleyplaces Jane Austen’s most beloved characters in an exciting yuletide story that speaks to the love, the family spirit and the generosity that remain as the heart of Christmas.
This is certainly not a standard chick lit book, but I wanted to include it for a few reasons. I think that Austen is one of the first women’s authors (not that her novels are only for women!!), and that she isn’t a dowdy and stuffy author. Austen has created some wonderful characters in the Darcys and the Bennetts, and quite frankly, we all wanted to know what happened next. I also think that bringing Pride and Prejudice into the holiday period is a wonderful idea. (Sidenote: Does anyone have any ideas on why the holidays don’t seem to appear often in her works?) This also has been adapted as a play, Miss Bennett: Christmas at Pemberley, so you may have seen it at your local theatre. (Look for my review in the next week, as I will be seeing it myself!)
If you are looking for some great non-fiction Christmas reads, visit my post here for the best history of Christmas books! And if you are in more of a movie-watching mood, I’ve got my favourite holiday movies here!
What books are on your best holiday chick lit list? If you could only recommend on holiday chick lit book, what would it be?
Cheers,
The Historian
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How fun are these? I hadn’t heard of a few of them and thank goodness I came by and got these on my radar. I am currently reading Honeymoon Alone by Nicole Macaulay which has been a fun read this holiday season. It’s got humor and that is usually what I am looking for during these cold dark months!