While the days are short and colder, there’s no better time to slow down and dive into a new book. Whether you’re drawn to historical tales, cozy mysteries or wintry romances, this list contains something for everyone. From snow-dusted magic to reflective, thoughtful classics, here are seven wintry reads to add to your bookshelf this season.
“Doctor Zhivago” is a novel by the Russian poet, author and composer Boris Pasternak, set during the Russian Revolution and the Civil War. The story follows brilliant physician and poet Yuri Zhivago, whose personal life and ideals are tested as political unrest and violence reshape Russia and disrupt his relationships, particularly his burning love for the enchanting Lara. It blends romance, philosophy and history.
“The Sugar Queen” is a warm, whimsical work of magical realism by Sarah Addison Allen set in a small Southern town in North Carolina, where everyday life is touched by soft magic. The story follows Josie Cirini, a young woman longing for independence, and Chloe Finley, a free-spirited young woman with a mysterious ability that causes books to follow her wherever she goes. A perfect mix of chick-lit romance and fantasy, the novel explores found family, second chances, the subtle, healing magic of love, stories and choosing one’s own path.
“The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” by C.S. Lewis is a treasured children’s fantasy that follows four siblings who discover the magical land of Narnia through a wardrobe. They learn that the world is stuck in an endless winter under the vicious rule of the White Witch. With the help of the noble lion Aslan and new fantastical friends they meet along the way, the children must find courage, loyalty and faith to help restore peace to Narnia.
“Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone” is a clever, fast-paced mystery with a darkly comedic twist. Set during a tense family reunion at a remote mountain resort, the story follows Ernest Cunningham, who openly admits that every member of his family has been involved in a murder, himself included. As another body turns up, Ernest breaks the fourth wall to lead readers through clues, secrets and sharp misdirection. A classic “whodunit” structure with modern wit.
“A Gentleman in Moscow” is an elegant work of historical fiction that follows Count Alexander Rostov, a Russian aristocrat, as he is sentenced to lifelong house arrest at Moscow’s Metropol Hotel after the Bolshevik Revolution. While decades of Soviet history unfold beyond the hotel’s walls, Rostov builds a meaningful life within them by forming unexpected friendships and finding joy in small moments.
“The Winter Sea” is a lyrical concoction of historical romance and time-slip fiction set along the windswept coast of Scotland. The novel follows Carrie McClelland, a writer researching a lost Jacobite heroine, who begins to experience vivid visions that draw her into the past. As two love stories unfold over the centuries, the book weaves history, mystery and romance, exploring fate, memory and the pull of love.
“Still Life” is a cozy, inviting, yet intriguing mystery that centers around Chief Inspector Armand Gamache of the Sûreté du Québec. The story is set in the quiet village of Three Pines, where the suspicious death of a beloved local woman found in the woods after Thanksgiving has taken place. As Gamache investigates, he uncovers long-buried secrets below the village’s surface.
