What To Read

The Danish concept of hygge refers to coziness, warmth and an atmosphere of contentment and well-being. Hygge, the expression of a wider traditional Scandinavian and Nordic practice, is all about taking time away from the daily grind to enjoy the simple and quiet pleasures of life - including snuggling up with a book. From Christmas whodunits to how-to hygge guides, these books are perfect for gifting loved ones over the holidays. Gløgg and candles not included!

Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan

The perennial winter classic perfect for holiday reading

From one of Ireland's brightest literary stars, this slim yet powerful novella is packed with hope and holiday spirit. Inspired by the ultimate Dickens holiday classic, it was shortlisted for the 2022 Booker Prize, recently adapted into a film starring Cillian Murphy and Ciarán Hinds, and selected by both The New York Times Book Review and Oprah’s Book Club this month. It’s the perfect way to embrace the festive season—one heartfelt page at a time.

Tell Me Everything by Elizabeth Strout

The Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Olive Kitteridge brings readers back to a beloved haunt 

A hope-filled drama set in the author’s familiar small town of Crosby, Maine, that reunites readers with Strout's beloved characters like Lucy Barton, Olive Kitteridge, and Bob Burgess as they navigate a shocking crime. "No novelist working today has [Elizabeth] Strout's extraordinary capacity for radical empathy, for seeing the essence of people beyond reductive categories, for uniting us without sentimentality,” hailed The Boston Globe.

The Wood at Midwinter by Susanna Clarke

This beautifully illustrated short story drops dreamers into a winter wonderland

Publishers Weekly hailed “this ideal stocking stuffer" from the acclaimed author of Piranesi, which won the Women's Prize for Fiction, calling it a "bite-size Christmassy fairy tale" with “thoughtful and sometimes unsettling atmospherics.” Beautifully illustrated, it’s an enchanting short story tailor-made for a cozy holiday read by the fire.

Christmas Crimes at the Mysterious Bookshop by Otto Penzler

The ultimate stocking stuffer for any mystery lover!

Get ready for the coziest holiday escape with this collection of original Christmas mysteries commissioned by the famous Mysterious Bookshop in New York. Featuring tales by Laura Lippman, Jeffery Deaver, and more, each story blends suspense with seasonal charm—perfect for curling up by the fire.

Time of the Child by Niall Williams

A life-affirming Christmas story from a Booker-nominated Irish storyteller

The History of the Rain author’s latest novel takes place in “the remote, rain-soaked village of Faha,” which according to the California Review of Books “is to the brilliant Irish writer Niall Williams what Yoknapatawpha County was to William Faulkner.” This slow-burning story of second chances recounts “a Christmas tale of the very best sort, one that reminds us of the fundamental mystery of being human. Even in this sinking parish on the furthermost edge of nowhere, in the dark and dying time of the year, there's something in the air that speaks of the miraculous."

Pony Confidential by Christina Lynch

A clever and hilarious book that’s perfect for horse-loving crime addicts

In its review of this one-of-a-kind murder mystery, Kirkus playfully inquired of readers: “Ever wished for ‘Black Beauty, Private Eye?’ Wish no longer." It’s a cozy mystery tailor made for equine aficionados that follows a grumpy horse named Pony who goes on a cross country mission to exonerate an old pal wrongfully accused of murder. 

The Author's Guide to Murder by Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig and Karen White

A locked room mystery with a side of literary satire set in a Scottish castle

Fans of female sleuths will delight in this crafty whodunnit written by three bestselling female novelists working together as a team, in which three American novelists become prime suspects following a literary star’s murder on a remote Scottish island.

Winter by Ali Smith

A critically-acclaimed holiday story for these complex and befuddling times

This Booker Prize Finalist's "brilliant" follow up to Autumn follows four people who converge on a fifteen-bedroom house in Cornwall for Christmas, and it gave The New York Times Book Review the ultimate cozy vibes with a "light inside this great novelist's gorgeous snow globe [that] is utterly original."

Snow by Orhan Pamuk

A powerful snow-covered story filled with political intrigue from the 2006 Nobel Prize winner

An exiled Turkish poet returns to home to investigate a series of small town suicides during a wave of religious fanaticism in this "engrossing feat of tale-spinning," according to author Margaret Atwood in The New York Times Book Review, who called it "essential reading for our times."

Marple: Twelve New Mysteries by Agatha Christie

A brilliant gift for Agatha Christie fanatics!

A dozen mysteries by contemporary authors reviving the legendary Miss Marple on an international case cracking tour, by crime writing talents like Jean Kwok, Kate Mosse, Elly Griffiths and more.

The Little Book of Hygge : Danish Secrets to Happy Living by Meik Wiking

A beautiful, research-backed guide on how to work like the happiest people in the world, the Danes

Ever since the concept of hygge became one of Scandinavia's most beloved exports, a library full of books has been published about how to bring more cozy vibes into your life. This Tertulia December staff pick by happiness researcher Meik Wiking is the latest contribution to that library - and one of the best.

The Nordic Baking Book by Magnus Nilsson

It's not about living hygge, per se, but it's an unbeatable way to fill your home (and belly) with cozy aromas and flavors. This definitive guide to the Nordic baking tradition includes hundreds of sweet and savory recipes from acclaimed Swedish chef Magnus Nilsson, who leads the famed MAD culinary academy in Copenhagen.