Our Favourite Christmas Reads
There is that magical time in December right before Christmas and the New Year when work and school slows down. You have a little more time to spend more of your day in your pajamas while reading your favourite book. This year, I asked my colleagues to share their favourite Christmas reads and have compiled their answers below. I think you will enjoy our recommendations! Personally, this list has got my wondering why I’ve never read Little Women, which is clearly the beloved favourite among WAP staff!
Crystal Hildebrand
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
I love everything about Christmas, including Hallmark movies and especially comfy Christmas reads! But my favourite Christmas read of all time would have to be Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. It captures the timeless charm of classic Christmas traditions—like oranges, ribbons, sleigh rides, and winter adventures—while reminding us of the blessings of family and friends. It feels like a warm and familiar hug during the cold winter months.
Marina Reis
Christmas Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella
My favourite Christmas read is Christmas Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella. I read this one for the first time a couple of Christmases ago and, to my surprise, it brought me so much joy! Christmas Shopaholic follows Rebecca Bloomwood, a recovering shopping addict with a generous heart. When she is not reminding you of yourself, Rebecca will remind you of someone you know!
Along with her farcical Christmas shopping mishaps, Christmas Shopaholic also has Rebecca help a newly single mom at her son’s school and repair her strained relationship with her sister. The book ends with a surprise addition to the Bloomwood clan and a focus on what Christmas is about: spending time with your loved ones and giving back to your community. Pairs well with gingerbread cookies.
Jen Jandavs-Hedlin
The Sweet Smell of Christmas by Patricia Scarry
There is something about Christmas that brings back a flood of nostalgia, and my pick is along those lines. I remember the box of Christmas decorations coming upstairs, the crackle of the record player as my dad put on the K-Mart Christmas record, and the smell of the orange and pine pages of this delightful scratch-and-sniff Christmas book. I read it hundreds of times; in the living room, under the tree, in bed, and in my favourite cozy reading nook—my bedroom closet. The story itself is simple; a little bear gets ready for Christmas (baking gingerbread, drinking hot chocolate, trimming the tree, etc.). But the best books transport you to another place, and this book did just that for me as a child. And indeed it still does.
Monique Burden
The Christmas Promise by Donna VanLiere
The Christmas Promise is a story about second chances, friendship and hope told through the lives of each person and in the end how their lives become intertwined. I liked how people from her other books were also introduced into this one. There were some funny moments, but a very heartwarming read that I truly enjoyed. It was well written and relatable. It reminded me to show love, kindness and compassion to others and not just at Christmas but all year long. Always a good reminder to show grace as we never know what a person is going through. Showing kindness or encouragement might be just what they need at that moment. I hope you all enjoy this book as much as I do.
Aveline Vandermeulen
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
My favourite cozy Christmas read is definitely Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. It probably goes without saying that as a reader and writer, I relate best to the character of Jo! I love the themes of family and faith that are so important throughout the book. Every time I slip back into the warm embrace of this story, I imagine I'm curled up in a blanket by the fire with snow falling outside and the scent of warm baking floating in from the kitchen.