It snowed this week in Texas (just a light dusting, but again, this is Texas), so it’s officially winter! Whether you live in a place where snow and ice are the norm or in an area where you’re lucky if the temperature dips below 60º in January, there’s nothing quite like getting cozy with a good book on a winter day.
Typically during the colder months, I gravitate towards fantasy and historical fiction. Those books, to me, feel the most atmospheric for curling up under a soft blanket with a mug of coffee or hot chocolate. Winter is my favorite season—I feel like it’s so magical no matter where you are—so reading during this time just hits different for me.
Some books have a specific winter feel; some niche genres cover a slew of novels that fit the bill (yes, that means you, hockey romances). I’m not including any festive, holiday-focused books here, even though I love a good Christmas tale, just wintery reads that can take place any time from late November to early March. I do have a lot of recs to share, so I’m going to keep each blurb as brief as possible. If you want to know more about a book or author, check it out on Goodreads or Fable!
Let’s talk winter reads!
The Shining or Misery by Stephen King – Both of these horror novels take place mid-winter in the snow-filled Colorado mountains. In my opinion, there’s nothing quite like bundling up by the fire (whether it’s a real one or a digital Yule log) and reading a spooky book to make it really feel like winter. While I didn’t love Misery as much as I love The Shining (because I LOVE The Shining), both seamlessly fit the bill for a winter horror.
Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson – This magic system takes some getting used to, but don’t all the best magic systems? Tress is a classic intrepid heroine who doesn’t have anything special to her name outside of her determination, and you’ll find yourself rooting for her from the comfort of your couch as she sails across dangerous seas to find her true love.
The Last Russian Doll by Kristen Loesch – This historical fiction novel starts during the Bolshevik Revolution in 1917 and follows three generations of women to the last days of the Soviet Union. Winter to me is the perfect season to time travel through historical fiction, and this book is a perfect place to start since it takes place primarily in Russia.
The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally Carter – Okay, I know I said no holiday-focused books, but this is more of a winter mystery novel that just happens to take place during Christmas. This is a great option if you want a story about solving a murder that won’t make you have to sleep with the light on.
Lady Macbeth by Ava Reid – This is a retelling of Macbeth with a few key differences: it focuses on—you guessed it—Lady Macbeth, it involves more magic than the original play, and it’s not written in Shakespearean English, which are all bonuses in my book. This story will leave you with a chill down your spine that has nothing to do with forgetting to turn on your heater.
The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides – If you somehow managed to escape the era of OG Booktok without reading this book, you’ve made a huge mistake. I base my opinions on thrillers on whether the plot twist is able to surprise me at the end, and I got GOT by this book. Absolutely no idea what was coming, caught me so off-guard that I gasped aloud and threw the book, GOT. Its atmosphere is a bit gloomy and it mainly takes place indoors, so it’s perfect for a winter adrenaline spike.
Never Lie by Freida McFadden – A couple gets stranded by a snowstorm at a house they might buy. There’s a creepy portrait of the former owner, a psychiatrist, in the main room. What could possibly go wrong? Much like The Silent Patient, this is another thriller that absolutely got me. I tore through it in about 4 hours, so if you want a quick, pulse-raising read, this is it.
Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo – This is my favorite modern dark academia book, and I can summarize why it’s perfect in five words: magical secret societies at Yale. You can thank me later when you’re finished reading it.
One for My Enemy by Olivie Blake – It’s modern-day Romeo and Juliet in New York City and everyone is a witch. Need I say more? When I think of this book, I imagine a badass woman striding down a city street in heeled boots and a scarf that’s both fashionable and functional, heading to do battle with her magical nemesis and also the great love of her life who’s decked out in a tweed overcoat. I’m 85% sure that doesn’t actually happen image-for-image in the book, but that’s the vibe.
The Secret History by Donna Tartt – Only part of this book takes place during the winter, but the entire plot feels like an icy wind is howling at your back, biting at the shells of your ears and sneaking under the collar of your jacket. It’s dark academia at its finest. In fact, some (me included, obviously) consider it to be the essential dark academia novel.
The Shepherd King duology by Rachel Gillig – Sorry, not sorry for recommending this in yet another post! Also known as the One Dark Window duology, these two books are eerie enough for winter without being fully pushed into the “read during spooky season” category, and they make me want to bundle myself up in a cloak and go for a walk through some misty woods.
The Elements of Cadence duology by Rebecca Ross – A River Enchanted and A Fire Endless are possibly two of the most atmospheric fantasy novels I have ever read. They take place in a magical world that draws inspiration from the Scottish highlands, and this book will make you want to wrap yourself in a tartan blanket and devour the whole duology in one sitting.
Cozy fantasies – This is a niche in the fantasy genre with low stakes (for once) and a cozy atmosphere. Some cozy fantasies I’ve enjoyed recently along with the cold weather are You Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea by Rebecca Thorne or Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree. Both actually revolve around fantastical people opening a warm beverage shop in a small town, and honestly, nothing sounds cozier to me than that.
British thrillers – There is nothing quite like a thriller by a British author to make it feel like winter to me. Whether they take place during the season or not, they always make me want to read them with a mug of hot tea in my hand. I highly recommend any books by Alice Feeney, Ruth Ware, or Lisa Jewell because they will take you for a ride.
And last but not least, hockey romances – I was raised a hockey fan (thank you, Nashville Preds), so hockey romances hold a special place in my heart, but here’s the thing: they’re not really that much about hockey!! Since hockey is a winter sport that takes place on ice (duh), it’s the perfect setup for a winter book that won’t leave non-hockey-loving readers scratching their heads. A few good places to dip your toe into hockey romances are the Off Campus or Campus Diaries series by Elle Kennedy, the Maple Hills series by Hannah Grace, and the Vancouver Storm series by Stephanie Archer.
That’s going to wrap up my winter reads recs for this season! I’m sure as I keep reading during the next few months, I’ll have more to add for next time. If you’ve read any of these or have any recommendations you’d like to add, feel free to let me know! I’m always looking to expand my reading tastes. Cheers, and happy reading!
Sequels and Scribbles 