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Looking for 2024 Christmas books to read? There are a lot of good choices this year!
For some reason, I never read a Christmas novel until a couple of years ago, but this has quickly become one of my favorite genres (and reading seasons) of the year. Christmas books always seem to have a lightheartedness that I love his time of year.
Even though this genre is relatively niche, it’s also surprisingly popular. And there are a lot of new books coming out each year. I do my best to scour the book descriptions and book reviews on places like Net Galley and GoodReads to find the ones that are most appealing to me. This is that list.
Here’s what’s interesting about this genre — it’s not just one. There are several genres within this genre. On this list, you will find romances, mysteries, women’s fiction, and historical fiction.
This is definitely the year of the Christmas mystery. There are five Christmas mysteries on this list of 2024 Christmas books, and a couple are on the comedic side, which sound like fun reads.
When choosing romance novels, I prefer clean, closed-door romances, so if I saw one described as spicy, I didn’t include it on the list.
I’ve listed these books in publication order. As of this writing, five of these 2024 Christmas novels have already been published. The other five don’t come out until November, some late November.
Happy Christmas Reading!
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2024 Christmas Books Worth Reading
The Mistletoe Mystery (A Maid Novella) by Nita Prose
In this new holiday novella, Molly from The Maid returns to the Regency Grand Hotel, where a Secret Santa exchange sparks suspicion. While celebrating Christmas with her boyfriend, Juan Manuel, who’s trying to make the season special after losing her gran, Molly finds herself questioning someone close to her. Early readers say that Nita Prose masterfully combines a cozy holiday atmosphere with mystery, creating a story centered on love and trust. They also love the humor combined wwith heart-touching moments, making it an ideal festive read.
- Genres: Mystery
- Length: 128 pages
- Release Date: Oct. 1, 2024
The Christmas Jigsaw Murders by Alexandra Benedict
When a mysterious present containing pieces of a jigsaw puzzle appears on her doorstep, grumpy octogenarian puzzle-setter Edie O’Sullivan finds herself drawn into a deadly game with a killer who threatens to claim four lives by Christmas Eve. Despite her hatred of the holiday season and general disdain for human interaction, Edie alerts her nephew and detective Sean Brand-O’Sullivan, but when a victim is found clutching another puzzle piece, Sean tries to shut her out of the investigation. With more pieces arriving and time running out, Edie knows she’s the only one who can crack the killer’s code, regardless of her nephew’s attempts to protect her. Only by assembling all the pieces can she stop the murders and finally confront the ghosts of Christmases past that have haunted her for so long. Early readers say this book has an absorbing plot and has many themes similar to the classic Christmas story A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.
- Genres: Mystery
- Length: 288 pages
- Release Date: Oct. 8, 2024
Mistletoe Season (Three Christmas Stories) by Sheila Roberts; Kathleen Fuller; & Pepper Basham
Mistletoe Season is a collection of three Christmas romances where mistletoe plays a pivotal role in each story. In “Return to Mistletoe,” antique shop owner Emmy Banks reunites with her high school crush Kieran O’Neill when he returns to Mistletoe, Missouri, after 20 years in Ireland. “The Mistletoe Prince” follows Prince Arran St. Clare as he discovers the true meaning of life beyond his crown while serving a three-month “punishment” in small-town North Carolina. “Say No to Mistletoe” features romance writer Hailey Fairchild, who returns home determined to avoid mistletoe after a history of disastrous kisses, including one with her former crush Carwyn Davies. Each story in the collection weaves together themes of second chances and unexpected love, proving that sometimes the scariest moments in life can bring the greatest blessings.
- Genres: Romance | Women’s Fiction
- Length: 320 pages
- Release Date: Oct. 8, 2024
The Most Wonderful Time by Jayne Allen
The Most Wonderful Time follows two women doing a house swap over Christmas — Ramona, who’s hiding her broken engagement from her family in Chicago, and Chelsea, an artist in Malibu who needs to save her family’s beach cottage. While staying in Chelsea’s place, Ramona deals with a prejudiced neighbor named Joan and finds herself drawn to Jay, a local surf instructor. Meanwhile, Chelsea gets close to a guy named Carlos in Chicago, although she keeps some secrets that could mess things up. Early readers say this book definitely has those cozy holiday vibes you’d expect, but it also digs deeper into real social issues, making it more substantial than your typical Christmas romance.
- Genres: Women’s Fiction | Romance
- Length: 352 pages
- Release Date: Oct. 8, 2024
Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret by Benjamin Stevenson
I love a good comedic mystery; this one sounds like it’s right up my alley. Ernest Cunningham’s Christmas takes an unexpected turn when he investigates a murder at a magic show, with his ex-wife among the suspects. An advent calendar provides mysterious clues while a cast of professional tricksters, including a magician, hypnotist, and identical twins, complicate the investigation. The case features a suspect covered in blood with memory loss and an impossible murder where the killer never entered the crime scene. The mystery unfolds like a magic show, with the solution revealed behind the final door of the advent calendar. Early readers described it as creative and entertaining.
- Genres: Mystery
- Length: 192 pages
- Release Date: Oct. 22, 2024
Winter Wonderdach: Cozy Mysteries with a Dash of Dachshund
This book initially caught my eye because I own a dachshund, but given the cheezy cover, I didn’t expect much of it. However, after reading the reviews, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that so many readers enjoyed this cozy mystery. Lizzy, an author fleeing sudden fame and heartbreak, moves to the tiny town of Harperstown, South Dakota, hoping for peace and anonymity. But her quiet plans quickly unravel in this cozy mystery when, just days in, she’s questioned by the police and finds herself with a haunted house, a new dog, surprise visitors, and a party invite. As she gets swept up in the unexpected chaos, Lizzy lands at the center of a murder investigation. She only wanted a low-key life… but maybe, deep down, she was craving a little adventure. Early readers say that it takes some time to warm up to Lizzy, but it changed when they started to learn more about her past.
- Genres: Mystery
- Length: 206 pages
- Release Date: Nov. 1, 2024
Mr Campion’s Christmas (An Albert Campion Mystery) by Mike Ripley
It’s Boxing Day 1962, and Albert Campion’s peaceful holiday at his Norfolk farmhouse gets turned upside down when a bus full of travelers crashes right into his gates during a massive snowstorm. So now he’s got this random bunch of folks under his roof – some religious pilgrims heading to a shrine and a few American soldiers – all stuck there with no phones working and snow piling up outside. At first, it’s just your typical awkward house party with strangers, but things take a wild turn when they discover something shocking the next day. Turns out some of these “guests” aren’t exactly who they claim to be, which is pretty nerve-wracking when you’re all trapped in the middle of nowhere together! Poor Campion, now in his sixties, finds himself caught up in some serious Cold War drama in his own home – talk about a holiday gathering gone wrong. This book is part of a series, but early readers say that it had no impact on their ability to enjoy the story. One reader said the book only made her want to go back and read the other books in the series.
- Genres: General Fiction
- Length: 272 pages
- Release Date: Nov. 5, 2024
Christmas with the Queen by Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb
In 1952, newly-crowned Queen Elizabeth II prepares to continue her father’s Christmas radio broadcast tradition while navigating a changing post-war Britain. At Sandringham House, aspiring BBC reporter Olive Carter hopes to make her mark covering the royal Christmas celebrations, though her dreams of success seem to keep slipping through her fingers. Meanwhile, widowed chef Jack Devereux reluctantly takes a position in the royal kitchens. Over the next five Christmases, Jack and Olive’s paths repeatedly cross, their connection growing stronger even as Olive guards a secret that could destroy everything they’re building. By Christmas 1957, as Britain prepares for the Queen’s first televised Christmas message, one final gift remains to be given. What follows will change not only their lives but also the spirit of the season itself. Early readers say that this book has a lovely storyline, and they enjoyed the details of royal life.
This author duo also wrote the popular book Last Christmas in Paris, which I wrote about in this list of top Christmas books.
- Genres: Historical Fiction | Romance
- Length: 384 pages
- Release Date: Nov. 19, 2024
Christmas in Bethel by Richard Paul Evans
Leigh Beth Stilton, scarred from a painful past, has never embraced the holidays. One winter night, feeling defeated, she finds comfort in a book by J.D. Harper, whose words help her find strength. When she meets him in person, a romance begins, but trust issues surface when she learns he’s been hiding something. This is a story about hope, healing, and redemption. Early readers say this is a heartwarming story that is easy to read and the perfect Christmas story.
- Genres: General Fiction
- Length: 208 pages
- Release Date: Nov. 26, 2024
- Content Warnings: Child abuse
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What new 2024 Christmas book do you plan to read this year? And, no, you don’t have to choose just one!
Looking for more Christmas books?
Finding the right Christmas books to read can be a daunting task. The carefully curated book lists below can help. 🎄
