The Writers Herd Team Recommends…
Winter Book Recs
Over the winter period, The Writers Herd team shared a carousel post on social media highlighting a selection of books we felt were perfect for the Christmas break and the quieter weeks of winter.
This blog post is a more personal follow-up to that list: to expand on those recommendations and share a little more insight into why we chose each book. Our winter picks span a range of genres and moods, reflecting the introspection, escapism, and ambience that often define the season.
If any of these picks resonate with you, you'll find links throughout the post to explore them further.
Cosy
A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett (Brooke's Recommendation)
The Little Princess is the ultimate cosy, wintry read in my opinion. This wholesome children's classic centres on the search for belonging, the forging of unexpected friendships, and, most importantly, never forgetting who you are and what truly matters, even in the most difficult of circumstances.
The luscious scenes of gift-giving between the female main characters, alongside their wild imaginations and scenes of play-pretend, are deeply reminiscent of girlhood Christmastime. The book takes readers on a touching moral journey that lingers long after finishing. This is a story that holds a special place in my heart, and one that I find myself returning to year after year, the moment the weather becomes chilly. I hope that, if you get the chance to read it, you too will fall in love with it just as I have.
Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett (Nina's Recommendation)
I decided to place this book under 'cosy' rather than 'fantasy' because, at its core, it's a story about people and connection, with an underlying theme of faerie folklore. Our protagonist, Emily Wilde, is an academic writing the world's first encyclopaedia of faerie lore. However, while she excels in research, she lacks social skills. When her work takes her to the remote village of Hrafnsvik, she is forced to rely on, and eventually befriend, the close-knit townsfolk in order to survive the harsh wintry climate, making this the perfect cosy read. Not only can you feel snug while Emily braves the snow to chop logs for her cottage fire, but you are also warmed by her growing acceptance into the community.
The cosy feel is further heightened by the forced proximity between Emily and a charming, annoyingly sociable rival professor, alongside her loyal and gigantic dog, Shadow. The book is formatted as a series of Emily's journal entries, which feels more intimate, and its slower pace makes it easy to dip in and out of.
All Together for Christmas by Sarah Morgan (Ananda's Recommendation)
Sarah Morgan knows how to write cosy Christmas books, and All Together for Christmas is exactly that. It's a real cosy treat, indulging readers in the lives of four women who come together for the holidays, each carrying their own relationships, worries, and secrets. Although the book is full of drama, and may have you clenching your teeth wishing the characters would 'just communicate,' it strikes a beautiful balance between realness and festive magic. Christmas with big families is often chaotic, but All Together for Christmas manages to put a tidy bow on it, making it feel as though it was all part of the plan.
In this festive tale, three women arrive at the Balfour family Christmas, each holding a secret that could unravel the holiday. This is a feel-good, Hallmark-esque story about the messy reality behind a family Christmas.
The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey (Joshua's Recommendation)
I wanted to include a story slightly different from the usual conventional cosy read, as cosy can be emotional, nostalgic, and deeply sentimental. It's the kind of feeling you experience during winter, when you want to curl up and find comfort in a heartwarming story. I feel The Snow Child eclipses that.
The narrative unfolds in the Alaskan wilderness and draws inspiration from an old Russian folk tale, creating a nostalgic, reflective ambience. It centres on a couple attempting to build a new life in a harsh, wintry landscape while quietly navigating childlessness, loneliness, and the hope for something more. The appearance of a mysterious child, formed after they build one out of snow, introduces elements of magical realism and leaves an eerie sense of uncertainty about what is real and what belongs to folklore. The Snow Child explores grief, resilience, and the beauty of human connection, making it an emotive winter read.
Night-Time Thoughts
The Little Prince by Antoine De Saint-Exupéry (Olivia's Recommendation)
In the colder months, a short story about appreciating life and what you have is always something I value. I find that the weather often affects my mood, so little heartwarming stories like The Little Prince really help pick me up.
As well as being a cosy, heartwarming tale, it is also a very short book that can be read in a single evening, which might even help boost a yearly reading goal if that is something that interests you.
Snow Country by Yasunari Kawabata (Joshua's Recommendation)
There's something so wintry and dreamlike about Snow Country. It has this elegant prose and these beautiful descriptions of a snowy mountainous town that draw you into the reflective mood winter sometimes brings. There's a real sense of melancholy.
It follows a detached Tokyo man who forms a complicated connection with a provincial geisha, delving into themes of distance, longing, and fleeting connection. Very little occurs in a conventional sense in terms of plot; the novel prioritises subtle, atmospheric beauty and introspection instead, which makes it perfectly suited to long, quiet winter nights.
White Nights by Fyodor Dostoyevsky (Olivia's Recommendation)
If stories about solitude and philosophical discussions are more suited to your winter evenings, then White Nights might be the one for you. This book works really well as something you could pick up over an evening (or a few) whilst the cold weather outside rages on. It's only 84 pages long, but if you enjoy nights of analysis and introspection, you may find some real hidden gems within it.
As well as being about solitude, it also examines the importance of dreaming, but without becoming lost in it — learning to live in the real world rather than constantly hoping for escapism. It reflects on being present, which during the colder months can feel valuable when you find yourself wishing for warmer weather. Be grateful for where you are, and for where you are going.
The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy (Olivia's Recommendation)
With its beautiful wintry artwork and heartwarming stories of perseverance, it is something to treasure in the colder months. This short, illustrated story follows four characters travelling through snowy woods until they find a nearby village, offering a lot of warmth in the winter months.
As well as being a story about a journey, it provides words of comfort for those struggling with their own mental health journeys. The dynamics between the characters highlight different important messages about mental health and resilience.
Fantasy
Northern Lights by Philip Pullman (Brooke's Recommendation)
This timelessly bold adventure story, featuring spirited orphans, shape-shifting animal daemons, and an exiled armoured polar bear, is a must-read for any fantasy-lover. Set partly across a magical Arctic tundra, it makes an absolutely ideal addition to this winter recs list.
The book captivatingly explores themes of friendship, free will, good versus evil, and the importance of knowledge, culminating in a truly mystifying storyworld experience that pushes at the boundaries of science, theology, and magic. Northern Lights is also the first in Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy, making it the perfect recommendation for anyone longing to escape the cold, hunker down, and hibernate with a brilliant book series this winter.
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis (Olivia's Recommendation)
This fantasy is a classic winter staple, as we escape from the 1940s wartime world into a wintry land overrun by the White Witch. It draws parallels between real-life war and fantastical politics, while also building complex family dynamics in times of hardship.
The Pevensies must work together to defeat the White Witch, with the help of their family, newfound friends, and the gifts they receive from Father Christmas to liberate the citizens of Narnia.
The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden (Nina's Recommendation)
I have never read a fantasy book so perfect for winter. Everything about Katherine Arden's writing immerses you in the biting frost and the pockets of warmth by the hearth. Whether she is describing the glow of embers or the glossy sheen of a frozen river, Arden's prose is lyrically marvellous. I read the majority of this book either in bed or next to the log burner — that's how effective the cold atmosphere was!
Set in 14th-century Rus, in a small village on the edge of the wilderness, we follow Vasya as she grows up enamoured with old fairy tales and develops a desire to connect and understand the spirits many in the village are forgetting in favour of modern religion. It's a love letter to mythology and folklore, while providing a haunting example of how faith can be a source of comfort and a weapon of control. Vasya encompasses everything a woman of her time was not allowed to be: stubborn, adventurous, intelligent, and determined. And yet she loses none of her compassion or care in favour of these tougher attributes, which is why I found her so compelling.
Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik (Nina's Recommendation)
The Kingdom of Lithvas suffers from harsh, brutal winters, and from the Staryk — a race of mystical creatures who emerge from their own world each winter to raid the villagers' land. It takes inspiration from many Eastern European fairy tales and, in particular, includes a loose reimagining of Rumpelstiltskin.
Focusing on three different young women trying to survive poverty in a patriarchal kingdom, we read each of their perspectives through distinctive voices. Each of them struggles with the hand she has been dealt and learns to fight her way out and gain independence.
Winter Whodunnits
The Christmas Clue by Nicola Upson (Olivia's Recommendation)
The Pratts hosted quite a few murder mystery parties, but none like this… The Christmas Clue is the story behind the creation of Cluedo. This book is a great encapsulation of the traditional Christmas feeling, as it is set post World War Two at Christmas time.
With the snow-covered hotel as its main setting, the atmosphere is heightened by the unravelling mystery, as well as the story behind the invention of a classic board game. It's also a short novella, making it the perfect book to read on a cold winter night, when you want to figure out the mystery alongside the characters.
Hercule Poirot's Christmas by Agatha Christie (Alice's Recommendation)
A classic Agatha Christie novel where a Christmas family reunion is spoiled by murder, and the famous detective Poirot is on the case. This is the nineteenth novel in the series of Belgian detective mysteries and forms part of the 'locked room' mystery archetype within crime and detective fiction.
The wealthy and mean-spirited Simeon Lee has demanded that his four sons (and their wives) return home for Christmas. But this isn't out of any sudden warmth of heart, as Mr Lee has other things in mind. He insults and berates each of them before announcing that he intends to change his will. On Christmas Eve, the festivities are shattered by a crash of furniture and a scream… the tyrannical patriarch, Mr Simeon Lee lies dead. But the room was locked, so how did the murderer get in?
The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally Carter (Nina's Recommendation)
This has all the elements required for a cosy, romantic crime: it's three days before Christmas, and Maggie and Ethan, after both accepting a cryptic invitation to a party, find themselves snowed in with their host — a famous mystery writer who has suddenly gone missing.
Inspired by the disappearance of Agatha Christie, The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year includes the POVs of both romantic leads, with a light mystery to solve on the side.
The Nine Tailors by Dorothy L. Sayers (Joshua's Recommendation)
The Nine Tailors is a perfect winter whodunit set in a remote village and follows a classic Golden Age mystery filled with buried secrets, stolen emeralds, and long-hidden identities. The village's long-held traditions are central to the mystery, adding to its eerie atmosphere.
The novel is full of intriguing twists as Sayers lets the mystery unravel slowly through village history, memory, and the daily lives of the community. If you're a fan of Agatha Christie, this classic detective story will likely suit your taste, offering an immersive and reflective crime read for winter nights.
Classics
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens (Olivia's Recommendation)
This book needs no introduction. A Christmas Carol is a winter staple, especially during Christmas. With the moral journey of Scrooge at the forefront of the story, the ethics of charity and kindness are heavily showcased throughout.
It's a book perfectly matched to the time of year, and if it's a classic you have not yet crossed off your list, this could be the year. It is short enough to read in one sitting, perhaps on Christmas Eve, when Scrooge would have been experiencing his ghostly visitors…
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy (Joshua's Recommendation)
Often regarded as one of the greatest works of world literature, Anna Karenina is rich and immersive, capturing the intense, atmospheric nature of Imperial Russia. It's a huge novel (nearly a thousand pages), split into eight parts, yet it still manages to keep you immersed.
At the centre is Anna's affair with Count Vronsky, which slowly unravels throughout the novel — exploring love, betrayal, and existentialism against a bleak winter backdrop.
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott (Brooke's Recommendation)
Louisa May Alcott's Little Women is a charming classic tale that begins at Christmastime. It follows the lives of the four March sisters, each with her own unique set of dreams, passions, and flaws, yet bound together by an enduring sense of sisterly and familial love. This wonderful story captures themes of female friendship, autonomy, sacrifice, charity, self-discovery, and, of course, sisterhood — all under the impossibly heart-shattering lens of growing older and growing ever further from childhood.
This is a book I could rant, rave, and recommend to people for hours if I had the opportunity. It is a profoundly heartfelt story that will simultaneously leave you nostalgically longing for your bygone childhood and reaching towards your future ambitions with grasping hands.
The Nutcracker by E.T.A Hoffmann (Olivia's Recommendation)
The Nutcracker is deeply entwined with Christmas festivities, as it's set at that time of year and showcases the social elements of the holiday. This short classic was later adapted into the ballet, which is arguably more famous than the book itself.
It follows battles with the Mouse King, journeys to fantastical worlds, and the ever-growing imagination and wonder of a child at Christmas time.
We hope this Winter Recs list has inspired a few new additions to your TBR, or perhaps encouraged you to revisit an old favourite. There's nothing quite like getting cosy with a good book, whatever the season.
