If you’ve been around Fun with Fun-Size for a while, you already know I love a good Hallmark Christmas movie. So much so that I’ve turned it into a whole annual Hallmark Christmas Movie Night—cue the Hallmark Christmas Movie Bingo! 😂
But somehow, it wasn’t until LAST YEAR that I discovered Christmas books.
Seriously. Who knew you could get “Hallmark in a book?!” 🎄📚
Once I figured that out, there was no turning back! I started with a few cozy holiday romances and quickly discovered there’s a whole world of Christmas reading out there—from sweet and heartwarming to family drama, second chances, and yes…some that are a little more Lifetime Channel than Hallmark. 😉
So this year, I’ve done the digging to find some of the best Christmas books for a little holiday escape. Some I’ve read and loved, some are waiting patiently on my bookshelf, and others earned a spot after a LOT of research.
And because apparently not all Christmas books come with a Hallmark rating, I’ll give you a little “Reader Beware” when language or spice might make you clutch your Christmas pearls. 😂
But let’s be clear: we’re not looking for the next great literary masterpiece here. These are the light, fluffy, curl-up-on-the-couch kind of books that give your brain a break from shopping lists, wrapping paper, parties, menus, and trying to remember where you hid that one Christmas present.
Think of it as a little gift to yourself during the busiest season of the year—permission to pour something warm, ignore your to-do list for a bit, and escape into someone else’s Christmas chaos instead of your own.
Grab a cozy blanket, pour yourself something festive, and let’s find your next Christmas read!
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🎄 The Fun-Size Five: Where I’d Start!
Twenty Christmas books and not sure where to start? I’ve got you!
I’ve narrowed it down to five that caught my eye—from sweet and heartwarming to family Christmas chaos and even a little extra spice. Consider these your shortcut to finding your first Christmas read! 🎄📚
And apparently, when I said I was looking for “Hallmark movies in book form,” I wasn’t kidding. 😂 A few of these have actually made the leap from page to screen! I’ve tucked in an A Fun-Size Bonus 🎬 when they have.
1. The Santa Suit — Mary Kay Andrews ⭐ FUN-SIZE FIVE
A fresh start, an old farmhouse, and a Santa suit containing a little girl’s Christmas wish. Sweet, heartwarming, and just over 200 pages—perfect for squeezing in during a busy December.
🎁 Fun-Size Bonus: A quick Christmas read!
2. Snowed In — Catherine Walsh ⭐ FUN-SIZE FIVE
Two childhood friends agree to fake-date their way through the holidays—and then get snowed in. Funny, romantic, and wonderfully Christmas-y, this one sounded so good I already bought myself a copy. It’s officially waiting for me on my nightstand!
3. The Holiday Swap — Maggie Knox ⭐ FUN-SIZE FIVE
Twin sisters switch lives just before Christmas, complete with baking, small-town charm, romance, and plenty of complications. Basically, someone put a Hallmark movie between two covers. 😂
4. The Christmas Tree Farm — Laurie Gilmore ⭐ FUN-SIZE FIVE
Small-town Christmas charm, a Christmas tree farm, and romance—this was one of the books that started my holiday-reading obsession last year. I enjoyed it enough to pass it along to my sister-in-law…with a warning!
🔥 Reader Beware: Less Hallmark, more Lifetime Channel—with some EXTRA spice. 😂
5. Winter Street — Elin Hilderbrand ⭐ FUN-SIZE FIVE
Christmas on Nantucket with one wonderfully complicated family and plenty of holiday drama. The ending left me wanting more—which apparently worked, because I bought the entire series! 😂
🎁 Fun-Size Warning: One book may accidentally become four.
🎄 More Christmas Reads for Your List
A struggling bookshop in Edinburgh gets a Christmas makeover—and its reluctant new employee gets a fresh start of her own. Books + twinkle lights + Christmas in Scotland? Yes, please.
A family Christmas-tree business brings Kerry to New York City’s Greenwich Village for the holidays. Add a vintage camper, quirky neighbors, found family, and a little romance for a feel-good Christmas escape.
Four friends have created their own Christmas traditions together in New York City, but growing up threatens to change everything. A fun change of pace when you want friendship and found family instead of another holiday romance.
The Murphy women are together for Christmas, bringing family traditions, relationships, surprises, and a little Southern holiday chaos. A good pick when you’re craving family Christmas more than straight-up romance.
🎄 It’s part of the Peachtree Bluff series, but you can absolutely jump in here—no required reading before the Christmas fun begins.
Mae’s annual Christmas getaway goes terribly wrong—and then she wakes up and has to do it all over again. A funny, romantic Christmas time-loop with plenty of holiday cheer.
A Fun-Size Bonus: 🎬 It’s coming to Netflix December 2! Read it now, then settle in to see if the movie lives up to the book. (Christmas homework I can get behind. 😂)
A struggling Christmas tree farm + a fake boyfriend + best friends who may be more than friends. Cozy Christmas setting, grown-up romance.
🔥 Reader Beware: This Christmas tree farm brings some heat, too. Seriously, what IS it about Christmas tree farms anyway?! 😂🌲🔥
Twelve dates leading up to Christmas in a charming English village. Holiday baking, dating mishaps, romance, and lots of Christmas atmosphere—what could possibly go wrong? 😉
A Fun-Size Bonus: 🎬 Hallmark turned this one into a six-episode limited series, Twelve Dates ’Til Christmas. So once you finish the book, you can keep the Christmas fun going on screen. (Because apparently my holiday TBR list now comes with a watch list. 😂)
Three sisters head home to the Scottish Highlands for Christmas—and naturally bring all their problems with them. Snowy scenery, sisterhood, family drama, and romance with plenty of Christmas warmth.
A move to a tiny Alabama town brings an unexpected community, friendship, kindness, and second chances. Less rom-com, more warm-your-heart Christmas story.
A journalist heads to Alaska in search of a reclusive author—and finds a little more than the story she was chasing. Sweet romance, snowy setting, Christmas…very Hallmark. ❤️
A struggling bookstore sends anonymous books to people in the community who need a little hope. Christmas + books + kindness makes this one especially sweet.
A cross-country train trip just before Christmas brings an unexpected cast of characters—and someone from the past. Romance, humor, and a little mystery make this a fun departure from our usual Christmas-tree-farm fare.
A Fun-Size Bonus: 🎬 This holiday favorite became a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie starring Dermot Mulroney, Kimberly Williams-Paisley, Danny Glover, and Joan Cusack. Apparently, my Christmas reading list is slowly turning into a Hallmark watch list—and I’m not mad about it. 😂
A big family Christmas gets complicated when Whitney discovers her brother has invited her ex for the holidays. I’m reading this one now and loving the writing and messy family dynamics.
🔥 Reader Beware: The language introduced itself in sentence ONE. 😂 I’m only partway through, but I’m sensing some Christmas-pearl clutching ahead!
A newer Christmas romance built around a holiday countdown, second chances, and finding your way forward. A little more heartfelt than some of our fluffiest picks, but still wrapped in Christmas.
A holiday “yes list” pushes its heroine outside her comfort zone and toward some unexpected possibilities. Light, romantic, and a perfect reminder to put “curl up with a Christmas book” on our own list this year.
A Fun-Size Bonus: 🎬 This one is already headed from page to screen! The Christmas Yes List, starring Danica McKellar and Sam Page, premieres November 14 as part of Great American Christmas. Apparently, my “Hallmark in book form” theory has officially expanded to include Great American Family. 😂
🎄 A Little Christmas Gift to Yourself
Whether you make it through one book or all 20, I hope you’ll give yourself permission to slow down for a little while this Christmas. The shopping, wrapping, cooking, and endless to-do list will still be there—but sometimes the best gift we can give ourselves is a cozy blanket, something warm to drink, and a few hours spent in someone else’s Christmas chaos instead of our own.
As for me, I still have a few of these waiting on my nightstand—and apparently, I need to find myself a Christmas tree farm.
Because after putting this list together, I have just one question:
WHO are these people, WHERE are these Christmas tree farms, and how have I never been to one?! 😂🌲🔥
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And we’re just getting this holiday season started! 🎄 There are plenty more gift ideas, entertaining inspiration, Christmas traditions, and festive FUN coming your way—so come along!
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Happy reading, Fun-Size Friend—and here’s to a season filled with a little less stress and a whole lot more FUN! ❤️🎄