PVLF 2025

A Special Christmas Reading Treat: Heartwarming Stories to Make Your 25th December Magical

Discover heartwarming Christmas stories to brighten your 25th December. Dive into festive tales of joy, hope, and love with this special reading list!
on Dec 25, 2024

Christmas Day is a time of warmth, joy, and togetherness. As the aroma of plum cakes fills the air and the twinkling lights adorn every corner, it’s also the perfect day to unwind with a cozy book. Whether you’re celebrating with family or enjoying some much-needed alone time, a heartfelt story can add a magical touch to your 25th December. Here’s a special list of books—featuring Indian authors and global favorites—to make your Christmas truly unforgettable. These tales capture the spirit of the season, inspiring love, kindness, and hope.

1. ‘A Quilt for Christmas’ by Melody Carlson

Publisher: Revell

Melody Carlson has written more than 200 books (with sales around 6.5 million) for teens, women and children. That's a lot of books, but mostly she considers herself a "storyteller." Her novels range from serious issues like schizophrenia (Finding Alice) to lighter topics like house-flipping (A Mile in My Flip-Flops) but most of the inspiration behind her fiction comes right out of real life. Her young adult novels (Diary of a Teenage Girl, TrueColors etc.) appeal to teenage girls around the world. Her annual Christmas novellas become more popular each year. She's won a number of awards (including Romantic Time's Career Achievement Award, the Rita and the Gold Medallion) and some of her books have been optioned for film/TV. Carlson has two grown sons and makes her home in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and yellow Lab dog. To find out more about Melody Carlson, visit her website at http://www.melodycarlson.com/

2. ‘A Wish For Winter’ by Viola Shipman

Publisher: Graydon House

Wade Rouse is a popular award-winning memoirist and internationally bestselling author of twelve books, which have been translated into twenty languages and selected as Today show Must-Reads, Indie Next Picks and Michigan Notable Books. Rouse writes fiction under his grandma's name, Viola Shipman, to honor the woman whose heirlooms inspire his writing. He lives in Michigan and California, and hosts Wine & Words with Wade, A Literary Happy Hour, every Thursday.

3. ‘The Christmas Hirelings’ by Mary Elizabeth Braddon

Publisher Read Books

Mary Elizabeth Braddon (1835-1915) has been called the Queen of Sensation for her exceedingly popular sensational novels, including Lady Audley's Secret. She also wrote plays; contributed essays, short stories, and poems to Punch and The World; and edited two literary magazines, Temple Bar and Belgravia.

4. ‘The Best Christmas Pageant Ever’ by Barbara Robinson

Publisher: HarperCollins; Reprint edition

Barbara Robinson has written many popular books for children, including The Best School Year Ever and My Brother Louis Measures Worms and Other Louis Stories. The Best Christmas Pageant Ever is an ALA Notable Children's Book and was filmed as a television movie.

5. ‘Skipping Christmas’ by John Grisham

Publisher: Anchor Books; Reprint edition

John Grisham is the author of forty works of fiction and one of non-fiction. His works are translated into forty-two languages. He lives in Virginia.

6. ‘Letters from Father Christmas’ by J.R.R. Tolkien

Publisher: Mariner Books

J.R.R. Tolkien was born on 3rd January 1892. After serving in the First World War, he became best known for The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, selling 150 million copies in more than 40 languages worldwide. Awarded the CBE and an honorary Doctorate of Letters from Oxford University, he died in 1973 at the age of 81.

7. 'The Christmas Story' by Om Books Editorial Team

Publisher: Om Books International

A beautifully illustrated retelling of the birth of Jesus, tailored for Indian readers, capturing the essence of the festive season.

8. 'Celebrate Christmas' by Deborah Heiligman

Publisher: National Geographic Society

While not exclusively Indian, this book includes sections on how Christmas is celebrated around the world, including India, providing a global perspective on the festival.

9. ‘Snowed in for Christmas: A Holiday Romance Novel’ by Sarah Morgan

Publisher: HQN Publisher

"Morgan is a masterful storyteller…. For fans of Jojo Moyes, Taylor Jenkins Reid, and Stacey Ballis. —Booklist

What happens if the only Christmas celebration you want to attend is one you haven't been invited to? USA Today bestselling author Sarah Morgan delights with this hilarious and heartwarming Christmas cracker of a novel!

A family gathering

This Christmas the Miller siblings have one goal—to avoid their well-meaning family’s endless stream of prying questions. Ross, Alice and Clemmie have secrets that they don’t intend to share, and they are relying on each other to deflect attention.

An uninvited guest

Lucy Clarke is facing a Christmas alone and the prospect of losing her job. Unless she can win a major piece of business from Ross Miller, the season promises to be anything but festive. She’ll just deliver her proposal to his family home and then leave. After all, she wouldn’t want to intrude on the Miller family’s perfect Christmas.

A Christmas to remember

When Lucy appears on the Miller family’s snow-covered Highland doorstep, she's mistaken for Ross’s girlfriend. By the time the confusion is cleared up, they're snowed in—she can’t leave, even if she wants to! But does she want to? As secrets spill out like presents from an overstuffed stocking and the chemistry between her and Ross ignites, this is going to be either Lucy's worst Christmas ever or the best mistake of her life.

These books offer diverse perspectives on Christmas, reflecting India's rich cultural tapestry. They are perfect companions for the festive season, providing warmth, joy, and a deeper understanding of how Christmas is celebrated across the country.

The Joy of Reading on Christmas Day

Books have a unique way of enriching our lives. On Christmas Day, they offer not just entertainment but also a sense of comfort and belonging. Reading can:

Reduce Stress: The calming act of diving into a story helps you relax amidst the holiday chaos.
Spark Joy: Stories filled with hope and love uplift the spirit, mirroring the season’s festive cheer.
Enhance Connection: Sharing books with loved ones or reading together creates lasting memories.
Fuel Imagination: Tales of magic, wonder, and transformation inspire us to dream big and embrace possibilities.

Make This Christmas Unforgettable

This 25th December, take a moment to indulge in the magic of books. Whether you choose a heartwarming story by an Indian author or revisit a global classic, let the words transport you to a world of joy, hope, and love. Merry Christmas and happy reading!