10 Historical Fiction Holiday Reads to Warm Your Winter Season
As the days grow shorter and the air turns crisp, there’s nothing quite like curling up beneath a blanket with a book that captures the heart of the season. Whether you love tales steeped in history, stories of family and forgiveness, or simply the joy of a Christmas well told, this list is filled with novels that pair perfectly with a mug of cocoa and twinkling tree lights.
From Victorian London to 1920s Vancouver, these stories of love, redemption, and hope are sure to make your holiday reading list one to remember.
1. Last Christmas in Paris by Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb
A moving World War I epistolary novel that reminds us that love can survive even the darkest times. Told through letters between Evie and Thomas, this story blends romance and resilience with the poignancy of a world at war. It’s perfect for readers who love heartfelt historical fiction with a dose of nostalgia.
2. A Holiday by Gastlight by Mimi Matthews
A Victorian holiday romance with charm and wit to spare. Sophie Appersett, a sensible woman of means, decides to call off her engagement to a man she hardly knows—only to discover love might just deserve a second chance. Think Bridgerton meets A Christmas Carol—elegant, tender, and utterly delightful.
3. Christmas with the Queen by Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb
Beginning in December 1952, a young Queen Elizabeth II prepares her first Christmas broadcast as postwar Britain looks to the future. At Sandringham, BBC reporter Olive Carter and widowed chef Jack Devereux cross paths, finding second chances amid royal tradition. Over five Christmases, their bond deepens—until Olive’s secret threatens everything, just as the nation awaits the Queen’s first televised speech in 1957.
4. Cocktails Before Midnight by Tanya E Williams
Step into 1920s Vancouver, where the chandeliers of The Hotel Hamilton sparkle with secrets. Sisters Clara and Louisa Wilson navigate ambition, love, and danger as the hotel’s first holiday season unfolds. Perfect for readers who love strong heroines, family bonds, and a touch of suspense beneath the mistletoe.
5. Mr. Dickens and His Carol by Samantha Silva
This imaginative retelling of how Charles Dickens came to write A Christmas Carol is a heartwarming homage to creativity, redemption, and the spirit of giving. It’s witty, beautifully written, and tailor-made for fans of literary classics.
6. Little Women by Louisa M. Alcott
No holiday reading list would be complete without this timeless tale of sisterhood and self-discovery. Set against a backdrop of wartime sacrifice and family devotion, Little Women continues to warm hearts more than a century later.
7. Hercule Poirot's Christmas by Agatha Christie
For readers who prefer their cocoa spiced with mystery, this festive whodunit delivers all the clever twists and turns you’d expect from Christie. A snowed-in country house, a family gathering gone awry, and a murder most chilling—what’s not to love?
8. Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan
Set in 1980s Ireland, this compact, luminous novella explores quiet courage and moral conviction. It’s the kind of story that lingers long after you turn the last page—gentle yet powerful, and ideal for reflective winter reading. Though technically not a historical fiction novella, this story reads with all the vintage charm.
9. Under A Gilded Moon by Joy Jordan-Lake
Set against the grandeur of the newly built Biltmore Estate in North Carolina, Under a Gilded Moon follows Kerry MacGregor, a young woman torn between family duty and ambition. Returning home from college to the Blue Ridge Mountains, Kerry is caught in a clash between wealth and poverty, progress and preservation. As outsiders descend on the region—each with secrets and motives—Kerry must navigate corruption, class divide, and the dangerous allure of privilege in this richly told tale of resilience and identity.
10. Christmas Bells by Jennifer Chiaverini
Inspired by Longfellow’s beloved poem, this dual-timeline story connects the Civil War era to modern Boston, weaving themes of hope, love, and endurance. Chiaverini’s storytelling glows with the timeless message that peace and joy can rise from sorrow.
Final Thoughts: Stories to Savor This Season
Each of these novels captures the magic of the holidays in its own way—whether through courage in dark times, second chances at love, or the quiet triumphs of ordinary people.
So pour a cup of tea, light a candle, and settle in. Because the best kind of gift you can give yourself this holiday season is time—to read, reflect, and remember that even in the coldest months, stories keep our hearts warm.
Xo,
Tanya
Avid Reader I Tea Drinker I Daydreamer