I love a holiday read or a holiday movie, or even ones that fuel the winter vibes. Here are some of my favorites.
1. Desk Set
While maybe not technically a holiday movie, it does take place at the right time and there is holiday content. And there’s Katharine Hepburn, whom I love. Here’s a trailer:
2. Christmas Every Day by Beth Moran
I just read this a few weeks ago, and I really enjoyed it. It’s got the perfect wintry setting of Sherwood Forest, a grumpy-sunshine romance, and a fabulous group of friends. It’s got all the vibes of a good, wintry, cozy read.
buy it here
3. Love Actually
Not a new one, but relatively new to me. I actually never watched it before last year, but it’s now part of the annual round of holiday movies. I just watched it this past weekend. It’s beautiful, if you ignore the wholeJuliet-Mark bit, which I find more than a little creepy. Although most people seem to find it romantic.
4. The Matzah Ball by Jean Meltzer
This book is hilarious, centered on Rachel who has a dark secret. She’s Jewish… and she loves Christmas. Her love of it has led her to become a bestselling Christmas romance writer, a career choice she’s carefully hidden from her family. It’s such a good book, with some great subplots and a great romance.
buy it here
5. Violent Night
I know, not the typical feel-good movie, but I love it. It’s a new take on the Santa Claus myth, reimagining him as an immortal Viking warrior. He’s also a bit disillusioned with the greed and commercialism of the world, fully intending to retire after the current year’s deliveries. But at one stop, things change, and he is forced into full warrior mode. It’s a comedy action movie, so a different take from the usual holiday movie fare.
6. Highland Hearts Holiday Bookshop by Tricia O’Malley
I just read this one, and I loved it. It’s set in a small village in Scotland, a town that embraces Christmas wholeheartedly. Rosie is new to the village, having just inherited a bookshop that came with more than she expected. The setting is everything you could want for a holiday read, with all the cozy vibes, but it’s the characters that make the book… to include a fabulous book club of ladies who refuse to take no for an answer… to any question!
buy it here
7. Carry-On
Not a typical Christmas movie, but it does take place on Christmas Eve. I watch a LOT of cheesy holiday movies, so sometimes I just need to step out of that a little bit. This is that movie.
8. The Most Wonderful Time of the Year by Beth Moran
Yes, another Moran novel, which I also just recently read. It, too, is set in wintry Sherwood Forest, the perfect cozy vibes. It’s an emotional story, complete with betrayal and family dysfunction. But it’s also a beautiful one of friendship, romance, and familial love.
buy it here
9. Miracle
Not holiday related, but it gives me the winter vibes. It’s based on the real-life story of the US Men’s Ice Hockey team, who won gold in the 1980 Winter Olympics, beating the favored Soviet team. The movie holds a special place in my heart, as I attended that game at just 9 years old.
10. The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally Carter
I’m reading this one right now. It’s part comedy, part holiday, part mystery, part romance. It’s ALL entertaining. It’s a bit of a locked-room mystery, albeit in a giant English manor. Add that to a cast containing three writers, a duke and duchess, a doctor, and a slew of odd family members. It’s an absorbing read!
buy it here
11. The Shining
Nothing says “cozy winter” like The Shining, right? Nonetheless, it is set in the winter. And it is a great movie, if you love that genre, which I do!
12. One Night, Two Holidays by Ali Brady
This one is a Hanukkah/Christmas hybrid, and it’s next up on my list to read. It stars two neighbors, both stranded in a snowstorm, dashing their holiday plans. But they come together to make the best of it. It sounds like a perfect holiday read, and I can’t wait to start it.
buy it here
13. Mystery, Alaska
Yes, another hockey movie. What can I say? But it’s such a great movie, and you can’t get much more wintery than Alaska. Bonus point… the New York Rangers (my team!!) are part of the story, coming to Alaska to play against the locals in a promo game.
I love Desk Set. You may have convinced me to try Violent Night.
I love it, but take the title for truth. It IS violent!
I have seen the Desk Set and Love Actually but am not familiar with the rest. Just listened to some songs with Christmas in them Like Same Old Lang Sayne.
I adore The Desk Set! I’ve seen it about a zillion times and want to share this little bit of trivia: it was written by Henry and Phoebe Ephron. The Ephrons were the parents of writer Nora Ephron, who became a writer and director (You’ve Got Mail, Heartburn, Sleepless in Seattle, When Harry Met Sally). Anyway, Nora told this story about her mom. Phoebe believed she was an elegant fashionista who criticized her daughters’ clothes choices (as mothers will). Then came Desk Set. Nora happened to be visiting the set when the estimable Katharine Hepburn began loudly complaining about her wardrobe. Hepburn said Bunny’s clothes were too expensive for a working woman and said she wanted Bunny to dress like Phoebe. Nora loved it (as any rebellious teenage girl would). Anyway, Hepburn’s look in Desk Set was inspired by Phoebe Ephron.
I love that so much! The subtle insult by Kate seems very on brand for her!!!
Thanks for the list! I usually read Debbie Macomber books around this time of the year; some are not set at the holiday, but some are.
I read her holiday books every year!