Good morning, friends!
It’s been quite a while since my last Top Ten Tuesday post, but today’s theme seemed like the perfect time to get back into the list-making groove. This week’s prompt, which comes from That Artsy Reader Girl, is “Holiday/Winter Freebie.”
(Freebies *and* holidays! Two of my favorite things! Together!!)
Since I’m very much in the spirit of the season, I’ve leaned heavily on the “Holiday” portion of the prompt. The books below feature oodles of winter-y cheer, quite a few ghosts, and plenty of snow. Let’s discuss!

[1] I love the Greenglass House books for so many reasons. Not only do these cozy middle grade mysteries remind me of childhood favorites like The Mysterious Benedict Society and The Red Blazer Girls, they also take place at a rustic winter inn on the top of a mountain at Christmastime. There’s frequent descriptions of cocoa and cookies. Amazing!!
[2] Main Street was one of my absolute favorite book series when I was younger, and I’ve especially always loved the third installment, ‘Tis the Season. Following the lives of four best friends living in the fictional (and adorable) town of Camden Falls, the book is a lovely ode to the strength of community and friendship.
[3] The Vanderbeekers books are all really stinkin’ cute, but the first one, The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street, gets 10,000 extra coolness points because it takes place at Christmas. I so, so encourage you to spend part of your holiday reading with Isa, Laney, Oliver, Jessie, and Hyacinth as they attempt to save their Harlem brownstone from a curmudgeonly landlord before New Year’s Day. It’s great fun!

[4] I received The Afterlife of Holly Chase as a gift a few year’s back, and it was such a good, fluffy, holiday read! Cynthia Hand transports the Scrooge story to the modern day, centering her tale around Holly Chase, a spoiled teenage girl who has an unfortunate run-in with death. Ghosts and romance abound!
[5] My friends, Royal Holiday has it all. Scones. Romance. Christmas. References to my fave, Meghan Markle. Need I say more?
[6] The Mother Daughter Book Club was my sister’s favorite series growing up, and I have super fond childhood memories of it as well! The fifth novel, Home for the Holidays, sees the titular book club tackle the Betsy-Tacy series. There’s plenty of friendship intrigue, literary incite, and holiday cheer. Also, the in-person cover glitters.
[7] If you, like me, enjoy a good dose of Regency-era holiday fun, I heartily recommend Cindy Anstey’s 2018 novel, Carols and Chaos. There’s both carols *and* chaos. What a book!

[8] Guys, I talk about Little Women a lot. (On this blog. In life. In college interviews. Everywhere!) Is it my favorite book? Probably! Do I read it every year at Christmas? Yes! Did I spend a significant portion of last year’s Christmas strategizing when I’d get to see the Greta Gerwig version? You bet! Anyway, it’s totally a Christmas book.
[9] My family and I watch The Polar Express movie every year on Christmas Eve, so both the original story and the film hold a special place in my heart (uncanny valley eyes and all…) The 1985 picture book has beautiful art and a story that never fails to make me cry.
[10] The Penguin Book of Christmas Stories is a new addition to my holiday reading this year, as I picked it up just last week! I’m quite enjoying the collection so far, which features stories from authors across centuries. The first one, a short tale by Hans Christian Anderson, is about an insecure, worrying fir-tree. Relatable. And Christmas-y!

Books are one of my favorite ways to get into the holiday spirit! What are some of your favorite winter-y reads?
xx
lulu
Books are one of the ways I get into Christmas, too, this year.
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Oh, I’m so glad! Happy reading! 🙂
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Royal Holiday looks like a fun read.
Here is our Top Ten Tuesday.
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It is! And thank you for sharing your Top Ten Tuesday; I love to check everyone’s out!
Happy reading!! 🙂
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Greenglass House is high on my list! Little Women is a must read in December for sure.
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Yay, I’m glad you agree on LW, hehe! 🙂
I hope you’re having a very happy December! ❤
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I’m so curious about Greenglass House.
My post.
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Greenglass House is great!
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I haven’t read any of these but I’ll definitely have to read them!! GreenGlass House seems interesting!!!
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Let me know if you do!! They’re all a lot of fun 🙂
I hope your December is going well! ❤
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Thanks, I hope your December is going well too!😊😊
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My daughter loved The Green Glass House. When I see that cover, I think winter.
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Little Women was almost on my list, too! I love it so much! You’ve got some wonderful covers featured on here!
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Thank you so much! Little Women is a fantastic book year round, but I especially love it in the wintertime 🙂
happy reading!!
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This post reminds me that I don’t read enough holiday-themed books. Great selection!
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Thank you so much!! I hope your December is going well 🙂
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Great list! Carols and Chaos sounds so fun. 😀
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It is!! Thank you so much for reading ❤
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I love that cover of Little Women!
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It’s gorgeous, isn’t it? It’s from the Puffin in Bloom collection!
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These all look fun! I’ve read LITTLE WOMEN and POLAR EXPRESS but that’s it from your list. I’m going to have to take a closer look at some of these, especially the ones with ghosts 🙂
Happy TTT!
Susan
http://www.blogginboutbooks.com
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Polar Express and Little Women are classics! 🙂
Happy reading! ❤
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What a fun list! Royal Holiday sounds like the perfect holiday read. And Little Women is a classic this time of year!
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Yay, I’m glad you agree on LW! 🙂
Royal Holiday is so good for the wintertime!
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I love that The Polar Express is a tradition with your family! I don’t think I’ve ever seen the film, but the book is gorgeous. Those illustrations are breathtaking.
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It’s such a gorgeous book!
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The list is soo Christmas!!
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Hehe, I’m all about the holiday season!
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The Greta Gerwig movie is all kinds of awesome, totally agree. Kate Milford is a name familiar to me and Carols and Chaos seems to quite a popular choice among this week’s TTT-ers. Must check these out! Thanks 🙂
~Top 10 Tuesday Post @Lexlingua
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One of these days I have to read The Afterlife of Holly Chase. 🙂
Lauren @ Always Me
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I just added The Afterlife of Holly Chase to my TBR list. It sounds weird and excellent.
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I’d never heard of The Vanderbeekers but that has to be one of the cutest covers I’ve seen in a while 🙂
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Ah I have heard quite a bit about The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street and it sounds intriguing! YES LITTLE WOMEN IS ONE OF MY ALL TIME FAVS! ❤ Thanks for sharing and the recs!
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