Best Books to Read, Best Books to Give this Holiday Season

Written by Caroline Nicholson

This time of year, when colder weather keeps us indoors, is a great time to curl up with a good book and a mug of hot chocolate. I recommend two books to enjoy while sipping something warm this winter.

“Let it Snow.” Written by John Green, Maureen Johnson and Lauren Myracle, this book was published by The Penguin Group in 2008.

On Christmas Eve, Gracetown, Va., is hit by one of the largest snowstorms in recent history. The story follows three different plotlines with all of the characters being affected by this snowy Christmas present. Jubilee, named after the holiday she vehemently hates, is separated from her family and stranded in an unfamiliar town when the train she is on breaks down. While stranded, she meets a kind stranger who invites her to his house to stay until the train gets back up and running. In another part of Gracetown, Tobin and his friends Duke and JP decide to brave the storm to go to Waffle House. What follows can only be described as a series of unfortunate (Christmassy) events. And finally, there’s Addie, who is going through heartbreak during a time that is supposed to be filled with joy. All of their stories collide on Christmas Day when the characters realize that these strangers aren’t really so unfamiliar.

“Between Shades of Gray.” Written by Ruta Sepetys, this book was published in 2011 by The Penguin Group.

Deep into the Second World War, Lina Vilkas, her mother and brother are taken away from their home in Lithuania by Soviet officers and separated from Lina’s father. The life they led before quickly takes on a dreamlike quality as they are forced into a small train car with other refugees in various stages of disarray and carted north under Stalin’s orders. They are underfed and mistreated, and once they arrive at a labor camp, they’re forced to do intense labor to earn their insufficient meals. The situation reaches a worrisome peak when winter hits and Lina’s incomplete family is moved to a new camp, one that has no shelter. Required to build their own homes with little to no supplies, a horrifying number of refugees die from exposure and starvation. It is twelve years before Lina is rescued, and by then, she is wholly changed. Sepetys drew inspiration for this heartbreaking tale from real stories of Lithuanians living during this time, making Lina’s tragic struggle all the more heartbreaking.

If you’re thinking of giving books as Christmas gifts, here are a few I’d recommend.

For Young Adult readers, the “Anna and the French Kiss” series by Stephanie Perkins is sure to please. The three titles include “Anna and the French Kiss,” “Lola and the Boy Next Door” and “Isla and the Happily Ever After.” The installations were published by Dutton Books in 2010, 2013 and 2014, respectively.

This contemporary romance series is perfect for young adult readers with a zeal for romance. The trio of books follows three teenage girls looking for love in different parts of the world. Anna Oliphant attends a boarding school in Paris where she meets new friends, including an enchanting, handsome English boy named Étienne St. Clair. “Anna and the French Kiss” follows her escapades in France and her journey with St. Clair.

Lola Nolan, a young fashion icon and designer, is in a happy relationship with her older, rockstar boyfriend – that is, until her childhood neighbors move back into the house next to hers. Cricket, her ex-best friend, brings with him hurt and long-neglected feelings. “Lola and the Boy Next Door” follows Lola and Cricket’s path to resolving their issues and forming a new relationship.

Isla has had a crush on Josh since their first year at the boarding school in Paris. After a chance encounter in their hometown of Manhattan, the two begin a romantic relationship. But with the start of senior year in Paris, an avalanche of problems causes issues between Isla and Josh. The question is: Can they get through these problems and still end up together? You’ll find out when you read “Isla and the Happily Ever After.”

For adult readers: “Me Before You.” Penguin Books published this title by Jojo Moyes in 2012.

When Louisa Clark is let go from her longtime job at a small cafe, she is forced to look for other work to support her family. This leads her to Will Traynor, a successful, experienced man who spiraled into depression after a motorcycle accident left him disabled from the waist down. He is extremely unkind to Louisa at first, but thanks to her bubbly nature, he warms up and the two form a strong bond. But Louisa eventually uncovers a secret that upsets everything. On a vacation to a tropical island, Will tells Louisa about his feelings and future plans, and their relationship crumbles around them. This is a heartrending tale about the meaning of life and other people’s role in it. If you enjoy the book, see the movie with the same title. For once, the movie is as good as the book. NCM