By Gabriella Bancheri
Temperatures have dropped, and the snow has made its 2024 debut—and for those of you not into extreme winter sports or shoveling your driveway, fear not. I’ve compiled a list of book recommendations that make great companions for cozying up at home this chilly season.
Mystery/Thriller/Psychological fiction
Eileen by Ottessa Moshfegh
It’s December in the ’60s. Eileen is working a dead-end job and taking care of her abusive father. Her life seems to be frozen in a lake of despair. Until she meets Rebecca, and a thirst for escape is ignited, as well as a question of what is real and what isn’t—what Eileen can control and what she can’t. Buckle up for this wild ride through the icy roads of the unknown.
The Secret History by Donna Tartt
For fans of dark academia, this character-driven psychological fiction novel is an iconic winter read. Greek mythology, bacchanalia, and murder—you’ll curl up with these characters and stay forever; you’ll love them, you’ll hate them, you’ll wish you never met them and miss them when they’re gone. TSH is perfect for those looking for some escapist literary fiction.
The Push by Ashley Audrain
This one will grip domestic and psychological thriller fans from the first page. “The Push” is the story of one seemingly perfect family’s demise, told from the isolated point of view of an emotionally neglected mother. This is a more niche read, with themes of motherhood and family, and questions of whether some kinds of evil simply exist outside of our control.
Contemporary Fiction
Beartown by Fredrik Backman
The “hockey literature” genre is a massive hit in the current book world, and “Beartown” is no exception. This story places the hope of a town in a young boys’ ice hockey team and explores the effects it has on the community. This book will give you all the chilly winter vibes over the backdrop of a cozy small-town story. For those who are looking for a heartwarming sports story rather than a hockey romance, this is definitely for you.
Romance
Book Lovers by Emily Henry
Calling all romance readers and, yes, you guessed it, book lovers: this one is the perfect combo of love and literature you’ve been waiting for. Literary agent and powerhouse Nora Stephens meets the cold and standoffish book editor Charlie Lastra. The two prioritize work to a fault and have relationships with the city that they don’t want to break—until they start to fall for one another. This enemies-to-lovers story by the contemporary writer taking the romance world by storm will surely satiate all your romance needs, with plenty of humor and heart to accompany it.
Literary Fiction
Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar
A tale of art, loss, and displacement, “Martyr!” tells the story of Cyrus, an alcoholic poet obsessed with the idea of martyrs as he begins to unravel his late mother’s past. His discoveries prompt him to question everything he knew about his mother and ultimately rebuild his memories of her as someone entirely different from the woman he knew. In this feat of literary fiction, Akbar begs questions of identity and how we make meaning of our lives.
Classic Literature
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
I know, I know, we all know about Miss Eyre, but how can you go wrong with this absolute classic? Set on the cold, vast English moors, this tale of doom and gloom definitely captures the mood of the moment. Brontë gives readers those chilly wintery images, but she’ll also spare you from time to time with the iconic images of the warm, burning hearth and cozy family homes. This one will capture the hearts of the historian, the romance reader, and the escapist of all ages.
Nonfiction
Educated by Tara Westover
If you haven’t read this one, I highly recommend taking this time indoors to add it to your repertoire. “Educated” is an inspiring memoir about one woman’s quest for an education and escape from her deeply complex survivalist Mormon family. This one takes you through some bone-chilling realities while offering (albeit very few) sunny reprieves. This one will stick with you long after you’ve finished it.
Sci-Fi
Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
Ishiguro’s writing is ethereal, reflective, and downright beautiful—it’s the perfect prose to delve into and get lost in for hours. This is the story of three childless, parentless friends who grew up shut out from the rest of the world. The classic boarding school trope meets sci-fi in this tale of what it means to be an outsider. If you’re feeling a little lonely during what can be a quite isolating time of year, these characters can empathize with you.
Historical Fiction
The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O’Farrell
Told before the colorful and ornate backdrop of the Italian Renaissance, the story follows the young duchess, Lucrezia de Medici. The narrative is told through a dual timeline that slowly and methodically builds to the crux of the plot: that Lucrezia’s husband intends to kill her. This one was one of my top three reads of 2023, and it is a beautiful work of fiction perfect for those in search of a sunny setting to escape the current climate.
The Fox Wife by Yangsze Choo
When a detective is hired to uncover the truth about a woman’s body found frozen in the snow, a story of mystery and folklore emerges to blur the lines between the material world and the spiritual. Set in 1908 Manchuria, China, the New York Times bestselling author gives us a story with all the ingredients for a perfect winter novel. It’s out Feb. 13, so be the first to get your hands on this one before the cold spell is broken.
