As we near the end of the fall semester and finals are coming to a close, I’m sure I can speak for all of us when I say we’re ready to head home to our families, see old friends, and spend our winter break busying ourselves with the holidays, binging Christmas movies, making some money, or curling up with a good book.
If you’re anything like me, then cozying up by the fire with a cup of hot chocolate and a good book to read sounds like the absolute dream, especially with the addition of snowfall just outside. What could be more perfect?
Throughout my years of reading, I’ve compiled a long and detailed list of books that I constantly recommend whenever I’m given the chance. So let’s dive into 10 books that I think you should read over winter break.
If We Were Villains, by M.L. Rio
This book is a current reread for me. If We Were Villains is a dark academia novel set in 1997 small-town Illinois. The story is told from the main character, Oliver Marks’, point of view. It tells the story of seven Shakespearan actors as they enter their senior year at a conservatory where their lives begin to mirror Shakespearean tragedies. The book explores themes of ambition, betrayal, friendship and obsession all compiled into a single dark academia thriller. This remains to be one of my favorite books, and one I highly recommend.
Fell in Love with Hope, by Lancali
Now this book isn’t your typical romance novel. Instead, it’s a romance that follows a group of five terminally-ill teenagers as they attempt to draft an escape to their unforgiving reality. But Sam, the narrator and main protagonist in the story, begins to fall for the group’s new addition, despite having previously sworn off love due to past heartbreak.
I can safely say that this is one of the few books that have brought me to tears, so if you’re looking for a good novel to cry over during your winter break, add this to the top of your list with this beautiful story about hope, loss, heartbreak, and friendship.
The Maidens, by Alex Michaelides
This book is a psychological thriller that takes place at Cambridge University in present-day England. After one member of the secret female society known as “The Maidens” is found dead, group therapist Mariana Andros sets out to prove the guilt of one professor, risking her own life and sanity in the process. This novel draws from themes such as obsession, power, and trauma and is a book I simply could not put down and therefore, one I highly recommend.
All the Lights We Cannot See, by Anthony Doerr
Now this is a book that I originally chose for a school project, never believing that I would love it as much as I did. Published in 2014, All the Lights We Cannot See is a dual-POV novel set during the events of World War II. The first point-of-view we have is from Marie-Laure, a blind French girl fleeing Paris with her father. Parallel to her chapters, we also have the point-of-view from Werner, a German orphan and a subject of the Nazi regime. But unlike others, he’s not obsessed fascism but instead was a gifted boy talented with radios which eventually led to his recruitment into the Hitler Youth. Through his life, he struggles with his conscience and morality, representing the people caught in a cruel and genocidal war.
While I don’t usually like dual-POV books due to the writing, this was one of the exceptions. There was an extraordinary story told for both of the characters and the detail was outstanding. This remains one of the best-written books I’ve read, which is why it’s made its way onto this list.
The Midnight Library, by Matt Haig
This book follows the character Nora Seed, who attempts to commit suicide. After her attempt, she finds herself stuck in this magical library that’s placed between life and death. With each book she chooses, she finds herself in a different reality, living a different life or career, searching for the life that she truly wants. Throughout her adventure, she is taught about regret, her potential, and what fulfilling life truly means.
As sad as it sounds, it really is a beautiful story about learning to understand the meaning of life and how to fulfill it. It’s a very philosophical novel, and truly makes you think of what it means to be alive.
