Finished Jenna’s December pick? Here are 5 more cozy reads for the holidays.
The holidays are magical… and also a little exhausting, right? Between shopping, baking, and navigating family gatherings, I always try to carve out time for my favorite tradition: curling up with a good book. There’s nothing better than escaping into a story while the snow falls outside (or at least while the twinkle lights are on).
This December, Jenna’s pick is the timeless classic Pride and Prejudice, a perfect choice for anyone craving wit, romance, and a little Regency-era drama. If you’re like me, you’ll want to keep the cozy vibes going after you finish Austen. So, Jenna rounded up a few past Read with Jenna selections that fit the vibes of the season. These books either take place in wintery settings or just have that comforting, curl-up-and-read feel we all need right now.
And if you’re still stuck in Pemberley, take this fun quiz to find out "Which Jane Austen character are you?" We can’t all be Elizabeth Bennet, but there are plenty of fierce female heroines in Austen’s world that just might be your match.
Cozy and wintery Read with Jenna picks
The Secret History
by Donna Tartt
Dark, atmospheric, and utterly absorbing, this modern classic is perfect for curling up on a winter’s night. A tale of obsession and morality set against the backdrop of an elite college, it’s a story you’ll want to binge read. As Jenna says, “It is a pillar of the last 30 years in literature.”
This Motherless Land
by Nikki May
If you love retellings with heart, this is your next pick. This book reimagines Jane Austen’s Mansfield Park in a fresh, contemporary way with a beautiful, layered story about identity, belonging, and family—ideal for savoring during the season of reflection. It’s the perfect pick if you want to binge more Jane Austen-style stories after finishing Jenna’s December book club selection!
The Mighty Red
by Louise Erdrich
Set against the stark, wintry landscape of North Dakota, this novel is as gripping as it is atmospheric. Erdrich, a master storyteller, weaves a tale of community, resilience, and secrets that will keep you turning pages long after the snow falls.
The Whalebone Theatre
by Joanna Quinn
If you love sprawling historical fiction, this is your book. It’s a transporting, irresistible debut novel that takes its heroine, Cristabel Seagrave, from a theatre made of whalebones to covert operations during World War II—a story of love, family, bravery, lost innocence, and self-transformation.
All Adults Here
by Emma Straub
Warm, witty, and full of family dynamics, this novel feels like a comforting conversation with a friend. It’s a funny and keenly perceptive novel about the life cycle of one family as the kids become parents, grandchildren become teenagers, and a matriarch confronts the legacy of her mistakes.
As Jenna says, "In a time when all we want is hope, it’s a beautiful book to reach for."
*Title availability may vary.
Whether you’re sipping cocoa by the fire or hiding from the holiday hustle, these picks will keep you company and remind you why winter reading is the best reading.
📖 For more of Jenna’s picks, don’t forget to join Jenna's Book Club for updates on her latest picks that you can read and discuss!
RELATED READ: Read with Jenna + Libby: Celebrate National Book Month with free books from your library
Published Dec 08, 2025
Annie Suhy
Annie Suhy is the editor of Libby Life. When she’s not working, practicing yoga, or petting cats, she’s doing paint-by-numbers and buying more plants. An avid poetry fan, her favorite collection is The Splinter Factory by Jeffrey McDaniel. She is an Aries.