With Halloween just gone and the autumn leaves falling all over Sheffield, we might be looking ahead to the winter months that stretch before us. If you’re looking to stay inside and cosy up this winter by passing the time curling up with a good book, add these ten books to your reading list.
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
Let the four March sisters charm you and get you in the mood for winter as you follow the coming-of-age stories in this close-knit family. They bring you along for perilous ice skating on a frozen pond and selflessly spread the Christmas cheer to others too. There is nothing quite like a Little Women Christmas.
Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins
If you can’t quite let go of summer yet and simply feel like hibernating this winter, cling onto summer by reading this. Set in 1980’s Malibu in August, this book is the perfect escape from a freezing cold UK. You can hide away and stay entertained reading about this secretive family until the sun eventually comes out again.
Let it Snow by John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle
This book is an anthology of three short stories following three different characters as a huge Christmas Eve snowstorm hits a small town. The three authors work seamlessly together as the three storylines do, intertwining perfectly as the characters navigate the storm together with some Christmas spirit.
Niksen: Embracing the Dutch Art of Doing Nothing by Olga Mecking
If you fancy reading some non-fiction this winter this book is a great place to start. After the world has reopened again finally, it may feel like you’ve hardly had a chance to catch your breath recently. If you feel like slowing down and learning about Niksen (doing nothing) and how it can actually make us both more productive and creative, look no further.
Mug Cakes: Made in Minutes in the Microwave by Joana Farrow
Similarly, if you’re feeling slightly fiction fatigued, check out this mug cake recipe book for a comforting winter treat to fuel your study sessions leading up to the dreaded exam season. I recommend the molten chocolate mallow cake recipe, it’s a family favourite! A mug cake is the perfect single serve dessert for a student and you only need a mug and a microwave.
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
To be read when ‘There was no possibility of taking a walk that day’. On a winter day when the weather keeps you inside it’s finally time to get round to picking up Jane Eyre. I’m a firm believer that the story of a young woman’s navigation of independence is one everyone should eventually read in their lifetimes. It’s a true classic.
A Poem for Every Winter Day by Allie Esiri
A handpicked collection of wintery poems for you to dip in and out of over the upcoming chilly months. From Robert Burns and E.E. Cummings to Wendy Cope and Jackie Kay this collection truly covers all bases. My personal favourite in the collection is Still I Rise by Maya Angelou.
The Roasting Tin by Rukmini Lyer
If you’ve already ran out of student meal ideas this recipe book is filled with good, hearty (and healthy) meals you can work your way through this winter. All the recipes are made in one roasting tin so they’re really easy and they’re designed for people on the go. Sometimes a good comforting meal is what you need on a dull winter day.
Hercule Poirot’s Christmas by Agatha Christie
If you fancy dipping into ‘cosy crime’ look no further than the doyenne’s only full-length Christmas book as recommended to me by my grandparents. It’s a ‘locked room’ mystery and often known as one of the most difficult Christie cases to crack.
Klara and the Sun by Kazou Ishiguro
A book completely unrelated to the winter season for you to read. Ishiguro’s writing never disappoints, this is the Nobel Laureate’s latest book published this year. In this dystopian novel the narrator Klara is an artificial intelligence ‘friend’ whose story raises the question ‘what does it mean to love?’