Looking for the best book club books to share this season? Winter is the perfect time for engaging reads, and I have handpicked just the list for your group!
While many of us love cozy winter books and heartwarming holiday books for book club picks, I wanted to bring you something extra special.
While we all love a comforting read, this collection is designed to spark rich discussions across many genres because I believe the best winter books can come in many forms.
As a big fan of historical fiction books, you know I made sure to include some truly gripping stories from the past.
But our selection goes far beyond that, featuring mysteries, thrillers, and even unique sports-themed narratives. These are truly some of the best winter books for book lovers seeking depth and variety.
For some of these book club recommendations, I have also created detailed book club guides. These resources are designed to help your group explore every facet of the story, allowing for even richer conversations.
So, get ready for 30 fantastic books about winter that are truly good winter books and the best books for book discussion groups.
I am excited for you to explore this list and find the perfect book to make your winter gatherings memorable!
Table of Contents
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Holiday Romance Books With Winter Charm
This book is a truly festive read among Christmas books.
Maelyn loves her family’s annual Utah cabin holiday, but a big mistake sets her on a fantastical journey.
She finds herself reliving the same Christmas week, a Groundhog Day scenario, with chances to fix things.
For me, this creates a charming contemporary romance, especially as she tries to win over her longtime crush, Andrew.
Some might wish for more depth in characters or clearer time loop mechanics. However, I see it as a story about Maelyn’s personal growth, learning to fight for what makes her happy with each redo.
It felt like a sweet, sometimes hilarious, and heartwarming read despite any minor plot issues.
The family dynamics and holiday traditions provide a warm backdrop, with genuinely hilarious moments.
This would make a great book club pick, offering plenty to discuss about second chances and self-discovery.
This cozy Christmas story invites you to Vermont’s snowy Maple Sugar Inn.
The plot centers around four women, each facing significant life changes, including a widowed inn owner and three college friends on their annual book club getaway.
The strong friendships among these women, especially those over 40, truly stand out.
It delivers all the cozy Christmas movie vibes, perfect for anyone who loves that warm, festive feeling. Picture yourself enjoying this by a crackling fire with a glass of wine.
It’s a sweet, touching, and absolutely delightful read.
Despite some predictable elements, the character growth shines through. It is a story of change, showing how simply shifting your focus can make all the difference.
This holiday romance captured my heart, like settling into a cozy Christmas movie.
It traces Molly and Andrew, friends who flew home to Ireland together for ten years.
A huge snowstorm grounds their usual flight, igniting a wild cross-continent quest to get Andrew home.
I really enjoyed their genuine banter and watching their deep friendship slowly turn into something more.
This felt like a refreshingly real love story, unfolding naturally over time.
For a unique take on friends-to-lovers, this book delivered.
It would spark wonderful conversations, making it an excellent book club pick. You can almost feel Molly’s “Grinch heart” thawing through Andrew’s festive spirit.
If you love heartwarming and funny stories, you should absolutely give this a read.
A reformed ex‑con gets a second chance when a department‑store owner hires her to design a holiday window and sparks fly amid New York’s snow.
This book offers a fascinating balance between sweet, New York Christmas magic and explicit romance.
Such a mix makes Window Shopping a fantastic choice for book clubs needing lively discussions.
Prepare for a fast-paced, heartwarming, and very hot steamy holiday read that might just have you looking for your own Aiden.
Spanning decades of marriage, Jonathan Evison’s novel shows how small acts of love sustain a couple through life’s harshest seasons.
This book tells a love story spanning seventy years, following Ruth and Abe Winter from their college days.
What a journey it is, seeing two opposites grow old together, raising a family on Bainbridge Island.
The story reveals the truth of marriage, with all its joys, struggles, and tough moments.
It would make excellent material for any book club discussion.
Consider adding this one to your list of must-read book club books.
Ever wonder if love at first sight really exists, or if it just creates a messy situation?
Imagine seeing a stranger on a bus, feeling an intense connection, only for the bus to pull away.
For Laurie, that magical glimpse led to a year-long search for her “bus boy.”
Then, her best friend Sarah introduces him as her new boyfriend, Jack, starting a decade of tangled lives.
What unfolded was surprising as it felt less like a typical romance and more like a real journey through love, friendship, and hard choices.
The exploration of emotional ramifications, even with cheating involved, made it a moving and relatable read.
The deep friendship between Laurie and Sarah was the true highlight for me. This makes it a fantastic choice for any book club seeking a story that sparks lively discussions about complicated relationships.
So grab a copy for your next book club discussion; it’s bound to be memorable.
In the winter she curls up around a good book and dreams away the cold.
Historical Fiction Books Set in Winter
This historical fiction book often leaves readers deeply moved and tearful. It is undoubtedly one of Kristin Hannah’s best books for its raw emotional impact.
It follows two sisters, Vianne and Isabelle, as they navigate unimaginable challenges. Vianne protects her family with profound strength while housing a German officer. Her rebellious younger sister, Isabelle, bravely joins the French Resistance.
The book really highlights the vital, often unrecognized, roles women played in this war.
For any book club searching for impactful book club books, this is a strong recommendation. We have created a book club guide for The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah to enrich your discussion.
Set in 1960s Ireland, this novel charts a family’s hopes and heartaches during a pivotal December.
This Depression‑era tale follows a rural Saskatchewan family navigating economic hardship and personal secrets under endless snow.
Born with a birthmark and raised in isolation, a young woman in 19th‑century Appalachia must uncover her true identity as an unforgiving winter threatens her survival.
In 1985 Ireland, a coal merchant discovers a convent’s dark secret during the Christmas rush and must decide whether to act. Oprah Book Club Pick.
What good is the warmth of summer, without the cold of winter to give it sweetness
Winter Thriller Books with Spies, Secrets, and Survival stories
A Vietnam vet moves his family to Alaska; the brutal winter tests their resilience and reveals how isolation can both heal and destroy.
In rural Vermont, a teenager discovers her mother’s hidden diary and uncovers rituals for raising the dead after a woman vanished during winter.
A middle‑aged office worker goes on the run, adopting disguises and heading north to evade unknown pursuers in this wintry espionage thriller.
A troubled couple spend a stormy weekend in a converted Scottish chapel, where anniversary gifts reveal long‑buried secrets.
Even the strongest blizzards start with a single snowflake
Magical Winter Books Rooted in Fantasy and Folklore
Three women confront an ice king and faeries in this feminist Rumpelstiltskin re‑imagining where a perpetual winter threatens to consume their world.
Rival magicians battle within a wandering circus that appears only at night, its tents shimmering like frost and filled with strange wonders.
A young woman in medieval Rus’ must honour old winter spirits to protect her village when a frost demon awakens. Book 1 of the Winternight Trilogy.
Homesteaders in 1920s Alaska build a child out of snow; when a mysterious girl appears, they must decide if she’s real or an enchantment.
A modern novelist writing about the 1708 Jacobite invasion begins experiencing memories from the past, blurring fiction and history with a hint of the supernatural.
It’s so hard to think in winter. The world seems confined in the space of your heart; you can’t see beyond yourself
Winter Mystery Books
The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon
A historical fiction murder mystery set during the bitter winter of 1789 in Maine based on the true story of midwife Martha Ballard.
In the novel, a midwife discovers a man’s body under the ice and is drawn into a courtroom drama that exposes corruption in her community.
I was struck by Martha’s courage in a time when women faced immense injustice. The book beautifully portrays 18th-century village life and its challenging legal system. It’s a satisfying read that will keep you engaged throughout.
This powerful story makes it a fantastic choice for any book club discussion and you can use our Frozen River Book Club Guide to explore topics such as justice, family, and female strength in early America.
A true‑crime writer trapped by a blizzard rescues two children in a deserted farmhouse, unravelling a decades‑old disappearance.
In this cosy caper, food columnist Hayley Powell investigates a murder during a holiday crime‑writing festival.
A Catskills inn loses power during a snowstorm and bodies begin to pile up, forcing the guests to question each other’s innocence.
An avalanche traps a tech start‑up team in an Alpine chalet, and guests start dying, leaving a murderer hidden among them.
A group of friends vacationing in a remote Scottish lodge become suspects when one of them turns up dead during a blizzard.
My old grandmother always used to say, Summer friends will melt away like summer snows, but winter friends are friends forever
Winter Books about Sports and Small-town Life
In a hockey‑obsessed Swedish town, a violent crime shatters dreams and forces residents to confront loyalty and morality.
Lily King’s writing often feels truly beautiful and deeply engaging.
This collection of short stories delivers memorable characters caught in life’s messy moments. You might see these tales as a glimpse into the 1970s and 80s, almost like a form of historical fiction.
The varied settings and emotions make this a fine choice for book club discussions. It belongs in any solid book club guide for rich conversations.
Guests escape their troubles at a quirky Irish hotel during a stormy week, finding community and unexpected connections.
A widowed father and his daughter discover an abandoned baby in the snow, drawing them into an emotional reckoning in their small New Hampshire town.
In the depths of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer
Additional Book Club Resources
Did you enjoy these book club questions? Find more specific and engaging questions in our Comprehensive Book Club Guide Kits for various must-read book club books. These guides come with everything for an unforgettable book club meeting. Inside you’ll find:
- Thought-provoking discussion questions in printable PDF format that will help you explore the novel’s themes.
- Fun icebreaker questions to get everyone talking.
- Challenging word search puzzles featuring names and places from the book.
- Delicious themed food and drink ideas inspired by the novel.
- Insightful book quotes with explanations to help you understand the novel’s deeper meaning.
- Meeting record templates for jotting down thoughts and organizing your meetings, and so much more!
People tell us our guides are perfect for hosting great book club meetings. They are also helpful for anyone reading the book alone and looking to get more out of the story.
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