Books To Indulge In Over Christmas

A cosy chat before the holidays, and my book recommendations. This is a book café, after all.

Sundaze Book Café is the home of everyday magic, joyful living and conversations likely to be had over a hot drink with a friend in your favourite café, capturing the syrup-slow feel and glow of a Sunday. I’m Michelle, and I’ll be your host this Sunday.

Happy Sunday-before-Christmas, friends!

I’ll be honest: I didn’t know what to write before I sat down at my laptop this week. Usually, an essay title comes to me at an inopportune time (in the shower, while driving, mid-meeting at work…) and I’ll note it down in my bullet journal ready for it to kick-start my weekly writing session but, this time, I had nothing. It’s sort of refreshing to write from scratch though, don’t you think?

2024 has been a really long and tough year, buoyed by the highest of highs. Every year, I write an annual wrap-up for my blog, Daisybutter, and it’s been eye-opening to pen one for 2024 since it just wasn’t the year I dreamed it to be. But that’s okay. As we step into the final days of December, I mostly plan to wind down completely and indulge in good books, good party food and good times with friends and family. Books have been my escape for as long as I can remember and, although it wasn’t the best reading year for me, I know one or two books that are the perfect indulgence for this time of year.

Books To Indulge In Over Christmas

Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi

For the painfully sentimental.

This book and series is an easy recommendation to those who don’t typically find themselves reading. Many of us will be travelling home for Christmas and a book is a wonderful way to wile away a long train journey or car ride. Before the Coffee Gets Cold has garnered international acclaim, especially amongst bookstagram and BookTok, for its cosy and repetitive narrative style. Five people visit this magical café in Japan and are transported to a moment in time for one more conversation with a loved one, before the coffee gets cold. I was reading this book for the first time when my now-boyfriend wandered back into my life¹ and it means so much to me, now.

The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben

For the nature lover.

If there’s one thing about me, it’s that I absolutely love trees, nature, animals, rewilding and the world around us. And The Hidden Life of Trees is the most joyful ode to all of that, but especially trees. Peter Wohlleben writes in an accessible way that exudes his adoration for the natural world. He is incredibly knowledgeable and compassionate in tone, and I guarantee you’ll also develop a love for trees after reading this one.

This Christmas by Emma Heatherington

For the festivity hunter.

Last Christmas, I was determined to do some seasonal reading and ended up finding This Christmas on offer in the Kindle store. While it isn’t my bag at ALL, you can’t deny the charm of a gorgeously festive small-town romance novel at this time of year. In This Christmas, two strangers find themselves double-booked in the same cottage. And I don’t really need to say any more, do I? (Spice levels are pretty minimal in this one, fyi!)

What You Are Looking For Is In The Library by Michiko Aoyama

For the life lesson-learner.

Much like Before the Coffee Gets Cold, this translated Japanese fiction is a nostalgic and sentimental read. It’s short and it’s set in one neighbourhood where several strangers visit a library and receive life-affirming book recommendations from the curious librarian there. I think I’m actually going to reread this one over Christmas, because it’s full of little life lessons and reminders that we’re all leading complex lives.

The Household by Stacey Halls

For the history lover.

Stacey Halls is an author that I’ve followed for years and I absolutely loved reading The Household this year. When my book-buying ban is over, I’ll be picking up a copy so that I can reread it. The Household is set in a home for troubled women, based on the house that Charles Dickens ran in London. The characters are beautifully brought to life in this solidly feminist novel and I really adored its traceable, historical roots.

The Days Between by Robin Morris

For the thrill-seeker.

I’m not much of a mystery-thriller reader but for The Days Between I could permanently become one. The Days Between is a gripping page-turner of a debut that truly doesn’t read like a debut. Andrew and Amy are happily married, thriving in their respective careers and living in a stunning house on the beach in Delray. The next step is a baby, according to Amy. But the couple have struggled to conceive: Amy wants to begin fertility treatment, while Andrew is less than motivated, yet happy to adopt. Their lives are turned upside down when, one morning, he runs into Kathryn on a rare morning coffee run. They haven’t seen each other in 20 years. Her phone drops and on it Andrew glimpses the face of a boy that looks just like him? Could it be… a son? His child? So begins the unravelling of many manicured lives.

The Days Between is told across alternating timelines and perspectives. Morris does an incredible job with the pacing of the narrative, beautifully building tension to create a story that completely grips you. I found myself cooking pasta with my Kindle in my hand, for goodness’ sake. Morris tackles alcoholism, family breakdowns and mental health, amongst other big topics, with expertise, weaving them amongst gorgeous prose and realistic dialogue to bring the story to life. It’s billed as a ‘drama’ but feels like a really well done family saga thriller to me. The cast of characters all feel pretty well-developed and incredibly real. In my mind’s eye, they are real people with complex histories, hopes, ambitions, secrets and struggles. I also loved the look at mother/son, mother/daughter relationships, as well as the commentary on parenthood as a whole.

Merry Christmas to you and yours, from me and mine. I’m taking a short posting break from Substack for the holidays; I’ll see you in 2025!

1. A story for another time!