Hi friends! I’ve been pretty consistent with seasonal reading recommendations in the past couple of months and to wrap things up perfectly, I thought that today I’d complete the collection with my winter reads recommendations!
If you’re interested, here are my other reading recommendations posts in this series:
It’s funny: I feel like I have a whole lot more books that feel “summery” than wintery, for some reason. Maybe it’s because I’m 200% a summer person and therefore, don’t really know a whole lot of winter reads…. or maybe because there are a whole lot less of books with snow and cold weather and big jackets and such? I don’t know, really.
Anyway, today I compiled for you a little list of young adult books that feel perfect for winter. We’ve got some romances, cozy, contemporary reads because you know me, I live for these.
I also tried and compiled some darker, fantasy, atmospheric reads that feel wintery to me, too. Somehow I ended up with a bunch of people-disappearing kind of reads….. oops.
I hope you’ll get some new recommendations from here and most of it all, that you’ll enjoy this post!
You can click on the covers to get to the goodreads page of the book!
? Winter Reading Recommendations : romances, cozy and contemporary reads
Cold Day in the Sun, Sara Biren
Why I recommend it ? I’m starting with a very wintery kind of read. Cold Day in the Sun is a sports romance with a great, strong and fun main character, a sweet romance, a lot of hockey and snowy days and family vibes and I had so much fun reading it, it’s a perfect cozy read.
? read my full review
Bittersweet, Sarah Ockler
Why I recommend it ? I love Sarah Ockler’s books so much and Bittersweet is such a good winter read. It has ice skating and a whole lot of cupcakes and wonderful character growth and people need to read more of Sarah Ockler’s books okay.
Let It Snow, John Green, Maureen Johnson & Lauren Myracle
Why I recommend it ? This is a pretty popular read, especially now given the Netflix adaptation of it. Three stories, intertwined during a Christmas Eve, soft romance and winterstorms, it’s a perfect book to read during winter time.
Fangirl, Rainbow Rowell
Why I recommend it ? It took me a while to read Fangirl and I do not regret it one bit, it is now one of my favorite books of ALL times and I think it’s the perfect book to read during winter time, cozying up with your warm blanket and tea. It’s relatable, it’s funny, it’s warm, it’s serious, it’s romantic, it has family vibes and college setting and I just love it.
Together at Midnight, Jennifer Castle
Why I recommend it ? Together at Midnight is a book set right between Christmas and New Years’, but it works perfectly as a winter read overall. If you’re looking for an adorable New York romance, filled with snow storms and acts of kindness, read this one!
? read my full review
How To Disappear, Sharon Huss Roat
Why I recommend it ? I LOVE How To Disappear and feel like this book could use more hype, to be honest. I’m recommending it today as a winter read because… well, why not. It deals with social media addiction and has a main character with social anxiety, it has great, complex friendships and is the kind of book you can devour under your bed covers on a cold day.
? read my full review
Solitaire, Alice Oseman
Why I recommend it ? It’s Alice Oseman’s least popular book, but I personally love Solitaire just as much as everything else she wrote and it feels like a perfect book you can read in one go on a cold day. It’s about a sad, introvert main character, it’s about a school mystery and an unlikely friendship blooming and it’s such a good, honest, raw read, I love it.
? Winter Reading Recommendations : atmospheric, dark & fantasy reads
Vanishing Girls, Lauren Oliver
Why I reommend it ? I love everything Lauren Oliver writes and Vanishing Girls gives me wintery cold vibes…. maybe it’s because it’s about sisters disappearing and it has this suspenseful, creepy, strange atmosphere, it’s surprising and thrilling to read and I love it.
? read my full review
Bright Burning Stars, A. K. Small
Why I recommend it ? Bright Burning Stars is a compelling, addictive read that gives me the chills…. therefore, winter reads it is. My logic is implacable, I KNOW. Anyway, this book is about ballerinas and competition and ruined friendships and ambitious, determined main characters and it’s intense and I definitely recommend it.
? read my full review
Daughter of Smoke & Bone, Laini Taylor
Why I recommend it ? If you’re looking for a very atmospheric read, Daughter of Smoke and Bone would be a great recommendation, I think. You’re thrown into a fantasy word, in the cold streets of Prague and it is the perfect read if you’re looking to get away this winter.
? read my full review
The Cruel Prince, Holly Black
Why I recommend it ? Well, if we’re talking about dark, atmospheric reads, I think we should mention The Cruel Prince. It’s a world of fairies and betrayal, it’s a fascinating world you can get lost in and fascinated by, for sure.
? read my full review
Sanctuary Bay, Laura J. Burns & Melinda Metz
Why I recommend it ? Sanctuary Bay is another dark, mysterious kind of read set in an elite prep school on a remote island. It’s a thrilling, dark and complex read that kept me on the edge of my seat and definitely a kind of read I’d pick up to hide under warm covers with!
? read my full review
Before I Disappear, Danielle Stinson
Why I recommend it ? Filled with twists and turns, Before I Disappear is certainly a promising debut I’d recommend as a winter read. It’s mysterious, compelling, has great family vibes and its atmosphere reminds me of the cold days where everything is frozen and tense and filled with expectations.
? read my full review
The Disappearances, Emily Bain Murphy
Why I recommend it ? Set in a small rural town where things disappear, The Disappearances is a very atmospheric, magical realism kind of read that I remember being fascinated with. It’s a book that feels quiet, yet manages to slowly, but surely, surprise you with each turn and I feel like it’d be a perfect winter read.
? read my full review
☂️ You might also be interested in my atmospheric reads recommendations.
Did you read any of these books? Did you enjoy them? Do you want to read them?
Do you like to read any kind of special books as winter comes around? Cozy reads or dark fantasies? Let me know in comments!
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I love Fangirl and The Cruel Prince! I need to read DSoB still.
Ahh yay, these two are so good! I hope you’ll get a chance to read DSoB, it’s a beautifully written read 😀
I loved The Disappearances! This is such a great list ☺️
AH YAY somehow who has read this book! I feel like too few people have 🙂 Thank you so much!! <3
I totally agree! It doesn’t get enough love!
We need to scream about it more ahah, I know I do!! 😀
Yessss! Definitely!
Great post, Marie! I love all the recommendations. I really hope that I can finally read Solitaire this year.
Thank you so much, Ashley! I hope you will, I’d love to hear your thoughts on it 😀
I haven’t read any of this but I want to read Fangirl, let it snow and Cruel prince and that whole series. Great recommendation! ♥️
Ahh I really hope you’ll be able to read these, they’re all wonderful 🙂 Thank you so much! 🙂
Let It Snow is the first winter book I thought of. It has everything: cold, holidays, coziness. Daughter of Smoke & Bone is excellent too.
It’s one of the very first I think of, when I think of winter reads, too! It’s such a great book for the season 🙂
Thank you so much!! <3
Your articles are always so nice! It was a good idea.
I’ll soon read Fangirl that has been on my TBR since 2014 (and I own the book)!
Awww thank you, you’re so sweet Laurie, thank you so much! <3 Ahh I can't wait to hear what you think of it. It took me years to read it, too, and I regret it because it's SO GOOD 😀
It’s on my plan for 2020! I hope I’ll manage to actually read it ?
I hope so too, I’ll remind you of it!! 😀
‘Together at Midnight’ and ‘Let it Snow’ seem really cute! ‘Daughter of Smoke and Bone’ is something I keep meaning to read but haven’t yet haha. I do have ‘The Cruel Prince’ on my TBR for this year though! Great list!
They’re these kind of cute reads you can get through quickly while staying under your warm blankets on a cold evening ahah 🙂
Thank you so much, Jenna, I hope you’ll get a chance to read some of these 😀
Daughter of smoke and bone and The cruel prince are great winter reads!
(www.evelynreads.com)
Glad you think so too 😀
I saw Cold Day in the Sun and I was like stop right there! No need for anyone to read further. I think that’s a perfect winter read. Have you ever read Julie Cross? She has a YA hockey series that you would like if you liked Cold Day in the Sun.
Right?? such a perfect winter read, I had such a great time reading it 🙂 oh no! I don’t think I have, I need to add them to my TBR 😀 thank you so much for the recommendation <3
You’re welcome! I hope you enjoy them if you read them.
I’ve been meaning to read How to Disappear. It sounds so interesting. These are all great recommendations!
Oh I hope you will sometime, Mel, I really enjoyed it 🙂 Thank you! <3
Thank you for the recommendations Marie! Adding some to my long TBR
Ahhh you’re welcome, so happy I could make your TBR grow 😀
Love that Fangirl is on this list! Can’t wait to check out more of these <3
It’s such a great book, I can’t believe it took me that long to read it. <3
Daughter of Smoke & Bone is SUCH an atmospheric read, like you said! I honestly can’t get over how beautiful Laini Taylor’s writing is. That being said, I never finished that series for some reason???? I’m so awful with series – I pick up the first book, like it, but don’t read the next one…haha
I’m terrible with series too, I so get that struggle haha. I’ve been meaning to try out Strange the Dreamer for AGES and I still haven’t haha.
Florida doesn’t have a real winter, or even seasons in all honesty so I never really thought about having seasonal reads before. I’ve heard about Vanishing Girls over the years but still have yet to read anything by Lauren Oliver, I should really get to that. Thank you for the suggestions 😀
Ahh I hope you will read vanishing girls, or any Lauren Oliver book sometime, she is one of my favorite writers ever <3
Thank you so much for your sweet comment! <3
Thank you for these suggestions, I really am behind on the Lauren Oliver train 🙂
I hope you’ll love the book (s) once you get around to them! Always happy to give recommendations 😀
Hello Marie,
I hear you!! I love summer and I can’t wait for the cold, dark winter to be over.
Thank you for these book recommendations 🙂 I am looking forward to reading the Cruel Prince. Fangirl is on my list to reread 🙂
Have a happy new year!
Same here, let’s hope it won’t last too long ahah 🙂
I can’t wait to hear what you think of the Cruel Prince, it was an interesting read for sure! 🙂
Thank you so much, you too!! <3
I think The Cruel Prince is the only one out of the list that I’ve managed to get my hands on. I also managed to lose it a week later. It’s the first book I’ve ever lost. I loved every moment, but I never got to finish it. I’m going to buy another copy soon. On another note, I’m still looking forward to reading Fan Girl. It’s been on my tbr list for ages. x
Darianne | http://www.placestoconstrue.com
Oh no! I’m so sorry you lost the book, I really hope you can get another copy soon and will enjoy it 🙂
AND YES! Fangirl is such a good read, I can’t wait for you to read it 🙂
Thank you so much for stopping by! <3
Together at Midnight is so cute, and I definitely need to give fangirl a reread this winter!!
It is a very cute read! AND YES. I rarely ever reread books, but… I want to re read Fangirl so badly. <3
Fangirl has been on my TBR foreveeeeeeer – it’s summer for me right now so maybe I’ll wait for winter to read it 🙂
Ahhhhh no matter the season, I hope you’ll read it, it’s such a great read 😀
Great list again Marie! <3 I really like linking books to the seasons. I agree that it feels like there are more Summer books and honestly, I like them more too. But sometimes cozy Winter reads set during the holidays are just as fun!
Thank you so much, so happy you enjoyed it! 🙂 I’m a summer person too ahah, but sometimes winter reads are a lot of fun to read. I’d rather read about a snowstorm than be in one hahaha 😛
I see 8 I read, with 4 being faves. I am happy to see Vanishing Girls on this list. So good and so underrated. And, How to Disappear was amazing. I loved that book so much. Loved watching Vicky find her tribe. And, seriously, adored every single second of A Cold Day in the Sun. Perfect feel-good sports romance.
I’m always so happy to see we have so many reads in common! <3 <3 I agree that Vanishing Girls and How to Disappear are such underrated reads, they're wonderful and deserve more love <3
I have read one of those books, namely Fangirl, but actually know or have heard of all of them, which is new for me and I just feel like saying YAAAY! haha
YAAAAAY! I’m so happy to hear this and hope that when you’ll get some new books, you might take one of these 😀
I actually just ordered a YA contemporary book recently, but it’s not on this list haha I am trying not to buy anything new these days and rather try and work on my existing physical TBR. I just have one more ebook to read beforehand, because it’s something I started in 2019 and I want it done with haha
AHHHH which one which oneeee (apologies if you told me already, my memory sucks, it’s friday night I’m tired hahaa). I hope you can finish this ebook, you can do this!!
It’s The Field Guide to the North American Teenager, which is about a French Canadian guy going on an exchange semester in Texas. Felt like that would very much be my jam
Aaaaah I’ve heard a lot of amazing things about that one! I can’t wait to hear what you think of it 😀
I remedy my statement that it’s about an exchange student. I think they are there for another reason. Still, it sounds interesting haha
Ahah I’ll look forward to hearing your thoughts, I heard good things about it 😀
Ohhh *adds a zillion books to TBR*
thank you so much for the reccs!! I’ve been looking for some winter season reads and you bet I’ll be picking them up! I’m especially stoked to try Let it Snow! I haven’t seen the Netflix adaptation (I don’t have Netflix) but I’m always curious to know what brought it to the big screen!
aaah thank you, I’m just so happy I could make your TBR grow 🙂 and let it snow is such a heartwarming read, I hope you’ll love it 😀
I didn’t know it was heartwarming! It makes me want to read it even more!! <3
It really is! I hope you will read it 😀
Oooh Fangirl does sound like the perfect book to curl up with on a cold day! I haven’t heard of a lot of these contemporaries, but they all sound really interesting, particularly Bittersweet (love some ice skating stories). 😀 And I really should get on to reading The Cruel Prince soon…
It really is, I hope you’ll get to read it ahh, I adore it <3 and I'd love to hear what you think of The Cruel Prince, it's definitely a unique read! 🙂
Thank you so much!! <3
I still need to read Solitaire but I LOVE Oseman’s other books so I’m sure this one will be an insta-favourite! And I really love Maggie Stiefvater’s Shiver series for wintery feels :’)
ahhh I really hope you’ll love it, it’s such a good, underrated read 🙂 and AH I need to read that series. I’ve heard good things about it 😀
I love your seasonal recommendation posts! ? For me, Fangirl is a book I read every autumn, but as a cozy comfort read I can see it totally fitting in with winter as well ? I also love Let it Snow, as I’m a huge fan of snow (sadly we haven’t gotten any this winter yet) and I love the atmosphere of the snowstorm. I also hope that 2020 is the year I finally read Daughter of Smoke and Bone, as it’s long overdue ?
Aww thank you, Caro, so happy you like them! I feel like I’d read Fangirl ANY season, I love it so much ahah <3
I'd love to hear your thoughts on Daughter of smoke and bone, I hope you can read it soon 😀
This is such a cute post ❄️
I haven’t read Let It Snow yet, but I watched the movie on Netflix and it was SO cute! I can’t wait to read the book one of these days. I also have Vanishing Girls on my TBR and I’m on the fence about The Cruel Prince.
I’m so sorry it’s still Winter, I wish I could send some of our sun your way xx
Aw thank you so much, Michelle! <3 I hope you'll get to read Let It Snow, I honestly can't recall how different it is from the movie, but I remember really liking it 😀
Thank you so much! <3
I tend to gravitate towards sports romance in the Winter. I don’t know why it might just be because ice Hockey is my favourite sport haha. So, Cold Day in the Sun sounds right up my alley. Daughter of Smoke and Bone is definitely the definition of an atmospheric wintry read. Fangirl is appropriate for any time of the year. 😉 Thanks for the recommendations.
Oohh well that’s cool, sports romances are a lot of fun, I should read more of them 🙂 I hope you’ll enjoy Cold Day in the Sun 😀
Thank you, Lois! <3
I agree that summery reads are easier to come by than wintery ones. LOVED Before I Disappear so I recommend that one in any season!! 🙂
Right? I feel like it’s ALL about summer, maybe more things happen in the summer? I wonder, haha. It’s such a good read! 🙂
I see some amazing recommendations on here! I definitely agree that Fangirl has that cozy, wintry vibe to it. It’s my favorite book from Rowell! I’m so happy you mentioned DOSAB and the snowy streets of Prague. Lovely imagery and a fantastic story to pair with it. I will always support a recommendation of The Cruel Prince, at any time of the year haha 😀
Ahh thank you, so happy you enjoyed it and agree with my recommendations! Somehow I feel like The Cruel Prince is fitting for the winter, with its amosphere and everything! 🙂
After reading your posts for as long as i have, I can’t believe that I’ve only read one of the books on your list, which was let it snow! I read it cause i found it in the clearance book section years ago! I saw a movie on netflix titled the same way, but I wasn’t sure if it was a movie adaptation or not. I might have to reread it because I don’t remember it that well. I added three new books to my TBR list, but as I’m trying not to buy any more physical books til I finish more of the ones I own, it’ll be a while til I read any of them. Great post Marie ! xx
Melina | http://www.melinaelisa.com
Ahh, I’m happy you read Let It Snow and I’d love to hear your thoughts on the movie, it was such a fun one, I really liked it 🙂
Thank you so, so much, Melina! <3
I actually didn’t watch the movie, I just saw the title! But i think I’m going to reread the book and then watch the movie! xx
Yay! I can’t wait to hear your thoughts! 🙂
I love this list so much, Marie!! I haven’t read anything by the author before, but I keep hearing good things about Solitaire! I might have to finally read it this year! <3 I hardly ever see the Disappearances talked about in the blogging world, but a close friend of mine loved it! Since you're a fan of it too, I'll definitely have to push it a little higher up on my tbr! <3
Ahh thank you so much, Kelly! <3 I hope you'll read Alice Oseman's books, they're all incredible, really <3
I quite liked Fangirl and I also recommended Together At Midnight when I made a winter books recommendation post. It had such a lovely message about kindness. I still need to read Daughter of Smoke and Bone and also The Cruel Prince! Maybe later though as it is summer here 😉
Ahh I’m glad to find someone who has read Together At Midnight as well, it was such a heartwarming story 🙂
You’re SO lucky, send me some of your summer here, I’m freezing haha 😛
Ah I love Daughter Of Smoke & Bone and The Cruel Prince. The first of them is definitely due a reread by me sometime. And I’m kind of tempted to reread the first two Folk Of The Air books before picking up the finale tbh. Oddly I think Solitaire is the Alice Oseman book that I most want to read. All of them are on my TBR and sound amazing but the oddness of the blurb left me really curious about that one. And I’m hoping to read The Disappearances this year too. Its been on my TBR for ages and sounds fantastic. Plus I adore the sound of the authors 2020 book so I’m determined to check out her debut before then.
Ahh I’m glad that Solitaire is making you curious! It’s Alice’s less popular book, but I find it to be such a solid debut, I’d love to hear your thoughts on it 🙂
Thank you so much Charlotte! <3