For many people, winter brings the year to a close granting a moment to breathe, acknowledge your existence, and mentally prepare yourself for the upcoming year. So whether or not your year finishes in a dry heat (looking at you Australia...) or piled underneath snow, take a moment and crack open a book as a break is an absolutely necessary way to end 2020. Here are five cozy novels to curl up into this winter to create and deepen that breath.
| Where The Crawdads Sing
Where The Crawdads Sing is the ideal novel to curl up into this season. With eloquent descriptions of marshland, a suspenseful murder trial, and an unforgettable life journey - this novel will have you captivated.
The protagonist of the novel is Kya Clark, nicknamed Marsh Girl. Her local reputation and fleeting romance with the deceased put her in the spotlight, as the prime suspect. The murder trial and Kya's life are intertwined and as the novel continues, you uncover the secrets behind Marsh Girl and why things, are never as they seem.
It may not surprise you to see Where The Crawdads Sing on a to-read suggestion list and if you are hesitant to crack open this novel due to the hype surrounding it, I recommend going for it. It is a strong literary novel bound to entice and a great read any time of the year.
Disclaimer (yippie!): Aster's Book Hour is an Amazon Associate. It earns a small commission from qualifying purchases attached to the Amazon affiliate links in this post.
| The Taking Of Annie Thorne
Also called The Hiding Place in the US, this suspenseful thriller is bound to have you hiding under the blankets.
Under the guise of the new teacher, Joe has returned home. His acceptance of the position is seen as charitable, a man returning to give back to the community that raised him, except it is any but that. Joe is back due to the murder-suicide of a local wife and child. The case hits close to home for Joe; the disappearance of a child who returns slightly "off" mirrors his childhood experience. He can never forget the day his sister went missing and when found, was no longer the person he knew. Joe is determined to figure out what is causing the disappearing children to return different and how to permanently stop it from happening to another innocent family.
You will be impressed with how Tudor weaves the past in with the present as it only heightens the intensity and enjoyability of this novel. If you appreciate novels that combine aspects of crime, thriller, and paranormal, then The Taking of Annie Thorne should be your read this winter.
| Truly Devious: A Mystery
Truly Devious: A Mystery is the first installment in the Truly Devious series and let me tell you, this Young Adult series is captivating.
The protagonist, Stevie Bell, is an ambitious teenager with a passion for true crime. Due to her high intellect and sheer determination, she has been offered a place at Ellingham Academy, a private school for the brightest children founded on the belief that learning is a game.
Stevie is thrilled to attend this prestigious academy but not for the reasons a typical child would want to attend. No, Steve wants to attend because of the decades old cold case that grips the founders of the Academy, a case Stevie is determined to solve. The question is, does she?
Truly Devious: A Mystery is a novel to make you smile this season and thank goodness it's part of a series as once you are finished, you will undoubtedly crave more of Johnson's story!
(PS, the fourth installment is still in-progress but hopefully by the time you read this, it will be out and you are able to enjoy the series in all its glory!!)
| The Girls at 17 Swann Street
Where to even begin... The Girls at 17 Swann Street is novel created to pull on your heartstrings. This novel is about eating disorders and is an unforgettable literary moment ideal for curling up to especially if you are looking to cry.
As a former dancer, Anna Roux has never stopped seeking perfection, an unattainable goal she carried with her after a dramatic continental move. The unfamiliar wasteland of America only increases her desire for perfection - the perfect wife, the perfect place, the perfect job. A goal that eventually lands her in 17 Swann Street, a home for women battling eating disorders.
As you join Anna on her journey you will be immersed into her struggle as she, along with other women, are pushed to eat healthy and you are able to discover how determination, strength, and support are key to recovery.
Yara Zgheib's writing will bring you to tears. The frankness of writing regarding eating disorders and the multiple outcomes that occur from having one will leave you exhausted. The Girls at 17 Swann Street is a hard-hitting novel written to cry over and discuss at book club. This novel, although fantastic, is one I recommend skipping if you are looking for something more light-hearted to curl up into this winter.
| An Absolutely Remarkable Thing
What fun! If you are searching for a light-hearted novel, An Absolutely Remarkable Thing is for you! This novel is welcoming, warm, and ideal to read sitting next to the fire.
Hank Green writes about April May and her accidental discovery of The Carls - 10 feet tall transformer statues that appeared worldwide overnight. April is the first to find them with her friend Andy and together they post a humourous and immediately viral video about The Carls. April, as the face of the video, is pulled into a world of fame focused on only one thing, The Carls. Where did they come from? What are they? Who put them on Earth?
An easy to read novel that is great to share with your family this winter.
The only thing these novels have in common is that they are unforgettable and oh - yes, perfect novels to cozy up by the fireplace and got lost in this winter.
What are some other cozy reads you will be enjoying this season?
