Though we have seen some beautiful weather these past few weeks, the promise of Spring is still a month away. Fortunately, winter’s cold and dreary weather provides the perfect excuse to cozy up with a good book. Here are just a few book recommendations to help pass the winter days.
- “Daisy Jones and the Six” by Taylor Jenkins Reid
This is a book that I have not yet read myself, but one that is at the top of my reading list. As many may be aware, Amazon Prime Video is set to release an adaptation of this book in the form of a mini-series on March 3. Though I have not read “Daisy Jones and the Six,” I have read “Malibu Rising” and “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo,” both written by Taylor Jenkins Reid. I fell in love with Reid’s style of writing after reading these two books and can only expect “Daisy Jones and the Six” to meet the same outstanding quality.
Set in the 1970s, the story follows Daisy Jones, a beautiful and talented up-and-coming musician as she joins a rock band that rises quickly to fame. After loving so much of Reid’s other work and after watching the trailer for the mini-series, I have decided that this book is a must-read.
- “The Temple House Vanishing” by Rachel Donohue
This is a book that I read last winter, and I can confidently say that it was the perfect season to read it. With a bit of mystery thrown in and a dark academia setting, this book pairs perfectly with the gloomy weather. Set in an elite all-girls Catholic boarding school in Ireland, the story follows the disappearance of a 16-year-old schoolgirl, Louisa, and her charismatic teacher which happened over 20 years ago. With two different timelines, one past and one present, we follow a journalist as she aims to unveil the events and reasoning leading up to the pair’s disappearance. Themes of jealousy, popularity, friendship and more are present in this mysterious novel.
Donohue’s writing is beautifully poetic and thought-provoking and will more than likely send chills down your spine as the mystery of Louisa’s disappearance unfolds. This is a book that I would highly recommend to anyone looking for a good mystery/thriller to get into before the end of the winter season.
- “Little Women” by Louisa May Alcott
I could not give a list of book recommendations without including at least one classic. “Little Women” is a story that I am sure almost everyone is familiar with from the popularity of the 2020 film adaptation. However, for anyone who is familiar with the story but has not read the book, I would argue that it is a must-read. We follow the March sisters–Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy–as they transition from childhood to adulthood in a world that is not always easy for women in the 1860s. As you read, you become attached to the characters. You find yourself rooting for their successes. Alcott writes of the everyday events of these little women in a way that is so captivating and heart-wrenching. This is a book that I would recommend making some hot chocolate for, grabbing a blanket and cozying up to read this winter.
- “The Night Circus” by Erin Morgenstern
This is a book that has received a lot of hype on social media the past few years, and after having read it, I can confirm that it is worth the attention it has received. If you are looking for something with a bit more of a fantasy aspect, this is the perfect book for you. When Le Cirque des Reves shows up in town, there is no warning. It is simply there and then it is not. Set over the span of multiple years and told from multiple perspectives, “The Night Circus” follows two dueling magicians, Celia and Marco, happening behind the scenes of the circus. Unbeknownst to the two competitors, only one magician can be left standing at the end of this duel. Morgenstern’s language and storytelling are both extremely captivating and I can guarantee that if you pick this book up, you will not be able to put it down until you finish reading.
If you are looking for a good book to cozy up with before the end of this winter season, I would highly recommend you give one of the books listed above a try. Though they are just a few options, I believe they are the perfect options for the winter weather and overall great reads.
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