Chapter #07: A Very Merry Reading (And Gift!) Guide

‘Tis the season for some reading.

Feeling My Shelf is a bi-weekly newsletter about books, life, and well, life with books. Grab your favorite caffeinated beverage and get comfy. 

Oh, hey, December. Where’d you come from?

My (very small!) Christmas tree is up. I’ve dusted off my festive mugs. And the holiday playlist is ready to be played. I mean, I’m still wearing open-toed shoes outside (thanks, L.A.!), but whatever. All I need now, is a good seasonal read.

You too? Well you’ve come to the right place, because today’s chapter is all about scratching that festive reading itch. Some picks are new for 2022, and some are old favorites. But they’re all the perfect amount of cheese, charm, and cheer to tide us over until the New Year.

Royal Holiday by Jasmine Guillory

Fifty-something-year-old Vivian accompanies her stylist-to-the-royals daughter to a British palace for Christmas and soon sparks up a romance with a “tall mug of steaming hot chocolate,” otherwise known as the private secretary to the Queen.

Whiteout by Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, Ashley Woodfolk, Nicola Yoon

Six intertwined teen love stories are set during a historic Atlanta snowstorm. From the authors who wrote the New York Times bestseller Blackout.

A Holly Jolly Diwali by Sonya Lalli

A recently laid-off, type-A data analyst embraces her free-spirited side and impulsively books a trip to Mumbai for her best friend’s wedding. There she meets a handsome musician, and you can probably guess what happens next.

A Very Merry Bromance by Lyssa Kay Adams

The Bromance Book Club (a male romance book club) is back, and this time they’re helping Country music superstar Colton find love with Gretchen, a lawyer who ghosted him a year ago.

The Holiday Switch by Tif Marcelo

Two rival coworkers accidentally swap phones, and their lives (and feelings!) quickly become entangled. 

The Holiday Swap by Maggie Knox

A heartwarming rom-com about identical twins who switch lives in the days leading up to Christmas.

The Christmas Clash by Suzanne Park

Two Asian teens from rival restaurant-owning families band together during Christmastime to save both businesses upon learning that the mall they're located in is being demolished.

The Matzah Ball by Jean Meltzer

An interesting premise: a Jewish woman is secretly an acclaimed Christmas novel author. When her publisher insists she writes a Hanukkah romance next, she sets out to find inspiration and comes face-to-face with her childhood nemesis. 

Books are always good gifts, but this stuff is great too. Note: I only recommend products I genuinely love and/or own myself. If you buy something through my links, I may earn an affiliate commission at no added cost to you.

1. A Lego Typewriter: Because sometimes word nerds like to other things besides read. Con: There’s so many pieces! Pro: It moves like a real typewriter!

2. Out of Print Library Card Mug: It’s a known fact that drinks taste better in cute mugs.

3. Happy Face Slide Slippers: They’re super comfortable and have memory foam insoles. Ahh, never wearing real shoes again.

4. Black Icons in Herstory: 50 Legendary Women: The perfect, colorful coffee table book.  

5. Apple AirPods Pro: I absolutely love the noise cancellation feature. Perfect for reading in public, or when you want to sing really loud, but not hear your own voice.

6. Golde Make Your Own Matcha Kit: Coffee haters unite! It’s all about matcha and this starter kit (from my personal favorite brand) has everything you need to make a tasty latte at home.

7. “TBH I’d Rather Be Reading” tee: Because that’s exactly what I’d rather be doing. Particularly Monday-Friday, between the hours of 9-5.

8. The Library soy candle: It smells so, so good—even when it’s not lit! S/O to Leslie from the newsletter Morning Person, who gifted it to me.

9. Ideal Bookshelf Banned Books print: A middle finger to all the idiots out there who are actively trying to ban books. 🙄

10. Bridgerton Tea: Limited edition and includes 24 individually-wrapped tea bags. My favorite (of course) is Anthony and Kate’s Spiced Chai.

11. Custom Book Embosser: Don’t mind me. Just going to emboss every book I own.

12. The Little Book Light in Lilac: Late night reading, anyone?

13. Ohom Ui Self Heating Mug: Keep that drink hot until the very last sip (or page.)

14. Book of the Month subscription: This is one way to get the bookworm in your life to actually check the mail.

15. Toni Morrison enamel pin: Wear a literary icon right on your sleeve. Or pocket. Or bag. Many options.

16. Be Rooted Journal & Bookmark Set: Because friends don’t let friends dog ear pages.

17. Oh Reader subscription: An indie magazine for readers about reading.

18. Beautiful by Drew Barrymore Electric Tea Kettle: Because we’re not heating our water up in the microwave anymore.

The 50 best original Christmas Songs since ‘All I Want for Christmas Is You.’ How reading romance novels saved this writer’s mental health. Man wins 7-year legal battle to not have to be ‘fun’ at work. How Hollywood's most realistic prosthetic penises get made. A definitive guide to all 52 Real Housewives beauty brands. What makes a Short King?