by Anastasia Tuckness

This time of year, I love losing myself in a great Christmas novel. For me, “great” means teens enjoying seasonal glitz (snow, lights, music, etc.), lots of humor, a few plot twists and maybe a trace of romance. 

“Talk Santa to Me” by Linda Urban fits the bill perfectly. Francie’s (short for Frankincense) family runs a Christmas shop and a Santa school. I loved the dry, hilarious bits like her name:  her mom stared into the eyes of a wise man statue while giving birth. Francie is trying to settle into a new high school, save up for a Miata, and avoid her annoying aunt who may be sabotaging the family business. Getting over her grandpa’s death (it was he who would “talk Santa” to her) proves challenging, too. Through it all she finds it necessary—and pleasant—to carefully consider classmate Hector’s broad shoulders and kind, quiet spirit.

“So This is Christmas” by Tracy Andreen features Finley, who recently started at a private boarding school on the East Coast and returns home to Christmas, Oklahoma for the holidays. She’s feeling a little scattered: her former (?) best friend is dating her ex-boyfriend, her parents have separated, and—wait, is that Arthur from school checking into her grandma’s inn? How could he have gotten such a rosy picture of Christmas? Surely not from her “doctoring” of the Chamber website?? This book starts slow but plot twists level things up. The sequel (“So This is Love”) offers a chance to spend some more time with the likeable characters.

“Blame it on the Mistletoe” by Beth Garrod is a thoroughly modern “swap” book, where each character immerses themselves into the other’s life: family, friends, and more. British Holly jumps at the chance to swap with American influencer Elle, resulting in humorous missteps, deepening relationships with others and more complete understanding of self. Also try Garrod’s “All the Jingle Ladies,” new this year.

“Let it Snow” by John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle kicked off this obsession for me! These interlocking Christmas novellas showcase everything from a Waffle House full of stranded cheerleaders to a teacup pig and cars stuck in snowbanks. For more short holiday cheer, I plan to try the collection “My True Love Gave to Me: Twelve Holiday Stories” this year.