Winter isn’t just about hot chocolate and blankets—it’s about embracing the perfect season for both heartwarming Christmas romances AND deliciously dark gothic tales. Here’s my winter reading list (plus the cozy hobbies I’m pairing with each mood).
📚 TL;DR: Quick Winter Reading Guide
Festive & Cozy:
- The Christmas Tree Farm & The Gingerbread Bakery by Laurie Gilmore
- Good Spirits by B.K. Borison (ghost story romance!)
Romantic Fantasy:
- The Winter King by C.L. Wilson (where romantasy began)
- Bound by Ali Hazelwood (surprise release!)
Dark & Gothic:
- Enigma by RuNyx (dark academia)
- Anathema by Keri Lake (gothic fairytale)
- Manacled by SenLinYu (the legendary fanfic)
- The Haunting of Paynes Hollow by Kelley Armstrong (slow-burn horror)
Mood: Very mood reader—may read none or all plus 20 more!
Vibe Check: Festive → Fantasy → Full Gothic
Bonus: Winter journaling, cozy gaming (Winter Burrow, Bandle Tale), and attempting knitting again!
Why Winter Is the Superior Cozy Season
Hello, my friends!
I don’t know about you, but I am pretty excited about winter! To be fair, winter is generally pretty mild in Ireland—it’s rare that we’ll get snowed in, but the occasional frosty day is nice. I love how winter takes the coziness of autumn and just amplifies it. Extra cozy blankets, extra snuggles with my cats, extra long nights for cozy reading, extra mugs of hot chocolate overflowing with cream and marshmallows! Just extra!
My Cozy Winter Plans Beyond Books
With all this extra coziness, I’ve been thinking about all the cozy hobbies I want to enjoy this season. Books, of course, but also:
- Gaming: So many unplayed games in my Steam library calling out to me! I’m dying to dive into Winter Burrow, which released near the end of autumn. The art style alone makes me want to play it—it looks cozy but also with a touch of heaviness that pairs well with the winter season.
- Journaling: I have a few projects on the go, including a course from PaperWrld and my new winter reading journal (you’ll see all about that soon!)
- Knitting: I’m thinking of trying my hand at knitting again. I didn’t get very far into that hobby last time, and I’d like to try again. Since I’ve been thinking about knitting, I’m leaning toward adventuring in Bandle Tale at the moment—it looks supremely cozy and wholesome, perfect for getting lost in on a cold winter evening.
“I love how winter takes the coziness of autumn and just amplifies it. Extra cozy blankets, extra long nights for cozy reading, extra everything!”
My Winter Reading Strategy
Now, onto the books! I’ve picked out some festive books (but I’ll likely only read one or two) and some gothic-leaning romances and horror. For me, winter just screams gothic, so I want to embrace that. By the time February comes around, I’ll likely start thinking about spring books, so this is a TBR for the next two months or so.
Affiliate Disclosure: I’ve included affiliate links to Libro.fm, an online audiobook store that allows you to support your local bookshop. I absolutely love this service since it allows me to support my local bookshop, which doesn’t offer audiobooks otherwise. They have a subscription similar to Audible’s without contributing to billionaires’ trips to space. If you purchase through one of these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support!
🎄 Festive & Heartwarming Reads
The Christmas Tree Farm by Laurie Gilmore
What it’s about: For readers craving a cozy, enemies-to-lovers holiday romance built on forced proximity and opposites-attract sparks. Perfect if you enjoy snappy banter, moderate pacing, small-town warmth, and steamy chemistry wrapped in festive feels without heavy angst.
Why I want to read it: I wasn’t sure if I wanted to read this one, but it’s Christmassy, and it was part of the Libro.fm Festive Sale, so I got a copy for just €3! I really like the idea of listening to a cozy Christmas romance while colouring or playing more Fields of Mistria (my current gaming obsession).
The Gingerbread Bakery by Laurie Gilmore
What it’s about: For readers craving cozy, small-town romance centered on enemies-to-lovers sparks thawing under holiday lights. Perfect if you like moderate pacing, witty banter, warm found-family vibes, and emotional payoff without heavy angst, plus baking aromas, festive snow, and a guaranteed happily-ever-after.
Why I want to read it: This is the Dream Harbour book I planned on reading for the season. I’m skipping a book, but I’m fine with that. I plan on reading this in print wrapped up in blankets on the couch.
Good Spirits by B.K. Borison
What it’s about: A light-hearted, hopeful romance that explores the yearning to be seen beyond one’s haunted past. Perfect for readers who enjoy a medium-paced, character-driven story with a festive, paranormal vibe, gentle world-building, and a warm, witty tone.
Why I want to read it: I love the idea of a cozy Christmas romance ghost story. Let’s go!
✨ Romantic Fantasy Escapes
The Winter King by C.L. Wilson
What it’s about: For readers who crave sweeping romantic fantasy centered on the healing power of love against inner coldness—themes of vulnerability, thawing, and emotional surrender. Ideal if you enjoy medium-paced, emotionally charged stories with lush prose, elemental magic, and intense romantic tension.
Why I want to read it: This is almost an oldie at this stage, but I’ve seen it recommended as where Romantasy really kicked off, and that it’s a bit bonkers. Something to switch off to and just enjoy.
Bound by Ali Hazelwood
What it’s about: A fast-paced, dark-academia romance that blends witty, mysterious humor with a moody, character-driven exploration of secret-keeping and the thrill of a high-stakes con.
Why I want to read it: I didn’t know anything about this audiobook! It just popped up on my Libro.fm page, and I was like, “What? A new Ali Hazelwood book I knew nothing about?!” I bought it straight away. It sounds like more fantasy fun.
🖤 Dark Gothic & Horror Picks
Enigma by RuNyx
What it’s about: A dark-academia romance that explores the pull of forbidden desire amid hidden societies. Ideal for readers who enjoy a medium-paced, moody atmosphere with sensual tension, atmospheric world-building, and a blend of mystery and emotional intensity.
Why I want to read it: I’m a little unsure if RuNyx’s writing is for me after Gothikana, but I liked the style of that book, so I want to try this one now. It has dark academia vibes which is perfect for winter.
Anathema by Keri Lake
What it’s about: For readers drawn to a dark, gothic romance where forbidden desire collides with an ominous, magical wilderness. Ideal if you favor a medium-paced, character-driven tale with moody atmosphere, sensual tension, and a brooding, mythic aesthetic.
Why I want to read it: This book is giving the gothic fairytale vibes that I really want to sink into. It’s described as plot-heavy and atmospheric, which is what I want in winter.
Manacled by SenLinYu
What it’s about: For readers drawn to dark romantic fantasy centered on bodily autonomy stripped and weaponized—themes of coercion, memory, and the ethics of survival. Ideal if you crave emotionally intense, mid-paced storytelling with lyrical brutality, psychological depth, and morally gray intimacy.
Why I want to read it: I’m a bit late to the show, especially with Alchemised tearing up the shelves, but I really want to read the fanfic first. I have it waiting on my e-reader for a very long time now. It’s just the length that’s putting me off—I guess I could think of it as three books… A long book is perfect for this time of year, though.
The Haunting of Paynes Hollow by Kelley Armstrong
What it’s about: A haunting, slow-burn horror that explores the dread of confronting buried family secrets. Perfect for readers who relish moody, atmospheric tension, subtle supernatural hints, and a measured pace that lets the psychological terror linger.
Why I want to read it: I was a big fan of Armstrong’s urban fantasy books, and when I saw she was doing horror now, I was really excited to see what she’d do with the genre. So far, I’ve really enjoyed her horror, especially I’ll Be Waiting. And how amazing are the covers for her horrors?!
🎮 Which winter reading mood are you?
Looking Beyond Reading
So those are the books I would like to read this season. I’m very much a mood reader, so I may not read any of them, and then I could read them all and 20 more! I could really go any way.
While books are what I look forward to most for my winter plans, I’m also pretty excited about:
- Working in my new winter reading journal (you’ll see all about that soon)
- Colouring with a cozy movie on in the background
- Losing myself in a cozy world on the Steam Deck (or the new Steam machine if we get it!)
Let’s Connect: Your Winter Plans
What are your winter plans? I’d love to hear what books or games you’re planning for winter (or summer, depending on where you are).
Tell me in the comments:
- Will you be reading any festive books?
- What cozy hobbies are you embracing this season?
- Are you team cozy Christmas or team dark gothic for winter reading?
- What cozy games are you playing? (I need more recommendations!)
Let’s inspire each other to make this the coziest winter yet!
Stay Connected
If you’re looking for more cozy winter content, don’t forget to:
- Subscribe to my newsletter for seasonal reading updates and TBR reveals
- Check out my YouTube channel where I’ll be sharing my winter reading journal setup
- Follow along on social media for real-time reading updates and cozy hobby content
Happy reading and cozy times, my friends!
Elaine
Elaine Howlin 
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