There's nothing like than cozying up with a book in holiday pajamas, the glow of a Christmas tree and crackle of an roaring fire creating the perfect mood.
To make the most of this peak reading environment, author John Searles, who is releasing his next book "Single Girls" in July 2026, has readers covered with the top book recommendations this holiday season.
Keep reading to discover his picks, which he shared on the 3rd Hour of TODAY, and what he has to say about each book.
Best Holiday Romance
"This sweet and spicy tale has all the key ingredients for a fun holiday love story," Searles says, including "a runaway bride," "a grumpy but gorgeous bookstore owner" and "a cozy town with more Christmas decorations per square foot than a Hallmark movie."
When Noelle leaves her husband-to-be behind and ends up in the small town of Hideaway Harbor with a gig selling Christmas bulbs for the season, she ends up connecting with a bookstore owner.
Best Holiday Fantasy
In this book, a woman is hosted by the Ghost of Christmas Past ... but he's not anything like the depiction from Charles Dickens' "Christmas Carol."
"In this book, the ghost is a quietly handsome and rugged former sailor named Nolan, who’s caught between this life and the next and given the job of haunting people and showing them their past," Searles says. "When he meets a sweet and charming woman named Harriet, he finds himself suddenly wishing for a future…with her."
Best Christmas Classic
Discover the Christmas classic with Peter Pauper Press, whohas published this deluxe gift edition with classic illustrations.
"Dickens was known to be a social critic and it’s clear he intended this story to also be a commentary on the divide between the rich and the poor, which is felt more acutely during the holiday season," Searles says.
Best Holiday Read For Kids
"The movie has become such a holiday classic that I think some people out there don’t even realize it was originally based on a gorgeous children’s book," Searles says.
The original book has a "quiet magic" about it. Venture along as a young boy discovers a train to the North Pole outside his house.
Best Holiday Thriller
"We all know tensions can flare at a holiday party… but in this captivating thriller, the tension is so ratcheted up it leads to a shocking murder," Searles says.
"A dark, gripping read. I cracked it open on a long plane ride and did not stop until I finished. I loved it."
