Y’all. How is this already the fourth year of My Christmas is Booked?! They say time flies when you’re having fun, so that must be what’s going on. If you’re new here, I like to get a headstart on festive reading so I can try to read as many as possible – while also still reading “normal” books. Since most new holiday books tend to publish in October, this is the start of my festive reading season.
Story time: My Christmas reading journey did not begin until I was working in the Library. Prior to then, I read cute picture books, but few holiday novels – and those were very much on a whim. Once in the Library, the festive books I was checking out to patrons kept catching my eye. Then I noticed that new books would come out in October, but most people didn’t want them until late November and/or December, when the waitlist would be insane. I decided it was my civic duty, as a conscientious Librarian, to do my festive reading ahead of time so the patrons would have a slightly smaller waitlist. Even after leaving the Library, I have kept that schedule of reading {still helping the other patrons!}.
The basic structure of My Christmas is Booked has not changed: the goal is to read festively. I will post updates on the 25th of October and November, tracking my progress through the holiday books, and there may be a few extra posts as well featuring themed booklists or fun tags. {The final post will come in January, once the holiday season has concluded}.
In years past I have made an official TBR, mixing new releases and backlist titles, and shared that in this introduction post. This year, I am changing it up: I’m not making a TBR. Instead, I am setting a goal of 12 books {for the 12 days of Christmas}, and keeping myself open to mood, whim, and availability. There are quite a few backlist titles that keep getting lost in the shuffle, as well as a few I would like to reread. Of course, there’s also new books releasing every week, so it will be interesting to see the final festive mix.
Speaking of new releases: I will be sharing those catching my eye in the next few weeks. This looks to be a really good year for holiday/festive releases, and I’m very excited about some of them.
I know most people wait until at least November to start reading holiday books, but I’d love to have you join the fun no matter when you start! If you make a post, please tag me – or even just comment on any My Christmas is Booked posts here.
Are there holiday books published in years past you want to read but have not yet?
Have you read one in years past you would like to revisit? I’m feeling the urge to go back and reread several Jenny Bayliss novels.
I know you’ve mentioned it in the past too but being on Instagram and seeing all the Christmas arcs that people have had to get reading has really made me more aware of how many come out at this time of year.
I hope you have a wonderful time with your festive reading plans š„° I’d like to say I’ll finally get to the few I own but never get to but we’ll see (in years past being mid lengthy series and having ARCs have stopped me getting to many š).
You’ve probably already got it on your TBR but whilst browsing Netgalley the other day I saw that Ally Carter has another festive book due and I know you enjoyed her last one.
That picture is just perfect for setting the festive mood too š„°
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Yessss! I am very excited about the new Ally Carter! I loved her first Christmas one and it was so much fun. š
Hopefully youāll be able to indulge a little this year šš
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I figured you would be and hope the new one is another hit š„° I still have the first sitting unread on my Kindle š
Hopefully š¤
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I may have mentioned this before, but I love the *idea* of holiday/seasonal reading, and have been a dismal failure at the execution of holiday/seasonal reading. When my kid was littler, I did a better job. Well, at least some years. But when I’ve tried it for myself, I tend to get bored of the holiday books. I like your plan of starting a few months out, allowing yourself to read other books, too!
This year, I want to try to make an effort to reread The Best Christmas Pageant Ever with my kid. I loved that book so very much as a child, but I’ve only managed to read it to her once or twice.
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Yeah I definitely canāt swap over to only festive reads – I need to keep some others in the mix (especially a thriller every so often š).
Oh man, I havenāt read that book in so long! I do remember thoroughly enjoying it thoughā¦ maybe I should try to reread! And didnāt they make a new adaptation of it not too long ago? š¤
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How fun! I try to read at least one festive book during December, but I kind of think I failed last year. I don’t actually remember! I appreciate you rounding up these books so I can choose a good one!
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Iāll have a highlight of intriguing titles releasing soon! Hopefully youāll find one that catches your eye and tickles your fancy š
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[…] On the Blog:I felt like I was doing better keeping up with my post ideas, until I started writing this round up. Oops. Oh well, this is real life: sometimes there’s a lot and sometimes there’s not. I did share this year’s folklore forecast, which predicts a cold and snowy Winter. There was also a chicken update; random Tea Time chatter about seasonal odds and ends; tested the equinox-egg stand theory; and still managed to share some delicious eats. I also wrapped up the Summer of Jane and got ready to kick off year four of My Christmas is Booked! […]
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[…] Rebecca shared her plans to do My Christmas Is Booked for the fourth year. As someone who consistently fails to pick up the festive reads on my TBR maybe I need to adopt her approach of starting earlier in the year š¤ […]
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Yes, I did check the other day the holds list for a christmas book I want to read and it was empty but as you say, I don’t want it yet but I always forget to add myself to the list at the correct times. I appreciate your method of getting there early. I hope you find many new holiday favs!
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You can also try suspending your holds to become active/resume your place at a specific time – but they do usually have to already have a list so that it doesn’t automatically fill yours as soon as you place it. {There are all kinds of ways to maximize the library catalog, haha}. š I hope you enjoy your festive reads, when the time is right! š
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