5 Historical Fiction Recs For The Holidays

Hello friends,

The holidays always make me nostalgic.

There’s something about this season that pulls me back to my childhood. Stepping back into memories, stories, and moments that feel like the comfort of a parental hug. Maybe that’s why I’ve always loved history so much. It lets us linger in worlds that moved a little slower, where traditions were just being started and new joys were waiting to be found.

Fun fact - one of my first “grown-up” jobs was working at our local historical society in Michigan… in the gift shop. The shop itself was an old caboose that had been turned into a tiny store for students visiting the village on field trips. I spent my days selling postcards and trinkets, making cotton candy, and feeling like life was a little bit magical being surrounded by the past. (I made $5 an hour! How much did you make at your first job?)

Every once in a while, I even got to dress in historical clothing. My piano teacher, who also happened to be in charge of costumes, loved letting me play dress-up.

I was thrilled.

There’s something that will transform you into a completely different person when you put on a historical or a vintage inspired outfit. Just the act of dressing up for church or shopping is such a thing of the past.

This week, my mom sent me a handful of photos from her own childhood holidays. The whole family would put on their Sunday best to go to Hudson’s in downtown Detroit to shop and see Santa.

That’s my mom on my grandmother’s lap. I love her little bootie shoes. My grandfather is next to them and my uncles are in the front of the sled.

The glamour of old department store shopping… glittering windows, gold decorations, carefully wrapped gifts all donned with ribbons and bows… feels like a world away from today’s Amazon boxes and plastic wrap arriving at the door.

And maybe that’s why I find myself craving old-school holiday cheer this time of year, the kind you can step into through books.

So, if you’re in the mood to bring a little history, wonder, and warmth into your holiday reading, here are a few titles from my shelves I’d love to recommend…

Heat up some cider, turn on the fireplace, and get ready to get cozy with a book.

Once Upon a Wardrobe by Patti Callahan
A beautifully written story inspired by the origins of The Chronicles of Narnia. It’s tender, imaginative, and filled with the kind of quiet wonder that feels perfect for December. I really enjoy Patti Callahan Henry ‘s writing style. She’s here on Substack so go check her out!

Click HERE to check it out.

Last Christmas in Paris by Hazel Gaynor & Heather Webb
Set across four Christmases during WWI, this epistolary novel is heartfelt and romantic, weaving love, longing, and history together in a deeply moving way. Who doesn’t love a good letter! This one is for Persuasion fans.

Click HERE to check it out.

Mr. Dickens and His Carol by Samantha Silva
A fictionalized look at Charles Dickens as he writes A Christmas Carol. It captures the struggle, inspiration, and humanity behind one of the most enduring holiday stories. I guess it takes a bit of fiction to redeem Dickens… but it makes for a great holiday read.

Click HERE to check it out.

To pair with this, if you haven’t watch The Man Who Invented Christmas with Dan Stevens (sorry to drudge up Downton Abbey drama), I highly recommend it.

Christmas Bells by Jennifer Chiaverini
Set during the Civil War, this novel explores the story behind Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day”… a beautiful reminder of hope during heartbreak.

Click HERE to check it out.

Christmas with the Queen by Hazel Gaynor & Heather Webb
Old friends, royal secrets, and Sandringham at Christmastime… this one feels like curling up beside a crackling fire with a cup of tea and a touch of regal charm.

Click HERE to check it out.

❄️🎀❤️✨

If you’re feeling pulled toward the past this season… toward stories full of history, memory, and ones that give the days a little extra meaning… you’re not alone.

Sometimes the best way to honor the present is to revisit the worlds that shaped us.

I’d love to know, do the holidays make you nostalgic too?

And if so, what’s one tradition, memory, or story you find yourself returning to each year?

Until next time,
Melissa
The Literary Assistant