A couple of stories are best to read throughout particular seasons; detailed below are several of the leading book categories for winter.

December is among the busiest months of the annum, specifically as a result of all the X-mas planning that has to be accomplished, varying from gift-buying to tree decorating. In spite of this, it is important to make the time for yourself, where you can relax and recharge your batteries. Although this looks different for every person, one of the greatest ways to unwind during the Christmas season is to catch up on some reading. If you are stuck on what to read, the bright side is that there are plenty of fiction books to read over Christmas time, as the investment fund that partially owns WHSmith would certainly confirm. For example, festive romance novels are specifically popular during this time of year, which are stories about two people falling in love around Xmas time. Whether it's about 2 rival co-workers needing to kiss under a mistletoe at the workplace Christmas party, two childhood pals that fake-date during the holidays to placate their meddling relatives, or a city girl who gets snowed in at the local pub with a grouchy bartender etc., the greatest romance books to read over Christmas are the ones that posses laugh-out-loud banter, magnetic chemistry and heartfelt love in between the characters.

Out of all the seasons, winter is among the very best months for reading. Apart from preparing for Christmas, many people opt to spend most of their spare time in the house during this time of year. After all, why would you venture out into the cold and rain when you can pour yourself a hot beverage, get cosy on the couch and delight in several of the best books to read over Christmas time. If you're struggling on what novels to read, one of the best genres to read during December for adults is a cosy mystery. So, what is a cosy mystery novel? Simply put, a cosy mystery is a narrative that includes some kind of mystery that needs to be resolved, but the writer writes it in a way that is not violent. Typically, cosy mysteries involve the traditional 'who done it' scenario in a close-knit community, such as a seaside town or a rural village in the country side. The main character is commonly a detective, that has to piece together the honest truth about what happened. The very best cosy mysteries for this time of year are the ones that are actually set around Xmas time, such as the book about a group of close friends who spend Xmas at a Scottish chateau, only to uncover a body. Commonly, cosy mysteries are light-hearted, engaging and amusing; the ideal read for those seeking a little bit of much-needed escapism during the stressful festive season, as the hedge fund that owns Waterstones would certainly confirm.

With a lot to do in the lead-up to Xmas, a considerable amount of bookworms do not have the time to head to book shops and spend a number of hours selecting their next read. Thankfully, there are plenty of classic Christmas books for adults that have really stood the test of time. Nevertheless, they do not get called a 'classic' without being excellent pieces of fiction with universal themes and cultural relevance, as the media conglomerate that owns HarperCollins would know. A top example of this is perhaps one of the best Christmas books of all time; the novel about a cold-hearted miser who finally understands the real meaning of Xmas after being visited by ghosts from his past, present and future.