Tragic Christmas Stories (56 books)

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For some people, Christmas is not the most joyful time of the year. This selection of books features characters that experience tragedy during the holidays. Tragedies may include the death of a loved one but there may be other reasons why it is hard to be joyful at Christmas. This list is a safe space for people when they are in mourning or experiencing seasonal depression. Also for readers that prefer sad Christmas stories that deconstruct the materialism, religious hypocrisy and mandatory cheer that Christmas brings.

SPOILER WARNING for stories that might have tragic/bittersweet endings

TRIGGER WARNINGS for stories that may include abuse, addiction, accidents, trauma, domestic violence and read at your own discretion.

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1	December by Linda Oatman High 3.33 avg rating — 9 ratings score: 166, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
2	The Christmas Shoes (Christmas Hope, #1) by Donna VanLiere (Goodreads Author) 4.23 avg rating — 38,008 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
2	Happy Holidays, Jessi (The Baby-Sitters Club, #103) by Ann M. Martin 3.66 avg rating — 619 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
4	The Little Match Girl by Hans Christian Andersen 4.10 avg rating — 29,133 ratings score: 99, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
5	The Fir Tree by Hans Christian Andersen 3.82 avg rating — 2,548 ratings score: 98, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
5	The Christmas Appeal (The Appeal, #1.5) by Janice Hallett 3.53 avg rating — 22,715 ratings score: 98, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
7	The Junky's Christmas, and Other Yuletide Stories by Elisa Segrave (Editor) 3.63 avg rating — 84 ratings score: 97, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
8	The Christmas Tree and the Wedding by Fyodor Dostoevsky 3.47 avg rating — 3,182 ratings score: 96, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
9	The Christmas Banquet by Nathaniel Hawthorne 3.18 avg rating — 89 ratings score: 95, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
10	Surviving the Holidays Without You: Navigating Grief During Special Seasons (Good Grief Series) by Gary Roe (Goodreads Author) 4.38 avg rating — 159 ratings score: 94, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
11	Winter Street (Winter, #1) by Elin Hilderbrand (Goodreads Author) 3.80 avg rating — 128,157 ratings score: 93, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
12	P.S. Your Cat Is Dead by James Kirkwood Jr. 3.63 avg rating — 2,390 ratings score: 92, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
13	May B. by Caroline Starr Rose (Goodreads Author) 3.84 avg rating — 6,302 ratings score: 91, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
14	Christmas in the Trenches by John McCutcheon 4.26 avg rating — 600 ratings score: 90, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
15	The Mistletoe Promise (Mistletoe #1) by Richard Paul Evans 4.18 avg rating — 16,858 ratings score: 89, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
16	Christmas Oranges by Linda Bethers 4.29 avg rating — 3,294 ratings score: 88, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
17	The Black Snowman by Phil Méndez 4.01 avg rating — 338 ratings score: 87, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
18	The Snowman by Raymond Briggs 4.26 avg rating — 19,618 ratings score: 86, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
19	The Birds' Christmas Carol by Kate Douglas Wiggin 4.02 avg rating — 2,101 ratings score: 85, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
20	The Christmas Day Kitten by James Herriot 4.35 avg rating — 1,804 ratings score: 84, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
21	The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook: Holidays by Joshua Piven 3.54 avg rating — 434 ratings score: 83, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
22	The Afterlife of Holly Chase by Cynthia Hand (Goodreads Author) 3.94 avg rating — 24,484 ratings score: 82, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
23	Shadows on a Maine Christmas (Antique Print, #7) by Lea Wait 3.96 avg rating — 425 ratings score: 81, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
24	The Christmas Hope (Christmas Hope, #3) by Donna VanLiere (Goodreads Author) 4.31 avg rating — 6,766 ratings score: 80, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
25	The Christmas Promise (Christmas Hope, #4) by Donna VanLiere (Goodreads Author) 4.08 avg rating — 5,708 ratings score: 79, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
26	The Paper Bag Christmas by Kevin Alan Milne (Goodreads Author) 4.36 avg rating — 4,451 ratings score: 78, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
27	Christmas on Coronation Street (Coronation Street #1) by Maggie Sullivan 4.12 avg rating — 726 ratings score: 77, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
28	My Best Christmas Ever by Elizabeth Hill (Goodreads Author) 3.78 avg rating — 9 ratings score: 76, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
29	The 13th Gift: A True Story of a Christmas Miracle by Joanne Huist Smith (Goodreads Author) 4.01 avg rating — 10,985 ratings score: 75, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
30	Twice on Christmas by McGarvey Black (Goodreads Author) really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 4,480 ratings score: 74, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
31	Last Christmas by Maria Frankland (Goodreads Author) 3.73 avg rating — 6,516 ratings score: 73, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
32	St. Nick by Alan Russell (Goodreads Author) 4.13 avg rating — 1,726 ratings score: 72, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
33	Off-Duty Christmas by Tammy Tate (Goodreads Author) 3.95 avg rating — 241 ratings score: 71, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
34	Aunt Dimity's Christmas (Aunt Dimity Mystery, #5) by Nancy Atherton 4.04 avg rating — 4,450 ratings score: 70, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
35	The Melodeon by Glendon Swarthout 3.98 avg rating — 376 ratings score: 69, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
36	Mr. Ives' Christmas by Oscar Hijuelos 3.81 avg rating — 1,456 ratings score: 68, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
37	The Christmas Sweater by Glenn Beck 3.83 avg rating — 17,408 ratings score: 66, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
38	Last Christmas in Paris by Hazel Gaynor (Goodreads Author) 4.16 avg rating — 32,309 ratings score: 65, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
39	Truce: The Day the Soldiers Stopped Fighting by Jim Murphy 4.01 avg rating — 1,178 ratings score: 64, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
40	Christmas Keepsakes: The Christmas Shoes & The Christmas Blessing by Donna VanLiere (Goodreads Author) 4.29 avg rating — 295 ratings score: 63, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
41	Brightly Shining by Ingvild H. Rishøi (Goodreads Author) 4.02 avg rating — 20,946 ratings score: 62, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
42	Christmas with Tucker (A Dog Named Christmas #0.5) by Greg Kincaid (Goodreads Author) 4.27 avg rating — 2,178 ratings score: 61, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
43	A Gift from Bob: How a Street Cat Helped One Man Learn the Meaning of Christmas by James Bowen 4.22 avg rating — 4,966 ratings score: 60, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
44	Christmas Murders by S.F. Baumgartner (Goodreads Author) 3.84 avg rating — 186 ratings score: 59, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
45	Winter's Black Christmas (Winter Black #18.5) by Mary Stone (Goodreads Author) 4.35 avg rating — 4,400 ratings score: 58, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
46	One Christmas Pickle: A Mulbury Mystery novella by Juno Harvey (Goodreads Author) 4.80 avg rating — 5 ratings score: 57, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
47	The Miracle on Ebenezer Street by Catherine Doyle (Goodreads Author) 4.11 avg rating — 835 ratings score: 56, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
48	Glissando (Electric Literature's Recommended Reading Book 4) by Katie Bellas (Goodreads Author) 4.20 avg rating — 5 ratings score: 55, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
49	Put yourself in my shoes by Raymond Carver 3.77 avg rating — 35 ratings score: 54, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
50	The Kill Clause by Lisa Unger (Goodreads Author) 3.78 avg rating — 34,312 ratings score: 53, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
51	Candy Cain Kills (Killer VHS Series, #2) by Brian McAuley (Goodreads Author) 4.02 avg rating — 2,340 ratings score: 52, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
52	Candy Cain Kills Again: The Second Slaying (Killer VHS Series, #5) by Brian McAuley (Goodreads Author) 3.92 avg rating — 811 ratings score: 51, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
53	The Christmas Murder Game by Alexandra Benedict 3.35 avg rating — 31,218 ratings score: 50, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
54	The Christmas Killer (DI James Walker, #1) by Alex Pine 3.60 avg rating — 11,338 ratings score: 49, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
55	The Killer’s Christmas List by Chris Frost 3.94 avg rating — 4,147 ratings score: 48, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
56	The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey by Susan Wojciechowski 4.46 avg rating — 12,321 ratings score: 47, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars