The 52 Book Club: 2025 / 2026 Challenge discussion

9. Genre Four: Set in Winter

Pick a book set in winter but it must be a different genre than the books you choose for prompts 6, 7, and 8. (See the description under prompt 6 for more details.)

Miriam Webster definition of Winter: “The season between autumn and spring comprising in the northern hemisphere usually the months of December, January, and February or as reckoned astronomically extending from the December solstice to the March equinox.” And from May to September south of the equator.

The book that you choose should be set in winter but keep in mind that this may look different depending on where the book is set. It may be fully or partially set in winter. The seasonal setting may or may not impact the story-line. For books set in other worlds or that take place outside of Earth, you may choose a book set during the coldest part of the year.


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Good Spirits by B. K. Borison

Five Winters

Genre: holiday/romance

Thinking of Frozen Ground By Debra Webb. Genre: Romantic suspense

The Frozen River is great.

Books I've read and recommend:
The Long Winter
Winter Prey
A Pony for the Winter

Even more inspiration! An article from Goodreads with 69 Winter-Themed Novels for Cold-Weather Reading . Books from many different types of genres.

Once Upon a River by Diane Setterfield has been on my shelf for awhile. ;0

A winter in New York by Josie Silver

The Road-Cormac McCarthy

Genre: Classic literature

Book: Charles Dickens – A xmas Carol

I have now picked everything except the seasonal prompts. I definitely want Whiteout for winter now just need to pick the rest

Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah.

I’ve now picked everything looking forward to getting. Thank you so much to the mods

I chose the genre - Rom-Com.
I have three choices:
1) Wreck the Halls
2) Never Fall for Your Enemy (Especially at Christmas)
3) Christmas with an Alien

I just finished A Christmas Vanishing by Anne Perry - a mystery set in winter.

I chose The Frozen Winter by Ariel Lawhon

I chose Wintering by Katherine May. It’s a memoir.

In December 2024, I was about to read Solitaire by Alice Oseman. On the first page, I found out that the book is set in winter. The story starts just after Christmas.

I decided to postpone reading this book until the new year, so I could use it for this prompt! It's the first book I am reading for the 2025 Challenge. The genre is YA.


Solitaire by Alice Oseman

Genre: Mystery, short story
Book: Who Killed Bob? by Stephen Craig

I read Dear Santa by Debbi Macomber. It is certainly a light and easy read but i enjoyed it.

The Frozen River is 5 stars for me

Psycho

Takes place during December

Other Minds and Other Stories

Genre: Short Stories

One of the short stories in this collection is titled Minds of Winter. Fit perfectly for this prompt

Hi everyone. I’m from Scotland but lived here in South Australia since 1982. Winter for us is in June, July and August so to get into the Christmas spirit I read snowy Christmas books every December. I read “Christmas at Peachtree Bluff” by Kristy Woodson Harvey and I really enjoyed it. It’s not the usual romance/chic lit but a very good novel about a fictional town under threat of a hurricane just in the lead up to Christmas. My reviews are in here under my name if anyone needs to check it out (Margaret Galbraith).

I decided on a "Winter Thriller" for this prompt, and I read The Writing Retreat. It's set in February, and a snowstorm plays a huge part in the second half of the book. This was one of the most bonkers books I've ever read.

Linde wrote: "Even more inspiration! An article from Goodreads with
69 Winter-Themed Novels for Cold-Weather Reading
. Books from many different types of genres."

I'm interested in this article but the link doesn't work.

Listened to the audiobook adaptation of Hercule Poirot's Christmas for this prompt. Surprising plot! Enjoyed it.

Completed - another one to recommend for younger independent readers, The Secret of the Night Train, by Sylvia Bishop. A great adventure story.

Inheritance by Nora Roberts set in Winter

Winter Break Away by Hayleigh Sol

I finished The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey last week. I adored it! For the prompt, I'm considering the genre to be magical realism.

I read X-mas Break: A Christmas Thriller by J.E. Rowney

For this prompt I read The Great Alone and it’s by far my favorite book so far this year- genre is Historical Fiction.

I listened to The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden for this prompt. Genre: Fantasy. A winter book for the heat of summer.

Angela Y wrote: "One by One by Ruth Ware"

I just finished reading this and when you finish it (if you haven’t already!) I would love to know your thoughts!!

Read The Hunting Party for this and thought it was great - read it while on a cabin trip myself!

I'm currently reading The Warm Hands of Ghosts by Katherine Arden. Based on the dates at the beginning of each chapter it takes place from November-April. The majority of that is winter so I'm counting this as my winter read. Genre is historical fiction and/or magical realism.

I have just picked a book that is not in the base yet, Varme vinterdrikker - med og uten alkohol by Arnt Steffensen. It is a non-fiction cookbook about warm drinks for the wintertime - bibsok.no/?tnr=9725190.

Last night I checked which books was on the big yearly sale, and at the same time checked which were available at my local library. I am picking this up tomorrow.

I have read two other drink books by the same author before, Fredagsmocktail & Fredagscocktail - fra Old Fashioned til Pornstar Martini gode historier - enkle oppskrifter

Does anyone know if Beartown by Fredrik Backman is set in Winter?

I just finished Arctic Predator by Kathleen Lippa. It's a true story set in the Canadian far north.

I just finished The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe for set in Winter

Christian Fiction set in Winter

Manchester Christmas by John Gray 2/16/25

https://titlesurfingwithtraci.blogspo...

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I read The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna, 4 Stars. The timeline covers the winter solstice and Christmas.

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary, Fantasy, Romance

After a lot of thought I'm setting The Fox Wife by Yangsze Choo as my set in winter choice. The sample had a great hook imho.

Finally figured out my book for this prompt:

Ghosts of the Tsunami: Death and Life in Japan's Disaster Zone

This takes place March 11th, which in that time was at the end of winter.

The Revenant by Michael Punke

The Crash

21/52
Not her best book but still loved the writing - gave a sort of Misery vibe

“On. Borrowed Time” by Jenn McKinlay is a fun murder mystery set in the Winter season of the year. The characters are wonderful, except Robbie. I wish the author would get rid of him.

Not sure how prominently the season will play into the storyline, but reading On Beauty which is so far taking place in winter in England and New England.