The Top 10 Books to Read If You Love Hallmark Christmas Movies
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A charming small town. A big-city girl who reluctantly returns home. A handsome local who knows how to fix just about anything. A holiday festival that desperately needs saving. One very important misunderstanding. And, naturally, a happily-ever-after before the credits roll.
And honestly? We're here for every minute of it.
But what happens when you've watched every Christmas movie in the Hallmark catalog and still want more?
You pick up a book, of course.
Whether you love a little romance, a cozy small-town setting, family stories, unexpected friendships, or characters who find their way home, we've rounded up ten books from our shelves that we think Hallmark fans will absolutely enjoy.
Grab a blanket, make yourself something warm, and prepare to add a few books to your reading list.
1. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
For the Hallmark fan who loves a charming community, a little romance, and an unexpected adventure.
If a Hallmark movie and a charming English village had a literary baby, this might be it.
Set just after World War II, this delightful story follows writer Juliet Ashton as she begins corresponding with the unusual members of a book club on the island of Guernsey. What starts as a simple exchange of letters turns into a story of friendship, community, love, and finding your place in the world.
There's an eccentric cast of characters, a beautiful setting, and a romance that unfolds in its own sweet way. It's full of the kind of warmth and connection that makes you want to move to a tiny seaside village and become best friends with everyone.
Hallmark compatibility: 10/10. A charming community, an unexpected connection, and plenty of heart.
Find The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society on our shelves
2. Emma by Jane Austen
For the Hallmark fan who loves matchmaking, romantic misunderstandings, and a heroine who needs to get out of her own way.
Emma Woodhouse considers herself an excellent matchmaker. Unfortunately, her matchmaking skills are not quite as impressive as she thinks.
As Emma attempts to arrange everyone else's romantic lives, she overlooks a few important details about her own. Add in misunderstandings, romantic tension, witty conversations, and a cast of memorable characters, and you've got a classic romantic comedy.
Sound familiar?
If you love Hallmark movies where everyone can see the obvious romantic connection except the two people involved, Emma belongs on your reading list.
Hallmark compatibility: 10/10. Matchmaking, mistaken assumptions, and a satisfying romantic payoff.
3. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
For the Hallmark fan who loves family traditions, cozy gatherings, sisterhood, and a healthy dose of nostalgia.
If your favorite Hallmark movies involve family reunions, holiday traditions, and remembering what really matters, Little Women is a must-read.
Follow the four March sisters—Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy—as they grow up, navigate relationships, chase their dreams, and discover what family means through life's ups and downs.
It's full of heartfelt moments, memorable characters, family love, and the kind of nostalgia that makes you want to call your sisters and invite everyone over for dinner.
And yes, there's romance, too.
Hallmark compatibility: 10/10. Family, love, holiday nostalgia, and all the feels.
Find Little Women on our shelves
4. Looking for Salvation at the Dairy Queen by Susan Gregg Gilmore
For the Hallmark fan who wants a small-town setting, a little Southern charm, and a story about finding your own way.
There's just something about a small town that makes a story feel a little more special.
In this novel, Catherine Grace Cline grows up in a small Georgia town, dreaming of a bigger life beyond the familiar streets and expectations surrounding her. As she navigates family, faith, love, and the possibility of something different, she begins discovering what she really wants.
It's a coming-of-age story with Southern charm, family relationships, and plenty of heart.
If you love Hallmark movies set in towns where everyone knows everyone—and probably knows your business before you do—this one deserves a spot on your nightstand.
Hallmark compatibility: 9/10. Small-town charm, family ties, and a journey toward finding your place.
Find Looking for Salvation at the Dairy Queen on our shelves
5. The View From Lake Como by Adriana Trigiani
For the Hallmark fan who dreams of romance, beautiful scenery, and starting a new chapter.
Sometimes a good story needs a change of scenery.
And if that scenery happens to be Italy, we're certainly not complaining.
The View From Lake Como offers a chance to escape into a story filled with Italian atmosphere, relationships, and the possibility of new beginnings. It's a lovely pick for readers who enjoy stories that transport them somewhere beautiful while exploring the twists and turns of life and love.
Think of it as your literary vacation. No plane ticket required.
Hallmark compatibility: 9/10. Romance, beautiful scenery, and a little escapism.
Find The View From Lake Como on our shelves
6. Tom Lake by Ann Patchett
For the Hallmark fan who loves stories about first loves, family, and looking back on the moments that shape us.
Sometimes the best love stories aren't just about falling in love. They're about remembering it.
During a pandemic summer, Lara's three adult daughters return to the family orchard in Northern Michigan. As they work together, the daughters ask their mother to tell them about a romance from her younger years, when she was part of a theater company performing Our Town at a summer theater called Tom Lake.
What follows is a beautiful exploration of young love, marriage, family, and the lives we build.
It's thoughtful, warm, and full of those little moments that remind us how complicated—and wonderful—love can be.
Hallmark compatibility: 9/10. First love, family connections, and a nostalgic look at the past.
7. A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
For the Hallmark fan who loves grumpy characters with surprisingly big hearts.
Every good Hallmark movie needs a character who seems impossible to love at first.
Enter Ove.
He's grumpy, particular, stubborn, and has very strong opinions about how things should be done. But when a lively new family moves in next door, Ove's carefully organized life begins to change.
What follows is a heartwarming story about unexpected friendship, community, loss, and the people who make life worth living.
It's funny, touching, and a reminder that sometimes the people who need connection the most are the ones least likely to ask for it.
Hallmark compatibility: 9/10. Unexpected friendships, community, and a whole lot of heart.
Find A Man Called Ove on our shelves
8. Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
For the Hallmark fan who loves romantic complications, family loyalty, and a little old-fashioned romance.
Two sisters. Very different personalities. A complicated love life. And plenty of reasons to keep turning the pages.
Elinor and Marianne Dashwood approach life and love in very different ways. Elinor is practical and reserved, while Marianne wears her heart on her sleeve. As both sisters experience romantic disappointment and unexpected turns, they must figure out how to balance their feelings with the realities of life.
If you love stories about sisters, complicated relationships, and the belief that love eventually finds a way, this Austen classic is worth picking up.
Hallmark compatibility: 9/10. Romantic twists, family relationships, and a timeless love story.
Find Sense and Sensibility on our shelves
9. Two by Two by Nicholas Sparks
For the Hallmark fan who loves emotional family stories and believes love can show up in unexpected ways.
Nicholas Sparks knows how to tug at the heartstrings, and Two by Two is no exception.
Russell Green believes he has built a happy life with his wife and young daughter. But when his marriage begins to unravel, he finds himself navigating single parenthood, family challenges, and a completely different version of the future than the one he imagined.
At its heart, this is a story about a father's love for his daughter, the importance of family, and discovering what matters most when life doesn't go according to plan.
Keep the tissues nearby. This one leans more emotional drama than cozy Christmas romance.
Hallmark compatibility: 8/10. Family, love, resilience, and an emotional journey.
Find Two by Two on our shelves
10. One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid
For the Hallmark fan who loves big romantic dilemmas and stories that make you ask, “But who would I choose?”
Let's finish with a little romantic drama.
Emma Blair thought she had found her happily-ever-after when she married her high school sweetheart, Jesse. But after Jesse disappears during a helicopter flight, Emma is left trying to rebuild her life.
Years later, she finds love again and becomes engaged to an old friend. Then Jesse unexpectedly returns.
Now Emma must figure out what love means, whether the past can become the present again, and what her future should look like.
It's a big emotional what-if, with a romantic dilemma that will keep you turning pages.
Hallmark compatibility: 8/10. True love, second chances, and a very complicated love triangle.
Find One True Loves on our shelves
Your Next Cozy Read Is Waiting at The Queen Bee
Whether you're a devoted Hallmark Christmas movie watcher, a hopeless romantic, or someone who just loves a good story with a happy ending, there's something on this list for you.
And if you happen to watch the same Christmas movie for the fourth time while reading one of these books, we promise not to judge.
Actually, we'll probably be right there with you.
Stop by The Queen Bee Giftery in historic downtown Ogden or shop our collection online. Because a good book is always a good idea—and it's even better when paired with chocolate.
Happy reading, movie lovers!