An Icelandic Christmas tradition, ‘Jolabokaflod’ (aka “Yuletide Book Flood”) begins when a catalog of every new book published that year is delivered to every single Icelander. Then a day is spent reading and eating chocolate (yes, please!). Here are the 4 books I read during Jolabokaflod this year!

These 10 amazing novels are quite different in tone and theme, but each book has one thing in common: it features a witch as its heroine. From historical fiction to modern day high school, magic is everywhere if you know where to look!

There’s nothing so deliciously exhilarating as burrowing under the covers with a heart-thumping page-turner. These mystery-thrillers are all scary for slightly different reasons, but all of them have this in common: I couldn’t put it down, I couldn’t guess the ending, and I couldn’t slow my heart rate the entire time my nose was buried in its deep, dark pages.

A beautifully told, in-depth perspective of the WWII Siege of Leningrad, highlighting the strength and resilience of human nature. It blends art and life by showcasing the Hermitage and its art in a powerful and provocative way. The author also takes us through the ravages of Alzheimer’s, a cruel disease she treats with dignity and respect.