With below–freezing temperatures and snow whipping around, itis safe to say that we are officially in the thick of winter. Now that our weekends are freed up from holiday obligations, it is the perfect time to read a good book that reflects the chilly atmosphere.
Winter can be a harsh season. It brings frigid weather that forces us inside and early nights where we have little choice but to soak in the dark. It can be difficult to endure, and having a gripping book can be a helpful distraction.
The books selected here are wintry in both setting and tone, leaving you to reflect on the severity of the season. Some books here really lean into the darkness, so be sure to check out the trigger warnings.
The Secret History by Donna Tartt
Now, if you were on BookTok when dark academia was at an all-time high, you’ve heard of this book. Having blown up in popularity 20 years after its publication, Tartt’s debut novel opens with a death amongst friends.
This book has an undeniable chill to it. Richard, the main character, starts the book as an outsider at his college. Struggling with finances, he lives in a house where winter winds enter through the roof and infiltrate his room. During his college stay, he becomes absorbed by a friend group that arguably drags him down more than lifts him up.
Tartt’s dark and mysterious book examines hedonism and isolation in tandem against the backdrop of Greek literature and murder. If you haven’t given this book a try already, I urge you to pick it up this winter season.
I’m Thinking of Ending Things by Iain Reid
For anyone interested in psychological and paranormal themes, this is the book for you.
Iain Reid’s I’m Thinking of Ending Things is an eerie, surreal book that doesn’t offer concrete answers. The book is centered on a couple driving through a blizzard to visit the boyfriend’s parents. However, while on the drive, the unnamed narrator becomes more and more unsettled by her boyfriend, Jake.
In between these chapters are the increasingly unhinged thoughts of another unnamed character. Tensions rise and the narrator begins regretting the trip, feeling trapped by obligation and the weather. Pieces of the plot slowly come together as the book continues, making for a chilling ending.
Seascraper by Benjamin Wood
Now, let’s take a break from horror and the paranormal. Benjamin Wood’s Seascraper is a historical fiction set on the freezing oceanfront of Longferry, Northern England. Thomas, the main character, keeps up his grandfather’s tradition of shrimp harvesting, ritualistically bringing his horse and cart to the ocean to catch and sell shrimp to pay his and his mother’s bills.
Thomas has never questioned this work despite his deep disdain for it. That is, until a movie director sees him and pitches an idea for a new and exciting business opportunity. Now, Thomas can’t help but dream of a different life filled with music and art.
Longlisted for the 2025 Booker Prize, Wood’s short yet mighty book examines the crossroads between working to survive and wanting to achieve a dream.
City of Thieves by David Benioff
In another historical fiction, David Benioff, author as well as co-creator for the TV version of Game of Thrones, presents a coming-of-age adventure set in the World War II era.
Lev and Kolya are two strangers who both find themselves imprisoned by Soviet soldiers. To win their freedom, they must find eggs for a wedding cake for the colonel’s daughter. They become friends out of necessity, learning more about each other as they traverse the wintry warscape.
The book is cold and desperate as the two characters pursue their freedom in the form of eggs. Benioff’s work is as important as it is engaging and entertaining, offering a slice of the reality of WWII life.
Moon of the Crusted Snow by Waubgeshig Rice
In this chilling apocalyptic novel, Waubgeshig Rice shows reader what happens to reservation life when things go awry.
The novel begins by portraying the responsibility of hunting and getting firewood for a community before winter takes over. However, not every character is eager to help out the reservation.
Thus, when a power outage occurs and food supplies are halted, the community experiences the effects of not being prepared for a cold, resourceless winter. On top of this, a desperate visitor shows up, raising various levels of suspicion amongst the members of the reservation. Isolation and food rationing lead to high tensions, ultimately ending in chaos for the community.
Rice’s slow-burn horror demonstrates how a tight-knit community can break down as tension and trauma ramp up.
Penitence by Kristin Koval
Last, but certainly not least, is Koval’s dark thriller/drama that centers on generations of two families and their interwoven trauma.
The book follows a murder that involves a sister and her brother. Koval takes readers on a journey into the backgrounds of their parents and former friends, revealing how their past is shaping their reaction to the situation. Unlike other books on the list, this murder does not feel scary in a horror genre sense. It is simply heartbreaking.
A story about the importance of forgiveness, Koval’s family drama offers an agonizing yet beautiful storyline that resembles an emotional roller coaster.
Bundle up with a cold and chilling book this season
We still have a ways to go before spring melts away the cold of winter. In the meantime, try picking up a book that mirrors the ambiance of the season.
