Do you ever just want to escape? Whether from life’s daily grind or anxiety from the seemingly endless conflict and suffering in our world, I often need a break. While escapism isn’t always the answer—we need to sometimes take action and always remain prayerful—finding ways to unwind helps with my stamina and renewal of spirit.
What better way to escape than with books?
In September, my daughter had surgery to reconstruct a torn ACL following an injury while playing volleyball. The days following surgery brought some unexpected complications. Add that to the disruption to our routine—I am such a creature of habit! —and a book deadline in the midst of it, my anxiety was like riding a rollercoaster I couldn’t seem to get off.
What did I do to self-care during this challenging season? I picked up a Christmas book! (Yes, even though it was only inching into fall!) Specifically, Toni Shiloh’s You Make It Feel Like Christmas. [Insert a deep sigh…] It is such a perfect feel-good romance full of Christmas cheer. What a calming relief it brought me. I then spent October unashamedly escaping into Christmas books and movies. The themes of hope, cozy nostalgia, and new love reminded me of simpler times. Happy endings. God’s faithfulness.
It’s been wonderful and I look forward to keeping the experience going into the actual holiday season.
If you’re looking for a few Christmas books to escape into, might I make a few suggestions? These contemporary Christian romance Christmas books are perfect!
You Make It Feel Like Christmas by Toni Shiloh
Once Upon a Starry Night Collection by Valerie Comer and others
Marry Christmas, 2023 Christmas Lights Collection by me, Jaycee Weaver and others
A Louisiana Christmas Collection by Betsy St. Amant and others
All’s Fair in Love and Christmas by Sarah Monzon
How do you escape? Have you read any books lately that helped you take a break from the real world? I’d love to hear about them! Tell me in the comments and we can help each other build a great book list to escape into!
Teresa Tysinger is an author of Southern contemporary romance inspired by grace. She writes on the fringes of being a wife, mom, and full-time communications professional. Teresa is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, the Association for Women in Communications, and the Religion Communicators Council. She’s an introverted Enneagram 4 (if you know, you know) and loves coffee, traveling, and almost every genre of music. Born in Hawaii, raised in Florida, and educated in North Carolina, she now resides in Texas with her husband, daughter, and dog.
I came for the Christmas book recommendations! I have never read a Christmas book. My grandma and I always watch Hallmark Christmas movies.
When I was trying to encourage my grandmother to read I started being her Hallmark movie Christmas books.
I can’t wait to read some of these books you suggested. Especially, Toni Shiloh she’s become a recent favorite!
I definitely read to escape stressful times! I particularly like books set in different countries as it feels like I’m getting right away from ordinary life.
I still have those times. And reading was a huge escape for me growing up. I was the oldest of five and really enjoyed it. I would pull in my brothers/sister with me and we would all sit and read. When we all got a little older, (mom always had books for us kids to read) we would each grab a book and escape. When I got married I was able to stay home. With our fist kiddo, there were times where I just needed to get away without going anywhere. Enter a book. By the time we had our two kiddos, I was doing the same with them as I did with my siblings. The librarian knew us three by name. I made each a book bag and we would fill them up for the next two weeks. Lots of reading happened in our house. Now we are empty nesters and it still happens for me. My husband who is a technical/computer geek also now finds the time to read. (mostly for reenacting or non fiction. But that is ok too)
Every book I read helps me to escape! I’m proofing one book now, just got another one to do today, and I have 9 ARC’s waiting for me on my Kindle! I definitely need all of these to help me escape as I play the waiting game to have a biopsy. It’s also my busy season with my “real” job of selling health insurance, so reading helps me relax, too!
Books are always a great escape from stressful times. I also recite scriptures I have memorizedmemorized and/or sing praise songs and hymns (to myself since I can’t carry a tune in a bucket!!) I love Christmas books. I have preordered several of the books you recommended. ❤❤
I love escaping into books. I have read some romantic suspense that are fabulous. Elizabeth Goddard’s Shadows at Dawn, Sami A. Abram’s Killer Christmas Evidence and Pacific Northwest K-9 Unit are outstanding. Thank you so much for sharing. God bless you.
I have the Lousanna Christmas to read. I have been reading Christmas novellas. I am in a bit of a reading slump so tired and need light and easy to read. Christmas works well for me. I read Melody Carlson’s novella and that is really good too.
Never read a Christmas book?! You’ll love all of these, I’m sure!
Escaping to new places in a book is definitely a perk!
“Enter a book.” I love this. In almost every situation, a book can help!
Prayers for your biopsy! It’s busy season for me, too, and I love turning to my books.
Happy reading! Songs like that help me so much, too.
Thanks for adding those to the list!
Light and easy is always what I look for!
I’m currently re-reading Light from Heaven by Jan Karon. Going back and visiting with my “friends” in Mitford is providing a good escape during a stressful couple of weeks.
I am reading Jessica Wakefield’s debut book The Christmas Box which has 3 novellas in it. Its more Christian Worldview but it is fun.
Most definitely reading is my escape. It seems the stress pre Christmas has started earlier than usual this year, we call it the “Christmas Crazies” because it seems kind of contagious and the perfect antidote is isolating from the commercial pursh and stress behind it. I can’t say I have read Christmas books, I think because so many involve snow and winter and here I pray for a cool Christmas hopefully around 25 degrees centigrade rather than a really hot one. Thanks :)