BLOG | Alicia Delory
top of page
Search

11 Cozy AF Books on my Holiday TBR

***Please note that this post contains affiliate links and any purchase made through such links will award me a small commission (at absolutely no extra cost for you). These funds help me pay my bills and enable me to keep working from home to do cool things like write more books and keep this sweet sweet blog going.***


Gather 'round, fuckers. The holiday season is here, which means my impeccable holiday fashion and obnoxious jolly AF vibe is here to stay for the next 5 weeks.

Despite the world being a total dumpster fire and my Wellbutrin and Lexapro working overtime, I'm taking a break between my Palestine reading list (You can check out my list here) and I'm diving into my holiday TBR. Give me all the festive AF reads to help stave off that good ol' seasonal depression!


Here's 11 books (in no particular order) I'm planning to read TF out of this year:


1. Corporate Mandated Holiday Romance by Nellie Wilson

I heard about this one a while back from @satrayreads on BookTok, so I already knew it was a must-read. I am so here for eating the rich this holiday season, thank you very much.


Get it here.






2. The Wake-Up Call by Beth O'Leary

Beth O'Leary is one of my instant-buy authors (I just pretend that The Road Trip never happened). I mean, two enemy hotel receptionists competing to return a collection of found wedding rings to their owners? Yes. Yes, I need those kind of pure precious shenanigans in my life.


Get it on Amazon.

Get it at Bookshop.org.

Get the audiobook here.


3. A Holly Jolly Ever After by Julie Murphy & Sierra Simone

A Merry Little Meet Cute was one of my favorite reads of 2022, so this was a no-brainer. Julie Murphy handles the cutesy love story and Sierra Simone brings her signature spice. Ex-boy bander with a dad bod trying to recover from a sex tape scandal and a former America's sweetheart who just lost it all and is ready to reinvent herself? YAS.


Get it on Amazon.

Get it at Bookshop.org.

Get the audiobook here.


4. Just Like Magic by Sarah Hogle

I wanted to read this last year but wasn't able to. I heard someone describe this book as a fever dream and honestly, that's enough for me.

Get it on Amazon.

Get it at Bookshop.org.

Get the audiobook here.






5. Three Holidays and a Wedding by Uzma Jalaluddin & Marissa Stapley

The description of this book reads: "Three times the holiday magic. Three times the chaos." Say no more.

Get it on Amazon.

Get it at Bookshop.org.

Get the audiobook here.







6. A Holly Jolly Diwali by Sonya Lalli


Type-A Niki travels to India for Diwali, the festival of lights and meets London musician Sameer. Sparks fly. Nuff said.


Get it on Amazon.

Get it at Bookshop.org.

Get the audiobook here.





7. You're a Mean One, Matthew Prince by Timothy Janovsky

Spoiled rich boy Matthew gets cut off and sent to a picturesque small town where he meets a sexy, unimpressed local named Hector. My Hallmark-loving heart is about to explode.


Get it on Amazon.

Get it at Bookshop.org.

Get the audiobook here.





8. You Make It Feel like Christmas by Toni Shiloh

Starr loses job. Starr goes home for the holidays and attends her sister's wedding...to her ex. Brother's sexy best friend is thrown into the mix. It's messy and I love it.


Get it on Amazon.

Get it at Bookshop.org. (Support indie bookstores)

Get the audiobook here.





9. The Christmas Orphans Club by Becca Freeman

Orphans and outcasts create a holiday tradition together that lasts well into adulthood. What happens when one of them has to relocate? I'm a sucker for found family. Pass me the fucking tissues already.


Get it on Amazon.

Get it at Bookshop.org.

Get the audiobook here.




10. A Singh Family Christmas by Nisha Sharma

Nisha Sharma wrote it and that's all I need to know. This novella has it all: queer romance, family drama, and a chaotic AF holiday meal involving a burnt tandoori turkey.


Get it here.








11. Mistletoe & Mishigas by M.A. Wardell

Teacher and custodian in a fake dating relationship to get through the holidays. Grumpy sunshine trope. And a little BookTok birdy said the spice is top tier. So there's that.


Get it on Amazon.

Get it at Bookshop.org.







Here's to cozying up with some festive AF books and disassociating for a while. 🎄✨


Have you read these? Am I missing any on this list?


Comment below.




Alicia Delory is a writer, editor, and content strategist, TEDx speaker, and mediocre BookToker (@aliciadreadsnwrites). She is the author of the bestselling memoir Something is Better Than Nothing from Running Wild Press, which was a #1 New Release in Amazon Military Families, as well as a BookBub Editor's Choice Featured New Release in March 2021. She is currently working on her second book.



11 views0 comments

5 Audiobooks You NEED to Listen To RIGHT NOW

***Please note that this post contains affiliate links and any purchase made through such links will award me a small commission (at absolutely no extra cost for you). These funds help me pay my bills and enable me to keep working from home to do cool things like write more books and keep this sweet sweet blog going.***


I was never a huge fan of audiobooks. Then I had a kid. And now I'm a huge fan.


I still can't listen to them while I'm doing work because I tend to drift off, but they're a godsend when I'm cleaning, feeding children and pets, cooking, working out, folding laundry, etc.


It's so nice to be able to read during the day again! And since I made the switch from Audible to Libro.fm, I can support my local indie bookstores while I listen. It's pretty great.


Here are some of my favorite audiobooks with perfect casting, masterful narration, and great stories:



A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman (Read by J.K. Simmons)

I'm a sucker for found family, a loveable curmudgeon, and all the warm and fuzzies. I actually read the physical book first. I laughed. I cried. This book was like a bowl of warm soup for my heart. I then got the audiobook because I love J.K. Simmons. Believe me when I tell you; this narrator was PERFECTLY cast as the grouchy, yet loveable Ove.





Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson (Read by Marin Ireland)

Some books are better consumed via audio, and this book is one of them. The premise is actually off-the-wall bonkers--kids who spontaneously burst in to flames-- and Marin Ireland's masterful narration MAKES this book. She is probably my favorite narrator, and her reading will have you laughing out loud.





Book Lovers by Emily Henry (Read by Julia Whelan)

I often struggle with romance and romcoms on audio because the voices of the male love interests can make or break it for me. Queen Julia Whelan is absolute FIRE voicing love interest Charlie Lastra and her narration makes him sound just as hot as he did in my head when I first read the physical book. This is my favorite Emily Henry book so far!




The Flatshare by Beth O'Leary (Read by Carrie Hope Fletcher & Kwaku Fortune)

I adore Beth O'Leary books. Every time I finish a physical book of hers, I immediately go out and get the audio. Carrie Hope Fletcher and Kwaku Fortune are absolutely perfect as reluctant flatmates Tiffy and Leon, who are so damn cute, you'll just wanna roll them up and put em in your pocket!





Anxious People by Fredrik Backman (Read by Marin Ireland)

This book is the perfect example of why Marin Ireland is my favorite narrator. She nails the voices of the ensemble cast of characters effortlessly, capturing all the quippy, hilarious highjinks along the way. Some people don't love how on-the-nose Backman is. Do I care? Not really. I love this book and Marin Ireland CRUSHES the narration.





There you have it. These are just a small taste of all the great audios I've listened to. What are some of your favorites? Seriously, tell me. I'm ALWAYS looking for recommendations. Comment below.


Click here to join Libro.fm and use code CHOOSEINDIE to get a FREE audiobook. Your membership and purchases support local indie bookstores!




31 views0 comments

BookTok's Must-Have Bookish Accessories!

***Please note that this post contains affiliate links and any purchase made through such links will award me a small commission (at absolutely no extra cost for you). These funds help me pay my bills and enable me to keep working from home to do cool things like write more books and keep this sweet sweet blog going.***


In case you haven't heard, I recently went viral on BookTok.


I know, right? Guys, don't worry; I'm still the same person. :-P


Here's the video for reference:

For the record, I will never understand what makes some videos go viral over others. I literally made this on a Saturday night at 1 a.m., just sharing my bookish gadgets i.e. mostly things that don't require me to hold my book or physically turn the page on my Kindle.


Anywho, I got TONS of comments about where one could get said gadgets, and I am happy to share this list with you! I am ALL FOR anything that makes reading more ACCESSIBLE and enjoyable.


I've also included some great items that make reading more fun and cozy and I will update this list as I find more stuff. :-)


Happy Reading!


Is it a bit temperamental? Yes. But there's not much like it right now and once you find the sweet spot, it is an absolute GAME CHANGER. It goes out of stock fairly often so be sure to keep checking back. I have one and I gifted my sister one. We are both extremely in love.


Get it here.









I love my Book Seat! It makes it easy to read hands-free with my book on my lap, or laying down with my book next to me. It's perfection for reading on my side. It also has a handy storage pocket in the back!


Get it here.





BookTok goes apeshit over these. I think they're fine, but for me, it really depends on how stiff the binding is on the book I'm reading. If the book is too stiff, I find these to be uncomfortable. But they're great for a nice floppy paperpack!


Get them here.



This is one product that people either love or hate. These particular ones are designed to accommodate your eyeglasses as well. These are meant to help you be able to read without hunching or looking down. Your chiropractor would approve.


Get them here.



This holder along with the Kindle remote are what cozy reading dreams are made of. If you like to read while snuggled up in a comfy position, you NEED this. Imagine lying down in your bed, nestled under your covers with your Kindle situated perfectly in front of your face. FABULOUS.


Get it here.








Everyone needs a book light. This one is USB-rechargeable, bright AF, and has a dimming feature. The flexible neck makes it easy to find the right angle to illuminate your pages. Oh, and it comes in lots of fun colors.


Get it here.






While it's not my first choice of page holder (I prefer my Book Seat), I do appreciate its compact and adjustable design, and how convenient it is for travel. It also adjusts based on the size of your book.


Get it here.





Shout out to my Peloton Book Club Moms for this one! I LOVE this absolutely massive cozy reading pillow! The neck support is held on with two snaps, so if you don't like it, you can remove it. This is no ordinary reading pillow. Worth every damn penny. This is another one where I got one for me and one for my sister.


Get it here.



I absolutely love listening to audiobooks (ones I've already listened to) to help me fall asleep. And these are absolutely perfect for that! Ear buds are uncomfortable, but this headband is so soft and absolutely perfect for audiobooks, sleep sounds, or a nice meditation. Oh, and it's awesome for workouts, especially if you're like me and you can't keep earbuds in to save your life.


Get it here.



Pop sockets are great, but I wanted something a little more protective because I'm clumsy AF. This case has a stand and a hand strap, and there's even a pocket in it to hold your debit cards, license, etc. It's the perfect Kindle case. and it comes in some cute designs.


Get it here.





I just got this yesterday. It was on a lightning deal that I couldn't resist and I'm damn glad I didn't. These have 3 different kinds of light and also different brightness levels. I'm also a crafter and crocheter, so a book light is only one of the many MANY things I will use this for. I was pleasantly surprised.


Get it here.







It's not the base model of Kindle because I need this to be waterproof. I read a lot in the tub, but I'm also clumsy and I have a toddler. The Paperwhite is waterproof, but more affordable than the Oasis. The battery life is insane and it's so much easier on my eyes than reading off my iPad. Get you a Kindle. You deserve it. Oh, and they go on sale a lot, so keep checking if you're trying to save a bit.


Get it here.



I listen to audiobooks all day while I take care of my house and pets and kid. I pop one of these in and listen all day long. These are an amazing value. The sound quality is outstanding and the battery life is LEGIT. Oh, and they're waterproof. I've gone through a lot of cheap earbuds, but these are truly a great quality at a great price.


Get them here.




Sometimes, I gotta get work done while I'm working out. I work from home, I have a toddler and I have no childcare, so I have to make the most of my time. This desk for my bike is perfect.


Get it here.







In case you couldn't tell, Peloton is a good chunk of my personality. This desk attachment for my Tread is a huge time saver when I need to get in a walk AND get some work done and I don't have a huge amount of time to do both.


Get it here.





I wear this mask in at least 30% of my TikToks. I absolutely love this sleep mask. I've had it for a few years and honestly, I recommend getting 2 so you can rotate them because I almost always forget to put mine in the freezer. Seriously, put this in the freezer. It's simply *chef's kiss*.


Get it here.


I love a good scented candle. All of my Authentic Books subscription boxes come with a hand-poured scented candle inspired by whatever book comes with it. And I got tired of burning myself with matches and lighters. This thing is flameless and USB rechargeable.


Get it here.





I read a lot in the tub and I wear this to avoid over heating and also to pretend that I'm at a spa. This is perfect for audiobook reading.


Get it here.








Same use as above, but I use this one when I'm reading a physical book or e-book. Ya know, so I can see.


Get it here.







I mean, if you like being cozy and curling up with a good book, you'll need some slippers. And these are about as comfortable and durable as they come. And they're a great price. I bought two pairs becuase I love them so much.


Get them here



This is a handy little cutter for opening the copious amount of book packages you get in the mail. This one is super safe to use, which is nice because lord knows how sloppy we can get when new book excitement takes over.



Get it here.






Same idea as above, but for when you go overboard with the book buying to the point where heavy duty packaging was necessary.


Get it here.



441 views0 comments
bottom of page