The Best Holiday Audiobooks for Making Spirits Bright

No list of Christmas books would be complete without A Christmas Carol, a heartwarming tale of awakening and redemption. Listening to Charles Dickens's timeless story offers an array of exciting possibilities—there are so many incredible narrators to choose from! Take your pick of actors and celebrity readers including Tim Curry, Hugh Grant, Patrick Stewart, and Simon Prebble. If radio dramas are more your style, there are several dramatized versions to choose from as well. These audio versions range in length from 90 minutes to three hours, so curling up and listening to one is the perfect holiday activity for the whole family.

This collection of Christmas stories, compiled and edited by historian Dr. Bettye Collier-Thomas, contains writings from Black artists, activists, journalists, and writers from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Many of the entries first appeared in the African American newspapers that thrived after the Civil War. By turns heartfelt, funny, serious, and whimsical, these stories celebrate the holiday traditions of Black Americans, as well as our country's rich Black literary history. The entire collection is read by accomplished narrator Adenrele Ojo.

In this keenly observant and darkly funny holiday story from Frances Hornak, one family tests the limits of their love when they're forced to quarantine together. When oldest daughter Olivia returns home for the holidays after working abroad as a doctor in the middle of an epidemic, she's required to spend seven days in isolation—with the rest of her family. Tempers are tested, secrets are revealed, and long-buried tensions rise to the surface. Charming but heartfelt, Seven Days of Us is a painfully relatable but altogether hilarious holiday audiobook, perfectly narrated by Jilly Bond.

J.R.R. Tolkien's skill for voice and world-building extended far beyond his creation of Middle-earth. Each year, he replied to his children's letters to Father Christmas with whimsical missives. Collected here, these letters tell wonderful stories of Father Christmas's adventures in the North Pole and around the world. Warm and wonderfully narrated by Derek Jacobi with John Moffatt and Christian Rodska, this audiobook makes for cozy fireside listening.

This inventive reimagining of A Christmas Carol is full of humor, heart, Victorian holiday cheer, and some endearing grumbling. Charles Dickens is not in a festive mood. The critics are railing against him, and it seems like everyone he knows wants money that he doesn't have. When his publisher asks him to write a Christmas book, he flat-out refuses. But everything changes on a walk through London, where he meets the mysterious Eleanor Lovejoy—a woman who reminds him what Christmas is all about. Actor Euan Morton, whose roles include playing King George in the Broadway musical Hamilton, narrates, impeccably.

Ever wonder why the same seasonal songs get played year after year after year? So did reporter John Seabrook. In Jingle Bell Pop, he offers a fascinating look inside the holiday music machine. Drawing on interviews with songwriters, producers, and singers, he sheds light on how holiday mega-hits are made, complete with secret recipes, and why they endure. Listen in to this wholly unique audiobook to learn the stories behind your favorite yuletide earworms, and you'll soon find yourself humming those familiar tunes.

Get swept up in the magic and music of this uplifting holiday-themed Audible Original Podcast. Crush Hour: A Musical follows the stories of unknowingly connected strangers in London as they navigate love during rush hour. Various chance encounters on tubes, taxis, trains, and bikes result in hilarious outcomes. This festive musical drama stars award-winning singer Ellie Goulding, Douglas Booth, Samantha Barks, and Nick Collier (aka Ella Vaday), alongside a full-cast ensemble.

Though the late Anthony Bourdain is best loved for his deeply empathetic travelogue television series No Reservations, his writing and narration are exceptional in their own right. And while his memoirs, including the impeccable Kitchen Confidential and Medium Raw, are recognized exemplars of autobiography, this joyfully tongue-in-cheek holiday novella is well worth a listen too. Fans of Bourdain’s raw, gritty prose and irreverent sense of humor will love this story of the kitchen staffers at the struggling Saint Germain, who are determined, against all odds, to turn the eatery’s fate around.

This listen offers a fresh holiday twist on the classic boy meets the wrong girl. At last year's Hanukkah party, Rachel met a dreamy man, the sweet and charming Oz. But then her more confident, glam, and outgoing best friend swooped in, and Tamara and Oz have been dating ever since. Rachel does her best to hide her lingering feelings for Oz, but when he and Tamara finally break up—and he begs Rachel for help winning Tamara back before Hanukkah—well, Rachel can't keep up the charade.

This magical holiday romance is full of cozy treats, festive parties, and plenty of snowstorms. After losing his partner, job, and home in one blow, Alex decides it's time to leave New York and return to his small Michigan hometown to realize his dream of opening a bakery. He's immediately intrigued by Corbin, the quiet man who spends his afternoons writing at the table by the window. As they get to know each other, Alex and Corbin realize that sometimes the best holiday gifts are the unexpected people who come into your life at just the right time.

This holiday romance novella is full of mouthwatering descriptions of delicious baked goods—so don't listen hungry! Latinx bakers Kiskeya and Sully each arrive in Scotland for reality TV's famed Holiday Baking Challenge with the same goal: to win and prove that they belong in the culinary world. Assigned to work together despite their different baking styles, the two women are standoffish at first, but it's not long before sparks start to fly, in and out of the kitchen. Will the heat of competition and an unexpected betrayal spoil their chance to make a great team?

For a decade, Rachel Rubenstein-Goldblatt has kept a big secret from her Jewish family—she loves Christmas, and, under a pseudonym, has a career as a successful Christmas romance novelist. But then her publisher asks her to write a Hanukkah romance, and Rachel can't come up with a single idea. Hoping to find inspiration, she attends the annual Matzah Ball, a Jewish music celebration held on the last night of Hanukkah. She's surprised to meet her childhood rival Jacob there—and even more surprised that she's drawn to both him and the holiday she always thought she hated. Jean Meltzer delivers a warmhearted holiday romance about second chances and finding the courage to be yourself.

A holiday fling turns into a lifelong love in this delightful royal romp from Jasmine Guillory. Vivian is thrilled to accompany her daughter Maddie on a work trip to England, where Maddie will be styling a member of the royal family. Vivian is planning on enjoying some much-needed time off—she's not expecting to fall head over heels for the queen's private secretary, Malcolm. Vivian and Malcolm have no trouble navigating a steamy holiday romance. But when they realize they both want more, are they ready to take risks they never imagined?

29-year-old Niki has always played it safe, working a dependable job and dating practical men—even if they don't exactly make her heart beat faster. But when she's abruptly laid off, she decides to throw caution to the wind and spontaneously flies to India for a friend's wedding. There, amidst the light-filled magic of Diwali, she meets Sameer, a free-spirited London musician with whom she shares an immediate connection. As the end of the holiday season approaches, and with a new job offer on the horizon, Niki faces a decision: Will she return to her predictable life or stay and take a chance on love?

One of our picks for the best winter rom coms, Bright Winter Nights is a charming Hanukkah romance. Featuring a delightful dual narration from Andrew Eiden and Emily Lawrence, the story follows a pair of high school sweethearts who get a second chance at love. To avoid his matchmaker mother’s machinations, Adam, a driven business mogul, reaches out to his old girlfriend, Sara, a successful designer, to ask her to accompany him to his family’s Hanukkah party. For years, they've both been consumed by their careers. Before long, they rediscover the spark that first brought them together.

Whatever your favorite holiday, this YA anthology of holiday stories is sure to delight. My True Love Gave Me features a rich diversity of tales centered on a holiday—Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Christmas, and the Solstice among them—from 12 young adult authors, including Rainbow Rowell, Jenny Han, Holly Black, and the collection's editor, Stephanie Perkins. Read by Julia Whelan, Kim Mai Guest, and Lincoln Hoppe, among other expert voices, and full of themes of family, love, and friendship, these stories will warm you right up.

Can't get enough of holiday movies set in New York City? Then, you'll love this audiobook about two teenagers and their unexpected romance. Lily leaves a notebook containing a series of challenges on a shelf in her favorite bookstore. Dash, feeling lonely during the holidays, picks it up. What follows is a whirlwind romance full of adventures, dares, and dates all over the city, as they pass the notebook back and forth. An enchanting listen, Dash & Lily's Book of Dares is narrated in alternating voices by Ryan Gesell and Tara Sands.

There’s something uniquely joyous about the holiday season when you’re a teen—school’s out, the snow is mounting, and ice-skating and hot cocoa dates offer a chance at young love. In this contemporary young adult story, three pillars of the genre—Maureen Johnson, Lauren Myracle, and John Green—trace the fates of a cast of characters stuck in their small town on Christmas Eve by a massive storm. As their separate stories begin to intertwine, surprising, heartwarming connections are made, shining a light on the season’s joys. Narrators Rebecca Soler, Brandon Gill, and Ali Ahn bring Let It Snow and its magic to life for listeners.

This children's book by Andrea Davis Pinkney makes a wonderful introduction to Kwanzaa and its history and traditions. Accompanied by traditional African music, Emmy Award-winning actress Alfre Woodard's engaging narration brings the seven principles of Kwanzaa to life. Kids will learn about the importance of unity, community, collective responsibility, creativity, faith, and ancestral stories.

This unique holiday listen uses the seven principles of Kwanzaa to explore African American history. Ibi Zoboi connects each principle to a different and equally inspiring real-life story. Read by the author and Hall of Fame narrator Robin Miles, the book includes histories of enslaved people in the United States and explores the rich cultures, rituals, and traditions that they built. A beautiful celebration of Black culture and social justice movements, The People Remember truly embodies the spirit of Kwanzaa.

This is an enchanting listen for all children and especially for families who celebrate the Lunar New Year. The story follows Sam, a boy who's trying to decide how to spend the money he received for Chinese New Year. Luckily, he meets a stranger who helps him make the right decision—and teaches him something about giving and generosity in the process.

This joyful book from bestselling author Emma Donoghue isn't about one particular holiday, as the Lottery Family doesn't celebrate just one holiday. Sumac lives with her two dads, two moms, and many siblings in a wonderful old house. Every year, she's the one who makes sure all the holiday rituals go according to plan. But when a visitor stays longer than expected, and her dad and brother can't get home to India in time to celebrate, Sumac learns that what's important about her family's unique mix of wonderful traditions can't be ruined by an ice storm or a power outage.

Alight with the childhood wonder of connecting with and loving those cherished stuffed companions, Margery Williams's British kidlit classic The Velveteen Rabbit has been breaking hearts and inspiring families for over a century. This holiday season, invite a little warmth into your home with Richard Armitage’s masterful rendition recounting a young boy’s beloved Christmas gift—the titular plush rabbit—as well as the pains of parting and the joys of recognizing his pal in the wild. This listen is perfect for families and those feeling a bit nostalgic during the festive season.