Book recommendations for long winter nights

The clocks went back recently here in the UK, signaling that soon when our alarms go off, we’ll be greeted by a blanket of darkness and probably a bit of a chill. Dragging yourself out of bed and into the shower can become a real task and the commute to and from work can start to feel like an absolute saga. It’s important to seek out things at this time of year that are cosy and comforting, and a book can be a great place to start. For many of us, this can just mean digging out our favourite Austen, but it can’t hurt to diversify your reading beyond our usual favourite.s Here are my recommended cosy reads for fans of Austen.

Godmersham Park by Gill Hornby

When Anne Sharpe arrives at Godmersham Park in August 1804, she is thrust into the world of teaching in a country house, despite having no teaching experience. She quickly has to learn to navigate the complex social politics of being neither family, nor a ‘downstairs’ member of the household staff. Things only get more complicated when Edward Austen’s family comes to stay and Anne quickly forms an attachment to the charismatic and fascinating Jane. Though they become fast friends, everything is put at risk when Jane’s brother Henry develops a strange fascination for Anne.

Taking inspiration from real events in Jane’s life, this is the perfect cosy Autumn historical read for Austen fans.

The Christie Affair by Nina de Gramont

For eleven days in 1926, famous crime writer Agatha Christie went missing. A massive manhunt was launched and eventually she was found at a hotel in Harrogate, where she was staying under the name of her husband’s witness. Christie claimed to have no memory of what happened to her, and two doctors diagnosed her with memory loss. What happened in those eleven days remains a mystery to this day. In The Christie Affair, Nina de Gramont imagines what might have happened, telling the story from the perspective of an unlikely source - Christie’s husband’s mistress.

A Waterstones Thriller of the Month, this is the perfect page-turner for forgetting about the weather.

Midnight in Everwood By M.A. Kuzniar

For all of the Catherine Morlands out there, Midnight in Everwood is the gothic novel with a festive twist you need this Christmas season. Marietta Stelle wants nothing more than to be a ballerina, but her parents expect her to join polite society and marry well. An opportunity for Marietta Stelle to have her dream arises when a mysterious toymaker moves into town, building her the perfect set for her performance. However, the set is much, much more than it seems…

Fans of the Nutcracker will love this retelling which combines the mystical and dreamlike with the whimsy of a Brothers Grimm tale.

A Marvellous Light By Freya Marske

For fans of magical reinterpretations of history, A Marvellous Light is a fabulous new LGBTQ+ romance set in an alternative Edwardian London. When Robin Blyth takes on a new job, he thinks that he’s just moving government departments. Turns out, he’s the new parliamentary liaison to a secret magical society. Determined to figure out what’s going on, Robin will have to work out what happened to his predecessor, and enlist the help of his frosty coworker Edwin Courcey.

A great new magical story for fans of romance and magic with a little spice thrown in.

What are you reading this Winter to stave off the blues? We’d love to hear what Austen fans are devouring this season.

Ellen White is editor of the Jane Austen Centre blog. She would love to hear from you! Check out our Submission Guidelines and get in touch.