Winter is here, and it’s the perfect time to curl up with a good book. Whether you’re snuggled under a blanket or by the fire with a hot drink in hand, there’s something special about getting lost in a great story this time of year. We’ve put together a winter reading list full of books that will keep you hooked all season long—and make the perfect gift for any bookworm you know.
The Art of Doing Nothing – Jesse Lipscombe
The Art of Doing by Jesse Lipscombe is a powerful guide that encourages readers to focus on the process, not just the end goal. After a life-altering stroke just months before the 2004 Athens Olympics, Lipscombe redefined his approach to success, shifting from a singular goal of winning to embracing the journey. Through personal stories and actionable strategies, he offers practical advice on how to maintain momentum, pursue what you love, and transform setbacks into stepping stones. Whether you’re chasing a dream or simply seeking more fulfilment, Lipscombe’s insights inspire a more balanced and meaningful path forward.
Jesse Lipscombe is an actor, entrepreneur, former athlete, and activist from Alberta, Canada. With a career spanning from film to track and field, he has become a prominent figure in both the arts and business world, known for his dedication to combating racism and promoting diversity.
The World Needs the Wonder You See – Joanna Gaines
The World Needs the Wonder You See by Joanna Gaines is a heartwarming invitation for families to slow down and embrace the simple wonders of nature. Inspired by her young son’s love for adventure and her own shift toward a more mindful pace after having her last child, Joanna encourages children and adults alike to explore the world around them with curiosity and joy. With vibrant and dreamy illustrations by Julianna Swaney, this charming picture book takes families on a journey through treetops, ocean waves, and rabbit tunnels, helping them find beauty in the little things they might otherwise overlook.
Joanna Gaines, a New York Times bestselling author and co-founder of Magnolia, is known for her work as a designer, entrepreneur, and television personality. Her passion for creating beauty in everyday life shines through in her books and projects, with a focus on family, design, and simplicity. Julianna Swaney, the book’s illustrator, brings Joanna’s vision to life with her whimsical, nature-inspired art, influenced by folklore and her childhood love for fairy tales.
Close Your Eyes and Count to 10 – Lisa Unger
Close Your Eyes and Count to 10 by Lisa Unger is a heart-pounding thriller that combines the tension of Squid Gamewith the survival instincts of Survivor. The game begins innocently enough, as extreme adventurer Maverick Dillan invites contestants to a high-stakes game of hide-and-seek on Falcao Island. But when a violent storm hits and a malevolent force begins to stalk the players, the game takes a deadly turn. Adele, a single mother just trying to protect her children, finds herself caught in a web of deception, trying to survive both the island’s dangers and the sinister forces that lurk within it.
Lisa Unger is a New York Times bestselling author known for her gripping suspense novels. With over twenty books to her name, including internationally acclaimed works, she is widely regarded as a master of the genre. Her novels have been published in thirty-three languages, and she’s earned numerous accolades, including Edgar Award nominations. Unger’s work has been featured in top media outlets such as the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and NPR.
Fearless Choices – Brandi Leifso
Fearless Choices: Make a Decision, Change Your Life by Brandi Leifso offers a powerful guide to moving from fear to empowerment and transforming your life through the choices you make. Leifso, the founder and CEO of Evio Beauty Group, shares her personal journey from living in a shelter at 21 to building a thriving clean cosmetics brand. Drawing from her experiences, she demonstrates how every choice, whether good or bad, leads to new opportunities. With practical advice on how to navigate crucial decisions—like choosing to start, trust, and stand for something—Leifso encourages readers to embrace the power of choice and take control of their own path to success.
Brandi Leifso is a successful entrepreneur and founder of Evio Beauty Group, recognized as one of Canada’s Top 25 Women of Influence and a speaker at the Forbes Under 30 Global Women’s Summit. Her inspiring story of resilience has also been featured in various awards and media. Eliza Robertson, an acclaimed author known for her award-winning works of fiction and non-fiction, collaborates with Leifso to bring this motivational book to life.
From the Rez to the Runway – Christian Allaire
From the Rez to the Runway: Forging My Path in Fashion by Christian Allaire is an inspiring memoir about overcoming obstacles and following one’s dreams in the competitive world of fashion. Growing up on the Nipissing First Nation reserve in Northern Ontario, Allaire’s love for fashion began with the intricate Ojibwe powwow regalia, but it was the glamour of runway shows and high-fashion magazines that truly captivated him. Through his journey from an unpaid intern to a senior fashion writer for Vogue, Allaire offers a candid look at the realities of the fashion industry, including the challenges of finding his place in a world that often felt exclusive and distant from his roots.
Christian Allaire, an Ojibwe, French, and Italian writer, has established himself as a prominent voice in fashion journalism. Currently a senior fashion and style writer for Vogue, Allaire works to highlight Indigenous design and bring diverse stories to the forefront of fashion. Based in Brooklyn, New York, he continues to bridge his cultural heritage with his career in the fashion industry.
The Griffin Sisters’ Greatest Hits Intl – Jennifer Weiner
The Griffin Sisters’ Greatest Hits Intl by Jennifer Weiner is a poignant and captivating novel that explores the complex relationship between two sisters thrust into the spotlight during the Golden Age of pop music. Cassie and Zoe Grossberg, though born just a year apart, couldn’t be more different—Cassie, a shy musical prodigy, and Zoe, a beauty-driven dreamer. Together, they form the pop sensation The Griffin Sisters, navigating fame, love, and loss. But when tragedy strikes and the band disbands, their relationship crumbles. Now, two decades later, the sisters have drifted apart, with unresolved tension between them. As the past resurfaces, Weiner’s story delves into the power of love, forgiveness, and the lasting impact of their shared musical legacy.
Jennifer Weiner is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of nineteen novels, including Good in Bed, In Her Shoes, and Mrs. Everything. Known for her heartfelt and engaging storytelling, she explores themes of relationships, self-identity, and personal growth.
Big Girls Don’t Cry – Susan Swan
Big Girls Don’t Cry: A Memoir About Taking Up Space by Susan Swan is a bold and introspective memoir that challenges societal expectations of women, exploring Swan’s personal journey of defying the boxes others tried to place her in. From her childhood in a small Ontario town, where her towering height set her apart, to her life as a single mother and fiction writer in the 1970s underground Toronto art scene, Swan’s story is one of independence, self-discovery, and resilience. Through her decades of searching for belonging, Swan reflects on the pressures faced by women and the hard-won wisdom that led her to true self-acceptance in her seventies.
Susan Swan is a celebrated Toronto novelist and non-fiction writer, as well as a professor emerita at York University. She has authored several acclaimed works, including The Wives of Bath and The Biggest Modern Woman in the World. A co-founder of the Carol Shields Prize for Fiction, Swan has been awarded the Order of Canada and is a leading figure in Canadian literature.
The Bear Out There – Jess Hannigan
The Bear Out There by Jess Hannigan is a playful and suspenseful picture book that invites young readers into a world of imagined danger and cozy refuge. The story follows a young girl who frantically warns readers about a “bear out there,” urging them to come inside and hide. But as the story unfolds, it becomes clear that things may not be as they seem, leaving readers questioning what’s real—and what’s simply a fun and exaggerated tale of fear and imagination. Hannigan’s humorous take on a classic childhood experience will have kids laughing and thinking twice about the bears in their lives.
Jess Hannigan is an illustrator and author based in Hamilton, Ontario. Her debut picture book Spider in the Well was well-received, and The Bear Out There marks her second book. Hannigan’s work has been featured in the New York Times, Readers Digest Canada, and The Washington Post. She is known for her bold graphic art style and her love of silly, whimsical nonsense.
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