There’s a nip in the morning air. The scary spiders and skeletons are back in storage replaced by pumpkins and hay bales on front porches. Settle into fall, watch the leaves turn colors, sip on pumpkin spice lattes, seasonal teas, or the coffee flavor of the month.
We’re discussing men’s healthcare this month, but stress is a problem faced by all genders. Reading is a wonderful way to destress and keep our minds active. Get a jump start on destressing before the hustle and bustle of the holiday season begins. Find a cozy spot; make your favorite warm beverage and grab a good book.
We’ve selected ten books including cozy holiday romances, biographies, classics, and a few new releases. We didn’t forget the holiday cookbooks. Enjoy!
1. The Half Moon by Mary Beth Keane – Malcolm and Jess are a couple approaching middle age. After years of trying to get pregnant, Jess is losing hope. Should she turn her focus to her law career? Malcolm is a bartender at the Half Moon bar. When the owner retires, Malcolm sees his opportunity to own the type of establishment he’s always dreamed of, but can he succeed? When a secret about Jess is revealed, a patron of the bar vanishes, and a blizzard hits their small town leaving everyone stranded in place, Jess and Malcolm learn the importance of forgiveness, community, and the meaning of family.
2. House of Earth and Blood (Book 1 of Crescent City) by Sarah J. Maas – Bryce loves her life. She works hard all day and parties harder at night. It’s the best of both worlds until a demon brutally murders one of her closest friends. After the accused demon is caught and safely behind bars the killings continue. Desperate to avenge her friend’s death, Bryce agrees to work with a fallen angel to stop a dangerous demon.
3. The Seven-Year Slip by Ashley Poston – Clementine’s well-planned life begins to unravel when she finds Mr. Perfect standing in the kitchen of her late aunt’s apartment. He’s everything she ever wanted, but he exists seven years in the past and she’s stuck in the present. When their timelines collide in the apartment, they fall in love, but what sort of future can they have?
4. Idle in Provence: A Brief History of Thyme by Eric Idle – In 1971, Idle bought a run-down property in Provence with no running water, crumbling walls, and no electricity. He set out to transform it into a home. Along the way he hosted George Harrison, Robin Williams, Paul Simon, and other celebrities while writing songs, iconic scripts, classic comedies, and completing home repairs. The journey to transform this home also transformed the man who thrived away from the madness of showbiz.
5. My Year of Really Bad Dates by Rachel Lithgow – After a difficult divorce and the loss of her father, Lithgow left her 30-year career to pursue a writing career and reset her life. After a series of really bad dates, she decided to share her experiences and the insight she gained with others struggling to navigate the dating scene.
6. Swan Song: Diana My Sister by Charles Spencer – Spencer pays tribute to the short, but extraordinary life of his sister.
7. Upstairs at the White House by J.B. West with Mary Lynn Kotz – During his nearly 30-year career as an usher in the White House, West interacted with six consecutive presidents and first ladies directing the operations and maintenance of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. He supervised every activity in the presidential home, witnessed crises, planned weddings, and funerals. West shares the struggles and triumphs of the first ladies he served.
8. Uniting the States: Six Crucial Moments that Forged the American Miracle By Bill Kilmeade - Kilmeade features six extraordinary men, John Adams, George Washington, Captain Daniel Shays, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and John Quincy Adams, who helped define the ideals that formed our nation.
9. The Gales of November: The Untold Story of the Edmund Fitzgerald by John Un. Bacon – Listed as one of the ten best history books of 2025 by the Smithsonian. Bacon interviews the family friends and former crewmates of the twenty-nine crewmen who perished in the icy waters of Lake Superior to present the definitive account of the disaster.
10. Half-Baked Harvest Quick & Cozy: A Cookbook by Tieghan Gerard – Gerard shares 120 recipes with simple ingredients and easy instructions. A perfect way to put the flavor in and take the stress out of holiday meals.