Hello, bookish friend!
We just got back from a magical weekend in NYC, soaking in all the Christmasy sights and sounds of the city.
This trip has been on my bucket list for years, and it was just as enchanting as I’d hoped it would be. From gorgeous trees all decked out…
…to exploring the city with croissants and hot coffee in hand…
…to watching a Christmas pageant in the historic Grace Church of Brooklyn Heights…
…to witnessing the precision and grace of the Rockettes Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall…
…and so much more. It was a literary and holiday extravaganza, and I loved every second. Well, almost.
We nearly got trampled at the Rockefeller tree as a massive swarm of tourists pushed to catch a glimpse of the iconic evergreen. (I do not recommend making this stop on a Saturday night. Word to the wise.)
But my favorite part, by far, was visiting the New York Public Library again. I may or may not have squealed when I saw the lions out front wearing their holiday wreaths:
Once inside, the towering tree in the main hall was easily the most beautiful one we saw in the whole city.
And then we got to see Charles Dickens’ actual writing desk and original copy of A Christmas Carol! We read this aloud every December, so it was a special delight to have my kids geek out with me on this literary treasure, too!
Okay, I didn’t mean to slip into full travelogue mode, but NYC at Christmas is the backdrop of so many great stories—Annie, Miracle on 34th St, Home Alone, Red & Lulu—I just couldn’t help myself.
What’s your favorite New York-at-Christmas story—book or movie?
On the long drive home to Ohio, I listened to Christmas in the Castle Library by Ann Swindell (watch my book chat with the author below), and it was so good, I switched to paperback when we got home so I could finish it. Instead of unpacking. 🙈
Now that we’re home, I’m spending my mornings with Beloved, Francis Chan’s new devotional book, and my evenings with A Holiday by Gaslight by Mimi Matthews (recommended by a reader in last month’s Bookshelf email comments!).
I have another Christmasy book (A Sea View Christmas by Julie Klassen) on my nightstand to pick up once I’ve finished my current read, and I’ve got The Mary We Forgot by Jennifer Powell McNutt on rotation as both audiobook and paperback (because yes, I’m the crazy book lady reading eight books at once).
And of course, we’re continuing our daily read-aloud of A Christmas Carol, with these activity books to keep little hands busy while we listen to this favorite (and free!) dramatization of Dickens’ Victorian English.
Do you see that little red book in the lower right corner of the photo above? This year, we’re also reading through Unwrapping the Names of Jesus together as a family, and it’s bringing my heart so much joy to lead my own kiddos through these gifts that Jesus offers us in His names.
What are you reading these days? I love your recommendations, and I’m building our 2026 Book Chat schedule based on what you enjoy. In the comments, tell me:
One book you’re loving right now, and
One author you’d love to see in a future Book Chat.
Join me for a cozy 10-minute Bookshelf Chat with author Ann Swindell as we talk about her delightful new Christmas novel, Christmas in the Castle Library. We talk about stories that point our hearts back to Jesus, the magic of a castle library at Christmas, and the gentle faith threads woven through Ellie’s journey. If you’re looking for your next cozy December read, this one belongs on your list.
And just for fun, I’m sharing photos from our family trip to a real-life Romanian castle and a few engagement throwbacks from fifteen years ago—because my husband’s proposal has a sweet connection to the romance in this book! It’s all in the short video above!
Before I forget—Ann has a little gift for all of you! If Christmas in the Castle Library has already caught your eye (it should!), she’s offering the first chapter for free to every reader here.
To celebrate this month’s Book Chat, Ann is also giving away a copy of Christmas in the Castle Library.
To enter:
Leave a comment on this post sharing your favorite Christmas or winter read.
For a bonus entry, share this video on social media, tag me @Asheritah and @Ann Swindell, and you’ll get double the entries!
Make sure you’re subscribed to this Substack to be eligible to win. I’ll choose a winner from the comments before the next Bookshelf email goes out!
PS: If you’ve already read this book, tell us your favorite quote or moment—your comment still counts!
If you’re enjoying these cozy bookish moments, you can subscribe for free so you don’t miss future Book Chats, giveaways, or recommendations. This little corner of the internet is growing into such a sweet community.
Okay, deep sigh. I didn’t write much this month.
Between holidays, travels, events, and a death in the family, my writing rhythm fell apart. And you know what? That’s okay.
What I’ve needed this season is to be present with my loved ones, to get good sleep, and to spend time resting with Jesus.
But I do get to share some exciting bookish news here:
What a gift of God! I’m honored that so many families keep unwrapping the names of Jesus year after year! 🎉
Looking forward, I’d love to finish my current middle-grade draft by the end of the month, and I have a loose plan to do just that, but even if I don’t, it’s going to be okay. I’m not on deadline, and this one’s for my own kids. What they need is a present, rested mama, not a stressed author trying to juggle too much at once.
The writing I have kept up is my journaling. These private words won’t likely see the light of day. They don’t count toward a “word count.” But writing helps me think. Writing helps me pray. Writing helps me see the fingerprints of God every day.
So I keep writing, not because it’s my job but because it’s how I keep delighting in Jesus. This private writing is the secret place that’s just for Him and me.
How about you—has anything in your life had to slow down or shift this month so you could care for your soul and the people you love? I’d love to hear what that looks like for you.
Looking for a perfect gift for a writer (or aspiring writer) in your life? My friend Kaitlyn Bouchillon sent me this candle in the mail this month as an early Christmas gift, and I already know it’s going to keep me company in 2026 as I prayerfully write tens of thousands of words at my computer.
Got a favorite bookish or writerly gift you’ve received? I’d love to hear about it in the comments!
Last month, I asked you to share pictures of your own bookshelves, and boy, did you deliver! I’m going to spread these out over the next few months, but here are a few of our very own reader bookshelves from around the country:
Oh my gosh. I can’t even. 🥰 We have a seventh-grade reader here? Victoria, welcome! Michelle, we still have piles despite our similar built-ins (also, what a man! that’s a love language right there). And BC (I wish I knew your first name?), I love antique books too!
As a thank you for sharing your bookshelves, I’d like to send you another book from my own shelves to add to your collection. Ladies, reply to this email or DM me your mailing address, and I’ll pop those books in the mail for you soon!
Have a bookshelf you want to share with our community? Email a photo to hello@onethingalone.com, tell us where you’re from and what you love about your shelves, and you may be featured in a future Bookshelf email—with a little bookish gift in the mail too. 😉
Here’s to cozy reads, twinkling lights, and the holy hush that meets us when we slow down long enough to listen.
Cheering you on, one page at a time,
Asheritah
P.S. Ever heard of Jólabókaflóð? It’s an Icelandic tradition where you cozy up indoors for a whole day of nothing but reading—no chores, no socializing. Just you, your current book(s), hot cocoa, popcorn, and a warm blanket. I’ve never tried it before, but I’m thinking the kids and I might give it a go during that magical week between Christmas and New Year’s. Doesn’t that sound dreamy?
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