Stories for the Holiday Season
Recommended Reading & Films for December 2025
Stories for the Holiday Season: Recommended Reading & Films for December 2025
December arrives with a sense of welcome pause, a moment when the world feels a little slower and stories can take on a deeper glow. It is a month shaped by quiet reflection, gathering with intention and finding comfort in narratives reminding us of who we are and who we are becoming. As we move through winter’s early weeks, books and films offer us warmth, guidance and imagination, inviting us to close the year with curiosity and connection. This month’s selections highlight resilience, transformation and the quiet strength found in the stories carrying us forward.
Books
1. The Once and Future Queen by Paula Lafferty (December 16, 2025)
Vera feels adrift until a strange visitor insists she once lived as Guinevere of Camelot and holds memories capable of reshaping both past and present. Drawn toward answers, she begins a journey blending myth, memory and destiny, discovering the truth behind legends she thought she understood.
2. House of Day, House of Night by Olga Tokarczuk, translated by Antonia Lloyd-Jones (December 2, 2025)
Set in a remote Polish village rich with echoes of the living and the dead, this novel weaves together the stories of saints, wanderers and dreamers. Surreal fragments form a mosaic of local lore and personal histories, creating a world where everyday life blends seamlessly with the mystical.
3. When the Fireflies Dance by Aisha Hassan (December 2, 2025)
After witnessing his brother’s murder outside their hut near a brick kiln, young Lalloo becomes trapped in a life shaped by loss and forced labor. His family struggles under crushing debt while the kiln looms as a constant reminder of danger. Lalloo must forge a new path and uncover his own strength to save those he loves.
4. Shot Ready by Stephen Curry (September 9, 2025)
Blending personal reflection with lessons from a celebrated career, Stephen Curry explores the preparation, mindset and discipline driving his success on and off the court. Through stories and insights from pivotal moments in his life, he offers a look at how confidence, resilience and steady practice build both character and excellence.
5. Strong Ground by Brené Brown (September 23, 2025)
Drawing on years of work with leaders across the world, Brené Brown examines how clarity, courage and empathy shape effective leadership. She explores the tension between performance and wholeheartedness and offers guidance for navigating complex environments with integrity and connection.
Films
1. My Secret Santa (December 3 on Netflix)
A single mother named Taylor disguises herself as an elderly man to secure a seasonal Santa job at a luxury ski resort. With the help of prosthetics, a wig and a carefully crafted persona, she becomes “Hugh Mann” to earn money for her daughter’s snowboarding lessons. Complications follow when she begins to fall for the resort manager while juggling her dual identity.
2. Oh. What. Fun. (December 3 on Prime Video)
Claire Clauster spends every year orchestrating her family’s holiday festivities despite their total lack of appreciation. After she reaches her breaking point, she sets off on a solo adventure that forces her loved ones to reckon with what they had taken for granted. Lighthearted and warm, this ensemble comedy brings humor, heart and the makings of a future holiday favorite.
3. Diary of a Wimpy Kid Christmas: The Last Straw (December 5 on Disney+)
Based on the third book in the series, this animated film follows Greg Heffley as he faces a New Year ultimatum from his dad: toughen up or risk being sent to military school. Greg’s attempts to prove himself lead to mishaps on the soccer field, during camping trips and everywhere in between, all with the familiar charm and humor of the Wimpy Kid world.
4. Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (December 12 on Netflix)
Detective Benoit Blanc returns for a new whodunit set in a gothic corner of Europe where mystery and danger blend with sharp wit. With higher stakes and darker turns than previous installments, Blanc faces a case filled with intricate clues, unexpected motives and a cast of suspects hiding more than they reveal. The franchise’s playful tone and clever storytelling remain central to the experience.
5. Avatar: Fire and Ash (December 19 in theaters)
The saga returns to Pandora, moving into the volcanic regions of the planet and introducing the Ash People, a new Na’vi clan rumored to possess a darker worldview than the clans we have met before. As tensions rise and unfamiliar terrain tests every allegiance, the story explores loyalty, survival and the shifting conflicts shaping Pandora’s future.
Stories carry us through the final stretch of the year, offering comfort, inspiration and opportunities to imagine in the down time between the holiday hustle and bustle. They connect us to each other, they broaden our understanding and they remind us of the resilience woven through every lived experience. Whether you choose one, two or all of these selections, may they bring warmth to the colder days ahead and spark reflection as we move toward the new year.