In Iceland, books are an essential part of holiday celebrations. There, it’s tradition to gift family and friends books and to spend Christmas Eve reading and enjoying hot cocoa. The celebration is called Jolabokaflod, which roughly translates to “Christmas book flood.”
In the spirit of Jolabokaflod, we’ve compiled a list of some books from 2023 that were written by Northern Virginia authors. These seven titles are enticing reads that will make great gifts for anyone on your list. (Bonus points if you shop at one of NoVA’s independent bookstores.)
For Adults
Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun by Elle Cosimano
Tune into the adventures of Finlay Donovan — a single mother and writer in Fairfax who has accidentally stumbled into a life of crime — with the third installment of this series. In this volume, she must work with the police to fend off threats from the Russian mob. Be sure to catch up on the series before the next book, Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice, is released in March 2024.
Happiness Falls by Angie Kim
This mystery and family drama, written by a Great Falls author, was a New York Times Bestseller, a Good Morning America Book Club Pick, and Oprah Daily’s No. 1 Novel of the Year — and for good reason. It’s an enticing, introspective story set in Virginia about a biracial Korean American family as they attempt to uncover what happened to their mysteriously missing husband and father.
The Peacock and the Sparrow by I. S. Berry
This 2023 release is a spy novel written by an actual spy (a former CIA operations officer, to be specific.) Berry used her experience from being stationed in wartime Bahrain to inform her debut novel, which focuses on a weary CIA agent who becomes entangled in conflicts during the Arab Spring uprisings.
In the Lives of Puppets by TJ Klune
Fredericksburg local TJ Klune, author of The House in the Cerulean Sea, crafts a charming cast of characters in this fantasy book. Three robots and one human live happily together as a family, when information about one of the android’s pasts surfaces and threatens their lives together. It’s a sweet story of a found family, based on the original tale of Pinocchio.
For Kids
Bea and the New Deal Horse by L.M. Elliott
Middle-grade readers will love this historical fiction novel, set in Virginia during the Great Depression. When Bea’s father abandons her and her sister, she must convince struggling horse farmer Mrs. Scott to take them in by helping to train an unruly horse for competitions.
Girl to Boss! Advice for Girls from 50 of America’s Most Successful Women by Julia Taylor Brandus
Reston’s Julia Taylor Brandus wanted to write a book. She started when she was 9 years old. Her book, published this year when she was 11, shares insights that are bound to inspire other young women. She asked 50 successful women in different fields about their professions, motivations, setbacks, and, most importantly, what advice they would have for 10-year-old girls.
The Sugar Plum Bakers: A Tale of 12 Holiday Treats by Patricia Tanumihardja
Young readers can lean into the magic of the holiday season with this whimsical picture book, full of beloved characters like the Sugar Plum Fairy and the Gingerbread Man. Follow along as the “bakerinas” work together to craft holiday treats for kids around the world.
Feature image, stock.adobe.com
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