Best Thanksgiving Books for Adults

by Kiley Reid

A pivotal scene in this popular contemporary fiction happens around the Thanksgiving table, so if it's been on your TBR list, this is a great time to pick it up!

The story focuses on the intertwined relationship between Alix, a successful white woman, and Emira, her toddler's 25-year-old black babysitter.

When Emira visits Alix's neighborhood high-end grocery store, an overzealous security guard believes she's kidnapped Briar, Alix's daughter. The encounter between Emira and the guard is filmed, making Emira both angry and embarrassed. Alix is also upset and determined to do something, but then the viral video brings something from her own past to light.

Eliza is a suburban wife secretly struggling with an intense fear of leaving her house. She forces herself to go to the store in preparation for a Thanksgiving visit from her college-age children. While she is there, she hears younger moms talking about a new local online forum for women. Eliza has run a similar group for years, but these strangers are calling her group boring.

In a moment of desperation and weakness, Eliza starts a rumor on her board to liven it up, and the rumor reaches further than she expected.

This book is a great mix of comedy and drama about a group of neighbors overcoming their individual problems when they’re willing to share them and lean on other women. While most of the book is set leading up to the big dinner, the actual meal is the setting of a major revelation.

by Steven Rowley

It's 1992 and struggling writer, James, is nervous to meet an editor about his quasi-autobiographical novel. At 31, after years of career drought, he's lost all confidence and can't believe anyone would be interested in publishing his work. And then the unbelievable happens in a basic conference room.

The editor is Jackie Kennedy Onassis. She's read his novel twice, and she wants to work with him.

As work on the book progresses, Jackie suggests the only way to get the ending to the book right is for James to spend time with his own mother. And that's where Thanksgiving comes in!

The Book Girls Say...We both loved this story and had no idea that Jackie Kennedy really did work as an editor in New York for much of her life. Steven Rowley did a great job of capturing what that process could have felt like for the authors she worked with over the years. If you loved his latest book, The Guncle, we think you'll enjoy this as well!

by Anne Tyler

This Pulitzer finalist was initially published in 1985 and then turned into a popular movie in 1988. The fact that it's still easily accessible in reprint over 30 years later is telling!

Travel writer Macon Leary is not what you'd expect a travel writer to be. He hates anything out of the norm and away from his home, including travel. Things get even worse after his wife leaves him. Macon intends to remain isolated and alone at home. Then a peculiar dog trainer works her way into his life and helps him re-engage with life. Thanksgiving happens in Chapter 10, including planning for the day and the big dinner.

Anne Tyler also authored another book - A Patchword Planet - that includes a dysfunctional Thanksgiving dinner.

The Book Girls Say...Keep in mind that Anne Tyler writes character-driven fiction, so if you're looking for a quickly-paced plot, this may not be for you.

by Bruce Holsinger

This juicy contemporary drama focuses on four families that have been friends since their children were born. However, secrets and resentments were buried along the way.

Early in the book, we are introduced to each of these families at a Thanksgiving dinner where they discuss a new, exclusive school that will be opening in the town of Crystal, Colorado (which many readers will recognize as a slightly fictionalized version of Boulder, CO). What starts as good intentions is quickly derailed by very questionable actions as they each fight to get their kids into the new school. These ambitious parents will go to any length to secure a spot for their children. Along the way, secrets and lies will resurface in explosive ways.

This novel explores issues of talent versus privilege, achievement versus potential, and the pursuit of prestige at any cost.

The Book Girls Say… This book is on the longer side at 560 pages, and it may take several chapters to keep the large cast of characters straight, but it's worth sticking with it! We highly recommend the audio version of the book as the narrator did an excellent job.

by Falon Ballard

When Sadie doesn't get the promotion she both needs and expects, she immediately adds three things to her to-do list - a drink, a one-night stand, and a new place to live. Unfortunately, she tackles these tasks in the wrong order. The drinks turn into Sadie mixing up a dating app and a roommate app. Whoops!

Jack has been dealing with the unexpected death of his parents by escaping into movies and video games alone. After hearing her story, he offers Sadie the spare bedroom in his gorgeous Brooklyn brownstone at an excellent price.

The cheap rent lets her grow her former-side business into a full-time gig. But how long can these polar opposites happily co-exist in one house?

The Book Girls Say... This is a lighter pick for fans of the rom-com genre, but it still addresses some deeper issues that make for good discussion. By the time these characters gather for Thanksgiving dinner, you'll feel a strong connection to each of them.

by M.M. Chouinard

This gripping psychological thriller begins with three sets of friends gathering for a Thanksgiving retreat in Jamaica. But they are each hiding something - painful childhood memories, an affair, alcohol abuse, and a string of devastating miscarriages.

As their secrets are revealed, they threaten to destroy them. Things only get worse when Rose and Brandon's three-year-old daughter goes missing from her bed in the vacation villa.

The Book Girls Say... Reviewers describe this as an addictive suspense novel that will leave you wondering what the heck you've just read. It's said to be perfect for fans of The Guest List and The Sister-in-Law.

If you enjoy mysteries, but enjoy them on the lighter side, instead check out the Thanksgiving-themed cozy mysteries in the next section of our list.

by Louise Penny

The first book in the popular Inspector Gamache series kicks off on Thanksgiving weekend in the small Canadian town of Three Pines. Beloved local artist Jane Neal is murdered and found in the woods. It is a huge shock to a town so crime-free that it doesn't even have a police officer.

If you're a fan of mysteries and haven't read this series, be warned that you might get hooked. Book 17 was just released! If you're also doing the Book Voyage challenge, this is a great overlap book for our November stop in North America.

The Book Girls Say...Be aware that the Inspector Gamache series is more of a hybrid cozy-thriller. It's grittier with deeper topics than most cozies, but at the same time, it fits the genre criteria, so people (including us) aren't ever sure quite where to shelf it.

This book is available with Kindle Unlimited as of 9/26/2022.

by Leslie Meier
Lucy Stone Mysteries #7 & #24

This collection includes the two Thanksgiving-themed mysteries from the popular, 29-book Lucy Stone series: Turkey Day Murder and Turkey Trot Murder.

Turkey Day Murder (originally published 2000): Tinker's Cove, Maine has a long history of Thanksgiving festivities, but this year, murder is on the menu. Lucy intends to discover who left Metinnicut Indian activist Curt Nolan deader than the proverbial Thanksgiving turkey.

Turkey Trot Murder (2017): Besides the annual Turkey Trot 5K on Thanksgiving Day, Lucy expects this holiday to be a relatively uneventful one. This is, until she finds beautiful Alison Franklin dead and frozen in Blueberry Pond. Lucy is in a race to beat the killer to the finish line.

by Alex Erickson
Bookstore Cafe Mystery #9

With Thanksgiving on the way, Krissy Hancock's bookstore-cafe in Pine Hills, Ohio, is joining with the local library for a seasonal celebration. Krissy is in charge of supplying the cider, and her staff is manning the apple-bobbing booth.

When a patron dunks his head in and doesn't come back up, she's an instant suspect. Especially because the victim was notorious for accusing the bookstore (and the library and the school) of promoting scandalous literature. Will Krissy be able to help her policeman boyfriend find the real killer?

by Kathi Daley
Cottage on Gooseberry Bay #2

Ainsley Holloway came to Gooseberry Bay searching for answers about her past. In this second book in the series, Ainsely meets Adam Winchester who agrees to help her find the answers she is looking for. But in addition to searching for the truth about her own history, Ainsley also finds herself trying to solve the mystery of a family who vanished five Thanksgivings ago.

This book is available with Kindle Unlimited as of 9/26/2022.

by J.A. Whiting
Sweet Cove Mystery #21

The only thing better than a Thanksgiving cozy mystery is a Thanksgiving cozy mystery WITH RECIPES!

It's November in the seaside town of Sweet Cove, Massachusetts. Ellie and Jack's wedding day is fast approaching, and a celebrity chef is in town for his book signing. When someone winds up dead, the Roseland sisters and their two cats are drawn into a new case.

The Book Girls Say... Like all the books in the Sweet Cove Mystery series, this book has some mild paranormal elements, making it the perfect cozy read between Halloween and Thanksgiving. If you're looking for another option with even stronger paranormal vibes, check out Southern Magic Thanksgiving, which is #7 in the Sweet Tea Witches cozy series.

These books are available with Kindle Unlimited as of 9/26/2022.

by David J. Silverman

While the rest of our list is fiction, including some very light, entertaining picks, we wanted to include one solid non-fiction for anyone wanting to learn more about the history of Thanksgiving. We selected This Land is Their Land, which was published in 2019 right before the 400th Anniversary of the landing at Plymouth Rock.

The book focuses on the Wampanoag Indian tribe, starting with the relationship and alliance between the chief and Plymouth's governor, John Carver which lead to a successful harvest and first Thanksgiving. You'll learn about the next 50 years of uneasy peace between the tribe and the local government, which ended in 1675. Silverman explores the tensions before, during, and after the treaty in this well-researched book.

The author was determined to remain neutral in tone and focus on historically documented facts, which is an asset but also creates a more scholarly tone instead of reading like fiction. That makes it a longer read, so we recommend picking it up a bit at a time in conjunction with other books versus sitting down to read straight through.

by Janet Evanovich

If you've read any of the Stephanie Plum series, you know that Janet Evanovich specializes in adding laugh-out-loud, over-the-top situations to daily life. In this quick read, the main characters have the ultimate meet-cute when a rabbit begins chewing on the bottom of Megan's skirt. She's ready to yell at the rabbit's owner, but quickly changes her mood when she finds out he's a handsome doctor.

The Book Girls Say... This novel was published in 1988, and it's age shows a bit in its style, but it's a fun option if you're looking for a very light and funny romance with cheesy Hallmark movie vibes. On the other hand, skip it if you're looking for something deeper or literary.

by Louisa May Alcott

While Louisa May Alcott is best known and loved for her novel, Little Woman, she was also a short story writer. One of her most popular short stories focuses on Thanksgiving. When mother is called away, the children attempt to make the full dinner. If you're yearning for a short, sweet story, set in a simpler time, grab this classic!

by Katie Winters

Charlotte was widowed last year, and each day feels just as hard as the first. After the loss of her husband, she's struggling to get out of bed each day, let alone keep up with the demands of her busy Martha's Vineyard wedding planning business that she runs with the help of her 14-year-old daughter.

With Thanksgiving fast approaching, Charlotte is asked to plan a multi-million-dollar celebrity wedding... and fast! It's the kind of wedding that will get major press and could really put her business on the map. But with much of her normal staff off the island for the winter, can she pull it together in time?

Ssomewhere between Thanksgiving dinner and the cake-cutting on Saturday night, she just might find a new love of her own.

The Book Girls Say... This wholesome holiday romance is the fourth book in the Vineyard Sunset series, but it reads well as a standalone novel. The other three books feature the three Sheridan sisters, while this book is about their cousin, Charlotte.

by Truman Capote

This book contains three stories from the author of Breakfast at Tiffany's, including The Thanksgiving Visitor. The story features the same autobiographical characters from A Christmas Memory - 9 year old Buddy and Miss Sook, his eccentric elderly cousin who is also his best friend.

Buddy is bullied every day on his way to school, so Miss Sook decides to solve the problem by inviting the bully to their big country Thanksgiving feast.

by Jackie Lau

This steamy rom-com is part of a holiday series featuring the endearing Wong family. The parents set up blind dates for all three of their children for Thanksgiving. This is the first book in the series and focuses on the party boy and advertising executive Nick.

The woman who the Wongs selected for Nick's brother just happens to be Lily, who was Nick's latest one-night stand. He hasn't been able to forget her, unlike his normal flings. While Nick didn't come home with the intention of settling down, he might be changing his mind...

The Book Girls Say... Fair warning, this one kicks off with a very steamy open-door scene in the first chapter! But in just 100 pages, the author creates characters with much more depth than you might expect. If rom-coms are your jam, this one will have you reaching for seconds (as in the second book in the series).

Keep in mind that this book is set in Canada, where Thanksgiving takes place in October. Otherwise, some of the timeline references can get confusing.

by Penny Watson

This rom-com novella serves up the perfect enemies-to-lovers recipe for Thanksgiving dinner. Start with a politically incorrect, chain-smoking, cussing, cranky 62-year-old. Add one pearl-clutching, 59-year-old know-it-all. Mix with a beer can-turkey, a dash of nudist next-door neighbor. Serve on paper plates and garnish with a garden gnome.

The Book Girls Say... This humorous novel packs a lot into 86 short pages, but it's not for the faint of heart. Steer clear of this pick if you prefer books that are free of profanity and steamy scenes.