12 Great Christmas Books Set in North Carolina
By: Angela & Melissa
Updated:
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, we may earn a referral fee from qualifying purchases.As we researched North Carolina books for the Read Around the USA challenge, we found that many authors have set their holiday novels in the state. This gave us the perfect excuse to put together a list of Christmas books set in North Carolina, spanning from Asheville and the Blue Ridge to small coastal towns and fictional favorites. You’ll find a range of genres, from romance to magical realism and cozy mysteries.
Best North Carolina Christmas Novels
The Asheville Christmas Cabin
Book Summary
When their jet-setting aunt invites the Chambers sisters to spend the month of December at the family’s cabin in Asheville, North Carolina, they aren’t sure what to expect. They spent many happy childhood summers and holidays at the cabin, but for the past 25 years, everyone has been avoiding the place.
The triplets, born on Christmas Day, owe a lot to their aunt, so even though they each live in different states, they agree to leave their individual lives behind to spend an entire month at the cabin.
Noelle, a big-city girl, comes face to face in Asheville with her first love, who is now a single dad. Eve is a stressed-out mom to three kids, but a month at the cabin gives her a chance to let go of control. Angie’s marriage is falling apart, but the time away in the Blue Ridge Mountains allows her to reconnect with her daughter.
About the Series
The Asheville Christmas Cabin is the first of four books in the Carolina Christmas series.
Hope at Christmas
Book Summary
After a painful divorce, Sydney returns home to Hopewell, North Carolina, looking for a fresh start. She and her daughter settle in at the farmhouse that once belonged to her grandparents, and Sydney takes a job at her favorite bookstore, The Book Bea.
Kevin MacAlea (“Mac”) is a history teacher and baseball coach at the local high school. Single dad Mac has been playing the town’s Santa ever since his son was born 12 years ago.
When Sydney meets Mac, a relationship is the last thing on her mind, but they find themselves spending more and more time together.
The holiday season starts out magical, but things take a turn when a catastrophe forces The Book Bea to close. Then things get worse when Sydney’s ex-husband breaks a promise to their daughter, causing her to run away.
A Sea Glass Christmas
Book Summary
Eight years ago, on the eve of his 21st birthday, Brody left his home in the Outer Banks to fulfill his sailing dreams. He loves crewing on ocean-bound vessels and joining cross-Atlantic races, but this Christmas he’s returning home at his mother’s request.
Rae is a treasure hunter and an attorney who’s main client is a 5-star, ocean-front resort in the Outer Banks. She loves taking early morning runs on the beach and her life is filled with adventure, but she’s lonely. She doesn’t have time for love, though, because she all of her spare moments are spent caring for her ailing aunt.
When Rae sees Brody back in town, it brings back all the memories of their long ago fling. With both of them facing family turmoil this holiday season, and with secrets yet to be revealed, can they make their Christmas wishes come true?
About the Series
This is the second in book in Davis Bunn’s Outer Banks series. It is marketed as a standalone story, however Rae is a returning character from the first book. If you prefer to read Rae’s backstory for the full character development, we recommend starting with the first book, Fortunate Harbor.
Through the Snow Globe
Book Summary
What if you could have one more day with someone you lost? That’s the underlying premise of this novel that blends It’s a Wonderful Life and Groundhog Day into a compelling holiday read.
Diana is no longer looking forward to Christmas. Her fiancé, Linus, was critically injured in a bike accident, and she’s losing hope that he’ll ever open his eyes again. The night before Christmas Eve, she finds a hidden snow globe of their small town and realizes that Linus bought it for her before the accident. The next day should have been Christmas Eve, but instead, Diana wakes up on December 4th, the day of the accident.
She soon realizes she’s in a loop of that day, experiencing a different set of events each time. Along the way, she uncovers startling truths about herself, her relationship, and even her career.
The Wish
Book Summary
When Maggie was 16 in 1996, she was sent to live with her aunt in Ocracoke, a remote village on North Carolina’s Outer Banks. She was homesick until she met Bryce, one of the few other teens on the island. He taught her about all the wonders of the island while introducing her to photography.
In 2019, Maggie splits her time between running a successful gallery in New York and photographing remote locations around the world. However, as Christmas approaches, she is struggling to come to terms with a sobering medical diagnosis. As she grows more dependent on her assistant, she also begins to tell him the story of another Christmas, decades earlier—and the love that set her on a course she never could have imagined.
What to Expect in This Book
While Nicholas Sparks is known for romance, he also includes many deeper themes in this Christmasy novel, including terminal illness, teen pregnancy, and adoption.
The Santa Suit
Book Summary
This heartwarming novel captures the magic of Christmas and is also a testament to the power of second chances!
Ivy Perkins is recently divorced and is looking to make a big change in her life. So, she buys an old farmhouse sight unseen. Ivy knows it will be a labor of love… but it might be more labor than she counted on.
As she sorts through all the junk the prior owners left behind, she comes across a beautiful, decades-old Santa suit. Tucked in the pocket is a handwritten note from a little girl whose Christmas wish was for her father to return home from the war. Ivy’s desire to learn more about the note’s author draws her into her new community and may even result in a second chance at love.
What to Expect in This Book
This book will really put you in the holiday spirit because it celebrates the spirit of joy and giving rather than the material aspects of the season.
Mary Kay Andrews also has a new Christmas book out this year called Bright Lights, Big Christmas, which is a mix of romance and mystery. If your book club has already read and enjoyed The Santa Suit, then you might also want to consider Bright Lights, Big Christmas.
Evergreen Christmas
Book Summary
Each year, Noel, North Carolina, hosts a series of Christmas competitions. This year, a newcomer to town has decided to challenge the resident Christmas tree decorating champion.
Barrel racer and horse breeder Jordyn Banks was thrilled to discover affordable land for sale in the Appalachian Mountains. In addition to putting down roots for her business, she’s also hoping to find a real sense of home and family in the tight-knit community. She didn’t expect to inherit a controversial Fraser Fir.
Her neighbor, Nate, has been raising his six-year-old daughter on his own since losing his wife during childbirth. He runs a thriving tree farm called Frosted Firs Ranch, and he has been the reigning Christmas tree decorating champ for nine years (a tradition started by his late wife).
Jordyn is determined to harvest a Fraser fir from her property and compete for the best-decorated tree in the town square. This year, Nate will finally be challenged in more ways than one.
About the Series
This book is the first of two in a cozy, near-Christmas series focused on each of the town’s annual Competitions of Christmas. The second book, Mistletoe and Rodeo, is slated for publication in 2026, with others anticipated in the future.
Shepherds Abiding
Book Summary
The beloved Mitford series follows Father Tim and his small community in Mitford, North Carolina. Book #8 in the series, Shepherds Abiding, lets us peek into what Christmas looks like in Mitford.
Father Tim has found a derelict nativity scene and is determined to restore it. This isn’t easy, as he’s always worked with his mind, not his hands. But he’s determined to bring it back to life, and he can’t wait to see how much his wife Cynthia will enjoy it.
About the Series
Many reviewers said this was their first trip to Mitford, and it reads well as a stand-alone. However, if you previously read the series in the late 90s/early 2000s when it was new, it might be a special treat to revisit Mitford this Christmas.
Christmas Joy
Book Summary
Joy is a successful market researcher in DC, but when her aunt takes a fall that lands her in a rehab center for the holidays, Joy heads home to take care of the family farm, even though the leave of absence may cost her a big promotion.
In addition to taking on the farm, Joy also finds that she has to contend with her former crush, Ben, who always helps Ruby with the annual Christmas Home Tour. And then there’s Molly, the little girl who shows up at the farm unexpectedly.
Christmas Movie Adaptation
There is a Hallmark Christmas movie of the same name based on this book! The author also wrote Hope at Christmas and Christmas Angels, which are set in North Carolina.
Christmas on Mistletoe Lane
Book Summary
Sweetwater Springs is a small town in the North Carolina mountains. Kaitlyn recently lost her big-city job but gets a new lease on life when she inherits her grandparents’ bed-and-breakfast in this quaint locale.
Unlike Kaitlyn, Mitch is trying to run away from his hometown. But then he learns that he’s unexpectedly become part-owner of the Sweetwater B&B. Unfortunately, his headstrong (and pretty) business partner is making it very difficult to implement the changes he believes are necessary to turn a profit.
Book Summary
Lacy’s heard the legend of the Christmas Cottage – that any couple that spends the night will find everlasting love – but she doesn’t buy it. She doesn’t believe in happily ever after, but her best friend does, and she’s the one who is getting married – so it’s Lacy’s job to make sure the cottage is perfect for the newlyweds. But when she gets snowed in with the best man, all bets are off.
Christmas Movie Adaptation
The 2017 Hallmark movie adaptation, also titled The Christmas Cottage, is available on Amazon.
Sinister Sprinkles
Book Summary
Donut shop owner Suzanne is shocked when her ex-boyfriend’s ex-girlfriend, Darlene, is murdered at the Christmas festival.
When Max (the ex-boyfriend) becomes a suspect, Suzanne is left sifting through her muddled love life for clues.
About the Series
This book is #3 in a series, but readers say the series gets better starting with this book, so it might be worth jumping in here and then continuing with book #4 if you enjoy it.
Join Our Christmas Reading Mini Challenge
Can’t get enough seasonal reading? Neither can we! We have a self-paced Christmas reading challenge just for you. To make it easy and fun, we include highly-rated book recommendations for each of the Christmas reading prompts.
Printable Version of this List
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More Holiday Books by Location
- Festive Holiday Books Set in New York: Christmas & Hanukkah Novels
- Charming Christmas Novels Set Across Europe (By Country)
- Christmas Novels Set in England (London & Beyond)
- 11 Snowy Christmas Books Set in Colorado
- 16 Christmas Books Set in Scotland
- 12 Great Christmas Books Set in North Carolina
- 11 Cozy Christmas Books Set in Canada
- Christmas Books Set in the UK
