Welcome back, bookish besties and merry little chaos elves! Today’s post is a sparkly little mash-up of my two favorite things: Christmas music and stories that live rent-free in my head.

I’ll be doing the Christmas Songs Book Tag created by That Artsy Reader Girl. The idea is simple but iconic. Each beloved holiday track comes with a corresponding prompt, and you choose a book that fits the vibe, theme, question, or chaos of what’s being asked.

Now grab your jingle bells, warm up your vocal cords, and let’s sleigh our way through these prompts.

* warning – spoilers will definitely occur – tread lightly*

“All I Want For Christmas Is You” – Favorite Bookish Couple

I have to go with Feyre and Rhysand from the A Court of Thorns and Roses by series by Sarah J. Maas. Like…who else? They are the definition of ride-or-die devotion. Rhysand said “let me give you my power, my throne, my loyalty, my heartbeat, and probably the moon while we’re at it,” and Feyre said “bet.” Their bond is built on choice, trust, mutual respect, and a shared trauma healing arc. Night Court supremacy forever.

“I’ll Be Home for Christmas” – Name a book where a character is away from home (school, vacation, etc.)

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. Katniss isn’t just away from home…she’s aggressively removed from home, thrown in a murder arena, and expcted to perform like a traumatized Broadway star with a bow. Meanwhile, District 12 – her actual home – becomes an almost mythical source of comfort she clings to.

For a, um, less traumatic option – The Lightning Thief also fits – Percy is literally yanked out of his normal life and sent to Camp Half Blood, where he discovers his heritage, his powers, and the unfortunate truth that monsters want him dead…okay, maybe this one is that much less traumatic…

“Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” – Name your favorite “little” book (children’s book, short story, novella, etc.)

My favorite short story collection is The Black Girl Survives in This One featuring fifteen stories where (you guessed it), the Black girls starring in the stories survive. It’s a reclaiming of the trope: “the Black character dies first.” Except here? The Black girls are the final girls, the heroes, the ones who outsmart the monsters, make it through the chaos, and claim the endings they deserve.

My personal favorite stories in this collection – “Black Girl Nature Group” by Maika and Maritza Moulite and “The Brides of Devil’s Bayou” by Desiree S. Evans.

“Santa Claus Is Coming to Town” – What book(s) do you hope Santa brings you this year?

Okay, I don’t actually want books for Christmas this year. I just want an iPad mini so I can read more books on it. Yes, I have a Kindle, but she doesn’t let me hop between the Nook app, Scribd, Libby, my Apple books, AND Spotify audiobooks with chaotic reader energy. So no, Santa, I don’t need books under the tree. I need the machine that will let me read every book I already own but have neglected because they’re scattered across seven apps.

If anyone would like to donate to the Ashley Needs An iPad Mini Fund, let me know. I’ll send a thank you card and virtual hugs.

“Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” – Which book turned your nose red (made you cry)?

The Light We Lost by Jill Santopolo, a book that emotionally drop-kicked me so hard I had to sit in silence and stare at the wall. And here’s the kicker:

I DIDN’T EVEN FINISH IT.

That’s how devastating this book was. I DNFed out of self-preservation. I was like, “I sense doom coming, and I refuse to perish on this hill today.” It’s the ultimate “right person, wrong time” narrative and it feels entirely too real. Like, why is this book so sad?

“The Most Wonderful Time of the Year” – Your favorite book/kind of book to read during the holidays

When December rolls around, my absolute favorite kinds of books to read are the ones that deliver pure nostalgia and unfiltered comfort. The books that feel like home. The ones I’ve read a million times but still hit like a gentle forehead kiss from the universe. I want:

• childhood favorites
• fantasy with soft edges
• holiday romance
• nostalgic middle grade & YA reads

“We Three Kings” – Your favorite trilogy

The Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare.

Nobody was doing it like this Victorian fever dream.

I almost didn’t even touch this trilogy.

Why? Because The Mortal Instruments had me out here rolling my eyes so hard I almost pulled a muscle. I was fully prepared to nope my way out of the entire Shadowhunter universe. But then I read Clockwork Angel, and suddenly I was like, “…hold on. Why is this good? Why am I feeling things? Why do I care about these Victorian disaster children?” By the time I finished Clockwork Princess, I was emotionally incapacitated. I cannot recommend this trilogy enough. Just…maybe skip The Mortal Instruments…

“Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow” – A character you would love to be snowed in with.

…I’m going to go with Xaden Riorson from the Fourth Wing series…enough said…

“Last Christmas” – A book that seriously let you down.

Helen of Troy by Margaret George. I went into this book fully expecting an epic, sweeping, goddess-tier reimagining of the Trojan War through Helen’s perspective. I wanted political intrigue! Divine meddling! Romance!

What I got instead was 600 pages of “girl…FOR WHAT?”

Paris was absolute trash. Zero charisma, zero chemistry, zero believability as the man worth abandoning your life, your kid, and accidentally kicking off a decade-long war. I wanted an epic tragic romance; I got a red flag in sandals.

“White Christmas” – An upcoming release you’re dreaming about

If you decide to do this tag, please tag me so I can lovingly scream in your comments about your choices. Or just drop your answers below – I want to see the couples you stan, the books that wrecked you, the trilogies you worship, and of course…whichever book left you whispering “that was 600 pages of what in the world is happening right now?”

Until tomorrow’s Blogmas post, stay warm, hydrated, and chaotic!