Whether you're looking for gifts for your favorite reader or planning to curl up in front of a cozy fire, books and the holiday season go together. In addition to the joy of reading, browsing used books is a delightful way to take a trip back through time. Here are three timeless titles that are perfect for this time of year.

Popular Adult Books to Read This Holiday Season

1. The Valancourt Book of Victorian Christmas Ghost Stories 

Ghost stories were once a traditional holiday treat, and this spine-tingling anthology of stories looks to revitalize the trend. Editor Tara Moore inventively prefaces each tale with a letter to its author, getting you in the mood as effectively as a crackling fireplace. Collected from rare 19th-century magazines, these selections, featuring Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (of Sherlock Holmes fame), Elizabeth Gaskell, and other spooky scribes, will bring the perfect chill to a cozy evening.

2. Hiddensee: A Tale of the Once and Future Nutcracker by Gregory Maguire

Famous for his Wizard of Oz spinoff, Wicked, Maguire has made his many fans happy with various twists on classic tales. In Hiddensee, he turns to the famous ballet The Nutcracker with an engrossing new story. Experience the one-eyed toymaker, Drosselmeier, carving the legendary figure that whisks young Klara off on her dreamtime journey, and rest assured that Maguire infuses the classic tale with ingenuity to bring it into a new era.

3. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

It's hard to imagine Christmas without this classic tale of ghosts and redemption from the master of Victorian England storytelling. Whether you haven't read this one since you were a child or it's your first time, go back to another era as Ebenezer Scrooge learns the meaning of generosity and compassion with the help of three spectral visitors.

When the fire is ready and the cocoa is steaming from the cup, it's the perfect time to get cozy with a wintry read. Books & Brews takes this spirit and expands it into a warm, inviting haven for readers and beer lovers in the Brownsburg, IN, community. Featuring a huge selection of used books in the front and a welcoming bar in the back, they also routinely feature live music and offer an assortment of board games for patrons looking to share some quality time and conversation over a drink. Call (317) 456-4216 to speak to a team member about gift cards or visit their website to learn more about the establishment.