When the snow is falling and it’s too cold to do anything outside of the house, it’s the perfect time to cozy up to a good book and get lost in a different world for a little while.

The following five books – some by contemporary and some by classic authors – are a great read any time of year, but reading them during the winter will really help set the right ambience. So brew yourself a cup of tea and grab your favourite fluffy throw, and curl up with one of these fantastic books.

1) A Christmas Carol

Almost everyone has read, seen a stage performance, or at least heard of this classic novella by beloved author Charles Dickens. A Christmas Carol recounts the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, a cold-hearted and selfish old man whose outlook on life is radically transformed after receiving a visit from the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future. A quick and easy read, A Christmas Carol will help you remember the true meaning of Christmas.

2) Peace Like a River

There’s something about the winter and the holiday season that makes miracles seem like they could be real. This mindset is ideal for reading Peace Like a River, which tells the story of a family fleeing through the Dakota Badlands in the wake of a controversial murder charge. Narrated through the eyes of 11-year-old Reuben Land, Peace Like a River is an exploration of family, spirituality, magic, and miracles.

3) Station Eleven

Set during the collapse of civilization as we know it, Station Eleven is first and foremost a book about people’s relationships with each other and with the world. The novel jumps back and forth in time from just before the end of the world to decades after, where it follows a troupe of actors known as the Travelling Symphony who roam around the Great Lakes. This dark but glittering story will leave you spellbound.

4) The Snow Child

This fantastic debut novel by author Eowyn Ivey effortlessly weaves together classic folklore with modern literary themes. It takes place on a homestead in 1920s Alaska, where a childless couple decides to build a child out of snow. The next day, the snow child has disappeared but they spot a small girl running through the woods. Her name is Fiana, and though her existence is shrouded in magic and mystery, the couple grows to love her as their own child.

5) Walden

The stark, cold winter provides the perfect backdrop for reading Henry David Thoreau’s classic meditation on self-reliance and spiritual discovery. Walden is a recounting of Thoreau’s experiences while living in a small cabin in the wilderness for two years. It captures a picture of simple and self-sufficient living that has resonated across generations and continues to inspire many people today.

At the end of a cold winter’s day, spending the evening with a good book could be just what you need to relax. You might be cooped up inside, but the right book will allow your mind to explore a whole other world.