Survive the holiday chaos with this witty Bookaholic’s guide—packed with cozy reading essentials, snarky strategies, and book-lover gift ideas (with affiliate links included!).

Congratulations, dear book addict. It’s holiday season again—that magical stretch of weeks when people expect you to bake, socialize, and participate in things other than reading. Bold of them, truly.

But you’re not just any reader. You’re a Bookaholic: a caffeinated, blanket-burrowed strategist with a TBR that could double as a load-bearing wall. So here it is—your festive roadmap to surviving December with your sanity and your bookmark intact.

Grab your cocoa (or wine-no judgment). Let’s conquer.

1. How to Survive Holiday Parties as a Book Person

There you are, trapped in a room full of people who do not understand the beauty of fictional worlds. Someone inevitably asks:

• “Read anything good lately?”
• “Have you tried that new Freida McFadden?” (Ugh)
• “Do you ever, you know, leave the house?”

Smile graciously. Take a slow sip. Escape to your inner sanctum: mentally rewriting the party as a cozy mystery and deciding who gets murdered first.

And yes—hiding in the garage with your phone open your Kindle app absolutely counts as festive self-care.

2. How to Wrap Gifts So Your Family Thinks You’re Crafty (When Really You Want to Get Back to Reading)

Let’s be honest: your “crafty energy” is reserved for building fictional worlds in your head, not tying bows.

But fear not.
With a little washi tape, some brown paper, and the confidence of someone who once watched a five-minute TikTok tutorial, you can fool anyone into thinking you’re one glue-gun away from opening an Etsy shop.

The less effort involved, the more people will gush:
“Maria, you’re so creative!”
Meanwhile you’re already thinking about getting back to chapter five.

Check out these great gift wrapping hacks: Cute Boho Gift Tags, Holiday Washi Tape Sets, Holiday Twine, Holiday Gift Wrap Sets

3. How to Sneak In Reading Time When Your Family Won’t Stop Talking

Listen. You love your family. Truly. Deeply. But if Aunt Lilly tells that same story about her cat and the Christmas ham one more time… you might combust.

Here’s your stealth-reader strategy:

The Bathroom Escape

Simply announce:
“I’ll be right back.”
And vanish into the bathroom like a book-loving Houdini.

Congratulations — you’ve just earned yourself 12 glorious, judgment-free minutes of peace, quiet, and uninterrupted Kindle time. No questions asked. Because no one ever challenges a bathroom break during the holidays. It’s sacred. And remember to flush.

The “Let Me Google Something Christmassy” Distraction Tactic

This one is chef’s kiss subtle.

In the middle of a conversation you’d rather not be spiritually present for, simply perk up and say:
“Wait… what are the origins of St. Nick? I need to look this up.”

Everyone nods approvingly because it sounds educational and vaguely wholesome.

Meanwhile, you whip out your phone, open your reading app, and spend the next 10–15 minutes “researching,” which is code for devouring another chapter of your holiday romance or spiraling into a thriller.

If someone peers over your shoulder, quickly switch tabs to something festive like:

• “Why do we put oranges in stockings?”
• “What is wassail and should I be scared of it?”

Boom. Black-belt-level distraction.

Some Hacks to help in this trick: Kindle Paperwhite (newest model), Holiday themed phone case (16 Pro), Portable Charger, Pop Socket, Cozy Reading Gloves

The “Let’s Watch a Christmas Movie!” Trap

This one is a masterpiece of misdirection.

You enthusiastically suggest,
“Let’s put on a Christmas movie!”

Everyone cheers. Spirits lift. Someone picks a movie that’s roughly 2 hours and 17 minutes of predictable plot, twinkle lights, and one very confused male lead named Nick.

The moment the lights go down?
You lean back, slip on your blue-light glasses, and open your Kindle at 3% brightness.

You just bought yourself movie-length reading time without anyone suspecting a thing.

Affiliate sweet spots: Blue-light glasses, Kindle Paperwhite, Cozy Eddie Bauer throw blanket, Oversized mug.

Final Word of Holiday Wisdom

You, dear Bookaholic, were built for this season. You thrive in cozy chaos. You shine under twinkle lights. You are the hero of your own Hallmark-meets-thriller-movie life.

May your holidays be merry, your reading time abundant, and your TBR forgiving.

Before You Go: A Totally Casual, Zero-Pressure Suggestion to Treat Yourself

Listen, darling.
You survived this entire guide — the holiday parties, the relatives, the forced cheer, the cinnamon-related emergencies. You’ve earned a prize.

And because I’m helpful (and also very charming), I’ve sprinkled this post with links to my favorite bookish treats — blankets softer than your ex’s apologies, mugs big enough to drown December stress, Kindles that let you “research” in peace… all the essentials for a successful holiday reading retreat.

So if something happens to catch your eye?
If your finger accidentally taps an affiliate link?
If a plush blanket magically shows up on your porch because “the universe wanted that for you”?

I fully support it.
In fact, I encourage it.

Because the holidays are about giving —
and sometimes the person you give to is you, the Bookaholic holding this entire festive circus together.

Go on.
Click a little.
Shop a little.
Treat your TBR like the queen she is.

Santa would want this for you.
(Probably.)