I love Christmas. I love funny books. And, as it turns out, I’m an adult. Which is why I pulled together this list of funny Christmas books for adults. The kind that mix yuletide cheer with a heavy sarcasm, satire, small-town shenanigans, and once in a while, MURDER!
You’ll find a couple of clean, cozy Christmas stories from Philip Gulley (my favorite author, by the way) that feel like sipping hot cocoa in a church basement. On the other end of the spectrum, there’s dark holiday satire from the humor essay king himself, David Sedaris, and the “cheerful” (just kidding) Lewis Black. John Grisham (yes, that John Grisham) shows up with his Christmas comedy novel that Hollywood couldn’t resist turning into a movie. And, for good measure, I’ve added a pair of holiday murder mysteries, because nothing says Christmas like hiding a body while your in-laws are on the way.
So grab some eggnog (I don’t know if I’ve ever had eggnog actually), adjust your ugly sweater, and dive in.
Table of Contents
The Best Christmas Humor Books for Adults
Here’s the list, you guys! Are you excited?
| Title | Author | Year Published | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christmas in Harmony | Philip Gulley | 2002 | In Harmony, Indiana, Dale Hinshaw decides to stage a “progressive nativity” display involving the whole town, and Pastor Sam Gardner wrestles with gift guilt, marital friction, and what the true meaning of Christmas really is. |
| The Christmas Scrapbook: A Harmony Story | Philip Gulley | 2005 | Pastor Sam Gardner, determined to redeem his long history of bad Christmas gifts, enrolls in a scrapbooking class to make something meaningful for his wife. But his Wednesday evening absences (which he claims are for a men’s group) raise suspicion in the small town, leading to mishaps and a memorable holiday. |
| Holidays on Ice | David Sedaris | 1997 | A collection of Christmas-themed essays and short stories, mixing Sedaris’ signature sarcasm and satire. Includes the famous “SantaLand Diaries” about working as a Macy’s elf, and other pieces mocking overblown holiday cheer, family dysfunction, and consumer madness. |
| Skipping Christmas | John Grisham | 2001 | Luther and Nora Krank decide to skip all the usual Christmas fuss after their daughter moves away. No decorations, no gifts, no party. But their plan runs into hilarious trouble when neighbors, town traditions, and guilt all conspire to pull them back into Christmas chaos. |
| I’m Dreaming of a Black Christmas | Lewis Black | 2010 | A bitterly funny, sharp memoir/essay collection in which comedian Lewis Black vents about Christmas-traditions, commercialization, and personal regrets. He delivers his “outsider” perspective (being Jewish, childless, etc.) in a hilarious and sometimes heartwarming way. |
| Happy Bloody Christmas | Jo Middleton | 2024 | Hangover + dead Santa + in-laws arriving. A darkly comic holiday mystery. |
| Not Another Bloody Christmas | Jo Middleton | 2025 (expected) | Snowstorm, extra guests, and another body. Holiday cheer, Jo Middleton-style. |
Funny Christmas Books for Adults Summaries
Christmas in Harmony by Philip Gulley
- Full Title: Christmas in Harmony
- Author: Philip Gulley
- Year Published: 2002
- Type of Book: Small-town fiction / Humor Novella
- Christmas Vibe: Quirky small-town holiday traditions, progressive nativity chaos
- Best For: Fans of gentle humor, Hallmark-but-funnier vibes, small-town drama lovers
- Summary: Pastor Sam Gardner deals with a whole town tangled up in a bizarre “progressive nativity” while managing gift guilt and family quirks.
- My Thoughts: The first Christmas offering from my favorite series, Home to Harmony by Philip Gulley!
Interested in Philip Gulley’s Home to Harmony Series? Check out my extensive review!
The Christmas Scrapbook by Philip Gulley
- Full Title: The Christmas Scrapbook: A Harmony Story
- Author: Philip Gulley
- Year Published: 2005
- Type of Book: Small-town fiction / Humor novella
- Christmas Vibe: Gift-giving disasters, midwestern misunderstandings, small-town gossip
- Best For: Readers who love cozy humor and small-town snark
- Summary: Pastor Sam tries to redeem years of bad gift-giving by making a scrapbook for his wife, but secrets, suspicion, and small-town antics derail his plan.
- My Thoughts: Gulley gets 2 spots because both are short books (novellas) and because I love the Home to Harmony series.
Holidays on Ice by David Sedaris
- Full Title: Holidays on Ice
- Author: David Sedaris
- Year Published: 1997
- Type of Book: Humor / Essays
- Christmas Vibe: Mall Santas, awkward family letters, commercial absurdity
- Best For: Lovers of sarcasm, people allergic to Christmas cheer
- Summary: A collection of essays, including Sedaris’s legendary stint as a Macy’s elf, all skewering holiday madness.
- My Thoughts: You’ve heard of Sedaris’ famous Santaland Diaries, right? If not, you should read this book. If so, you should also read this book. It also includes a bit of Halloween and Easter fun.
Want some more Sedaris? How about this one?
or this one?
Skipping Christmas by John Grisham
- Full Title: Skipping Christmas
- Author: John Grisham
- Year Published: 2001
- Type of Book: Satire / Novel
- Christmas Vibe: Neighbors who won’t let you skip the yard decorations
- Best For: Fans of suburban satire, anyone tempted to bail on Christmas altogether
- Summary: Luther and Nora Krank try to skip Christmas one year, only to face backlash from their neighborhood and town traditions.
- My Thoughts: My first thought was, huh? John Grisham? I didn’t know he was funny. Turns out he is! Note – the book is much better than the movie version “Christmas With the Kranks” (5% on Rotten Tomatoes.)
Speaking of Christmas, do you know what would make a great Christmas gift? My book!
I’m Dreaming of a Black Christmas by Lewis Black
- Full Title: I’m Dreaming of a Black Christmas
- Author: Lewis Black
- Year Published: 2010
- Type of Book: Humor / Memoir / Rant
- Christmas Vibe: Commercialization rants, outsider perspective, biting wit
- Best For: Fans of dark humor; people who side-eye carolers
- Summary: Comedian Lewis Black dissects the holiday season with his signature angry wit, mixing personal anecdotes and social commentary.
- My Thoughts: Plenty of swearing and off-color comentary. No suprise. But suprisingly, warm and uplifting at times. Who know?
Check out my full review! (Coming Soon)
Happy Bloody Christmas by Jo Middleton
- Full Title: Happy Bloody Christmas
- Author: Jo Middleton
- Year Published: 2024
- Type of Book: Mystery / Dark Comedy
- Christmas Vibe: Murder, hangovers, and in-laws arriving at the worst possible time
- Best For: Fans of cozy mysteries with a darkly comic twist
- Summary: Anna wakes up after a Christmas party with a killer hangover… and a dead Santa in her larder. Cue frantic cover-ups and family chaos.
- My Thoughts: OK, I haven’t read this yet. I’m not a murder mystery guy. But I am a humor book and Christmas guy. So I’ll dive in.
Check out my full review! (Coming Soon)
Not Another Bloody Christmas by Jo Middleton
- Full Title: Not Another Bloody Christmas
- Author: Jo Middleton
- Year Published: 2025 (expected)
- Type of Book: Mystery / Dark Comedy
- Christmas Vibe: Snowstorms, surprise guests, another unfortunate body count
- Best For: Fans of dark humor, readers who like sequels with even more mayhem
- Summary: Anna plans a quiet Christmas getaway but ends up with more chaos, extra guests, and yes, another dead body.
- My Thoughts: Another murder? Reminds me of Only Murders in the Building, but in a Christmas book.
Check out my full review! (Coming Soon)
Conclusion: The Best Humor Christmas Books for Grown-ups
That’s my list of funny Christmas books for adults. Ranging from cozy small-town charm to bitter rants and even a dead Santa or two. They’re proof that holiday reading doesn’t have to be sappy or syrupy sweet.
Did I miss a favorite of yours? Drop it in the comments! I’m always looking for new ways to survive December with a little more laughter.
Pingback: Skipping Christmas Book: A Holiday Comedy You Didn’t Expect from John Grisham - Scott Johnson Author