Best New Books December 2021

Skip navigation!

Begin Slideshow

Year in, year out, the festive season has us pining for log fires in faraway cabins. Snowy winter walks and lots of mulled wine feature heavily in this daydream but it would also include the opportunity to fall back onto a cloudlike sofa and get lost in a good book. Santa might not have gifted us this holiday just yet but we can get started on the reading part immediately.

Last month Team R29 uncovered a range of interesting new releases, including capitalist critique The Cabinet by Un-Su Kim. The South Korean novel was praised for its take on modern work culture, charting the journey of one paper pusher who discovers a cabinet full of ‘symptomers’ (aka humans with strange abilities). In a similar vein, Light From Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki sat high on our list for its fantastical take on Faustian bargains and space-set adventures.

This month we’re turning our attention away from otherworldly stories and getting stuck into some more grounded reads. From a novel set during the height of the pandemic to a self-help book full of thoughtful, actually useful advice, we’ve got plenty of great reads on our wish list this month.

To check out everything that Team R29 is reading this December, click through the slideshow ahead…

At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn a commission.

More from Books & Art

The 57 Most Erotic Books You Will Ever Read

by Shannon Carlin

In Defence Of ‘Chick Lit’

Reading has always been a joyful experience for me. Since the moment I was old enough to sit still and read a book, I have spent many of my waking hours do

7 Books That Tell A Forgotten Black British History

The origins of Black British history (the who, what, why, when and where…) remain a constant source of confusion and contention in the UK, with many

These Feel-Good Photos Celebrate Friends & Their Clubbing Outfits

“Nothing could better signify the fashions of Glasgow than the club culture the city has to offer and the people who get dressed up to enter these sp

by Joanna Cresswell

Yomi Adegoke’s The List Is A Cautionary Tale For The Chro...

Yomi Adegoke refuses to look up reviews of her debut novel, The List, online — especially on TikTok, a side of the internet she openly admits she’s “

by L'Oréal Blackett

These Nostalgic Photos Celebrate The Girls Of Cornwall

Growing up in rural Cornwall, photographer Francesca Rowse often found herself questioning her place as a young woman. “It’s a very patriarchal cou

by Joanna Cresswell

8 Summer Reads For Every Type Of Holiday Destination

by Maybelle Morgan

These Photos Capture The Bond Between A Mother & Daughter Just 17...

by Joanna Cresswell

These Photos Tell The Love Story Of A Past Relationship (NSFW)

by Joanna Cresswell

Reflective Photos Of Daughters Who Have Lost Their Mothers

Berlin-based photographer Marina Hoppmann was just 17 years old when she lost her mum, Ria. The two of them had been exceptionally close and the experience

by Joanna Cresswell

Growing Up, My Mother and I Couldn’t Understand Each Other ...

I began writing my memoir without knowing how it’d end — a strange thing to say about a type of book that’s literally comprised of the memories that

In Pictures: Young People Living With ADHD

London-based Norwegian photographer Nora Nord was diagnosed with ADHD in 2018, when she was in her early 20s. It was an immensely freeing feeling, she says

by Joanna Cresswell