Published in 2008, Let It Snow is a collection of three romantic short stories that take place in the same small town on the same snowy Christmas Eve. John Green (yes, that John Green) wrote "The Jubilee Express," Maureen Johnson contributed "A Cheertastic Christmas Miracle," and Lauren Myracle wrote "The Patron Saint of Pigs." Characters from one story pop up in the others, creating this satisfying interconnected web that makes the whole thing feel like a warm hug.

The stories follow different protagonists—Jubilee, who's stuck on a train; Tobin, who's trying to impress a girl; and Addie, who's dealing with relationship drama—and each one captures a different flavor of teenage romance and self-discovery. There's a Waffle House, a squad of cheerleaders, and a teacup pig named Gabriel. It's quirky without trying too hard.

It feels real. Unlike some YA that either talks down to teens or tries too hard to be edgy, Let It Snow nails the authentic awkwardness of being 15-17. The characters make dumb decisions, overthink everything, and have the kind of conversations that actually happen between teenagers—not the overly witty dialogue that sounds like it was written by a 40-year-old screenwriter.

The romance is swoon-worthy but not cringey. These aren't instalove stories where characters fall head-over-heels in five minutes. The relationships build naturally, with real obstacles and genuine chemistry. Your kid gets to experience that butterfly feeling without you having to skip pages.

It's funny. John Green's story in particular has his signature humor—self-aware, slightly nerdy, occasionally absurd. There's a scene involving cheerleaders and a Waffle House that's become iconic in YA circles for good reason.

The holiday vibes are immaculate. If your family loves Gilmore Girls or cozy winter movies, this book captures that same magical snow-day feeling. It's nostalgic even if you're reading it for the first time.

Best for ages 12-16, though mature 11-year-olds who are already reading YA will be fine.

Content considerations:

This is a great "gateway" book if your kid has been reading middle-grade series like Percy Jackson or Harry Potter and you're trying to figure out what comes next. It's YA, but on the gentler end of the spectrum—no dystopian violence, no heavy trauma, no graphic content.

It's not just John Green. A lot of parents pick this up because they know Green from The Fault in Our Stars or the Crash Course YouTube channel, but Maureen Johnson and Lauren Myracle are equally talented. Johnson's story is probably the funniest of the three, and Myracle's tackles the most emotional growth. If your kid ends up loving this, you've got three new authors to explore.

There's a movie version on Netflix, but (and I cannot stress this enough) the book is significantly better. The 2019 film is fine—it's cute, it's watchable—but it flattens out the quirky charm and changes enough plot points that it loses some of the magic. If your kid watches it first and says "eh," don't let that stop you from recommending the book.

It celebrates small moments. In an era where kids are constantly consuming fast-paced content on TikTok and YouTube, Let It Snow is refreshingly slow. It's about a single night, mostly focused on conversations and internal thoughts. Some kids who are used to constant stimulation might initially resist, but many find it surprisingly engaging once they settle in.

The diversity representation is limited. This was published in 2008, and it shows—the main characters are predominantly white, and LGBTQ+ representation is minimal. If your family is looking for more diverse holiday reads, check out books with diverse protagonists or consider pairing this with something like The House of One Thousand Eyes or other contemporary diverse YA.

We're in this weird moment where middle schoolers are simultaneously more mature (thanks to internet access) and less experienced with real-world social situations (thanks to pandemic isolation and screen time). Let It Snow models healthy relationship dynamics—characters who communicate (eventually), who respect boundaries, who work through misunderstandings without drama-for-drama's-sake.

The stories also celebrate the kind of low-stakes teenage experiences that feel increasingly rare. No one's fighting for their life in an arena or solving a murder. They're just... being teenagers. Going to Waffle House. Worrying about what to say to their crush. Trying to figure out who they are. In a media landscape dominated by high-stakes everything, there's something radical about a book that says "your everyday feelings matter."

If your kid finishes this book, here are some conversation starters that won't feel like a book report:

You can also use this as a springboard to talk about healthy relationship expectations—the book actually models some good communication skills, even when characters mess up initially.

Let It Snow is the book equivalent of hot chocolate and a fuzzy blanket. It's not going to change your kid's life or teach them profound lessons about humanity, but it's going to make them feel good. And sometimes, especially during the chaos of the holiday season, that's exactly what they need.

It's a great choice for:

Pro tip: This makes an excellent gift for middle schoolers who "don't know what they want" for the holidays. Pair it with some fancy hot chocolate mix and you've got a whole cozy vibe going.

Let It Snow isn't perfect, but it's genuinely lovely. And in a world where your middle schooler is probably spending way too much time on Roblox or scrolling through YouTube Shorts, getting them to curl up with a book that makes them smile? That's a holiday miracle worth celebrating.