As the January snow begins to blanket Montana, many of us are eager to chase the thrill of fresh powder and hit the slopes. However, the short days and crisp air also invite us to slow down and reset in the quiet moments winter offers. Although everybody has their own way of escaping their busy lives, my favorite way to unwind involves a hot cup of tea, a cozy blanket, and a book. What I love most about books is the variety; whether I am in search of a good laugh or a new dinner recipe, I can always trust the pages between a book cover to deliver. Luckily, Bozeman boasts a diverse selection of bookstores, ranging from large chains to independent shops, and even a few used bookstores filled with unexpected finds. There is something greatly comforting about wandering up and down aisles and discovering stories you didn’t know you needed. So whatever book you’re craving, whether it be set right here in the heart of Montana or in a fantasy land far, far away, I’m sure you can find it on a shelf nearby.

Now, the question is, what book are you going to pick to keep you company? As the new year begins, I like to explore new genres and authors, letting winter lead me to unfamiliar plots and quiet discoveries. For this month, my reading stack is full of insightful words, small lessons, and curiosity.

When I want a fun read that will make procrastinating work and chores worthwhile, I like to pick a good mystery. The Royal Wulff Murders by Keith McCafferty is a thrilling Montana mystery set in the heart of the Madison Valley. The story opens when the body of a young man is found by a fishing guide, leading Sheriff Martha Ettinger and Montana newcomer Sean Stranahan to work together to uncover what dark secret the Madison River holds. With a cast of witty, charming characters, flyfishing adventures, and a puzzling crime, McCafferty has delivered an authentic mystery that keeps us guessing until the end.

The Royal Wulff Murders stood out to me not only because of its thrilling plot, but also its vivid sense of scenery. Many times did McCafferty describe the beautiful yet harsh conditions of the Montana landscape that we are all extremely familiar with. From the shimmering waters of rivers to the steep slopes of mountains, those reading the book will feel instantly at home alongside the characters. And even if you’re not all that familiar with the setting of the book, McCafferty captures moments of flyfishing that make you feel as if the line is in your hand and a trout is on the other end. The Royal Wulff Murders encapsulates the ruggedness of the Montana wilderness while exploiting environmental tensions surrounding water pollution and fish and wildlife, further connecting the stresses of McCafferty’s characters to many Montanans today.

If eating healthier is on your resolution list this year, then look no further than Mackenzie Fink’s nontraditional cookbook, The Anti-Inflammatory Farmacy: Traditional Wisdom Guided By Science.  Weaving together a personal story of love, healing, and food, Fink shares with us a bounty of recipes to help reconnect our bodies to a more holistic and sustainable diet and lifestyle. As the wellness director at Heroes and Horses, a Montana-based nonprofit that transforms the lives of combat veterans, Fink brings lived experience and passion to her work. Inspired by her own health journey and work at Heroes and Horses, Fink has explored how different foods influence both our physical and mental health. With an approach centered around nutrient-dense whole foods, balanced nutrition, simplicity, and intuitive eating, Fink redirects us to foods that will restore vibrancy to our lives.

In a world that has become incredibly disconnected from the way in which food travels from the soil to our tables, Fink has gone back to the roots of this process, literally, to foster her connection to bodily nutrition, food, and the Earth. Fink explains how taking the time to tend to a garden creates a more intimate relationship with the rhythms of nature and also brings forth many soulful lessons that extend beyond ‘growing food.’ Our bodies need calories and fuel to keep them going throughout the day, but, as Fink points out, food also contains valuable information that can guide the body towards balance or dysfunction. This comprehensive understanding of the labor and love involved in growing food and the ability to read what our bodies are telling us they need is what makes this cookbook stand out from others on the shelves. The Anti-Inflammatory Farmacy: Traditional Wisdom Guided By Science is not only a place to find your next favorite recipe, but a guide to connect us back to the land that provides so much.

The last book in my reading stack is number one in Bozeman’s Choice 2026; 60 Days to a Greener Life by Heather White asks us to reflect on the world around us. A thoughtful and powerful self-help book, Heather White uses her decades of experience in environmental conservation and sustainability to engage the reader in a conversation about climate change. Whether readers think daily about the state of the climate, or are just starting to engage in the conversation, 60 Days to a Greener Life is for anyone trying to get involved. Now, what separates this book from others like it? 60 Days to a Greener Life is designed to give the reader bite-sized steps to leading a more sustainable life. Each chapter is broken up into small entries comprising a journal prompt, a question, or a QR code to learn more about each topic. By breaking up the book into these small daily entries, White helps readers feel like their impact on the environment is manageable, yet meaningful. Still, many often feel overwhelmed about their role in the climate crisis, fearing that ‘it’s all up to them.’ To combat this, White’s book is written to show how each of us can get involved in conservation and climate action to inspire intergenerational movement.

Living in Montana, there is no shortage of the outdoors; in fact, it is the wildness of nature that either keeps people here or draws them from all over the world. The sprawling landscapes fill us with awe, and with that feeling, a determination to preserve the land. Montana’s rapid growth in the past few years calls on us more now than ever to make efforts to protect the environment we all love, and Heather White’s 60 Days to a Greener Life is an answer to that call. Through small, steady steps, White has given us tools to appreciate and nurture the world around us.

Whether you pick up one of these books or all three of them, they each have something to offer. The Royal Wulff Murders entertains with its mysterious whodunit story, allowing us to escape a stressful day at work and laugh at McCafferty’s enjoyable characters. The Anti-Inflammatory Farmacy: Traditional Wisdom Guided By Science encourages us to care for our bodies, which we rely on every day, with patience and kindness. And 60 Days to a Greener Life gently nudges us to build a more mindful relationship with the world we move through every day.

So this winter, as the snow piles up outside, let a book be your guide through the season. Take your time browsing the many aisles in Bozeman’s bookstores and follow your curiosity down unfamiliar shelves. Pick up a book, or two, or three. And when you finally step back into the cold, book tucked under your arm and snow crunching beneath your boots, you’ll be heading home with much more than a stack of books for your nightstand. You’ll be carrying a small piece of winter wisdom.