What I love about romance novels is that they always seem to carry a sense of magic, whether it’s real in that fictional world or not. This is most true in “happily ever afters”; it makes me cry when the main characters or side couples end up together, despite their circumstances.
In a way, the magic of the holidays have that same feeling for me. That’s reflected in stories like It’s A Wonderful Life or A Christmas Carol. My favorite holiday romance novels carry that magic: whether it’s real witches and curses in Erin Sterling’s The Wedding Witch or This Time Next Year by Sophie Cousens, a coming of age romance in which the main two characters meet throughout their lives on New Year’s Eves.
I hope that these romances will delight you in that same way.
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Hannah Grace, Holiday Ever After
My favorite recommendation this season is a holiday romance about Clara, a New Yorker who is trying to move up in her toy company/family business and has to solve a PR crisis that involves stealing ideas from Jack’s small town business. Clara ends up moving to the small town and worming her way into everyone’s hearts. What I love most about Grace’s books is the strong female characters and the male characters who seem too good to be true. The men are true gentlemen. I also love the group dynamics, and that really shines through here this small town. I wondered what she would do after her hockey romances and I am loving the results so far!
Lana Ferguson, The Mating Game
The Mating Game is the sequel to Ferguson’s 2023 The Fake Mate, but it’s certainly a standalone book if you haven’t read the first one yet! The magical rules in this shifter romance are established immediately: Tess is an Omega and, unfortunately for her, the owner of the ski lodge she’s helping to renovate is an Alpha. She ropes him into helping her through this new life transition. While this isn’t an obvious holiday romance, the winter vibes are there including running in the snow, sexy snow storms, and a grumpy mountain man who only wears flannel. It’s a steamy and gentle read for someone reading shifter romance for the first time.
Lucy Score, The Mistletoe Kisser
Independently published in 2020, and now published this year, this is the eighth and penultimate book in the Blue Moon series. The Mistletoe Kisser is a Hallmark kind of romance novel: this is a Stars Hollow-esque small town complete with inane town halls, an “everyone is welcome” hippie mindset, and perfectly made up names like Carson Shufflebottom and Rainbow Berkowicz. Ryan needs to save his uncle’s farm with Sammy’s help. What I really enjoyed was that Ryan’s love language is “acts of service” and that felt like the perfect thing for Sammy, the town’s overly helpful livestock veterinarian. This book has Sammy procrastinating crafting her holiday wreaths, a steamy scene in front of the fireplace, kissing under the mistletoe, and of course, a Christmas Eve miracle.
Alexis Daria, The Holiday Hookup List
The Holiday Hookup List features Valencia and Gideon, once archenemies at school, reuniting for the holidays years later. Lonely after a hot one night stand, this second chance couple challenges each other to spend 12 days celebrating the holidays with PG holiday activities and spicy bedroom activities. A nice blend of emotional depth and spiciness. I never love reading the third act breakup but this conflict really made sense to me! This was a super sweet and short read.
K.C. Carmichael, 300 New Year’s Eves
Sergio, a world-renowned photographer, learns how to be a better brother, friend, and a new romantic interest to Jeremy, a former figure skater/Olympian now a coach and living with MS, by living in a New Year’s Eve time loop. I am a sucker for time loops! While Sergio’s selfishness and unlikeability might be annoying at first, it works with his narrative arc. I loved reading how much Sergio grows and how uplifting this romance novel was. This book is very low on spice, but it was a perfectly warm-hearted holiday read! I would love to see this as a screen adaptation.
Lyla Lee, The Cuffing Game
The Cuffing Game is partially inspired by Pride and Prejudice, but this YA romance novel has an incredibly modern take. Mia, a freshman at a film school in Los Angeles, wants to get over her crush on Noah, an annoying senior who is also an influencer, so she creates a reality dating show. They’re such lovable and relatable characters! If you also love The Bachelor and Perfect Match, you’ll love seeing a more indie reality dating show made by college students unfolding in real time in this novel. They film the show over a week leading up to Christmas Eve and are in a secluded location in the mountains with activities like playing in the snow and skiing. This is a warm-hearted read about workaholic film students.
Alta Hensley, He Knows When You’re Awake
Sloane, a jewelry designer becomes involved with Cole, a reclusive billionaire who he decides to make a new rising star by New Year’s Eve. This stalker romance is pretty tame within the dark romance genre, and it was a gentle, enjoyable dip in the pool for a new swimmer like me. There are wholesome holiday activities and while there aren’t a lot of spicy scenes, it does explore some kinks: BDSM and a voyeurism fetish. I always think, with the myriad of romance sub-genres, read what you like—you can always add a book to your DNF pile, if it isn’t for you. No judgment allowed!
