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The weather outside might be frightful, but there’s nothing more delightful than cozying up inside with a delicious holiday romance. And no matter which winter festivities you celebrate or how you mark the occasion, there’s no denying they’re rife with potential for every romance trope in the books: bringing a fake date to Christmas dinner with the family, enemies-to-lovers who come together under twinkling lights to a Mariah Carey soundtrack and, of course, the classic one bed when traveling a la Planes, Trains and Automobiles (but make it sexy).
Simon & Schuster
And there’s nobody better to round up a list of favorites than Hannah Grace, author of Holiday Ever After. Her latest novel follows toy business employee Clara Davenport who’s desperate to win over the locals after her company is accused of stealing a local designer’s idea. Meanwhile, toy designer Jack Kelly wishes he never heard the name Davenport — and definitely wants nothing to do with Clara. But Clara’s got a plan win him over, and hopefully the town of Fraser Falls with it.
Intrigued yet? Whether you’re on the naughty or nice list, we’ve got two handfuls of books that will jingle your bells.
‘The Holly Dates’ by Brittainy C. Cherry
Independently published
Holly Jackson is a hopeless romantic, whose love life is, well, hopeless (especially since her fiancé ditched her at the altar on Christmas Eve). But she’s not giving up. Determined to find the one, Holly embarks on a string of first dates, all held in the same restaurant.
Enter Kai Kane, the grumpy, brooding restaurant owner who has had just about enough. In a bid to evict her — and her seemingly endless parade of bad dates — he offers to help her find Mr Right. Because what could possibly go wrong? Well, quite a number of things, actually. Especially when Kai starts catching feelings for Holly himself.
‘A Man for Mrs Claus’ by Rebekah Weatherspoon
Rebekah Weatherspoon
Mrs. Claus (aka Tiffany Saint-Nicholas) finds herself widowed, and the angels and elves decide it’s high time to find her a new partner to help keep Christmas running smoothly. The catch? She’s only got three days to find the right man before the big day is ruined. No freaking pressure.
This is an unexpectedly moving exploration of grief and new beginnings, whilst also being a sexy, festive The Bachelorette-coded love story. Tiffany might be the boss at the North Pole, but she’s also navigating loss, longing and the possibility of real love for the first time in her life.
Short enough to devour in one sitting, A Man for Mrs. Claus is perfect for a cozy December night. You’ll laugh, swoon and possibly get a little misty-eyed as Tiffany discovers that grief and hope can coexist under the same starry winter sky.
‘Royal Holiday’ by Jasmine Guillory
Berkley
Pack your bags, because Jasmine Guillory is whisking us off on a holiday adventure fit for a queen. When Vivian Forest was invited to tag along on her daughter’s work trip to England, she was prepared for a trip full of palaces, scones and sightseeing. What she was not prepared for, however, was falling for Malcolm Hudson, the Queen’s private secretary. He has the accent, the charm and the gentlemanliness to make their flirtation delicious.
What starts as a mistletoe fling quickly turns into something more, proving love stories don’t have an age limit. Both in their fifties, Vivian and Malcolm bring wit, warmth and a refreshing maturity to a romance that reads like a modern fairytale.
‘Lovelight Farms’ by BK Borison
Berkley
Stella Bloom has one goal: to save her beloved Christmas tree farm. The opportunity to enter an influencer’s contest and win a big cash prize? Perfect. Accidentally claiming she co-owns the farm with her boyfriend? Not perfect, since there is no boyfriend. Luckily, her best friend Luka Peters is willing to step in, hot chocolate in hand, and play the part.
Lovelight Farms is a swoony slow-burn full of longing glances and cozy holiday magic. Even if friends-to-lovers isn’t usually your trope, Stella and Luka will be the pair to change your mind. Heartfelt, funny and romantic, this is must-read.
‘Make the Season Merry and Bright’ by Ashley Herring Blake
Berkley
Nothing says Happy Holidays quite like running into your ex. For Charlotte Donovan, a snowy escape to Colorado gets a tiny bit complicated when her former fiancée Brighton shows up. And thanks to their calendar of festive activities, keeping their distance isn’t exactly an option.
Make the Season Merry and Bright is messy, funny and oh-so-relatable. Charlotte and Brighton are flawed in all the best ways, their dynamic is frustrating one moment, swoon-worthy the next and their chemistry feels as inevitable as it does irresistible.
‘Cruel Winter with You’ by Ali Hazelwood
Amazon Original Stories
What is the perfect holiday romance set-up, you ask? Being snowed in with the one who got away. Jamie Malek only wanted to borrow a pan for Christmas dinner when she ends up caught in a blizzard and trapped inside on Christmas Eve with Marc, her best friend’s older brother. Who also happens to be a billionaire.
Ali Hazelwood packs years of pining (!!), hurt and chemistry into this novella, making the dynamic between Jamie and Marc feel so real and developed in the limited space. If you want something hot and quintessentially Hazelwood, this is for you.
‘Good Spirits’ by BK Borison
Avon
A hot Irish man who is also a brooding ghost? Perfection. Harriet York is the sweetest people-pleaser in town, and Nolan Callahan is the Ghost of Christmas Past. His one job is to show her where she’s going wrong in life and then move on.
Except Harriet is no Scrooge, and suddenly the Ghost of Christmas Past finds himself imagining a future. Good Spirits is a whimsical and fresh spin on a classic, and is guaranteed to heat up your winter night. This story is Borison at her absolute best and I’m positive you’ll love it as much as I do.
‘A Merry Little Meet Cute’ by Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone
Avon
If your holiday reading list needs a little extra pinch of spice, look no further. Bee Hobbes is living her best life as Bianca Von Honey, plus-size adult film star extraordinaire. But when she’s cast in a squeaky clean Hope Channel Christmas movie, she has to keep that little detail to herself. Which is easy-peasy, until she finds out her costar is Nolan Shaw, her teenage boy band crush, now in desperate need of a reputational overhaul. Oh, and he’s a big fan of her online content.
‘A Very Irish Christmas’ by Debbie Johnson
Storm Publishing
New Yorker Cassie O’Hara takes the inheritance her late Irish Nana left her in her will and heads for Whimsy Cottage, which she soon discovers is in a quiet English village called “little Ireland,” and not, in fact, in Ireland. She soon finds herself the center of attention — and affection — for two gorgeous men. How could anyone ever be expected to pick between a charming Viscount Lord of the Manor and a lovable mysterious Irish rogue?
As she uncovers truths about her Nana’s past, and her return flight draws closer, Cassie has some big decisions to make. This is a fantastic, laugh-out-loud comedy, full of heart and Irish charm. Bonus points for featuring a dog named Eejit.
‘Just a Taste’ by Anise Starre
Simon & Schuster
Snowed in with your least-favorite client? Nightmare. Snowed in with your least-favorite client who is very grumpy, but also very, very hot? Suddenly not so bad.
This one’s got everything: a sunshine heroine determined to deck every hall, a grinchy hero who’d rather brood than bake, and enough sizzling tension in the kitchen to fog up the windows. Just a Taste is sure to leave you hungry in more ways than one.