It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like… Book Season
There is nothing better than a Christmas romance in one hand and a hot drink in the other. Whether you love small town snowed in vibes, second chance chaos at the family cabin, or a seriously filthy festive fling, Christmas books just hit different.
We have put together some of our favourite holiday reads for the season; from cosy rom coms and grumpy x sunshine neighbours, to angsty second chances, messy families, fake dating, and even a couple of darker treats for those who like their Christmas a little unhinged.
Add a few of these to your December TBR and let the festive binge begin. 👇
How My Neighbor Stole Christmas by Meghan Quinn
Christmas in Kringletown is Cole Black’s worst nightmare, especially once his overly festive nemesis Storee moves in next door. When she enters the town’s beloved Christmas Kringle contest, Cole signs up too, determined not to let her win. A fake relationship for the cameras quickly turns into very real chemistry as reluctant partners become something much more. Expect grumpy x sunshine, small town shenanigans, and a whole lot of sparkly chaos.
Merry Christmas, You Filthy Animal by Meghan Quinn
Max is barely holding his family’s Christmas tree farm together when a flying soda bottle knocks him out and a rival tree farm appears next door, run by holiday obsessed Betty. He is sure she is here to ruin his life and destroy Evergreen Farm, but their festive feud spirals into stolen ornaments, embarrassing mishaps, and undeniable attraction. This one is packed with banter, big Christmas energy, and a small town enemies to lovers romance that feels like a rom com movie.
My December Darling by Lauren Asher
Catalina returns to Lake Wisteria as maid of honor at her sister’s winter wedding, which would be fine if the groom were not her ex. The best man is Luke, her ex’s best friend and the guy she is determined to keep at arm’s length even as he relentlessly pursues her. Snowy small town moments, wedding week drama and forbidden feelings turn this short Christmas novella into a sweet but angsty holiday treat. Perfect if you love “I should not want you, but I really do” energy.
The Plight Before Christmas by Kate Stewart
After a brutal few weeks, Whitney heads to her family’s remote cabin hoping for a quiet, nostalgic Christmas with a lot of alcohol. Instead, she finds her first love Eli, the man who broke her heart nearly twenty years ago, joining the festivities. Trapped together in close quarters, old wounds resurface, old chemistry ignites, and one bad decision under the mistletoe snowballs into something much bigger. This is a second chance holiday romance that is funny, emotional and full of messy family moments.
The Sleight Before Christmas by Kate Stewart
In this Holiday Hijinx follow up, we see Christmas from the parents’ point of view. Serena is exhausted, their kids are tiny chaos goblins, and her husband wants his wife back. Determined to reclaim their relationship, he lays down new rules and sparks a war of wills that somehow creates the hottest Christmas they have had in years. It is spicy, heartfelt and perfect if you want a married couple rediscovering each other in the middle of family madness.
The Christmas Fix by Lucy Score
After a hurricane wrecks Merry, Connecticut, city manager and single dad Noah has to cancel the beloved Christmas Festival. Enter Cat, a reality TV renovation star who sweeps into town determined to rebuild everything and film it for a holiday special. Noah wants her gone; Cat wants to prove she is more than a TV diva, and the town just wants Christmas back. This is a grumpy x chaotic sunshine small town romance with found family vibes and all the cosy festival feels.
Santa’s Dark Secret by Sheridan Anne
This one is for readers who like their Christmas spicy and a little bit twisted. A reckless Christmas wish brings a dark, filthy version of Santa down the chimney, ready to grant every fantasy. What starts as a wild one night gift becomes something far more addictive, but loving a man who only comes once a year has consequences. Expect explicit scenes, obsession, and a very dark spin on the man in red.
Good Spirits by B. K. Borison
Nolan is the Ghost of Christmas Past, stuck haunting people every December as he waits for whatever comes next in the afterlife. Harriet is a people pleaser who cannot quite understand why she is being haunted at all. As they walk through her past together they discover unexpected connections and begin to fall for each other in the most impossible way. This novella is soft, whimsical and a little bittersweet, perfect if you love ghostly romance with a hopeful twist.
Merry Me by C. R. Jane
Natalie’s plan for her sister’s Christmas Eve wedding is simple; keep it together around her estranged dad and avoid the ex she left behind years ago. That ex turns up in a Santa suit, looks annoyingly good, and keeps ending up in her orbit thanks to broken down cars, a meddling grandmother and holiday mishaps. Old feelings refuse to stay buried as they are snowed into a cosy lodge and forced to confront what really happened between them. A sweet second chance holiday rom com with plenty of family drama and nostalgic first love vibes.
My Favourite Holidate by Lauren Blakely
When her cheating ex shows up in the same holiday social circles, a woman decides to level up her revenge and hires her billionaire boss to be her fake Christmas boyfriend. He needs a date for a Christmas Eve wedding where he is best man and she is maid of honor, so the arrangement works for both of them. Pretend kisses under the mistletoe, flirty competitions and late nights decorating soon turn their fake dating situation very real. This is a fun, flirty workplace and holiday romance with a single dad twist.
Merry Little Kissmas by Lauren Blakely
Professional matchmaker and Christmas enthusiast is tasked with finding a holidate for Rowan, a grumpy single dad hockey player who hates romance and Christmas. Instead of backing down, she places herself in the line of fire and agrees to fake date him to prove that love still exists. Their practice dates at tree farms, hot chocolate contests and a snowed in night at his cabin blur every line between work and pleasure. A feel good small town holiday romance with brother’s best friend and grump x sunshine tropes.
The Bright Side of Christmas by Morgan Elizabeth
Wren is the unofficial angel of Holly Ridge, always baking, babysitting, and now leading the town’s Christmas decorating committee in honor of her late grandmother. Her new neighbor Adam is a famous songwriter hiding from the world and completely over Christmas. When he refuses to decorate his house, he threatens a long standing town tradition and Wren declares war with fairy lights. This is a comforting small town romance about burnout, grief and learning to put yourself first, wrapped in twinkle lights and festive chaos.
Holiday Romance by Catherine Walsh
For ten years, Molly and Andrew have shared the same flight from Chicago to Dublin for Christmas, catching up over plastic wine and airplane snacks. When a snowstorm strands them in the States, Molly impulsively promises to get Andrew home in time for his family Christmas dinner. Their mad dash across countries turns into a series of travel disasters, stolen moments and the dawning realisation that there might be more between them than friendship. It is charming, funny and perfect for fans of friends to lovers and “only one bed but it is actually only one plane seat.”
Snowed In by Catherine Walsh
Megan returns to her hometown as the woman who left golden boy Isaac at the altar, and the whole village has not forgotten. Christian is tired of his family pitying him every Christmas for being single. A chance meeting in Dublin leads to a fake dating pact; they will be each other’s perfect partners to survive the holiday season. Between interfering families, nosy neighbours and a snowed in cabin, their pretend romance starts to look a lot like the real thing. Expect sharp banter, big Irish family drama and a cosy, snowy slow burn.
Holiday Ever After by Hannah Grace
Clara is desperate to fix the PR nightmare her family’s toy company caused when it allegedly stole a small business design. She is sent to the festive town of Fraser Falls to charm the locals and prove that Davenport Innovation is not the villain. Jack, the designer who was burned by the company, has no intention of forgiving or trusting her. Forced together by small town circumstances and a shared love of the community, their rivalry melts into something softer and unexpectedly romantic. This is perfect for readers who love “she works for the enemy,” small town charm and big holiday heart.
Slay Ride by Lauren Biel
Bennett is a hitman who recently botched a job, lost his standing and is laser focused on finding his missing sister. The last thing he wants is a winter retreat in Alaska with Catarina, the woman who infuriates him more than anyone else. She is there to train for her first kill and he is determined to make her miserable, right up until they get lost in the snow overnight and things turn very heated. This is a dark, steamy Christmas novella with snowed in forced proximity, enemies to lovers and morally grey assassins trying very hard not to fall in love.
Whether you want cosy cocoa and snowflake lights or chaotic exes, naughty Santas and hitmen in Alaska, there is a Christmas romance here for every mood. Holiday books are such a fun way to break up your reading year; you get all the familiar tropes you love, plus twinkle lights, found family, and that extra bit of magic that only happens in December.
You can shop all of these titles on Trilogy of Romance while stocks last, or pop into our book cafe for a festive drink and a new holiday read. Tell us in the comments or on Instagram which Christmas romance you are picking up first and what we should add to next year’s list.
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Happy reading and Merry bookish Christmas 🎄📚💚