16 Delightful Holiday Romances That Will Make You Feel Merry And Bright
1.The Holiday Trap by Roan Parrish
Release date: September 6
This LGBTQ+ rom-com introduces us to Greta Russakoff, a lesbian suffocating in her small Maine town and yearning for acceptance, and Truman Belvedere, who is crushed to discover his former boyfriend lied about having a husband and a daughter. That's when a mutual friend comes up with an idea: Greta and Truman will swap homes for the holidays. As Truman leaves New Orleans to head to Maine, and vice versa for Greta, the two will have the opportunity to start fresh — and maybe even fall in love.
Get it from Bookshop or from your local indie bookstore via Indiebound. You can also try the audiobook version through Libro.fm.
2.A Merry Little Meet Cute by Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone
Release date: September 20
What it's about: #1 New York Times bestselling author Julie Murphy and USA Today bestselling author Sierra Simone have teamed up to give romance lovers a delightfully steamy holiday treat. When plus-size adult film star Bee Hobbes is accidentally cast in a Christmas movie — and on a family-friendly network — she's forced keep her sex work a secret. Her love interest in the film? Ex-boy band member Nolan Shaw who needs to repair his damaged image while providing financial stability for his mother and sister. But Nolan recognizes Bee from her ClosedDoors account and swears to keep her secret. Things begin to heat up between them, but are they able to keep that little secret behind closed doors?
Get it from Bookshop or from your local indie bookstore via Indiebound here. You can also try the audiobook version through Libro.fm.
3.Meet Me Under the Mistletoe by Jenny Bayliss
Release date: September 27
What it's about: Elinor Noel runs a secondhand bookshop in London. She's used to keeping her working-class life separate from her luxuriously posh private school friends, where she gained the same education on scholarship. But then, her friends invite her to a castle to reunite before their wedding, which is where she meets Isaac, the castle's head gardener. Isaac isn't a fan of "private school snobs," but the more Elinor spends time with him, the more they begin to relate to each other. And as her time there begins to dwindle, Elinor must decide what type of life she really wants.
Get it from Bookshop or from your local indie bookstore via Indiebound here. You can also try the audiobook version through Libro.fm.
4.You're a Mean One, Matthew Prince by Timothy Janovsky
Release date: October 4
What it's about: After a PR misstep, the (very spoiled) Matthew Prince is sent to his grandparents' small town for the holidays. To make things worse, attractive local Hector Martinez seems deeply unimpressed with Matthew's antics. But then, an opportunity arises for Matthew to prove he's pivoted to the nice list: He'll take over as coordinator for a charity gala, which makes Hector his plus-one. Could this be the very thing Matthew needs to put his Grinch-like ways behind him?
Get it from Bookshop or from your local indie bookstore via Indiebound here. You can also try the audiobook version through Libro.fm.
5.Just Like Magic by Sarah Hogle
Release date: October 4
What it's about: Rom-com queen Sarah Hogle is back with an epic holiday romance. Twentysomething Bettie Hughes is a cheeky mega-influencer who once had it all, living the type of life that would make others envious. But what the world of social media doesn't know is that Bettie is actually pretending: She's broke. Now, Christmas is nearing, which means Bettie is under a lot of pressure to meet her family's expectations. So, when she accidentally conjures Hall the Holiday Spirit, she discovers he can make every single one of her holiday wishes come true — but at a cost. The merrier Bettie becomes, the faster Hall begins to fade out of her life.
Get it from Bookshop or from your local indie bookstore via Indiebound. You can also try the audiobook version through Libro.fm.
6.Once Upon a December by Amy E. Reichert
Release date: October 4
What it's about: Astra Noel Snow is recovering from a hurtful divorce, which means she's ready to let loose at her annual visit to the Milwaukee Christmas market. Jack Clausen lives a charmed existence — until Astra arrives to show him what he's been missing. Is it the winter cheer and holiday festivities that's creating a spark between them, or is there more to it?
Get it from Bookshop or from your local indie bookstore via Indiebound here. You can also try the audiobook version through Libro.fm.
7.All I Want for Christmas by Maggie Knox
Release date: October 4
What it's about: Starmaker, a reality singing show, has selected Sadie and Max as contestants, and both believe they're about to experience country music fame and glory. During duet week, the pair shocks audiences with their romantic onstage chemistry, which means the network wants them to play it up. They must be a duo on and offstage unless they want to go home. It shouldn't be hard to fake a relationship, but Sadie and Max happen to absolutely hate each other. Can they fake it 'til they make it to the Christmas finale, or will it take a Christmas miracle?
Get it from Bookshop or from your local indie bookstore via Indiebound here. You can also try the audiobook version through Libro.fm.
8.It Came Upon a Midnight Shear by Allie Pleiter
Release date: November 1
What it's about: A cozy Christmas mystery! Libby is excited for the upcoming holiday cheer and merriment, especially since her yarn business is doing exceedingly well. When Libby's ex-husband Sterling returns to Collinstown — only to end up dead — Libby must attempt to solve this mystery before she ends up in handcuffs.
Get it from Bookshop or from your local indie bookstore via Indiebound here. You can also try the audiobook version through Libro.fm.
9.Kiss Her Once for Me by Alison Cochrun
Release date: November 1
What it's about: Last Christmas, Ellie Oliver gave her heart to a woman at a bookstore who managed to win her over in a single night, only to be betrayed the next morning. Fast-forward a year later. Ellie is working at a local coffee shop instead of her dream animation job, and she's in desperate need of money. That's when the shop's owner Andrew proposes a plan: a marriage of convenience. He needs Ellie in order to gain his inheritance, and he's willing to give her part if she helps him. And when Ellie goes along with him to spend the holidays with his family, she realizes his sister is Jack, the mysterious bookshop woman.
Get it from Bookshop or from your local indie bookstore via Indiebound here. You can also try the audiobook version through Libro.fm.
10.A Very Merry Bromance by Lyssa Kay Adams
Release date: November 1
What it's about: The Bromance Book Club series meets the holidays in this winter-fied romance novel. Colton Wheeler is country music's golden boy who is broken up over his breakup with immigration attorney Gretchen Winthrop. Gretchen is dealing with problems of her own. For one, her estranged family wants her to convince Colton to be the face of their whiskey brand. If she can convince him, they'll agree to a deal that will better help her clients. Colton agrees, but there's one catch: He wants Gretchen to agree to three do-over dates with him. And with the help of the Bromance Book Club, he's prepared to do things a little differently this time.
Get it from Bookshop or from your local indie bookstore via Indiebound here. You can also try the audiobook version through Libro.fm.
11.Whiteout by Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, Ashley Woodfolk, and Nicola Yoon
Release date: November 8
What it's about: Written by acclaimed and bestselling authors, Whiteout follows a group of friends — Stevie, Kaz, E.R., Sola, Jordyn, Jimi, Ava, and Mason — as they become stuck in Atlanta during a blustery snowstorm. The problem is that each teen has the desire to accomplish something this evening, and the snow is impeding on their plans, especially Stevie’s plans, since she needs to make things right with Sola after fearing she ruined everything. Will this whiteout turn out to be magical — or a bust?
Get it from Bookshop or from your local indie bookstore via Indiebound here.
12.The Christmas Wish by Lindsey Kelk
Release date: November 15
What it's about: Gwen Baker is a recently single lawyer hoping that spending Christmas with her family is what she needs to heal her heartbreak. But something strange happens: She keeps reliving Christmas day over and over again. The family arguments. Same presents. The works. As much as she wants to escape this not-so-magical repetitive day, she can't help getting to know Dev, the engaged boy-next-door, who may just help her heal her heart from old wounds.
Get it from Bookshop or from your local indie bookstore via Indiebound here.
13.The Matzah Ball by Jean Meltzer
Release date: September 28, 2021
What it's about: Rachel Rubenstein-Goldblatt is a Jewish woman who keeps a secret close to her heart: She's a Christmas romance novelist. In fact, she loves Christmas. But her publisher tasks her with writing a Hanukkah romance, and when Rachel's inspiration runs dry, she decides to find a creative spark at the Matzah Ball, a Jewish music celebration on the last night of Hanukkah. It's there that she runs into her childhood enemy, Jacob Greenberg. But the more time Jacob and Rachel spend together, the more intrigued they become with one another.
Get it from Bookshop or from your local indie bookstore via Indiebound here. You can also try the audiobook version through Libro.fm.
14.A Winter Affair by Minna Howard
Release date: October 5, 2017
What it's about: Eloise Brandon is divorced and an empty nester, which means she's looking to face the upcoming holidays alone. But one phone call changes those plans. Eloise ventures off to the Swiss Alps to her godfather's chalet in order to cater to some very luxurious guests. It's not all merry and bright, though, especially when her ex-husbands show up.
Get it from Bookshop or from your local indie bookstore via Indiebound here.
15.Miracles and Menorahs by Stacey Agdern
Release date: October 13, 2020
What it's about: When the town's annual Hollowville Hanukkah Festival is threatened with cancelation, Sarah Goldman decides to rebrand the marketing campaign with a giant menorah at the center of the city. The problem: They may not have the budget for this. Sculptor Isaac Lieberman enjoys Hanukkah, but not the theatrics of the city's event. But will Sarah be able to change his mind?
Don't miss out on another Hanukkah book by Agdern, Love and Latkes.
Get it from Bookshop or from your local indie bookstore via Indiebound here.
16.Blame It on the Mistletoe by Beth Garrod
Release date: November 2, 2021
What it's about: Elle is a social media influencer who would love to live it up in the UK for the holidays. It's for content, after all. Holly is seeking an escape after a disastrous affair with her ex, so she agrees to trade places with Elle because, why not? It's temporary. But then, Holly gets to know Elle's twin brother — all while Elle becomes intrigued by the boy next door.
Get it from Bookshop or from your local indie bookstore via Indiebound here.
