There’s no better way to get into the festive spirit than diving into holiday-themed books! Every year, I start gathering my holiday reads in early November and kick off the season right after Thanksgiving. I usually stick to cozy holiday romances, and this year is no different. Here’s a peek at what’s on my holiday reading list, along with some of my all-time festive favorites!
Small Things Like These
Get the tissues ready! Bill Furlong lives a simple, content life in a struggling Irish town. As a fuel deliveryman, he’s weathering hard times. But near Christmas, a routine delivery to a convent reveals a troubling secret that stirs his conscience.
If you love It’s A Wonderful Life or The Good Samaritan, this story will grip you. Though short, it’s deeply moving and lingers long after you turn the final page.
The Winter Street Series
Elin Hilderbrand might be the queen of summer romance novels set in Nantucket, but you won’t want to miss her Winter Series. Still set in Nantucket, the quirky Quinn family will get you in the holiday spirit with Christmastime drama at their Nantucket inn. This series has everything you need to get you in the holiday spirit: mulled wine, family drama, plum pudding, Christmas carols, snow, and romance.
This book is a delightful dive into the Christmas spirit—like wrapping yourself in a cozy blanket on a frosty evening. It is heartwarming, comforting, and brimming with festive cheer!
A charming bookstore, a fresh start, and a good-boy/bad-boy love triangle? Yes, please!
When Carmen loses her job, her man, and her plan, she moves in with her very pregnant sister and ends up trying to rescue a charming but crumbling bookshop. The character dynamics? Chef’s kiss. Books, Christmas, and a dash of drama—what’s not to love? Will Carmen save the day and pick naughty or nice? You’ll have to read to find out!
The Twelve Dates of Christmas
I loved reading this cozy Christmas book. I read it last year, and it was a great way to start the holiday season. The story is about Kate Turner, who lives in the small town of Blexford, England. She has given up on finding love, but she enjoys her job as a designer and baking for her friend Matt’s café. However, her best friend signs her up for a dating agency that promises to help singles find love before the holidays. Kate is hesitant, but she decides to give it a try. Will she find love among the 12 potential matches?
You don’t want to miss this funny and heartwarming holiday read!
The Christmas Fix
The Christmas Fix was exactly the festive romance I needed! If you love the “enemies-to-lovers” trope, you’re in for a treat. Lucy Score nails the tension and character growth, leading to some seriously spicy 🌶️ moments.
Set in Merry, Connecticut, after a hurricane wreaks havoc, town manager Noah is racing to save the Christmas festival. Enter Cat, a bold home-reno TV star with a big budget and a camera crew. Noah can’t stand her—or can he? Between their clashes and Christmas miracles, sparks fly. This is a heartwarming winter escape with just the right amount of heat!
A Winter in New York
Christmas in New York? Count me in! This book is about starting over, making new friends, and gelato.
This is a story about Iris and Geo, who are connected by a family secret that only one knows about. After her mother’s death, Iris Raven, a young chef, moves to New York City to start anew and follow in her mother’s footsteps by making her secret gelato recipe. While exploring the city, Iris recognizes a door from an old picture of her mother’s and discovers that her gelato recipe actually belongs to the Belotti family. Only two members of the Belotti family are allowed to know the recipe at any given time. Iris begins working with Geo and eventually falls in love with him.
From the author of One Day in December, Josie Silver has written another heartwarming story of love, family, and the pursuit of happiness during the holidays!
Lovelight Farms
A delightful gem I didn’t know I needed! Lovelight Farms is full of charm and lovable characters.
Stella Bloom adores her farm, but with dying trees, mischievous raccoons, and growing money troubles, she’s desperate. Entering a contest for a cash prize, she accidentally claims she runs the farm with her boyfriend—the problem is, she doesn’t have one.
Enter Luka, her best friend, who steps in as her fake boyfriend. Cue heartwarming moments, laughs, and a romance that feels anything but fake. A cozy, feel-good read perfect for the season!
Love, Holly: A Novel
Emily Stone, writer of the bestseller Always, In December, is back with another holiday tear-jerker. Love, Holly is about finding forgiveness and love amid grief and estrangement, and you should add it to your Christmas book list.
Holly Griffin meets a handsome stranger at a café on Christmas Eve, and sparks fly. But she forgets about their romantic connection when she gets into a car accident later that night while driving her pregnant sister, Lily. Can a group of pen pals that help her process her grief and loneliness be the answer to all of her problems?
If you are looking for a moving story about the power of love and forgiveness, this is it.
Snow Child
Jack and Mabel, an unhappy middle-aged couple, move to Alaska in the 1920s to start anew, but the harsh realities of the Alaskan wilderness make it a challenging endeavor. Just when it all seems to be too much, they craft a small child out of the first snowfall, and for a moment, their love seems reignited. The following day, their snow child is gone, but they glimpse a young girl running through the trees wearing the same mittens and scarf as their snow child.
As Jack and Mabel struggle to understand this child who seems to have stepped out of a fairy tale, they embark on a journey of love that they thought was lost to them.
The Snow Child is a realistic portrayal of life with a touch of fantasy and fairy tale, reminding us to look for magic in our lives. This a must-read.
The Rewind
I enjoyed reminiscing about New Year’s Eve in 1999 when the fear of Y2K was rampant. This delightful book captures the essence of the 90s and tells a heartwarming story of second chances at love.
When Frankie and Ezra, once college sweethearts, return to their alma mater for their mutual friends’ wedding, they find themselves in very different places. Ezra is about to propose to his girlfriend, while Frankie is enjoying success as a band manager for some of the hottest 90s bands. However, after a wild night of partying, they wake up the following day to find themselves wearing wedding rings and with no memory of what happened.
As they try to piece together the events of the past 24 hours, they are also forced to confront the unresolved issues in their relationship. All of this occurs on the eve of the new millennium, adding to the sense of urgency and uncertainty.
A relatable, heartwarming read for anyone who’s looked back on their past and hoped for a do-over or second chance.
Books in my TBR Stack (to be read)
- How My Neighbor Stole Christmas by Meghan Quinn
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- Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan
For more of my favorite reads, be sure to check out my Amazon page and My Library
Happy reading,
