There’s nothing more satisfying than reading a good romance book that makes you believe in love again.
Romance is one of the best genres out there, and when it’s done right, nothing can top it. The banter, the tension, the last minute love confession… it hits every time. And since the holidays might traditionally be known as cuffing season, there’s no better way to prepare yourself for the cold season than by meeting a few new fictional boyfriends or girlfriends.
“Holiday Romance” by Catherine Walsh
With the perfect title, there’s no way this book can let you down. It focuses on the friendship between Molly and Andrew, who have been lifelong best friends and take an annual flight to Ireland to visit the latter’s family. Things go awry early when their flight gets canceled, and Molly decides to get Andrew to Ireland by any means necessary (you know, in a totally platonic way).
Shenanigans ensue and the book marks their quest with fun hijinks, playful banter, and romantic tension that will keep you turning the pages. It also goes back and forth between the past and present, as it marks the friendships of these two characters through their annual flights, so there’s a bit of a “When Harry Met Sally” thing going on.
If you’re a fan of friends-to-lovers and reading relationships that actually feel real, then this is the perfect gateway to your holiday romance book obsession.
“Window Shopping” by Tessa Bailey
If you’re looking for a little spice with your sugar, no one does it better than Tessa Bailey. Every book she writes makes the chemistry between its two leads sizzle off the page. With this book, it’s no different. Stella is an ex-con looking to start over with dreams of being a window dresser. Along comes Aiden, the perky manager of a Christmas storefront who offers her a job.
The dynamic between these two characters is what makes it a standout read. The grumpy-sunshine trope gets a role reversal here, with the male love interest acting as the optimistic one and the female love interest providing the counterbalance with her grumpy commentary (think golden retriever boyfriend and black cat girlfriend). This type of relationship doesn’t feature too often in romance books, and it’s done well to boot. If you’re a fan of fluffy romance that occasionally gets steamy, this is the perfect book to get you through the long, cold nights.
“You’re a Mean One, Matthew Prince” by Timothy Janovsky
The title should already reel you in, but just in case it hasn’t, here’s the rundown. Spoiled heir Matthew Prince is used to a life of luxury. But when he commits a major PR no-no, his parents decide to ship him off to his grandparents’ small town where they hope he’ll learn some good behavior in time for the holidays. Naturally, this puts him in contact with grumpy local Hector, who couldn’t care less about Matthew’s money or status. When the two end up having to work together on the town’s charity gala, things take a turn for the romantic.
This book is perfect for readers looking for a queer and fun rom com that will have you kicking your feet on Christmas morning. The forced proximity of the love interest guarantees that every scene they’re in is tense and propulsive. And yes, the Hallmark vibes are strong with this one.
“Lovelight Farms“ by B.K. Borison
This is, no joke, one of the best romance books I have ever read. Our story follows Stella (what is it with authors and this name?), a down-on-her-luck Christmas tree farmer who must do what it takes to save her beloved winter wonderland. When she hears about an influencer-run contest looking for the best local business that’s offering a $100,000 prize, she decides to paint the farm as the perfect romantic holiday destination. The only problem is, she lied on her application when she said that she co-runs Lovelight Farms with her boyfriend. Enter Luka, her best friend, who she recruits in a fake dating scheme to convince the influencer that Lovelight Farms is worth saving.
Not only is the romance between its two leads worth swooning over, the story takes place in the most adorable Hallmarkesque town ever, with several characters adding color to the setting through their quirks and antics. You won’t just fall in love with Stella and Luka—the entire town is worth the read.
And by the way, the tension between Stella and Luka is thick. If you want to read a book that will have you craving more by this author, she has two more books already out that are set in the same universe, with a third on the way. You can binge the three that are published if you want to keep the bookish adrenaline rush going.
“How to Excavate a Heart” by Jake Maia Arlow
Running into your ex around the holidays can be a nightmare…or the best thing that ever happened to you. In Shani’s case, hitting her ex-girlfriend May with her mom’s Subaru was not part of the plan (even if it was an accident). Shani is supposed to be starting an internship over break, but this plan quickly goes sideways when she gets roped into a dog walking gig and then gets snowed in with May on Christmas Eve. Will sparks fly between them once again?
This book is a cute second chance sapphic romance that will make you wonder about what it would be like to rekindle an old flame. The banter, the forced proximity, it all comes together. It’s also got chaotic Jewish lesbians getting up to some regular old rom com hijinks, so what more could you ask for, really?
Wrapping Up
These are just some of the holiday reads that you might want to consider asking to your wishlist this winter. Whether you need something fluffy, swoony, or downright spicy, there’s a book here for everyone. Stay warm, everybody!
