The Best Christmas Romance Books to Read This Holiday Season
It’s the most wonderful time of the year and that means there are so many great Christmas-themed books to read! I love reading all year round, but there is something really special about reading during this festive season. We’ve come up with a list of the best Christmas romance books to read this holiday season just for you!
Curling up with a cozy Christmas romance is one of the best ways to get into the holiday spirit. Whether you’re in the mood for something lighthearted and sweet or a story that dives deep into the emotions of the season, I’ve got you covered with these top holiday picks. Grab a blanket, and a warm drink, turn on your Christmas tree lights, and dive into a story that will bring all the festive feels. Here are my favorite Christmas romances that deserve a spot on your reading list this year! Some are new releases, and some are old favorites by my favorite romance writers.
Why Christmas Books Make the Perfect Holiday Companion
There’s something magical about reading Christmas books during the holiday season. These stories let us experience all the warmth, joy, and nostalgia of Christmas, often in charming, snowy towns or cozy, festive settings. They bring out the wonder of the season, reminding us of the power of love, family, and community. Whether it’s the thrill of a holiday romance, the joy of a surprise reunion, or simply the heartwarming scenes of holiday traditions, Christmas books allow us to escape into a world where love and miracles are always in the air.
Hallmark Christmas
PS – I’m also a total Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Christmas movie fan (as in… I have a blog about it called The Happy Hallmarker). I even have a free printable checklist of all the Christmas movies for the 2024 season!
Everyday Reading
Do you love reading as your everyday hobby? Make sure to check out our other reading suggestions for non-holiday books! We’ve got the evergrowing Supermom Reads – 2024 List of Book Recommendations, book reviews, and other seasonal-themed lists like our Spring Reading List and Fall Reading List.
Christmas Reading List
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1. Christmas at the Shelter Inn by RaeAnne Thayne
This heartwarming story takes place in the fictional town of Shelter Springs at Christmas time. The Inn has turned senior living facility and Natalie has to go home and help her grandmother and sister when they need it most. This book was an absolute delight and is full of Christmas spirit. I have a real soft spot for second chance +- romances and this is a great one when Natalie runs into her lost love, who’s also her late brother’s best friend.
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2. The December Market by RaeAnne Thayne
This is a new release for 2024 and it’s related to “Christmas at the Shelter Inn” from last year! Griff’s sister is getting her own story and it revolves around the town’s Christmas market. Sign me up. The first book was wonderful and this is sure to not disappoint either!
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3. One Big Happy Family by Susan Mallery
For those who love stories of family and love intertwined, Mallery brings warmth and humor with a tale of a holiday season filled with family surprises and unexpected romance. It’s the joyful and utterly irresistible story of a mother who couldn’t love her kids more but hopes that, just this once, they please don’t come home for Christmas.
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4. Holiday Romance by Catherine Walsh
Escape into this fun and witty story that brings two people together on an unexpected journey home for the holidays. With laughter and holiday cheer, Walsh’s novel will leave you smiling. It’s billed as ” A totally hilarious and unforgettable Christmas romantic comedy.”
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5. The Christmas Fix by Lucy Score
Cat King is getting her own book! She’s half of the home renovation expert team, Kings of Construction. The first book is “Mr. Fixer Upper” and it’s an absolute delight, and is totally unrelated to Christmas. But “The Christmas Fix” is set in a town recovering from a late-season hurricane and this romance combines humor and heart… and a camera crew. Not much gets in the way of Cat King, so follow the journey of two people brought together as they work to bring Christmas back to life. This book is bound to have some spice, as it’s a Lucy Score book and she’s known for steamy romance novels!
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6. Comfort & Joy by Kristin Hannah
Hannah weaves a poignant tale about love, loss, and second chances, reminding us that Christmas can bring magic to even the most unexpected places. I haven’t read a Kristin Hannah book of any kind yet, but she’s supposed to be EXCELLENT.
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7. A Very Merry Mistake by Lyra Parish
If you’re in the mood for a holiday romance with a twist, this story of unexpected love during the holidays will keep you entertained and leave you wanting more. I love a good fake relationship story!
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8. A Christmas Duet by Debbie Macomber
Macomber never disappoints with her warm, heartfelt holiday romances. This tale of two people rediscovering love is perfect for fans of sweet Christmas stories. “The beloved author of the Mystic Creek series gifts readers with a novel of homespun holiday cheer, as two families discover the joy of hope and redemption….“
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9. Kiss Me At Christmas by Jenny Bayliss
Bayliss brings the magic of Christmas in England, with a tale full of charm, snow, and just the right amount of holiday spirit. According to Penguin Random House, “Christmas can officially get stuffed because Harriet Smith is not feeling bright and merry this year. She hasn’t for a while. So when her college-aged daughter opts for Manhattan’s winter wonderland instead of Christmas at home, Harriet finds herself seeking solace in a wine-soaked one-night stand.
But how Harriet will spend the holidays is swiftly decided for her after she takes the fall for some students who break into the town’s old Winter Theater. To get the students off the hook, the theater’s elderly owner requests that Harriet direct the washed-out stage’s final Christmas performance. And Harriet will do anything to help the kids . . . even work with the owner’s lawyer who, as it turns out, is her less than impressed one-night stand.
Directing the play with him won’t exactly change her life. But it might just reignite the Christmas spirit and remind her what makes life merry and bright again.”
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10. A Very Nantucket Christmas by Nancy Thayer
Enjoy a Nantucket Christmas with this enchanting story that brings love, tradition, and family together on a beautiful snowy island. Nancy Thayer is a treasure and I always love her stories!
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11. The Christmas Room by Catherine Anderson
This tale combines family drama, romance, and the holiday spirit as two families come together in an unexpected way during the Christmas season. Per Penguin Random House, “Widow Maddie McLendon has uprooted her life to move to Rustlers Gulch with her son and grandson. But as a brutal Montana winter looms on the horizon, contractors have yet to break ground on their new house, leaving them to live in a makeshift camp of trailers, tents, and sheds….
Since his wife died six years ago, millionaire rancher Sam Conacher has been content to wallow in his grief alone while keeping a tight rein on his twenty-six-year-old daughter. But now the girl has gone and fallen in love with his foolish new neighbor’s no-good son….
Maddie and Sam will never see eye to eye on anything until a near-tragedy gives them a true glimpse into each other’s souls. And as the first snowflakes begin to fall, they’ll discover that an open heart is the biggest gift of all…”
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12. Bright Lights, Big Christmas by Mary Kay Andrews
Set in the heart of a big city, this holiday romance will have you dreaming of a Christmas adventure in New York City, complete with festive decorations and a sweet love story. Together brother and sister must sell all the trees from their family’s Christmas tree farm to keep the family farm afloat for another year.
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13. The Santa Suit by Mary Kay Andrews
In this charming Christmas novel, a magical old Santa suit brings holiday cheer and maybe even love to the life of its new owner. It’s a small town love story with a little spin of magic. Mary Kay Andrews never disappoints.
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14. The Christmas Inn by Pamela Kelley
Cozy up with this story about a holiday inn filled with romance, friendships, and festive holiday magic. I love a good story of a family coming together to help an injured loved one at Christmas. Riley’s mom has broken her leg and she needs to go home to help at the Inn.
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15. This is Not a Holiday Romance by Camilla Isley
With a unique twist on the classic holiday romance, this book promises laughter, heart, and a fresh take on love in the holiday season.
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16. The Christmas Cottage by Sarah Morgan
A snow-covered cottage in a charming village sets the stage for romance, misunderstandings, and a heartwarming ending that will make you believe in Christmas miracles.
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17. The Merry Matchmaker by Sheila Roberts
Roberts’ holiday romance is full of joy and fun, with a charming matchmaker who might just find love herself this Christmas. This is new for 2024 and I can’t wait to read it!
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18. In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren
I love Christina Lauren. This book is Christmas and Groundhog Day and a sweet love story all wrapped in one. Maelyn Jones wakes up every day to live the same day over until she gets it right.
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19. How My Neighbor Stole Christmas by Meghan Quinn
New for 2024, this is an enemies-to-lovers romance from the ever-spicy Meghan Quinn! I can’t wait to read it!
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20. A Very Merry Bromance by Lyssa Kay Adams
This is actually the last book of the Bromance Book Club series by Lyssa Kay Adams. You don’t have to read the first ones to enjoy this one, but do yourself a favor and read the other books in the series too. They are an absolute delight and I never get tired of recommending them.
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21. Lovelight Farms by BK Borison
I don’t know BK Borrison books but this sounds fantastic. Just the description on Amazon has me rolling with laughter. It’s so good I’ve included it below:
“Two best friends fake date to reach their holiday happily ever after in this first romantic comedy in the Lovelight series.
A pasture of dead trees. A hostile takeover of the Santa barn by a family of raccoons. And shipments that have mysteriously gone missing. Lovelight Farms is not the magical winter wonderland of Stella Bloom’s dreams.
In an effort to save the Christmas tree farm she’s loved since she was a kid, Stella enters a contest with Instagram-famous influencer Evelyn St. James. With the added publicity and the $100,000 cash prize, Stella might just be able to save the farm from its financial woes. There’s just one problem. To make the farm seem like a romantic destination for the holidays, she lied on her application and said she owns Lovelight Farms with her boyfriend. Only…there is no boyfriend.
Enter best friend Luka Peters. He just stopped by for some hot chocolate and somehow got a farm and a serious girlfriend in the process. But fake dating his best friend might be the best Christmas present he’s ever received.”
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Wrap-Up: The Best Christmas Romance Books to Read This Holiday Season
And there you have it! It’s the only list you need of The Best Christmas Romance Books to Read This Holiday Season! This time of year makes me want to sit by the Christmas tree all curled up and read Christmas romance novels to keep me in the Christmas spirit all season long. These Christmas romances offer the perfect escape to enjoy between holiday parties, shopping trips, and the general hustle and bustle of the holiday season. Which one will you pick up first? Let me know your favorite holiday reads in the comments, and may your season be filled with love, laughter, and a little Christmas magic! Thanks for reading and, as always, Just Keep Shuffling!
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