I don’t think anything beats putting on a pair of holiday pajamas, unfurling a mountain of blankets, preparing a festive drink, and getting cozy with a great holiday read. After all, ‘tis the season for scary ghost stories and tales of the glories, though they don’t all have to be from Christmases long, long ago.
While every genre has great festive titles, nothing can compare to the feeling of picking up a holiday romance. The more Hallmark-like, the merrier! I’ve curated this (nice) list of the romances at the top of my holiday reading list this year to help you focus more on which beverage you’ll choose instead of which title to pick.
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A Married Little Christmas (Abby Jimenez)
I am eager to read anything Abby Jimenez publishes. As soon as she announced she was releasing a holiday title, it immediately jumped to the top of my end-of-year TBR! “A Married Little Christmas” includes three novellas with the rom-com energy we all know and love from Jimenez.
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Snow This is Love (Christina Lauren, Julie Murphy, Jasmine Guillory, Zoraida Córdova and Jesse Q. Sutanto)
I loved the Disney Princess Christmas content as a kid; I can’t tell you how many times I watched the Beauty and the Beast holiday special! “Snow This is Love” is pretty much the grown-up version, featuring five short stories from the authors of Disney’s Meant to Be collection, which reimagines Disney stories as contemporary romances.
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In a Holidaze (Christina Lauren)
Christina Lauren is another favorite romance author of mine, with “The Unhoneymooners” being one of my all-time favorite reads. “In a Holidaze” seems to bring the same vacation-based chaos, just with a seasonal spin! Plus, it’s soon to be a Netflix film, so I’m hoping to read before I watch.
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How My Neighbor Stole Christmas (Meghan Quinn)
Similar to “Snow This is Love,” Meghan Quinn adapts one of the most famous Christmas tales into a modern romance. Loosely inspired by “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” “How My Neighbor Stole Christmas” promises a highly contentious Christmas Kringle contest, a loyal friend named Max, and a secret romance. Martha May Whovier would certainly have this on her bookshelf!
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Good Spirits (B.K. Borison)
With a ghost of Christmas past falling for his assignment, B.K. Borison brings a darker twist to the genre, inspired by one of the greatest classics and old-world traditions. I’ve recently gotten really into magical realism, so I’m excited to mesh one of my favorite holiday stories with a genre that’s quickly rising up my preference roster.
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The Christmas Fix (Lucy Score)
Every time I’ve picked up a Lucy Score book, I’ve been so engaged in the characters and stories she’s created. This particular story seems to have a Stars Hollow-esque community with a Hallmark-style plot, which only made me more intrigued.
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He Knows When You’re Awake (Alta Hensley)
I’m usually not much of a thriller or mystery reader, but “He Knows When You’re Awake” caught my eye on a recent bookstore trip. Beyond its ridiculous content warning, including “forced ice skating” and “painfully cute Christmas puppies,” the broader stalking plot seemed completely unconventional, but intriguing, for a holiday love story.
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The Christmas Tree Farm (Laurie Gilmore)
After reading several other Dream Harbor titles, I had to continue the cozy saga with “The Christmas Tree Farm.” Is it slightly predictable? Yes, but that’s part of what makes it such a great cozy choice!
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What is sitting at the top of your holiday TBR this year? Let me know in the comments!
