21 Christmas romance books to add to your TBR

Christmas Joy Mary-Anne O'Connor

Rye, Sussex, 1889. Miss Joy Parker has a gift for brightening other people’s lives, even after her family loses everything. Working as companion to the sharp-tongued Lady Hyacinth Montague, Joy doesn’t expect to catch the attention of Hyacinth’s heir, the Earl of Montague. As snow falls on Montwoods Manor and the Christmas ball draws near, Joy learns that love can be as risky as it is rewarding.

For fans of: Bridgerton, historical romance, slow-burn Christmas love stories

One Day in December Josie Silver

Laurie is pretty sure love at first sight doesn't exist. But when she spots a man through a misted-up bus window on a snowy December day, she instantly knows he’s the one.

A year later, her best Sarah introduces her to the new love of her life. Of course, the man from the bus. Determined to let him go, Laurie gets on with her life . . . but fate may have other plans.

For fans of: Love Rosie, fate-entwined romances and missed chances

Faking Christmas KERRY WINFREY

When a mix-up leads Laurel’s boss, Gilbert, to believe she owns a farm, she runs with the lie for fear that the truth will leave her jobless (again). But the plot thickens when the Gilbert invites himself to the farm’s big Christmas Eve Eve dinner.

Will Laurel be able to keep up the façade and convince Gilbert that she’s the Martha Stewart of rural Ohio?

For fans of: The Holiday, fake-relationship, family stories

The Holiday Switch Tif Marcelo

It’s Lila’s last winter break of high school, and she’s determined to make it a good one. Her plans are perfectly peaceful – working at the local inn while moonlighting as an anonymous book blogger – until her boss’s nephew becomes her coworker.

Though Teddy is cute, the two can’t stop butting heats. When they accidentally switch phones one afternoon, secrets and an unexpected snowstorm just might bring the two rivals together.

For fans of: YA romance, Jenny Han, Dash & Lily

Mary Christmas Mary-Anne O'Connor

Cotswolds, 1909. Mary Richards has built the life she dreamed of – teaching, earning her own way and steering clear of the expectations that come with marriage. But when her sister’s fiancé brings his brother, Johnathon, to the village for Christmas, Mary’s steady plans start to shift. As snow blankets the hills and wedding bells draw near, she must decide if love can sit alongside freedom.

For fans of: Bridgerton, historical romance, determined heroines

The Holiday Honeymoon Switch Julia McKay

Holly and Ivy are the best of friends – willing to do anything for eachother. So when Holly’s fiancé jilts her, leaving her with a nonrefundable honeymoon, Ivy agrees to go on the Hawaiin vacation while Holly escapes to a Hudson Valley cabin rented by Ivy.

Both escapes are interrupted, however, when Holly’s rugged Airbnb host turns out to be her high school rival, while Ivy is booted out of the Hawaii hotel room by Holly’s ex. Against all odds, this Christmas might be the most magical yet.

For fans of: BFFs, trading places, The Holiday

All I Want Is You Falon Ballard

Jessica and her ex-boyfriend are both romance writers. But while she soothes her broken heart with satisfying stories, he finds success in writing stories without happy endings.

When the two are forced together at a remote inn a few days before Christmas, they realise that their friction might be the only cure for writers’ block. The pages start flying once they learn to turn their frustration into fiction.

For fans of: professional rivals, Book Lovers, forced proximity

Christmas at the Ranch Julia McKay

After her dad’s recent imprisonment for financial fraud, disgraced journalist Emory doesn’t know where to turn for the holidays – she only knows that she needs to get away.

When fate takes the wheel, she finds herself in Evergreen, the picturesque town where she spent her happiest Christmas as a teen, and fell in love with a handsom local, Tate Wilder.

For fans of: cowboy romance, small-town holiday, redemption arc

All I Want for Christmas Christa Roberts

Baily loves Christmas, but this year all she really wants is someone special to kiss under the mistletoe.

She’s 100% certain that Jacob Marley, athlete and player, isn’t the boy for her. Surely Charlie, the mysterious stranger with the British accent is the romantic lead of her dreams. Is she right?

For fans of: bookstore setting, YA romance, sweet stories

Holly Jolly Cowboy Jessica Clare

Holly needs a better paying job to cover her sister’s college tuition – and the Christmas season only makes her feel more broke. So, when she’s offered a job at the Flat C Ranch to clean and cook for the cowyboys that work there, it seems like a dream come true.

Except for one detail: her nemesis Adam works there, and he’s the biggest grinch of all. When the ranch hands go away for the holidays, Holly and Adam will have to work together. If she doesn’t kill him first, she might just fall in love.

For fans of: grumpy/sunshine, cowboy romance, workplace proximity

The Christmas Cookie Wars Eliza Evans

Since Melody’s nine-year-old twin sons lost their father, they’ve started questioning the point of Christmas at all. Determined to get them into the holiday spirit, she decides to take over the school’s cookie committee – even if it means dealing with the infuriating principal, Johnathan.

Soon, a small argument turns into a town-wide bake-off between Melody and Johnathan. Her competitive spirits might just turn romantic.

For fans of: enemies-to-lovers, community spirit, The Great British Bake Off

The Christmas Countdown Holly Cassidy

Recently dumped by her childhood sweetheart, Callie is officially in grinch mode. But her sister, Anita, won’t let her give up on love (and Christmas) quite so easily.

Staging a Christmas intervention, Anita makes a homemade Advent calendar challenge with cheerful tasks to push Callie out of her comfort zone.  Could opening the doors on the Advent calendar be the key to opening up closed-off hearts?

For fans of: The Holiday Swap, cosy small-town rom coms, grumpy/sunshine

I'll Get Back to You Becca Grischow

Murphy’s junior year isn’t going to plan. She’s living back home in her small Illinois hometown, flunking the same class twice and stuck working at the same coffee shop she’s worked at since she was sixteen. Then Ellie Meyers walks in: cute, flirty and inconveniently the daughter of Murphy’s toughest professor. When a fake dating scheme over the holiday weekend promises to fix both their problems, sparks fly – and pretending gets a lot harder than either expected.

For fans of: Kiss Her Once for Me, queer rom coms, fake-dating that turns a little too real

The Christmas Room Catherine Anderson

When widow Maddie McLendon, her son and grandson move to Rustlers Gulch, they find themselves living in a makeshift camp while waiting for contractors to break ground on their new home.  

Their gruff neighbour, rancher Sam Conacher, has no patience for the newcomers until an unexpected crisis forces them to truly see each other. As snow falls, Maddie and Sam will discover that an open heart is the biggest gift of all.

For fans of: found family, slow-burn romance, the Mystic Creek series

Second Chance Christmas Jahquel J

Even as a teenager, Faith Stone knew that she and Rome Atkins were meant to be. They planed to put Sageport behind them and start life anew after graduation . . . but prom night changed everything.

Fifteen years later, Faith is back in town for the holidays. The memories and pain are still fresh, especially when she runs into Rome. Do old wounds run too deep, or can the joy of Christmas provide enough healing for a second chance?

For fans of: second chance romance, holiday homecomings, rekindled first love

So, This Is Christmas Tracy Andreen

When Finley returned to her hometown from boarding school, she expected to find it just as she left it. But instead, she returns to find that her best friend is dating her ex-boyfriend, her parents have separated and her archnemeisis got a job working at her grandmother’s inn.

When a boy she may or may not have tricked into visiting shows up on her grandmother’s doorstep, she decides to give him the Christmas he was promised.

For fans of: Let It Snow, Dash and Lily’s Book of Dares, YA rom coms

All I Want for Christmas Amy Silver

It’s Bea’s first Christmas with her baby son, and this year she’s determined to do everything right. She doesn’t really have time to get involved in other people’s lives, but when Olivia gets knocked over in the street, Bea can’t help but help.

Christmas is a magical time and anything can happen: new friends can be made, hearts can heal and romance can finally blossom . . .

For fans of: cosy café settings, found family, heartwarming holiday stories

The Christmas Orphans Club Becca Freeman

For ten years Hannah and Finn have spent Christmas together. With no family to enjoy the holidays with, they’ve created their own traditions.

But this year, everything is about to change. After a year of silence, they’re finally trying to put the past behind them and bring back the Christmas spirit – until Finn announces some big news that rocks the group to its core.

For fans of: Emily Henry, One Day in December, found family

A Winter in New York Josie Silver

Iris arrives in New York intent on restarting her culinary career and leaving her recent heartache behind. When she stumbles across a gelateria, she meets Gio: a perfect leading man with a crisis of his own.

As fate would have it, Iris is the one person with the answer to his problem. Can she finally let go of the past – and let herself fall in love?

For fans of: food-filled romances, second chances, This Time Next Year

Once Upon a December Amy E. Reichert

After a stinging divorce, Astra’s yearly trip to the Milwaukee Christmas market takes on a whole new meaning. She’s ready to eat, drink and be merry, especially with the handsome stranger, Jack, who saves the best kringle for her at his family bakery.

After a swoon-worthy series of dates, Astra and Jack must decide whether this relationship can weather all seasons.

For fans of: The Christmas Café, magical realism, The Christmas Wish

It Happened One Christmas Chantel Guertin

Zoey lives and breathes Christmas, and after years of directing countless holiday movies, she finally gets the chance to bring her own script to life. But mayor Benoît Deschamps refuses to grant her a permit to film in his enchanting town.

With just four days left before Christmas, Zoey must change his mind – but not before an unexpected ice storm leaves them stranded in the middle of nowhere, with nothing except . . . each other.

For fans of: big-city-to-small town rom coms, The Holiday Swap, forced proximity