Top Christmas romance books to read this holiday season
It’s that time of the year when you open Netflix, and your all-time favorite Christmas movies start to appear on your ‘what to watch’ list. Maybe you’re still in your Halloween costume, hearing kids scream for candy, but for me, Christmas begins before Halloween ends.
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I adore baking cookies, decorating the house, and just soaking up all the feel-good vibes the holiday season brings to people.
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And when it comes to Christmas romance books, I begin reading my all-time favorites as early as September!
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Whether they’re enemies to lovers, fake dating, or friends to lovers, there’s a Christmas romance book for everyone in this list.
Table of Contents
2023 Christmas Romance Books
These Christmas romance books are brand-new and all published in 2023.
They’re your best choice if you want to stay in tune with your favorite authors’ releases or try something different
Melody Gallard is offered a lot of money to reunite her mother’s band on live TV. But that means meeting, once again, with the lead singer’s son, Beat Dawkins, who is Melody’s opposite.
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He is charming, a distraction, and the total opposite of Melody’s quiet personality.
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Will they be able to avoid the intense attraction that builds as they embark on a mission to convince their mothers to perform one last show?
Why you should read it
Tessa Bailey’s Christmas romance books are my favorites. Wreck the Halls one and Window Shopping are straight-up 5-star reads.
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They have everything you look for in a Christmas rom-com: feel-good vibes, holiday romance, lovely characters, and over-the-top banter and spice.
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Beat and Melody are like star-crossed lovers, soulmates who are separated but were born to be together. Totally recommend!!
Kerry Toliver is in New York, helping her gruff older brother as he works on selling Christmas trees at the family’s corner stand in Greenwich Village.
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However, the situation takes a twist when an elderly neighbor disappears, and Kerry will combine her country know-how to find him.
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To complicate things, there is Patrick, a handsome single dad with his son, Austin. Patrick and Kerry’s chemistry is undeniable, but the question is: Can this holiday romance truly endure?”
Why you should read it
Bright Lights, Big Christmas is your traditionally feel-good rom-com for the holidays. With wonderful side characters and a slow-burn romance, you will become immersed in the spirit of Christmas with this book.
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From the found family vibes to Kerry questioning the viability of her feelings for Patrick (she is from North Carolina and is only in New York for a short time), Bright Lights, Big Christmas is the perfect clean romance ‘Hallmark’ book to read during the holidays.
After actress Winnie Baker’s perfect life falls apart, she is ready to redefine herself and agrees to star in a steamier-than-a-steaming-mug-of-mulled-wine Christmas movie.
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Kallum Lieberman is an ex-boyband member now known exclusively for his reputation in the bedroom, thanks to a rogue sex tape. And heās got just the experience she needs. But how can Winnie fake on-screen pleasure when she’s never experienced it in real life?
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Winnie is willing to do the pleasure “research” for science and artistic authenticity, and there’s no better research partner than her costar Kallum for the task
Why you should read it
A spicy holiday romance, perfect for fans of Sierra Simone.
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A Holly Jolly Ever After is a sexual awakening holiday romance, ideal if you’re seeking a spicy read with Christmas vibes and humorous situations.
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Contrary to what you may think, Kallum is a total golden retriever and very sweet to Winnie. He has been in love with Winnie for a long time, adding depth to the story.
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Winnie and Kallum are complete opposites, and her journey to self-discovery after being raised as a puritan woman sets this holiday romance apart from the ordinary.
Stella West is left in a bind when her lead window designer runs off just days before the grand unveiling of the store’s Christmas windows.
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With only 48 hours remaining until the windows’ ribbon-cutting ceremony, Stella scrambles to assemble a ragtag team of store employees to finish the job. ( inclusing her best friend Hector )
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As the team races to complete the store’s twenty-six ‘Home for the Holidays’-themed Christmas windows, Stella is stunned to discover that Hector,Ā is newly single, leading her to realize that the feelings she had buried for him long ago may run deeper than she ever imagined.
Why you should read it
Set in the 1940s, 26 Ways to Come Home for the Holidays‘is a holiday romance similar to Tessa Bailey’s Window Shopping. The story centers on the design and decoration of the Christmas windows at Hanover’s Department Store.
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A cozy colleague-to-lovers Christmas romance with the added element of humorous situations that arise as the entire department rushes through the days to prepare the store’s twenty-six “Home for the Holidays”-themed Christmas windows.
After losing her fiancee three years ago, Thirty-year-old Holliday Harrison is working now at a Holiday resort, just the warm enviroment she needs right now.
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But everything is about to change when handsome, blue-eyed businessmanĀ Damon MacAndrewĀ arrives to stay at the Resort, with the intention of buying the place and change everything about it.
Why you should read it
Who doesn’t love cute log cabins, the smell of freshly baked cookies, and hot cocoa?
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Christmas Secrets in the Scottish Highlands brings all the winter holiday romance vibes in this charming enemies-to-lovers story.
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Both Damon and Holliday had their own reasons for being at the resort, and they will try to understand each other by opening themselves to (maybe) love and acceptance.
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A super cozy holiday romance, perfect for getting into the Christmas spirit.
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Top Christmas Romance Books that we love to binge-read
Stella finds herself staring at the hideous shop window decoration at the famous Vivant department store. Suddenly, a charming man named Aiden asks for her opinion.
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Unable to lie, she says what she thinks, and he quickly requests a better idea.
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Little did she know that the handsome man who wears eccentric bow ties is the owner of the store, and now Stella is working for him. Being a girl with a difficult past, this is an opportunity she cannot pass up. But will she be able to resist temptation?
Why you should read it
Tessa Bailey has truly outdone herself with Window Shopping.
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This Christmas romance book is like watching a Hallmark movie, but BETTER. Aiden is one of my favorite book boyfriends. I have a soft spot for cinnamon roll love interests, and he is the embodiment of that
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Aiden is all smiles, soft and tender but a total bad boy in bed.
I find that kind of duality in a character utterly captivating.
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If you’re a fan of the grumpy sunshine trope (although, in this case, she is the grump and he is the sunshine flower haha), you absolutely must make this holiday romance a priority on your Christmas booklist.!
Laurie doesn’t believe in love at first sight, but on a snowy December day, she sees a man who she knows instantly is the one..and then her bus drives away.
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Laurie spends a year scanning every bus stop and cafe in London for him. And finally they “reunite”” at a Christmas party, when her best friend Sarah giddily introduces her new boyfriend to Laurie.
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What follows for Laurie, Sarah and Jack is ten years of friendship, heartbreak, missed opportunities, roads not taken, and destinies reconsidered.
Why you should read it
Ā I love the premise in One Day in December
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Laurie and Jack experienced that unique kind of spark at first sight, the one typically found in books or movies. Their paths cross years later, and he happens to be her best friend’s boyfriend.
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Could a Christmas romance book have a better premise?
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One Day in December is full of angst, tension, and heartbreak moments. It’s the story of three people who try not to hurt each other. Is destiny inevitable? Does the perfect match exist? I wholeheartedly recommend this book if you’re in the mood for a different love story, not the typical feel-good holiday romance.
Is last christmas for Maelyn Jones in her fasvorite place in the world: the snowy Utah cabin where she and her family have spent every holiday since she was born.
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After asking the universe for a wish, she finds herself on an airplane bound to utah, where she begins the same holiday all over again.
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With one hilarious disaster after another sending her back to the plane, Mae must figure out how to break free of the strange time loopāand finally get her true love under the mistletoe.
Why you should read it
In this best-selling holiday romance by Christina Lauren, Maelyn Jones finds herself trapped in a Groundhog Day-style situation, reliving the same day over and over again.
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In a Holidaze will captivate you, making it impossible to set the book aside.
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The story centers around Maelyn’s journey to break free from the recurring time loops and discover what truly brings her happiness.
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Of course, one of the main reasons for this self-discovery journey is her secret infatuation with her childhood friend, Andrew. Maelyn has been secretly in love with him for 13 years, and maybe now, with her wish granted, she can mend her mistakes and find the true love she deserves.
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This unique, heartwarming holiday romance, filled with the same warmth and sweet moments found in Christina Lauren’s works, is a must-read this Christmas season.
Thirty-four-year-old Kate Turner gets signed up by her best friend for a dating agency that promises to help singles find love before the holidays.
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With only twenty-three days until Christmas and twelve dates with twelve different men, each new date turns out more disastrous than the one before.
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Kate must remind herself that sometimes love, like mistletoe, shows up where it’s least expected. And maybe, just maybe, it’s been right under her nose all along…
Why you should read it
The Twelve Dates of Christmas is a holiday romance with small-town vibes and Christmas spirit.
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Kate is 34 years old, very single, and goes through a series of 12 dates that we, as readers, will enjoy witnessing. From complete disasters to totally awkward encounters, she seems to be a lost cause when it comes to love.
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I love the premise of the book and its originality. Without giving away anything from the story, I truly think that – although predictable – this holiday romance hits all the right points to become a top favorite for the winter season.
In an effort to save the Christmas tree farm sheās loved since she was a kid, Stella enters a contest with Instagram-famous influencer Evelyn St. James.
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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. Onlyā¦there is no boyfriend.
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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 heās ever received.
Why you should read it
I can’t be objective with this one because fake dating is one of my favorite contemporary tropes.
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Enemies to lovers with fake dating? I’m in.
Friends to lovers like the one in question? I’m the first in line.
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Add to this a small-town vibe with all the Christmas spirit and holiday magic, and you’re in front of a heartwarming and enchanting holiday romance that will melt your heart.
Amelia Lee is finally free from a toxic relationship with her ex-boyfriend, and her friends are determined to find her a new prospect.
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They set her up for a blind date, and it turns out the guy is quite good-looking and way younger than her.
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The more time Amelia spends with Isaac, the more she realizes he just might be perfect for her.
But is he only the rebound guy? Or can they actually make this newfound romance work?
Why you should read it
Blind Date is a reverse grumpy sunshine in all its goodness.
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Isaac is a young (he is 21) and good-looking guy who is a gentleman and sweet like a cinnamon roll.
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Our heroine is a grumpy girl with serious doubts about entering a relationship with a 21-year-old after a rough break-up.
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Blind Date is full of sweet, heartwarming moments, with all the Christmas magic you expect from a novel set on a Christmas tree farm.
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A feel-good, cozy holiday read with a cute reverse age gap romance that needs to be on your shelves!
Abbie Keller had her heart broken by her ex-boyfriend, Richard Bartholemew Benson the Third, who coincidentally works at the same law firm as she does. Richard left her, claiming she ‘wasn’t serious enough’ for him.
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So, she does what every person does when they’ve been through a breakup: she calls her friends, gets drunk, and devises her plan for revenge.
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Abbie begins dating Damien Martinez, the founding partner of Richard’s law firm, with one goal in mind: persuading him to invite her as his date to the grand annual Christmas party.
Why you should read it
Are you in the mood for good Christmas feel-good rom-com? ( with steamy scenes should I add hehe ) If so, you should definitely give Tis the Season for Revenge a try!
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This Christmas romance book is fast-paced, steamy, and features a lovely Latino love interest who is wealthy, with a 14-year age difference He even affectionately calls her ‘RUBIA,’ which translates to ‘blonde’ in English! OMG **dies**
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In my opinion, this is the ultimate holiday age-gap romance.
This sums up my Top Christmas Romance Books to read in 2023
My top picks in this Christmas Romance Book List are the spicy rom-com Window Shopping and the feel-good clean romance Bright Lights, Big Christmas.
My Top picks: Best Christmas Romance Books to read this Season
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