Best Christmas Romance Books That Are Actually Worth Reading

There is nothing I love more than curling up with a Christmas romance once the holiday season rolls around. Give me the twinkle lights, snowed-in settings, family chaos, Christmas tree farms, and two people falling in love in the middle of it all.

But I’ve read a LOT of Christmas romance books over the years, and they definitely aren’t all created equal. These are the best Christmas romance books I’ve read and genuinely recommend, including the ones I still think about years later and happily reread every holiday season.

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The Best Christmas Romance Books to Read Right Now

The Plight Before Christmas
by Kate Stewart

Second Chance, Forced Proximity, Family Christmas

If I could only recommend one Christmas romance book, it would probably be this one. Whitney heads to her family’s cabin expecting the usual chaotic Collins family Christmas, only to discover that her brother has brought along an unexpected guest: Eli, the ex who broke her heart years ago.

Their forced proximity gives Whitney and Eli nowhere to hide from their history, and I was completely invested as the truth about their breakup slowly came into focus. But it’s the combination of that emotional second chance and the messy, funny, loving Collins family Christmas that makes this book unforgettable.

I gave it five stars for a reason. It’s one I can happily reread every Christmas.

→ Read my full review

A Very Bossy Christmas
by Kayley Loring

Office Romance, Fake Relationship, He Falls First

The chemistry between Maddie and Declan is SO good, and years after first reading this book, that’s still what immediately comes to mind. Maddie agrees to pose as her boss’s girlfriend so she can spend Christmas Eve with her family while Declan can finally save face at his own family’s holiday gatherings.

It’s the perfect setup to unleash everything that’s been simmering underneath their antagonistic office relationship. The banter is hilarious, the attraction is undeniable, and Declan somehow manages to be arrogant and incredibly thoughtful at the same time.

Pick this when you want your Christmas romance funny, flirty, and definitely on the steamier side.

→ Read my full review

Grace and Henry’s Holiday Movie Marathon
by Matthew Norman

Widow/Widower, Friendship, Holiday Movies

This book absolutely blew me away. Grace and Henry are both facing their first holiday season after losing their spouses when their matchmaking mothers throw them into each other’s path, believing no one could better understand what the other is going through.

What starts as an unexpected friendship grows as Grace joins Henry in watching the Christmas movies that had been an annual tradition with his wife. I loved how those movie nights between Thanksgiving and Christmas bring them closer without ever making it feel as if they’re simply replacing what they lost.

The wonderful banter, Grace’s fantastic kids, and the balance of grief, humor, hope, and romance gave me every possible emotion. I finished it in one sitting with a completely full heart.

→ Read my full review

The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year
by Ally Carter

Mystery, Rivals, Unrequited Love

A Christmas romance and a locked-room mystery in one book? Ally Carter made that combination ridiculously fun. Rival mystery writers Maggie and Ethan are unexpectedly invited to spend Christmas at the English estate of a famous author, only for the holiday gathering to take a turn when their host suddenly disappears.

I felt like I’d been dropped into an escape room alongside them as they searched for clues, and I loved watching their relationship unravel right along with the mystery. The revelations about Ethan in particular make the romantic payoff SO satisfying.

If you want something completely different from the usual cozy Christmas rom-com, don’t miss this one.

The Christmas You Found Me
by Sarah Morgenthaler

Marriage of Convenience, Single Dad, Found Family

This is a quieter Christmas romance, but it absolutely wrecked me in the best possible way. Sienna’s decision to marry a single father she barely knows begins as a way to help him and his seriously ill daughter, bringing the three of them together on her Montana ranch during the holiday season.

I got completely swept up in this little found family and don’t think I’ve ever loved a single-father hero more. Both Sienna and Guy have so much heart and so much love to give, and watching them slowly recognize what they’ve found in each other had me bawling.

It’s a beautiful reminder of the power of love, which feels especially meaningful at Christmas. I can’t recommend it enough.

The Nightmare Before Kissmas
by Sara Raasch

M/M Romance, Holiday Royalty, Forbidden Romance

The Prince of Christmas falling for the Prince of Halloween while Christmas itself has become more about appearances and commercialization than joy? I had never read anything like this, and I was completely on board.

Coal is expected to play his part in his father’s perfectly orchestrated Christmas kingdom, including an arranged engagement, until Hex arrives and throws those plans into chaos. Their unexpected connection is funny and romantic, but I especially loved the honesty and care underneath it.

Sara Raasch somehow pairs ridiculous holiday puns and fantastical Christmas traditions with a genuinely thoughtful look at joy, grief, family expectations, and what celebrating a holiday should really mean.

→ Read my full review

All I Want Is You
by Falon Ballard

Second Chance, Snowed In, Only One Bed

Two romance writers with completely different ideas about happily ever after, snowed in together at Christmas? I was sold, especially when those writers happen to be exes who now have to confront why their own love story didn’t get its HEA.

Second chance romances can be hit or miss for me, and Jessica and Nick landed right in the sweet spot. Their connection made it easy to believe these two belonged together even while I was trying to figure out how they ever let each other go.

I also loved the nods to romance readers and writers woven throughout their story, especially the fun play on familiar tropes and happily ever afters. It’s sweet, spicy, and incredibly easy to devour.

→ Read my full review

A Holly Jolly Ever After
by Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone

Costars, Bedroom Lessons, He Falls First

Winnie and Kallum are thrown together to film a spicy Christmas movie, but there’s one fairly major problem: Winnie has spent her entire life playing by the rules and needs a little help making their onscreen chemistry believable. Enter Kallum, her extremely willing costar and teacher for some hands-on bedroom lessons.

Yes, their lessons make this one of the steamier books on this list, but that’s not actually why it became my favorite book in the Christmas Notch series. I loved watching Winnie thrive under Kallum’s attention and finally start figuring out what she wants after years of trying to be who everyone else expected.

And Kallum is so sweet, kind, and completely into her. Come for the spicy Christmas movie setup, but stay for a romance with just as much heart as heat.

→ Read my full review

Lovelight Farms
by B.K. Borison

Friends to Lovers, Fake Dating, Christmas Tree Farm

If your idea of the perfect Christmas romance involves twinkle lights, a struggling Christmas tree farm, and falling for the best friend who has been right there all along, Lovelight Farms needs to be on your list. Stella enters a contest hoping the prize money will save her beloved farm, but claiming she owns it with her boyfriend becomes a problem when that boyfriend doesn’t actually exist.

Luckily, Luka is willing to step into the role.

Their years of friendship give the romance a warmth and familiarity I loved, especially once pretending to be together starts pushing feelings they’ve buried for far too long to the surface. Add in the cozy small-town setting and Christmas tree farm atmosphere, and it’s easy to see why this has become such a beloved holiday romance.

Wreck the Halls
by Tessa Bailey

Rock Star Families, Instalove, Reality TV

Leave it to Tessa Bailey to build a Christmas romance around the adult children of two feuding rock stars trying to reunite their famous mothers for a Christmas Eve concert. Beat and Melody agree to livestream their reunion attempt, only for the whole thing to become far more chaotic and personal than either expected.

Beat and Melody are the reason I stayed up late and finished this book in one sitting. Their instant connection completely worked for me, especially Beat’s protectiveness of Melody and the way these two riff off one another.

There are even brawling Santas along the way. It’s not my pick for maximum Christmas coziness, but it IS ridiculously entertaining and unlike most holiday romances you’ll read.

→ Read my full review

More Christmas Romance Books to Binge

• Not Home Alone by Kayley Loring – Merrily’s dream Christmas rental comes with an unexpected roommate she definitely doesn’t want, creating hilarious forced-proximity holiday chaos with fun nods to Home Alone and The Nutcracker. → Read my full review

• An Ex for Christmas by Lauren Layne – A Christmas fortune sends Kelly searching through her exes for her supposed true love while her best friend Mark is right there, giving me the holiday nostalgia and friends-to-lovers payoff I love.

• Charming Co-Worker by Jeannine Colette and Lauren Runow – Katie fake dates coworker Hunter hoping to finally catch her boss’s attention, only for their Christmas charade to reveal that Hunter is the man who truly sees and appreciates her for who she is. → Read my full review

• Snowed In by Catherine Walsh – Two old acquaintances agree to fake being together to survive Christmas at home, giving you witty banter, forced proximity, and exactly the kind of festive rom-com that’s easy to devour.

• A Jingle Bell Mingle by Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone – Two creatives struggling with Christmas projects join forces in Christmas Notch, turning their previous hookup into a steamy romance that’s just as unconventional as the rest of this series. → Read my full review

• The Holly Dates by Brittainy C. Cherry – Holly is determined to find someone to bring home for Christmas, and watching grumpy Kai reluctantly help her date her way toward the holiday gives this romance such a fun opposites-attract setup.

• The 14 Days of Christmas by Louise Bay – A Christmas-loving heroine determined to embrace every bit of her festive small town clashes with a holiday grump who wants nothing to do with the season in this Hallmark-style romance with more heat. → Read my full review

• The Holiday Swap by Maggie Knox – Twin sisters swap lives in the weeks before Christmas and unexpectedly find love along the way in this light, festive holiday rom-com. → Read my full review

• In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren – Mae gets stuck reliving the same Christmas vacation over and over, giving this longtime holiday favorite a magical twist as she finally goes after the life and love she really wants. → Read my full review

• Christmas from Hell by R.L. Mathewson – An accident-prone heroine and the neighbor desperate to avoid becoming her next casualty get tangled up together over Christmas in this over-the-top, laugh-out-loud holiday romance.

• The Trouble with Mistletoe by Jill Shalvis – Christmas brings Willa back together with the man who stood her up in high school, giving their second chance plenty of holiday charm, mistletoe moments, and chemistry.

How to Pick Your Next Christmas Romance Book

Not sure which one to start with? Here’s what I’d choose depending on the kind of Christmas romance you’re craving:

Want my ultimate Christmas romance? → The Plight Before Christmas

Want all the feels? → Grace and Henry’s Holiday Movie Marathon

Want funny + steamy? → A Very Bossy Christmas

Want cozy Christmas vibes? → Lovelight Farms

Want a mystery with your romance? → The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year

Want something completely different? → The Nightmare Before Kissmas

Want a quieter, emotional love story? → The Christmas You Found Me

More Christmas & Holiday Romance Books

• Best New Christmas Romance Books of 2026
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• Best Christmas Romance Novellas
• Best Christmas Romance Books on Kindle Unlimited
• Best Historical Christmas Romance Books
• Best Grumpy Sunshine Christmas Romance Books
• Best Hanukkah Romance Books
• Romance Advent Calendar Books
• Holiday Romance Book Hub

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