8 Romance Advent Calendar Books to Read This Christmas
Have you seen romance Advent calendar books yet? Because as someone who LOVES Advent calendars, this is one holiday book trend that is right up my alley.
Instead of simply curling up with a Christmas romance, these unique books turn your holiday reading into an actual countdown to Christmas. Most give you a new sealed chapter to physically open each day, while others tuck each day’s reading into its own pocket or give you an entire love story to unwrap.
I already have The 12 Dates of Christmas and A Heart for Christmas in hand, and these books are seriously enticing. They’re beautifully designed, gift-worthy books with sleek chapters just begging to be opened.
The hardest part may be waiting until the next day to open another one!
So whether you’re looking for a fun new way to enjoy your holiday reading or need a unique gift for the romance reader in your life, these are the romance Advent calendar books to check out this Christmas.
What Is a Romance Advent Calendar Book?
A romance Advent calendar book is a holiday romance designed to be read a little at a time as you count down to Christmas.
Many contain 24 individually sealed chapters that you physically tear open, giving you one new chapter to read each day. Others hide each day’s reading inside individual pockets or give you separately sealed short love stories to open throughout the season.
Basically, it’s an Advent calendar made for romance book lovers, and I’m here for it!
*Disclosure: This post may include affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
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The Best Romance Advent Calendar Books
The 12 Dates of Christmas
by Ruby Winter
If you want a full-length adult romance AND the fun of opening a new chapter every day, The 12 Dates of Christmas is one to check out.
Burnt-out New York journalist Evie McClane escapes to London for December where she meets a Christmas-loving Brit who thinks twelve dates can change her mind about the holidays and maybe love along with it.
The gorgeous hardcover is divided into 24 sealed, perforated chapters to open throughout the countdown to Christmas. I received a complimentary copy of The 12 Dates of Christmas from the publisher, and while I haven’t read it yet, the presentation alone makes me want to start opening those chapters!
A Heart for Christmas
by Sophie Jomain
This YA romance follows eighteen-year-old April, who has been carefully restricting her life since receiving a heart transplant two years ago. But a Christmas spent in the French Alps and reconnecting with her best friend’s adventurous older brother may be exactly what she needs to start truly living again.
The story unfolds across 24 sealed chapters that you open one at a time leading up to Christmas. I have this one in hand, and it’s every bit as beautiful and gift-worthy as The 12 Dates of Christmas.
25 Dates of Christmas
by Kathryn Freeman
Enemies to lovers AND a Christmas Advent calendar? This one definitely caught my attention.
After the death of her brother, Anna discovers that his final request was for her to complete a series of Advent-style daily adventures with his handsome but arrogant best friend, Luke. As they work their way through his Christmas challenges, their initially icy relationship begins to thaw.
The romance unfolds across 24 individually sealed chapters, giving you one new piece of their story to open each day.
Christmas Eve Love Story: An Advent Book
by Ginny Baird
A Christmas Eve time loop AND an Advent calendar romance? This one sounds like such a fun combination.
When Annie’s Christmas window display at an iconic New York City department store is destroyed on Christmas Eve, a mysterious store Santa offers some advice on starting over. She just doesn’t expect to wake up the next morning and find herself repeating Christmas Eve again and again, growing closer to security guard Braden along the way.
Instead of sealed chapters, this special Advent edition tucks each day’s installment into its own pocket for you to open as you count down to Christmas.
Make sure you purchase Christmas Eve Love Story: An Advent Book if you want the interactive Advent version, as the original novel is also available in a standard edition.
The Secret Santa Setup
by Sarah Hutt
For another YA option, The Secret Santa Setup brings enemies to lovers to a Christmas tree farm.
Sixteen-year-old Amanda has plenty planned for December, including working at a coffee pop-up at the Post family Christmas tree farm and organizing Secret Santa with her friends. She doesn’t plan on Luke Post giving her the cold shoulder or drawing his name for Secret Santa. But getting to know each other may turn out to be all Amanda and Luke could ever want for Christmas.
This one gives you 25 sealed chapters instead of 24, so you can open one every day from December 1 straight through Christmas Day.
It’s Christmas Crime!
by Anouk Filippini
If you like a little mystery mixed into your romance, this YA pick gives the Advent format a fun twist.
Suzanne arrives in Paris for an apprenticeship at a prestigious bakery only to find herself rolling croissants instead of working with the head pastry chef and then witnessing an actual murder. Add two intriguing guys, the victim’s mysterious last words and a murder to solve, and her Christmas in Paris becomes a lot more complicated than expected.
The cozy holiday mystery and romance unfold across 24 individually sealed chapters that you tear open one day at a time.
All the Jingle Ladies
by Beth Garrod
Molly has good reason to hate Christmas. Ten years ago her parents released a cheesy holiday song featuring Molly dressed as an adorable little elf, and now the song has resurfaced on the soundtrack of the hottest new holiday movie.
While Molly tries desperately to keep her embarrassing Christmas past under wraps, a cute guy she meets at the movie premiere gives her something much better to think about. Except it turns out she’s not the only one hiding her real identity.
Unlike the 24-day Advent books on this list, this special edition divides the story into 12 chapters, with each installment tucked inside its own pocket to open during the countdown to Christmas.
Make sure you’re purchasing the Advent edition, as All the Jingle Ladies is also available as a standard novel.
The Twelve Loves of Christmas: An Advent Romance Collection
What if you’d rather open a complete love story instead of another chapter?
The Twelve Loves of Christmas switches up the Advent format with 12 individually sealed short romances from authors including Alexandria Bellefleur, Olivia Dade, Alexis Daria, Sarah Hogle, Rebecca Jenshak, Jessica Joyce and Rebekah Weatherspoon.
You’ll find forced proximity, second chance romance, rivals to lovers, friends to lovers, fake dating and more, giving you a completely new couple and happily ever after each time you open a story.
This is definitely the pick for anyone who wants to sample multiple romance authors or loves the idea of getting 12 complete love stories in one gift-worthy book.
Which Romance Advent Calendar Book Should You Read?
Not sure which one to pick? Start here:
For an adult romance: → The 12 Dates of Christmas
For enemies to lovers: → 25 Dates of Christmas
For best friend’s older brother: → A Heart for Christmas
For a Christmas tree farm: → The Secret Santa Setup
For romance + cozy mystery: → It’s Christmas Crime!
For a pocket-style Advent book: → Christmas Eve Love Story
For 12 complete love stories: →The Twelve Loves of Christmas
For a gift: → Honestly, any of them! These Advent-style books are such a fun, unique gift for a romance reader.
I personally love the idea of making a romance book part of my holiday countdown. Now I just have to see whether I can actually stop myself after opening only ONE chapter!
Want More Holiday Romance Books?
Keep your holiday TBR going with even more of my favorite Christmas romance book lists:
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…because life is better with a love story 💕
Ok, I ordered 25 Dates of Christmas (Kathryn Freeman). I bought A Heart for Christmas last year, and it was terrible. I should have read the Amazon reviews more closely. I think it was a French YA, and it’s translated poorly, not to mention the writing is pretty bad. The book itself is beautiful. Sadly, I couldn’t even bring myself to finish it.
Thanks for the feedback on A Heart for Christmas! Circle back and let me know what you think of 25 Dates of Christmas!