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Very merry holiday romances

By Kobo • December 22, 2024Recommended Reading

'tis the season!

Big family gatherings, unexpected blizzards, impromptu road trips, cozy mountain cabins, small-town festivities, and surprise revelations: these Christmas romances have everything that makes holiday stories so magical. From an enemies-to-lovers novel with lots of flirty banter to a gentle grumpy/sunshine romance that deals with the messy emotions that often come up around the holidays, these books are full of all the festive feelings. They're perfect reads for celebrating the spirit of Christmas at any time of year.

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Polar Opposites by Barbara Kellyn

Spending Christmas working in Northern Manitoba may not sound like the perfect holiday for some, but for American magazine writer Zora Dunn, it's exactly what she needs to get her head back in the game after the death of her beloved father. Zora is fully prepared to conquer the icy wilderness and hopefully her stubborn writer's block too. After a grim prognosis, Canadian photographer Luke MacNeil is focused on getting the job done and finding his next freelance gig before time runs out. He’s also got a grudge against prissy know-it-alls like Zora Dunn. As the mercury drops, the tension between he and Zora becomes thicker than the surrounding sea ice.

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This Is Not a Holiday Romance by Camilla Isley

This festive forced proximity romance is the perfect blend of scorching and sweet. A long-standing prank war with Nina's least favorite person, her brother's best friend Tristan, turns into something else entirely when they find themselves snowed in together one Christmas. Their animosity quickly blossoms into chemistry, but turning that Christmas chemistry into something that will last beyond the season requires them to both finally face their shared past with honesty.

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Glass Tidings by Amy Jo Cousins

Eddie Rodrigues has one rule: he doesn't stay anywhere long enough to get attached, because getting attached means getting hurt. So he's not exactly thrilled when he witnesses a hit-and-run in a tiny Midwestern town and has to stay to provide evidence to the police. They put him up at the house of local shop owner Grayson Croft, who isn't delighted by the company...until he is. This is a soft, tender romance about two lonely men slowly learning to trust each other. It's perfect for readers who like their Christmas romances on the slow-burn, serious side.

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Wrapped Up in You by Talia Hibbert

When famous Hollywood actor Will Reid comes home to the UK with a plan to woo his recently-divorced, life-long BFF Abbie Farrell, he finds himself with a dilemma: how does he prove to her that he’s serious, instead of just passing the time? When a snowstorm leaves them practically alone together, he takes his chance.

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Christmas in Spite of You by K.C. Mills

In this fresh spin on the classic "stuck with you for Christmas" trope, a Christmas-loving entrepreneur and a grumpy up-and-coming businessman find themselves in an unusual situation over the holidays. Noel has rented out her apartment, planning to spend a week relaxing with her family, but she gets sick and has to cancel. Kanton Joseph arrives expecting to find an empty house and is greeted instead by Noel. The two agree to try sharing the space for a week, with hilarious—and heartwarming—results. This is a cheerful, cozy read, perfect for anyone looking for a dose of the Christmas spirit.

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The Christmas Pact by Meg Easton

This warm, emotional romance is full of small-town winter charm and a crew of irresistible side characters. Ever since her gran-gran died, Noelle has hated Christmas. Her boss, Jack, has never liked Christmas either, but his sister is a single mom undergoing chemo, and he wants to make the holiday extra special for his nephew. He asks Noelle to help him work some Christmas magic, and she reluctantly agrees. Spending so much time together makes it impossible for them to ignore their attraction, but they'll need a little Christmas magic themselves to work through the challenges standing in the way of their happily ever after.

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The Christmas Catch by Clare Lydon

Blizzard: check. Unexpected Christmas road trip: check. Two friends, one of whom has a secret crush on the other: check. Only one bed: check. This delicious queer rom-com has everything that makes Christmas romance so appealing, from wintery weather to that unique "it's the holidays, so anything can happen" feeling. As childhood friends Morgan and Ali make their way from Glasgow to Devon, battling snowy roads and unpredictable trains, they begin to open up to each other and learn that sometimes being stuck on the road with someone for days on end actually does lead to a happy ending.

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The Mistletoe Motive by Chloe Liese

She’s full of festive cheer. He’s brimming with Bah, Humbugs. The only thing Jonathan Frost and Gabriella Di Natale have in common is a healthy dose of mutual contempt. Well, that and the same place of employment at the city’s beloved independent bookstore, Bailey’s Bookshop. But when the store’s owners confess its dire financial state, Jonathan and Gabby discover another unfortunate commonality: the imminent threat of unemployment. As the pressure mounts to save the bookshop and her job, Gabby and Jonathan realize they've misread each other.

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It Happened One Christmas Eve by Jenn McKinlay

There's something about a Christmas adventure that makes for the best holiday romance. This hilarious novel begins with a dramatic escape. Claire has agreed to marry the man her mother has picked out for her to ensure that the family trust will keep funding the museum she runs. But on the night of the big holiday gala, when a man dressed as Santa arrives in a horse-drawn carriage to present her engagement ring, Claire can't take it—she hops into the carriage and flees the scene. Santa is actually a reporter named Sam, who took the job to get close to Claire for a story. Thrown together, Claire and Sam decide to help each other out. This whimsical book is the perfect Christmas rom-com for anyone looking for a bit of unexpected magic.

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Merry Kissmas by Piper Rayne

A second chance romance + having to unexpectedly share a cozy villa during a winter getaway = the perfect, feel-good Christmas rom-com. Six years after sharing an unforgettable one-night stand, Brynn thinks she's over Pierce, despite how hot and thoughtful he is. Then he turns up on her ski vacation, and, what's worse, they're assigned to the same villa. What follows is a sweet, low-stakes story about two people who can't resist the pull between them and finally realize that they don't have to.

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