If you're in the mood for heartwarming holiday reads that deliver cozy romance, I've rounded up a few of my favorite books perfect for the season. From snowy getaways to festive faux engagements, these stories are sure to bring joy and a little holiday magic.

For a more extended list, you can peruse my roundup on Bookshop.org for more holiday romance suggestions.

Just a heads-up: Some of the links on this blog are affiliate links. That means if you click on a product link and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission—at no extra cost to you. (And I will be most appreciative.) Rest assured, I only share products and brands I genuinely love and think you will too.

A Holly Jolly Christmas by Emily Wright

A Christmas rom-com packed with enough festive cheer to make even the Grinch smile. We get all the holiday clichés—mistletoe, snowstorms, and family meddling—but somehow, it works.

Holly hasn’t returned to Mistleberry in two years, avoiding the town and the painful memories of her brother's death. Now back home for Christmas, she’s grappling with her family’s grief, a relentless ex, and an unexpected run-in with Vicky, her first love and biggest regret, who (of course) is looking better than ever.

Dear Christmas by Sarah Ready

I was not expecting this to be SO EMOTIONAL (especially considering the predecessor to this book, Scrooging Christmas, is a bit OTT), but it really was beautifully done—even in epistolary form, which is really difficult to achieve. There is a happy ending, but it takes a long time to get there. But I promise it is worth the read! With just enough drama to keep you guessing, it’s the perfect way to remind yourself that, yes, miracles can still happen. (Well, at least in fiction.)

Drama King by Penny Reid

A holiday romance for those who like their love stories with a side of chaos. The second in this series, Drama King is full of snappy dialogue and characters who are just the right amount of ridiculous. Penny Reid delivers the banter I always love from her, plus a romance that’s as fiery as your least favorite family gathering.

I'll Be Gone for Christmas by Georgia K. Boone

In I'll Be Gone for Christmas, running away for the holidays never looked so good. It’s packed with adventure, romance, and a lead who ditches the traditional Christmas for something far more thrilling. Think of it as your ultimate escape from caroling and forced family dinners.

In the Event of Love by Courtney Kae

Small-town charm? Check. Holiday spirit? Double-check. In the Event of Love delivers a second-chance romance from Los Angeles to the mountains that feels as cozy as a fireside evening. Add in a dash of festive magic, and this is the holiday love story we all secretly want but rarely get.

Jingle All the Way by Debbie Macomber

You didn’t know you needed a holiday novel set on an expedition cruise on the Amazon River in Brazil until now. This is the classic “high-powered businesswoman in the big city needs a vacation far away at Christmas” romance novel with every cliché you could expect—and it’s great for that. Sometimes that is exactly what you need this time of year.

Kiss Her Once for Me by Alison Cochrun

Last year this quite quickly became one of my favorite holiday romance novels ever. Set in Portland, Oregon, picture a fake dating scheme set during the holidays that actually works. Kiss Her Once for Me is witty, queer, and full of messy yet lovable characters. Cochrun brings a fresh spin to the rom-com genre, making this one as heartwarming as it is laugh-out-loud funny.

Love, Holly by Emily Stone

Redeeming herself from one of her holiday romances that was definitely not a true romance (in that there was no happy ending), Emily Stone redeemed herself in my book/Goodreads account with another tearjerker that also lets you wallow in your feelings during the holidays. She knows how to pull at the heartstrings while weaving a love story that’s equal parts sentimental and swoon-worthy. Prepare to ugly cry, but in the best possible way.

Make My Wish Come True by Rachael Lippincott and Alyson Derrick

Two authors (who happen to be married to one another) and one charming holiday romance. Brand new this year, Make My Wish Come True gives us a delightful, wish-filled love story that reminds us all to dream big during the holidays. Hollywood star Arden needs a wholesome image, so what better way than faking a romance with her ex-best friend Caroline over 12 snowy dates? If you're into fake dating, small-town charm, and a sprinkle of unresolved tension, this one's for you.

Make the Season Bright by Ashley Herring Blake

As a huge fan of the Bright Falls series, I’ve been eagerly awaiting Ashley Herring Blake’s next book for a long time—especially since I saw the cover for this new book this past spring! (You can see where I got the inspiration for the blog illustrations.) In this brand new holiday book, Charlotte is content with her life in New York, but when the holidays approach, her string quartet mate convinces her to spend Christmas in Colorado. What she doesn't expect is to come face-to-face with her ex, Brighton, who broke her heart years ago. Stuck together in festive activities like cookie decorating and Christmas events, their unresolved history starts to resurface.

Merry and Bright by Debbie Macomber

Debbie Macomber is one of the two authors I repeated on this list; she is the original queen of old school holiday romances. (Some of her older work hasn’t aged as well, but the way she writes characters has picked up with the times, so I’ll give her credit for that.) One of the reasons I always go back to her writing is the way she writes—it’s just so comforting. That classic style and holiday cheer is back in Merry and Bright, a more modern romance set in Seattle around online dating and workplace romance that’s as sweet and predictable as Christmas cookies. But who cares? Sometimes you just want something soft, heartwarming, and full of holiday party moments, and this book delivers all that in spades.

Meet Me in London by Georgia Toffolo

Take a fake relationship, throw it into a glittering London holiday setting (in a London department store during the holidays as well), and you get Meet Me in London. Toffolo packs in just the right amount of festive charm, turning a classic rom-com trope into a feel-good love story that’ll have you grinning from ear to ear.

My Fake Bad Boyfriend by Sara Whitney

This one had me LOL’ing for a long time. It’s one of those books I wish I had written myself but I’ll never be that good. Sara Whitney turns the fake dating trope (as well as pleasing the family when coming home from the city) into a hilarious holiday romp. My Fake Bad Boyfriend is brimming with witty banter, laugh-out-loud moments, and just enough Christmas spirit to make even the biggest Scrooge crack a smile.

Nutcracker With Benefits by Liz Alden

This is one of the few times I wish a novella was a full-blown novel. It’s so much fun. The holidays get spicy in Nutcracker with Benefits. One of my favorite travel romance writers, Liz Alden takes a steamy twist on the holiday novella (that happens to be centered around a travel writer at home for the holidays in New York City; her small town being the Upper East Side), serving up just the right mix of naughty and nice. It’s short, sweet, and delightfully cheeky.

One Last Gift by Emily Stone

Prepare for another emotional rollercoaster with One Last Gift, where love and loss mix together in a holiday setting (as well as some summer throwbacks). Stone pulls at your heartstrings with this beautifully bittersweet romance, reminding us that the best gifts can’t be wrapped—and that love, even after loss, is always worth the risk.

Season of Love by Helena Greer

In Season of Love, Helena Greer proves that the holidays don’t have to be traditional to be magical at this Christmas tree farm owned by a Jewish family in the Adirondacks in upstate New York. With a queer love story, a dash of family drama, and plenty of Christmas cheer, this one’s as cozy as a fireside chat with your best friend. Plus, the character dynamics will leave you grinning.

The Book Club Hotel by Sarah Morgan

Sarah Morgan is another writer I’d repeat here on this list, but she has so, so many romance novels I love, I forced myself to pick one. Set in Vermont, Sarah Morgan combines two of life’s greatest pleasures—books and Christmas—into a feel-good read that’s like a warm cup of cocoa. It’s charming, full of heart, and the kind of story that makes you want to curl up and never leave. (I also wish this hotel really existed…)

The Christmas Swap by Talia Samuels

Set between London and the English countryside, this is a fresh twist on the holiday fake-dating trope. Margot, single after a breakup with her long-term girlfriend, strikes a deal with Ben: she gets a two-week escape from London, and he gets a fake girlfriend to bring home for the holidays. But when Margot meets Ben’s sister, Ellie, things take an unexpected turn. What starts as a pretend relationship quickly turns into an obviously coming mess of trying to keep up appearances while pursuing something real.

The Holiday Trap by Roan Parrish

This one is a more direct spin on the movie, The Holiday. The Holiday Trap mixes the magic of the holidays (and getting away from your family) with a pair of heartfelt, queer romances. Greta and Truman, two strangers living in very different worlds—Greta on a small, isolated island in Maine, and Truman in the bustling city of New Orleans—both need an escape from their lives. Enter the perfect solution: a home swap. Greta, fed up with her tight-knit, overbearing island community, heads to the vibrant streets of New Orleans, while Truman, recovering from heartbreak, seeks peace and quiet in Maine. As they settle into each other's lives, they begin to form unlikely connections with the people around them—Greta with a local New Orleans woman who helps her break out of her shell, and Truman with a rugged Maine lumberjack who shows him what true friendship (and maybe more) can look like.

The Mistletoe Motive by Chloe Liese

Enemies to lovers in a bookstore during the holidays? Yes, please. The Mistletoe Motive is full of charm, sass, and a lot of festive tension. Chloe Liese also always so deftly handles neurodivergent characters and brings plenty of wit to the table, crafting a novella that’s as heartwarming as it is hilarious, proving once again that opposites do attract.

Favorite Travel Reads: Holiday Romance