6 of My Favorite Holiday Novels + Novellas
tis the season for twinkly lights and cozy blankets, cheesy movies and mistletoe (but only in the movies? i’ve seriously never seen the stuff in real life…), and, OF COURSE, holiday reads! i have been flyyyying through some novellas and romances lately, and scoured through my shelves to remember what i’ve read in years past (but working at a church over the past few years at christmas time did NOT lend itself to much reading time…)
i would LOVE to hear your best holiday book recs (especially for holidays that are NOT christmas! woof, this list is very christmas-centric!) and if you enjoyed any of the ones i’ve included here, too.
i hope your december, however you choose to celebrate, is full of love and light and all the merriest of moments.
ps— all links are amazon affiliate links, so any purchases made once clicked will put a few pennies in my pocket. thanks in advance for your support!
the mistletoe motive (novella) by chloe liese // @chloe_liese does it again!!! a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read, full of glorious slow burn, enemies to lovers, you’ve got mail/hating game vibes set in a bookstore with #ownvoices representation and the best holiday charm! it’s a DELIIIIIIIGHT. 😍✨🎁
a risk worth taking (novelette) by jessica joyce // ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I LOVED THIS. MORE HOLIDAY NOVELLAS LIKE THIS. best tropes. best characters. connor stella FOREVER. claireful?!?! COME ON. adored it.
a season for second chances by jenny bayliss // ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (lol so i can’t find a review anywhere for this one, which is annoying, and i read it over two years ago so i don’t remember it enough to remember why i loved it?! but here’s a brief synopsis: “A charmingly quirky seaside town offers a recently separated restauranteur a fresh start and possibly a new lease on love.” sorry!!)
one day in december by josie silver // ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I really, really enjoyed this one. It’s totally my kind of love story — slightly predictable but endearing anyway (and with enough surprises to keep in interesting), a great meet cute, a strong female best friendship, a few emotional moments, male love interests with actual flaws and annoying moments... overall, a charming and cozy read perfect for this time of year. Now, when will this be a Netflix original movie?!
kiss her once for me by alison cochrun // ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️this was so cuuuuute and had the best representation and was just the most delightful little holiday read full of tropes galore! we love to see it!!! (and that’s as much of a review as i have energy for lolol sorry but just read it for a cute bisexual love story okay)
set the record straight (novella) by hannah bonam-young // ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ CUUUUUTEST holiday novella! don’t mind me finding all the sweet and short (and steamy 🥵) reads i can get my hands on because i’m determined to crush my reading goal and also to find escapism this season!!! this sapphic love story has the best fake dating set up, the most adorable friends to lovers and queer awakening storyline, some tender family moments, some reaaaally spicy scenes, and all the best christmas time magic too! i loved it 😍
