Merry Christmas to everyone celebrating! And happy Monday if you're not! This is my last holiday book rec post of the year. I meant to have it up a few days ago, but holiday preparations (so much baking) and continuing struggles with fatigue post covid delayed me. There's still time to dive into some festive romance, though! I'm certainly still reading them. Today's recs are all contemporary romances.
The Geek Who Saved Christmas by Annabeth Albert (M/M, Christmas): Gideon loves the holidays and is extremely involved in the neighborhood, always there to help or plan, while his neighbor Paul keeps to himself and doesn't do anything for the holidays. But when Paul's beloved younger brother (whom he raised) announces he's coming for Christmas with his girlfriend, Paul doesn't want to disappoint him, and Gideon is more than happy to help him decorate and get into the Christmas spirit. I love this grumpy/sunshine, found family romance. The audio is great too.
Eight Nights in December by Keira Andrews (M/M, Hanukkah): Orphaned Lucas assumes he's going to spend holiday break alone on campus, but his roommate's family insists he go home with them to New York City. There he ends up sharing a room with and falling for his college roommate's brothers during the Hanukkah celebration.
Mangos & Mistletoe by Adriana Herrera (F/F, Christmas): Two Dominican bakers with extremely different life and career experiences end up working together to try to win a Great British Bake Off-type competition in Scotland. There's definitely some more angst in this romance than in a lot of the others recommended here (and quite a bit of steam), but the way the two women and forgive and make it work is wonderful. Also, amazing descriptions of baked goods.
A Whole Latke Love by Jodi Payne (M/M, Hanukkah): Matthew is trying to get through his law firm's holiday party when he unexpectedly finds latkes on the buffet table and escapes to the kitchen to eat them in peace and quiet. There, he finds Ethan, his one night stand, who works for the caterer. Ethan offers to make latkes for Matthew another night, even though he doesn't actually know how to make them and has to get his grandmother to teach him. A cute, sweet holiday novella.
One Bed for Christmas by Jackie Lau (M/F, Christmas): Wes and Caitlin have known each other for ten years, and Wes has had a crush on Caitlin for just as long. They met in college, and now Caitlin is a CEO and Wes is dancing in an inflatable T-Rex costume (this is a job). When Caitlin leaves work late in the middle of a snowstorm, she asks to stay with Wes instead of trying to get home. What follows is a cute, funny little friends-to-lovers, only-one-bed novella.
Icecapade by Josh Lanyon (M/M, Christmas): On New Years Eve, a jewel thief seduced the FBI agent hunting for him and then fled (with the diamonds he was there to steal). Years later, Noel is an ex-thief who lives in a farmhouse and writes books based on his exploits—and wrote that FBI agent in as his hero's nemesis and potential love interest. He also leaves a yearly drunken phone message for Robert. When Robert shows up on Noel's doorstep right before Christmas, he's excited, until he finds out Robert is there to question him about a string of thefts. Josh Lanyon has a few holiday novellas I love, but this might be my favorite.
Holiday Outing by Astrid Amara (M/M, Hanukkah): Jonah hasn't been home in years, but he's going home for Hanukkah this year and he's going to finally tell his parents that he's gay and that he's a successful gay romance author, not the struggling writer his parents believe him to be. But one thing after another keeps happening: his flight is delayed and his luggage lost, a record blizzard snows him in with his entire family, the power goes out, and he has to share his childhood bedroom with his childhood rival, Ethan, who is now a doctor and seems to be flirting with him. Then a precious, valuable family heirloom goes missing and Jonah is suspected of taking it. The plot of Holiday Outing is a bit zany and bonkers but it's also so fun and festive and I love the romance. I've reread this a bunch of times over the years.
Checking it Twice by Lucy Bexley (F/F, Christmas): Sacha has been dreading her sister's Christmas wedding, but she goes to her family's cabin in Northern Michigan anyway. There, she finds that her sister has hired a wedding planner that Sacha can't stop thinking about. Wedding planner Hal lives by checklists and has had a crush on Sacha since high school, though the two couldn't be more different. This was a really adorable, fun opposites attract romance.
Rest and Be Thankful by Joanna Chambers (M/M, Hogmanay): Things aren't going well for Cam—his business is failing, his cottage is falling apart, and a public disagreement with Rob, another local business owner has him a social outcast—but his sister gave him a ticket to the biggest Hogmanay party in Glasgow, so things are looking up. Unfortunately, a snowstorm strands him in the middle of nowhere, with only Rob's house close enough for him to seek shelter. This novella is the perfect little New Year's romance with two people making up their disagreements and untangling misunderstandings in a cozy Highland setting. It ends on a lovely hopeful note for the new year.
Do you have any favorite contemporary holiday romances?
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