- Everyone has heard of The Holiday and Love Actually, but what about the hidden gems of holiday romcom books?
- If you love festive romance but want something fresh, this list is for you!
- Cozy up with your favorite holiday drink and get ready to add to your TBR pile.
1. Holiday Romance by Catherine Walsh
I adore this book so much. Not only is the romance adorable but I love the accents, and since I predominantly read in audiobook, I got to enjoy to the gorgeous Irish accents. This book is about two friends (who became friends because they took the same flight back to Ireland every year for Christmas) trying to get home for the holidays when a big storm cancels their flight and makes it nearly impossible to get back to Ireland for Christmas. And along the way they just might realize they’re in love.
- Why You’ll Love It: Friends to Lovers trope, crazy Christmas in airports, fun Christmas shenanigans, and Ireland at Christmas.
- The Holiday Vibes: Set in a small town in Ireland with one family that celebrates Christmas big, and another that celebrates being together more than celebrates Christmas.
2. Snowed In by Catherine Walsh
This is the second book in Catherine Walsh’s Holiday RomComs with the male main character’s brother from book one in the lead role this time and a runaway bride from their small town in Ireland. She’s going back to town for the first time since she left for the holidays, and he’s tired of being pitied for being single, so they hatch a plan to fake-date over the holidays and break up when they get back to Dublin. More amazing Irish accents in this book as well.
- Why You’ll Love It: Fake Dating, Runaway bride, Snowed in trope, Ireland at Christmas.
- The Holiday Vibes: Set in same small town, drama with the town golden boy.
3. Eight Winter Nights by Liz Maverick
This book is super cute and mildly frustrating, but in a good way. This story follows a woman who gave up the man of her dreams to her best friend before her best friend knew she had feelings for him. The best friend and dream man date for a year and then break up. Her best friend asks her to nurse him back to health while she goes on a trip they (best friend and dream guy) were supposed to take together. He has a broken leg and a broken heart… sort of. Anyway, during her stay at his apartment, he asks her to help get the best friend back and with some heartbreak of her own, agrees. It’s a very well crafted, well balanced story and instead of Christmas, this time we’re celebrating Hanukkah, which is very fun to see.
- Why You’ll Love It: Friends to Lovers, Hanukkah story, short read, interconnected friend group.
- The Holiday Vibes: New York city at Christmas and Hanukkah, high end New York party/ home life, mixed with cozy family life.
4. Nick and Noel’s Playlist by Codi Hall
Her best friend since diapers is coming back home for good and she can’t wait to get the band back together, figuratively (at first), but they are both unceremoniously dumped by their dubious partners and end up putting on a show for the whole town to get back at them, only the attraction is real. But then the question becomes is their attraction bigger than their friendship?
- Why You’ll Love It: Christmas wedding, best friends to lovers, fake dating, small town big celebration, Christmas tree farm.
- The Holiday Vibes: Christmas town in Idaho with cozy family Christmas vibes and family traditions being respected and brought back to life.
5. I’m Dreaming of an Undead Christmas by Molly Harper
Now, I’m including this one for a bit of color. It is paranormal and it’s the prequel to the main characters full story, but I absolutely love all things Molly Harper and this is one of my absolute favorite holidays that the found family has together. It is part of an interconnected series with a four book series about Jane Jameson at the front, but you don’t have to read those to get this book, though it will make the inside jokes much funnier.
- Why You’ll Love It: home for the holidays, vampires, found family
- The Holiday Vibes: Kentucky at Christmas, cozy family traditions
What’s your favorite underrated holiday RomCom? Drop your recommendations in the comments!
If you want to hear me gush over these books and the subsequent series they are part of (minus the paranormal) then head on over to my YouTube channel to check out this week’s video where I do just that!
Did you know that I’m writing a Holiday RomCom Trilogy?
Well, I am and the Kickstarter project will be coming to you first week of September. You can check out the Kickstarter here.
