Wanna Cozy Up with a Good Holiday Rom-Com? These 12 Books Are Sure to Get You in the Spirit

Hannah Grace's Holiday Ever After instantly joined the ranks of my top favorite holiday reads ever. It has everything you could want in a Christmas story, from a small, Stars Hollow-esque snowy town (in this case, Fraser Falls) to the classic storyline of a big city woman (Clara) attempting to right the wrongs of the big corporation she works for (Davenport) by getting to know the townspeople and helping out their small businesses—in particular, Jack's, whose toy design was stolen by Davenport. Plus, it's fast-paced enough that you can totally tackle it in a weekend, provided you have plenty of hot chocolate on hand to set the scene, of course.

(Psst: This story is fab on audio, too, as narrated by Teddy Hamilton and Christine Laken.)

As a major How the Grinch Stole Christmas fan (yes, I love both the 2000 Jim Carrey and 2018 animated versions equally and, no, please don't ask my family how many times I've watched them over the years), How My Neighbor Stole Christmas was easily my most anticipated holiday read last year—and it didn't disappoint. From character names like Martha, Mae and Max, to the Dr. Seuss-esque rhymes that open every chapter, this book is a good time from the start. But prepare yourself, unlike those family-friendly movies, this read brings some *spice,* which IMO, only adds to the fun of it.

And thankfully, this year we have the sequel, Merrry Christmas, You Filthy Animal, (which comes with gorgeous sprayed edges and art throughout the book) to dive into.

When Fable and her billionaire boss both have to attend the same wedding over the holidays—where she will be the maid of honor and he needs a plus one—she's shocked that he agrees to be her fake boyfriend for the occasion (to make her cheating ex jealous, of course). But since a good holiday rom-com always has a fun twist, they're also thrown into a week-long Christmas competition that brings them closer than they planned.

Yeah, this sounds like exactly what I need for some cheeky cheer this year, so I'll be reading it ASAP.

I just started listening to B.K. Borison's Good Spirits on audio (which, BTW, is on major sale at Libro.fm right now), and I can already tell I'm going to be obsessed. This one tells the story of Nolan Callahan, the ghost of Christmas past, who sets out on his usual holiday haunting, only to find himself assigned to Harriet York—and they quickly become too attached to simply move on. Full of whimsy and magic, this is one I suggest you move up your own TBR list (especially if you love A Christmas Carol).

This festive story follows two childhood friends who come to an agreement to fake date to keep their families off their backs about being single for the holidays—complete with a signed contract. You can likely guess where it goes from there, but that doesn't mean you should put off picking it up; after all, it's received rave reviews with an average 4.1/5 stars on Goodreads. (Psst: Once you've finished this one, you can jump into Walsh's Holiday Romance, which you're sure to love just as much. Oh, and maybe Merrily Ever After after that.)

"This was everything I could ask for in a Christmas book. Simultaneously hilarious, magical, comforting and wholesome, this book was so much fun from the first page," is the *exact* quote I wrote on my Goodreads after finishing Just Like Magic by Sarah Hogle, and I stand by it years later. This story follows main character Bettie Hughes and the holiday spirit, Hall, whom she accidentally conjures after playing "All I Want for Christmas is You" backwards. It has just enough magic in it to make it a great option for readers who usually stick to fantasy, and honestly, who doesn't love a little spirited mischief around the holidays? I can see myself re-reading it yearly (which says a lot considering my mile-long TBR list).

If you're looking for a heartwarming read, don't skip Jenny Bayliss's I'll Be Home for Christmas. In this one, Fred Hallow-Hart returns to her small hometown of Pine Bluff after a bad breakup, and winds up helping out her mom and aunts with their Christmas cracker shop. While she's in the midst of throwing herself into work, she also has to work out the feelings she's developing for her old best friend, Ryan, and making sense of the spark she feels with journalist Warren.

Plenty of readers are gushing over this pick, so it should definitely be on your radar.

If you love the "small town person heads to the big city" trope, Bright Lights, Big Christmas is the book for you. In this story, Kerry, alongside her brother and his dog, ventures into New York City for the first time to sell Christmas trees from their family's farm. After becoming close with a few members of the neighborhood, Kerry quickly jumps in to help when an elderly neighbor goes missing. And, of course (because it wouldn't be a holiday rom-com without it), there's a swoon-worthy romantic plot line weaved throughout.

From the second I started listening to the audiobook of The Nightmare Before Kissmas I knew it was going to be one of my new favorites for the season. If you love the light magic and interaction between holiday figures in The Santa Clause movies (and, I probably don't have to say, if you like The Nightmare Before Christmas), I have a feeling this will become an instant fave of yours, too. The book, which is the first in a new series, follows the heir to Christmas as he's forced into an arranged marriage with the Easter Princess, only to find himself in competition with Hex, the prince of Halloween. I won't give too much else away, but I definitely suggest giving this one a go.

I chose The Most Wonderful Crime of The Year as my Book of the Month pick last December, and it's the perfect pick for anyone who loves a good mystery. Described as Knives Out with a holiday rom-com twist, this story follows rivals Maggie and Ethan as they try to figure out what happened when esteemed author Eleanor Ashley (who happens to be hosting a Christmas party they were cryptically invited to) disappears. Agatha Christie meets Netflix original—what could be better?

PureWow reader Delia McCubbin recommended In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren to me, calling it one of the "best holiday books I've come across." This New York Times best seller takes place in a snowy Utah cabin where three families spend Christmas every year—only this year, main character, Mae, ends up stuck in a loop where she experiences the same holiday over and over again. To break free, she has to figure out what, or who (*wink*), will truly make her happy.

Another must-read from Borison, Lovelight Farms sounds like a Hallmark movie in a book. This is another fake dating scenario where two best friends work together to save Stella's Christmas tree farm by entering an Instagram influencer's contest to win both publicity and a $100,000 cash prize that will solve all of the farm's financial problems. I haven't heard a bad thing about this book, so it's one I'll surely be picking up soon. If you're all in on friends-to-lovers stories, you might want to follow suit.