Lit Hit List: Christmas Cheer Romances

We are all big fans of cheesy holiday movies around here, and it should surprise none of you that She’s Full of Lit’s resident sap also loves a good holiday romance — so when I say I wish I could watch all of the below on Hallmark Channel, it’s the highest compliment.

I’m sorry to our non-Christian readers, but I tried to find holiday books that weren’t explicitly Christmas — where is the Hannukah romance of my dreams? — but I was mostly out of luck. If anyone has any suggestions, please share with me, and I’ll update the list with other winter holiday stories.

That said, here are some of my favorite Christmas romances, full of mistletoe and merriment — something we could all use a little extra of this year.

“We Met in December” by Rosie Curtis (Bookshop | Kindle | my review) - British romances are some of my favorites, and this one reads like if “Notting Hill” and “The Holiday” had a baby — it’s all about a crazy group house in London and their hijinks over the course of one year in their lives. As I said last year, this book is “basically the Christmas literary equivalent of a snuggly sweater and a cup of hot cocoa — comforting, delicious, and a real seasonal treat”.

“In a Holidaze” by Christina Lauren (Bookshop | Kindle | my review coming next week!) - I was having a rough week earlier this month (weren’t we all?!), and I picked up Christina Lauren’s newest — a love story that brings a touch of Groundhog Day to the holiday season. It was a balm to my spirits, as well as laugh-out-loud funny and just the right amount of sentimental.

“One Day in December” by Josie Silver (Bookshop | Kindle) - I feel confident that most of you have read this recent classic by Josie Silver, but I couldn’t not put it on the list. I feel like it almost kicked off this current wave of holiday romances, it’s that prolific. If you haven’t picked it up yet, please do so — Laurie and Jack’s decade-long love story is an instant classic, and it will make you laugh and get you in all the feels.

“Last Christmas in Paris” by Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb (Bookshop | Kindle | my review) - You guys know that I love a good historical romance, and this one is one of the best I can remember reading; the holiday aspect is just a bonus. I’m going to take the easy way out and quote myself from last year: “TL;DR: Be better than me, and don’t hesitate to pick this one up. Yes, it’s a love story remotely adjacent to the holiday season, but it’s also an incredible portrait of what World War I was actually like, both for those on the front lines and those at home.”

“The Twelve Dates of Christmas” by Jenny Bayliss (Bookshop | Kindle) - I have this one at home to read this year, and I cannot wait! Kate, the protagonist, is perpetually single and willing to try just about anything — including 12 dates in the 23 days before Christmas. Each date goes horribly awry, and I’m sure that hijinks ensue in the quest for her happy ending. It’s British, it’s bound to be charming, and the description mentions baked goods. I’m all in.

“The Tourist Attraction” by Sarah Morgenthal (Bookshop | Kindle) - Alaska has long been a place on my to-visit list, so I was excited to get to go there for a fun romantic adventure. When I say it’s a mix of Northern Exposure and Gilmore Girls, it’s with the highest praise — there’s a grumpy diner owner, a friendly moose with an impeccable sense of timing, a ridiculous tourist, and of course, a happy ending. It’s just the story you need right now.

“Royal Holiday” by Jasmine Guillory (Bookshop | KIndle | my review) - If you read my review linked here, you’ll know that this isn’t my favorite of the Jasmine Guillory books because compared to her others, it is light on the substance. However, for 2020, I’d wholeheartedly recommend it. It’s a love letter to Christmas in England, and that feels like an escape we could all use right now when travel is limited to pages of a books, not hopping on a plane. To again quote myself, “Vivian is the best part of this book, with the setting a close second. There is something so magical about England during the holidays, and Jasmine Guillory definitely captures that well. That said, this book is mostly about escapist wish fulfillment, and at times, that’s totally needed. I could imagine myself on horseback, or in the V&A, or eating an amazing meal right alongside Vivian.”

“Christmas Shopaholic” by Sophie Kinsella (Bookshop | Kindle) - Sophie Kinsella’s “Shopaholic” series is one of the first “grown up” books I can remember reading as a teen, and I have a fond place in my heart for Becky Bloomwood — plus, as an admitted stress shopper, I sympathize. This year, Becky has to host family Christmas for the first time, and as you can imagine, it didn’t go well. Getting to revisit this well-loved series is a treat in and of itself, and it helps that Sophie Kinsella brings her signature charm and wit to this mis-adventure.

“Pride and Prejudice and Mistletoe” by Melissa de la Cruz (Bookshop | Kindle) - Not only do I love “Pride and Prejudice,” I have a soft spot in my heart for either retellings or revisiting the world created by the one and only Jane Austin. So, when one of my favorite YA authors takes on Jane’s classic trope, but swaps the genders and adds a Christmas element, you know I’m going to read it. We have the story of a snooty Miss Darcy, and her small-town next door neighbor Luke, and their extended families in Pemberley, Ohio. It’s just as cute as it sounds, and if you like reading about Darcy and Lizzie, I bet you’d enjoy this one, too.

“25 Days ‘Til Christmas” by Poppy Alexander (Bookshop | Kindle) - Full disclosure, I’m reading this one literally right now (I put it down to finish this blog post), and it is absolutely adorable. Kate has become disillusioned with Christmas after her husband dies, and this book takes us through a magical Advent season where she tries to make the best Christmas ever for her son. I’m not sure what’s coming next — she’s just met a handsome loner at this point in my reading — but I can’t wait to wrap up this post to return to this fun read.

“I’ll Be Home for Christmas” by Karen Clarke (Bookshop | Kindle) - When I first read the description of this one, I had a moment of deja vu because I was sure I had watched this movie on the Hallmark Channel. Nina, our main character, loves Christmas until she doesn’t (for good reason!), and so when she goes to her Aunt Dolly’s house to nurse her broken heart, she doesn’t expect to find love in the small town. This one is just a lovely read, with a good mix of charming British wit and actual laugh out loud moments. It’s enhanced even more with tea and biscuits.

“The Mischief of the Mistletoe” by Lauren Willig (Bookshop | Kindle) - I think I’ve spoken about this before, but Lauren Willig’s 12 book long “Pink Carnation” series is one of my absolute favorites and a frequent comfort read at my house. If you’ve read the series, you know Turnip Fitzhugh as a adorable fop, and this book gives him a romance of his own — featuring French aristocrats, meddling school girls, and of course, international spies. 10/10 would recommend.

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