Christmas Novels To Start Reading Now

Once Upon a December by Amy E. Reichert

A Milwaukee Christmas market brings people together during the wintry season in Amy E. Reichert's new holiday novel.

Royal Holiday by Jasmine Guillory

A spontaneous trip might just lead to holiday romance in Jasmine Guillory's novel Royal Holiday.

The Twelve Dates of Christmas by Jenny Bayliss

A December full of dates set up by a matchmaking service is the premise of this fun holiday novel.

In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren

A day that won't stop repeating itself (and the attempt to break the cycle) is at the heart of this new novel from Christina Lauren, the pen name of writers Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings.

The Holiday Swap by Maggie Knox

Twins swap lives and may be in for more than they bargained for in this cheery Christmas novel about greener grass and unexpected romance.

Always, in December by Emily Stone

Set in England, this novel begins with a bicycle collision and follows a love story through the years.

Christmas Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella

A busy Christmas season throws a few wrenches into the holiday plans of the central character in Sophie Kinsella's new novel.

Comfort & Joy: A Fable by Kristin Hannah

A woman at a crossroads in her life takes a holiday trip with an unexpected detour in this story about embracing new paths.

Blue Christmas by Mary Kay Andrews

An antiques dealer in Savannah readies for the annual historic district decorating contest in Mary Kay Andrews breezy holiday novel.

A Christmas Memory by Richard Paul Evans

Richard Paul Evans reaches into his family history for this Christmas novel, a story of loss and hope in the holiday season.

A Christmas Promise by Nora Roberts

This collection includes two Christmas stories by Nora Roberts: A Will and a Way and Home for Christmas, tales of togetherness during the festive season.

The Christmas Letters by Jenny Hale

A Christmas break-up and a move to a childhood farm in the Great Smoky Mountains leads to potential holiday romance (that might just be upended by a stack of forgotten letters) in Jenny Hale's new novel.

Christmas at the Cupcake Cafe by Jenny Colgan

During the busy holiday season, the owner of the Cupcake Cafe contemplates a potential relationship change and an influx of customers in this new Jenny Colgan novel (that's also filled with festive recipes).

Redbird Christmas by Fannie Flagg

A man moves from snowy Chicago to Lost River, Alabama, for a mild winter filled with quirky characters in this Christmas story.

The Christmas Spirit by Debbie Macomber

Friends trade places and find fresh leases on life in this fun new novel by Debbie Macomber.

Christmas by the Book by Anne Marie Ryan

Book lovers will love this holiday story about a bookshop in a British village and the people trying to keep it alive.

Magical New York Christmas by Anita Hughes

A young writer takes up a position as a ghostwriter for a famous art dealer—it comes with a stay in a famously grand hotel and an unexpected situation or two.

A Quilt for Christmas by Melody Carlson

A widow who has recently moved experiences an unexpected knock on the door at Christmastime and builds newfound connection during the season.

The Christmas Bookshop by Jenny Colgan

Sisters thrown together at Christmastime in historic Edinburgh have lots to work out; one of them spends time in an old bookshop, which engages her in more than one respect.

Let It Snow by John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle

When a snowstorm arrives on Christmas Eve, it brings complications and connections to the characters in Let It Snow.

The Santa Suit by Mary Kay Andrews

A woman buys an old farmhouse that requires lots of fixing up; in the process, she finds a Santa suit in a closet and tries to track down the story behind it.

The Christmas Dress by Courtney Cole

In this festive story, a magical Christmas dress brings two generations of women together during the holiday season.

Christmas in Vermont by Anita Hughes

Fate takes its cue in this charming story set during the holiday season in snowy Vermont.

Christmas Bells by Jennifer Chiaverini

This Christmastime novel alternates between present day and the 1860s; the latter setting follows the family of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and the tumult and strife they experienced during the Civil War.

Christmas at Little Beach Street Bakery by Jenny Colgan

In this charming book from Jenny Colgan, a storm blows in and disrupts the holiday season in the coastal village of Mount Polbearne in Cornwall, including the life of Polly and her Little Beach Street Bakery.

Seven Days of Us by Francesca Hornak

A family is forced to spend extended time together under one roof for the first time in years in this fun holiday story about the unexpected benefits of quarantine.

Christmas at the Island Hotel by Jenny Colgan

A motley cast of characters are gathered together in a hotel at Christmastime in this novel set on the remote island of Mure near Scotland.

Jingle All the Way by Debbie Macomber

The middle sister in a big family takes a holiday vacation—not to the beach, as she intended, but to a rainforest with no Wi-Fi—in this story about a surprising holiday season.

A Lighthouse Christmas by Jenny Hale

This warm-hearted book is about second chances in the face of loss and the lingering memories of childhood.

A Christmas by the Sea by Melody Carlson

Wendy Harper sets out to renovate her family's dilapidated cottage in Seaside, Maine, in this charming Christmas tale.

A Winter Dream by Richard Paul Evans

Richard Paul Evans' 2012 novel A Winter Dream reminds readers of the importance of hope and love in the Christmas season.

Christmas at the Chalet by Anita Hughes

This Christmas love story is set in the Swiss Alps, where a bridal designer and a model encounter relationship troubles and—just possibly—their own Christmas dreams come true.

Christmas in London by Anita Hughes

Snowy London is the backdrop for Anita Hughes' Christmas in London, a story about love, food, and producing a Christmas television special that's also packed with adventure and festive complications.

The Bridge by Karen Kingsbury

A Christmas miracle is at the center of The Bridge, a novel about finding love in a Franklin, Tennessee, bookstore. It has also been made into a Hallmark movie.

Alaskan Holiday by Debbie Macomber

According to Amazon, in this new book, "Debbie Macomber brings us to the Alaskan wilderness for a magical Christmas tale about finding love where it's least expected."

A Very Nantucket Christmas by Nancy Thayer

This collection includes two popular Nancy Thayer novels about Christmastime: A Nantucket Christmas and An Island Christmas.

Holly and Ivy by Fern Michaels

Grief gives way to love when tragedy-stricken widow Ivy Macintosh meets 11-year-old Holly Greenwood and Holly's strict father, Daniel, and soon becomes part of their family.

Last Christmas in Paris by Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb

This moving novel set amid World War I follows Evie and her brother's friend, Thomas, as they experience the war in their own different, life-changing ways.

Mr. Dickens and His Carol by Samantha Silva

This historical novel dives into the life of Charles Dickens as he tries to bring his most famous work—A Christmas Carol—to life. In the process, he requires some inspiration and a dose of holiday spirit.

Merry and Bright by Debbie Macomber

An unexpected love story is at the heart of this Christmastime novel by Debbie Macomber.

Season of Wonder by RaeAnne Thayne

Dani Capelli moves to Haven Point, Idaho, with her two daughters in this winter novel about togetherness and starting over.

The Christmas Box by Richard Paul Evans

This much-loved holiday book by Richard Paul Evans is part of The Christmas Box trilogy, which also includes the novels Timepiece and The Letter.

The Christmas Cottage by Samantha Chase

Legend has it one night in the Christmas Cottage guarantees lifelong love; when Lacey Quinn is snowed in with the best man from her friend's wedding, she'll find out if the legend is true.

The Christmas Sisters by Sarah Morgan

The three daughters of Suzanne McBride come together for a Christmas in Scotland and, along the way, learn about togetherness and the importance of family.

The Christmas Town by Donna VanLiere

From the author of The Christmas Shoes and The Christmas Hope comes this novel about a young woman happening upon the home she's always longed for at Christmastime.

The Christmas Train by David Baldacci

David Baldacci's beloved Christmas novel, which was adapted into a Hallmark movie in 2017, follows journalist Tom Langdon as he takes a train trip across the country.

The Mistletoe Inn by Richard Paul Evans

Two aspiring writers meet at The Mistletoe Retreat in snowy Vermont and find unexpected connection during the holiday season.

A Christmas Legacy by Anne Perry

One of Anne Perry's holiday novellas, A Christmas Legacy sees a character returning to a profession she thought she'd left in order to help solve a mystery.

We'll Always Have Christmas by Jenny Hale

To buy: amazon.com, indiebound.org

Amazon describes this holiday tale as "an enchanting story about the magic of Christmas, the importance of family, and the joy of falling in love during the most romantic season of the year."

The Mistletoe Promise by Richard Paul Evans

This Christmas love story is also a Hallmark Channel movie. It starts with an unexpected offer that sends Elise Dutton on a romantic holiday adventure.

Sleigh Bells Ring by RaeAnne Thayne

Annelise McCade is a caretaker at Angel's View Ranch, which used to be her family's land but no longer belongs to them; there, she hopes to make it through the holidays unscathed by the season.

Christmas Joy by Nancy Naigle

Christmas Joy is a festive love story that has been turned into a Hallmark Channel movie. Keep an eye on seasonal listings and you just might catch it on television.

The Noel Diary by Richard Paul Evans

This Christmas-themed novel from Richard Paul Evans follows Jacob Churcher as he returns home for the holidays and finds a tantalizing mystery and an unexpected visitor waiting for him there.

The White Christmas Inn by Colleen Wright

An eclectic group gathers at a New England inn only to be snowed in. After an initial panic, romance, friendship, and remembrance of the Christmas spirit comes to each visitor at the inn.

Dear Santa by Debbie Macomber

A woman returns in low spirits to her hometown of Wenatchee, Washington, for Christmas and her mother has a unique idea for cheering her up.

Winter in Paradise by Elin Hilderbrand

Elin Hilderbrand's wintertime novel is a tropical tale about family, secrets, and romance; it's filled with intrigue set against the backdrop of a Caribbean island.

The Christmas Promise by Richard Paul Evans

This holiday classic finds a family in disarray, with sisters returning for Christmas and dealing with long-held grievances.

A Christmas Resolution by Anne Perry

This holiday novella presents a Christmas conundrum that sees Detective Hooper and his new wife, Celia, stopping a wedding and untangling a mystery.

Winter Street by Elin Hilderbrand

The first of Elin Hilderbrand's Winter Street series follows Kelley Quinn, the owner of the Winter Street Inn on Nantucket, as family chaos disrupts the holiday season.

The Christmas Escape by Sarah Morgan

A Christmastime trip to Lapland is upended when a woman's daughter and her husband's friend tags along on a vacation that was intended to be a girls' trip.

Christmas at Holiday House by RaeAnne Thayne

This love story finds a widowed nurse hoping to put together a nice Christmas for her son in Silver Bells, Colorado, where she also helps a friend's grandmother decorate Holiday House, her historic mansion.

Winter Stroll by Elin Hilderbrand

The sequel to Winter Street brings more family drama to Kelley Quinn at the Winter Street Inn in snowy Nantucket.

Dear Santa by Nancy Naigle

This novel sees Angela Carson struggling to keep her family's holiday store alive in small-town Pleasant Sands, North Carolina. After 60 years, a big box store has moved in, but a Christmas miracle may just change everything.

Skipping Christmas by John Grisham

A year without Christmas is the premise of this zany novel that's also the basis of a popular film.

Winter Solstice by Elin Hilderbrand

One last foray into the life of the Quinn family sees another Christmas season come and go—along with plenty of festive disruptions, connections, and togetherness.