18 Cozy Christmas Reads for 2025: Romance, Rom-Coms & Holiday Magic

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There’s something about Christmas reads that just hit differently. Maybe it’s the twinkling lights, the small-town charm, or the promise that no matter how chaotic things get, love will find a way before the final page. If you’re craving festive romances that make you laugh, swoon, and stay up way past bedtime—or a touch of holiday magic with mysteries and paranormal twists—this list is for you. From grumpy heroes and fake dating shenanigans to snowed-in rivals and Christmas miracles, these 18 Christmas romance and fantasy reads for 2025 are perfect for cozy nights, warm blankets, and a dangerously full TBR.

18 Christmas Recommendations for 2025

1. Good Spirits by B.K. Borison

He’s the Ghost of Christmas Past, fully committed to a no-strings-attached haunting schedule—until Harriet York changes everything.

Nolan Callahan has done this before: haunt, observe, move on. No feelings. No attachments. But Harriet, with her gentle heart and people-pleasing tendencies, isn’t the kind of soul you can drift through unnoticed. As Nolan guides her through moments from her past, their connection deepens in ways neither of them expected, revealing shared threads and quiet truths that refuse to stay buried. With Christmas Eve ticking closer, the line between helping and hoping blurs, and what starts as a haunting turns into something tender, magical, and unexpectedly healing. Cozy, charming, and filled with emotional warmth, this story proves that sometimes love shows up when you’re least prepared—and already halfway gone.

Tropes: Ghost romance • Holiday magic • Slow-burn connection • Healing past wounds • Paranormal Christmas

2. The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally Carter

What’s more dangerous than being snowed in at a country estate days before Christmas? Being trapped there with your professional nemesis—and a missing legendary author.

Maggie Chase, reigning queen of cozy mysteries, wants nothing to do with Ethan Wyatt, bestselling thriller writer and walking irritation who can’t even remember her name. But when both are invited to a secluded Christmas house party hosted by the famously elusive Eleanor Ashley, things take a sharp turn into classic whodunit territory. With the bridge out, phones dead, and Eleanor vanishing from a locked room, Maggie and Ethan are forced into an uneasy alliance. As clues pile up and tensions spark, rivalry turns into reluctant trust—and something far more electric. Clever, atmospheric, and deliciously witty, this holiday mystery-romance blends Knives Out vibes with rom-com banter, making it perfect for readers who like their Christmas stories smart, suspenseful, and swoony.

Tropes: Enemies to lovers • Snowed-in mystery • Rivals to allies • Locked-room puzzle • Holiday whodunit

3. Big Nick Energy by Kristen Bailey

Two Nicks. One librarian. And a Christmas season that refuses to keep things simple.

When Kay literally stumbles into her ex at a festive London market, she’s ready to believe in second chances and holiday fate. Enter Nick #2—met via a disastrous Christmas tree incident—who frees her, flusters her, and quietly upends everything she thought she wanted. Suddenly, Kay is juggling ballet dates and five-year plans with polished Finance Nick, while spending her days in reindeer onesies, delivering books to children’s hospitals, and rediscovering her creative spark with warm-hearted Farmer Nick. It’s charming chaos at its finest—twinkly, heartfelt, and laugh-out-loud funny. As Christmas creeps closer, Kay must decide which version of love truly feels like home… and which Nick makes her heart do a little festive flip.

Tropes: Love triangle • Second chances • Opposites attract • Holiday rom-com • Cozy Christmas chaos

4. Merry Christmas, You Filthy Animal by Meghan Quinn

Nothing brings out the holiday spirit quite like rival Christmas tree farms, a public showdown, and one very unfortunate soda-related incident.

Atlas “Max” Maxheimer is already one disaster away from losing his family’s beloved tree farm when Betty blows into town—bright, cheerful, and working for the competition. Convinced she’s sabotaging Evergreen Farm, Max is ready for all-out festive warfare. Betty, meanwhile, just sees a grumpy man who could seriously benefit from a little holiday cheer (and maybe a nap). As snowstorms hit and reputations unravel, their rivalry escalates into wildly misguided romantic gestures, small-town spectacles, and a whole lot of feelings neither of them planned on catching. With sharp banter, laugh-out-loud moments, and just enough heat to melt the snow, this is a Christmas rom-com that thrives on messy emotions and small-town mayhem.

Tropes: Rivals to lovers • Small-town romance • Holiday chaos • Grumpy x sunshine • Festive rom-com

5. Good Elf Gone Wrong by Alina Jacobs

She spent years being the good elf—until Christmas Eve broke her.

After catching her fiancé cheating with her sister (yes, really), she somehow keeps her smile, her manners, and her place on the nice list… right up until her sister destroys their great-grandmother’s wedding dress. That’s when the elf hat comes off. Enter Hudson: tall, tattooed, perpetually unimpressed, and exactly the kind of bad boy guaranteed to ruin a holiday wedding out of spite. Their fake-dating revenge plan is supposed to be simple—make the cheaters uncomfortable and walk away victorious. Except fake boyfriends aren’t supposed to grab you while baking cookies, crawl into your bed, or make pretending feel dangerously real. Wildly funny, deliciously chaotic, and full of festive payback, this rom-com is for anyone who believes Christmas miracles sometimes come with abs and a wicked grin.

Tropes: Fake dating • Enemies to lovers • Holiday revenge • Bad boy x good girl • Christmas rom-com chaos

6. How My Neighbor Stole Christmas by Meghan Quinn

In Kringletown, Christmas isn’t just a holiday—it’s a competitive sport. And Cole Black wants absolutely no part of it.

Unfortunately for him, his overly festive nemesis Storee Taylor moves in next door and promptly drags him into the town’s most cutthroat tradition: the Christmas Kringle contest. Determined not to let Storee win, Cole hatches a plan involving fake holiday cheer, a pretend romance, and a performance convincing enough to fool the entire town. Storee has no choice but to play along—until their staged rivalry and forced proximity spark something very real. Between book club gossip, over-the-top decorations, and one night that changes everything, this enemies-to-lovers rom-com delivers big laughs, sizzling chemistry, and the kind of Christmas chaos that only a small town can provide.

Tropes: Enemies to lovers • Fake dating • Small-town Christmas • Holiday competition • Rom-com chaos

7. Holiday Ever After by Hannah Grace

Clara Davenport arrives in Fraser Falls with a clipboard, a polished smile, and one mission: fix her family company’s PR disaster before Christmas. The problem? Jack Kelly wants absolutely nothing to do with her—or the Davenport name.

Jack’s been burned before, and when Clara shows up trying to charm the town that feels like his safe haven, he’s determined not to fall for corporate promises wrapped in festive bows. But as Clara throws herself into local events and holiday traditions, she starts to see past Jack’s icy exterior—and realizes he’s the heart of Fraser Falls itself. What begins as pure animosity slowly melts into something tender, complicated, and impossible to ignore. With twinkling lights, small-town charm, and just the right amount of emotional friction, this enemies-to-lovers Christmas romance delivers warmth, growth, and a very satisfying happily ever after.

Tropes: Grumpy x sunshine • Enemies to lovers • Small-town Christmas • Forced collaboration • Holiday redemption

8. How the Grump Saved Christmas by Claire Kingsley

Isabelle Cook is fighting to save her family farm—and the beloved Christmas Village that comes with it. The last person she expects to threaten it? Her ex.

Elias Stoneheart has one goal: close the deal, get the promotion, and get out. Christmas is a nuisance, small towns are inefficient, and emotions are a liability—especially when they come in the form of Isabelle Cook, all warmth, determination, and holiday cheer. What starts as a business negotiation quickly unravels into unresolved history, sharp banter, and feelings Elias swore he buried years ago. As the town works its festive magic and old sparks reignite under falling snow, Elias is forced to confront what truly matters. Grumpy, heart-melting, and full of classic Christmas charm, this second-chance romance delivers cozy chaos, emotional payoff, and a happily ever after that feels earned.

Tropes: Second chance romance • Enemies to lovers • Grumpy hero • Small-town Christmas • Holiday redemption

9. If You Give a Grump a Holiday Wishlist by Ann Einerson

Trusting your grumpy, power-hungry boss with your Christmas plans is mistake number one—and bringing him home for the holidays might just be mistake number two.

When a crucial work deal threatens to derail her trip home, she never expects Jack Sinclair to hop on his private jet and invite himself along. To survive the holidays (and her family), three rules are set: he can’t admit he’s her boss, she’s getting a raise, and he has to help fulfill her holiday wishlist. Easy enough—until fake dating turns into sharing a childhood bedroom, mistletoe moments grow dangerously tempting, and Jack’s icy exterior starts to crack. What begins as a professional charade quickly becomes something far more personal, proving that sometimes the best Christmas surprises are the ones you absolutely did not plan for.

Tropes: Fake dating • Workplace romance • Grumpy boss • One bed • Holiday hijinks

10. The Mistletoe Kisser by Lucy Score

Ryan Sosa insists he’s not grumpy—he’s just profoundly over surprises, small towns, and anything involving festive enthusiasm. Unfortunately, Blue Moon has all three.

Fresh off getting fired, Ryan lands in the most aggressively cheerful town imaginable to help his great-uncle, only to find snow, eccentric locals, and a free-range sheep named Stan complicating his life. Enter Dr. Sammy Ames, the no-nonsense veterinarian who absolutely does not have time for a big-city grouch… especially one who doesn’t remember being her first kiss. Between a looming holiday fundraiser, unwanted nostalgia, and a town-wide determination to play matchmaker, their snarky standoff turns into something far sweeter than either expected. With sharp humor, ridiculous situations, and undeniable chemistry, this rom-com proves that sometimes the wrong Ryan is exactly the right one—especially under the mistletoe.

Tropes: Small-town rom-com • Grumpy x sunshine • Second chance vibes • Holiday hijinks • Forced proximity

11. Mistletoe Meet Cute by Bella Matthews

Falling for your brother’s teammate is already a terrible idea—adding mistletoe, snowstorms, and a grumpy single dad just makes it irresistible.

Nannying for Camden Monroe was never part of the holiday plan, especially when he’s Philly’s star quarterback with a permanent scowl and zero patience for Christmas cheer. He’s older, cocky, and completely off-limits… until one snowy night changes everything. What starts as stolen glances and accidental proximity quickly turns into secret kisses, heated moments, and a festive tension that refuses to be ignored. As the holidays unfold, twinkle lights fade into the background, replaced by late-night confessions, forbidden chemistry, and the kind of chaos that feels deliciously wrong—and exactly right. This one is flirty, spicy, and perfect for readers who like their Christmas romance with a side of football swagger.

Tropes: Brother’s teammate • Grumpy single dad • Sports romance • Small-town Christmas • Forbidden attraction

12. My Favorite Holidate by Lauren Blakely

All she wants for Christmas is a fake boyfriend who can make her cheating ex choke on his eggnog—and somehow, her billionaire boss volunteers.

What starts as a simple holiday favor quickly spirals into a full-on festive performance: mistletoe kisses, glitzy parties, and a snowy destination wedding where they’re forced to play the perfect couple. Between Christmas competitions, late-night decorating, and crackling chemistry that refuses to stay fake, pretending gets harder by the day. As lines blur and feelings grow very real, the question shifts from can we pull this off? to what happens when the holidays end and real life begins? Flirty, fast-paced, and packed with Christmas sparkle, this rom-com delivers peak fake-dating fun with just the right amount of heart.

Tropes: Fake dating • Office romance • Billionaire boss • Holiday wedding • Forced proximity

13. My December Darling by Lauren Asher

Spending Christmas at your sister’s wedding is complicated enough. Spending it as maid of honor while she marries your ex? Even worse.

Catalina Martinez is determined to survive the holidays with grace—and without getting tangled up with Luke Darling, the charming best man who knows exactly how to get under her skin. Luke, on the other hand, has no intention of keeping his distance. Warm, patient, and relentlessly hopeful, he sees something special in Catalina she’s afraid to reach for. As wedding festivities unfold in the snowy town of Lake Wisteria, stolen glances turn into lingering moments, and the line between obligation and desire begins to blur. Tender, heartfelt, and full of winter magic, this novella is all about choosing love when the timing isn’t perfect—and taking a leap before the season slips away.

Tropes: Reverse grumpy x sunshine • Maid of honor x best man • Holiday wedding • Small-town Christmas • Slow-burn romance

14. Snow Place Like Home by Laura Pavlov

Sometimes the best place to heal a broken heart is right where it all began.

After a painful breakup, Goldie Jacobs retreats to her snowy hometown, hoping the mountains, familiar faces, and holiday comfort food will help her find her footing again. What she doesn’t expect is Ace Bonetti—her brother’s best friend, former small-town boy, and now full-blown Hollywood heartthrob—still looking at her like she’s always been the one. One unexpected, mistletoe-fueled night changes everything, blurring the line between friendship and something far more dangerous to ignore. As old feelings resurface and new possibilities shimmer beneath the Christmas lights, Goldie and Ace must decide if what they shared was just a holiday moment… or the start of something meant to last long after the snow melts.

Tropes: Friends to lovers • Brother’s best friend • Small-town holiday romance • Second chances • Cozy Christmas feels

15. I’ll Be Home for Christmas by Jenny Bayliss

Sometimes going home is the last thing you want to do—and exactly what you need.

After a breakup and an eviction leave her with nowhere else to go, Fred Hallow-Hart returns to Pine Bluff, a town filled with eccentric relatives, complicated memories, and a family Christmas cracker business that never fails to pull her back into its orbit. As she throws herself into helping at the shop, Fred reconnects with her childhood best friend Ryan, whose presence stirs feelings she never quite let herself explore. Add in a charming journalist covering the local Christmas market, and Fred suddenly finds herself at the center of emotions she’s long avoided. Tender, reflective, and quietly romantic, this story is about finding your way back—to your roots, your heart, and the kind of love that feels like coming home.

Tropes: Friends to lovers • Small-town holiday romance • Second chances • Love triangle • Cozy British Christmas

16. Wreck the Halls by Tessa Bailey

Two rock star daughters. One explosive Christmas mission. And a second chance that refuses to stay quiet.

Melody Gallard prefers old books and a low profile, far from the chaos of her famous mother’s past. But when a producer offers her the chance to reunite a legendary band on Christmas Eve, she’s forced to face the one person who could help make it happen—Beat Dawkins. Charismatic, camera-ready, and everything Mel isn’t, Beat has always been the spark she tried to ignore. As they navigate feuding rock-star moms, nonstop media attention, and a whirlwind of holiday madness, old feelings roar back to life, louder and more intense than ever. Equal parts hilarious and heartfelt, this rom-com blends music, second chances, and Christmas mayhem into a love story that hits all the right notes.

Tropes: Rockstar romance • Second chance • Forced proximity • Holiday chaos • Opposites attract

17. Sleigh Bells and Snowstorms by Claire Kingsley

Christmas in a small town is supposed to be quiet… unless a charming mystery man and a missing heirloom shake things up.

Jensen Lakes arrives in Tilikum wearing a designer suit and a playboy reputation that hides far more than it reveals. He’s there on a job—find a stolen heirloom and disappear before the holidays truly begin. Natalie Thatcher, meanwhile, is barely holding her life together between long nursing shifts, family responsibilities, and a house that seems determined to fall apart before Christmas. When Jensen ropes Natalie into helping him navigate small-town secrets, their sizzling banter quickly turns into something deeper—and far more dangerous. As the stakes rise and the threat gets real, Jensen is forced to choose between walking away and fighting for the woman who’s become his unexpected home. Suspenseful, romantic, and wrapped in festive charm, this story proves that even in the middle of chaos, love can still find its way home for Christmas.

Tropes: Romantic suspense • Small-town Christmas • Forced proximity • Protective hero • Holiday danger & desire

18. A Merry Little Meet Cute by Julie Murphy & Sierra Simone

Bee Hobbes is thriving—successful, confident, and wildly loved by her fans. The only thing she doesn’t expect? Accidentally becoming the lead in a squeaky-clean Christmas movie while hiding her very-not-family-friendly career.

Filming in Christmas Notch, Vermont is chaotic enough without discovering that her co-star is Nolan Shaw—former boy-band bad boy and Bee’s longtime crush. Nolan is desperate for a career reset, Bee is juggling secrets, and the chemistry between them is instant and impossible to ignore. As sneaky hookups collide with holiday movie magic and industry pressure, Bee and Nolan must decide whether their connection is worth risking everything. Funny, steamy, and refreshingly inclusive, this rom-com celebrates desire, confidence, and finding love exactly as you are—even under the brightest Christmas lights.

Tropes: Co-stars romance • Instant attraction • Plus-size FMC • Holiday rom-com • Secret relationship

Whether you’re in the mood for laugh-out-loud rom-coms, heartfelt small-town love stories, or a sprinkle of Christmas magic and mystery, I hope this list helped you find your next festive escape. These are the kinds of books meant to be devoured with hot chocolate in hand and fairy lights glowing in the background.