Holiday romance season is here, and while you’re busy decking the halls or setting out the menorah, you might find yourself wishing for some holiday romance novels that aren’t quite so, well, cookie-cutter. There are so many ways to celebrate the holidays, after all, and so many holidays to celebrate. There’s Yule and Christmas and Hanukkah and Ramadan and Kwanzaa and Diwali and Lunar New Year, just to name a few. I enjoy a good Christmas rom-com as much as anybody, but I think it’s safe to say many of us would appreciate some more diverse holiday romances (that aren’t just about Christmas).
These 12 holiday romance novels celebrate everything from Hanukkah to Christmas and Ramadan—and in one case, all three!—with sweet seasonal storylines that will sweep you off your feet. Whatever you’re looking for, I think it’s safe to say you’ll find something among these diverse holiday romances to make your season very merry and bright.
Three Holidays and a Wedding by Uzma Jalaluddin and Marissa Stapley
Holiday(s): Christmas, Ramadan, and Hanukkah
When severe turbulence leads strangers Maryam and Anna to spill their deepest desires and fears to each other on a flight, at least they know they’ll never have to see each other again—or so they thought. One emergency landing and a snowstorm later, they learn that won’t be the case. Not only that, but the love of Maryam’s life, Saif, was sitting two rows behind them and heard everything. With the plane full of passengers—including Maryam’s sister’s bridal party—stuck together at Snow Falls Inn, a spot so picturesque a holiday film featuring Anna’s celebrity crush is literally filming there, maybe they’ll each find a little love for the holidays.
Season of Love by Helena Greer
Holiday(s): Hanukkah and Christmas
All Miriam wants to do after learning of her beloved great-aunt’s passing is sit shiva, avoid this unwelcome reunion with the rest of her family, and get back to her (finally) thriving art career. But then she learns her aunt left her the family Christmas tree farm. Not only that, the farm is failing, and it’s only by staying put and working with the grumpy farm manager, Noelle, that she might be able to save it. Noelle doesn’t think Cass’s niece has what it takes to make this business succeed, but she can’t help but admit Miriam’s creative ideas and sweet spirit keep surprising her. Miriam might be exactly what the farm—and Noelle—need to make the season bright again.
A Holly Jolly Diwali by Sonya Lalli
Holiday: Diwali
After years of making all the responsible choices, Niki decides to throw caution to the wind and book a flight to Mumbai for her friend’s wedding. She arrives just in time for Diwali, celebrating first the Festival of Lights and then her friend’s wedding, where she meets Sameer. Sam couldn’t be more different from Niki. He’s a free-spirited musician from London who encourages Niki to let loose and get back in touch with her creative side. When a job offer from her old life comes calling, she’ll have to decide whether to take a leap of faith or return to what she knows, even if it means leaving Sam behind.
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Eight Ways to Say I Love You by Amanda Elliot
Holiday: Hanukkah
Over the course of eight years, childhood friends Shira and Leo find themselves drawing closer, then apart. Shira graduates from college and snags the job of her dreams in Los Angeles. Leo, meanwhile, is forced to move back in with his estranged father after failing out of school. It’s only yearly family holiday parties that bring them back together. But if they can ever get the timing right, they might just discover that the love they’ve been looking for has been there the whole time.
I’ll Be Gone for Christmas by Georgia K. Boone
Holiday: Christmas
In this house-swap holiday romance, two women in desperate need of a break from the life they know connect on a popular house-swapping app. A countryside Christmas retreat is exactly what Bee needs after years of hustle and bustle in San Francisco wear her down. Fortunately for her, Clover wants some time away from her Christmas-obsessed town and is thrilled with the prospect of spending the holidays in California. Neither of them was looking for romance when they agreed to trade places, but when it keeps bumping into them in the form of Clover’s ex-fiancé and Bee’s sister, their lives become far more entwined than either of them could’ve anticipated.
Snow This is Love by Zoraida Córdova, Jasmine Guillory, Christina Lauren, Julie Murphy, and Jesse Q. Sutanto
Holiday(s): Christmas, New Year’s Eve, and Lunar New Year
The authors of Disney’s Meant to Be collection come together for five new cozy holiday romance stories featuring your favorite fairy tale-inspired characters. From a televised holiday wedding to a New Year’s Eve kiss, these sweet stories span an array of winter holidays to make your season merry and bright.
Seven Days Seven Dates by Bailey West
Holiday: Kwanzaa
When single-mom Anniston signs up for a matchmaking service inspired by the Seven Principles of Kwanzaa, she’s just hoping to reignite some passion and romance in her life. She’s not expecting love. Samar isn’t looking for a relationship after a painful breakup left him guarded and wary, but decides to take a chance to support his friends’ business. Will seven days together be enough to heal from their pasts and open up?
War on Christmas by Elle Campbell
Holiday(s): Yule and Christmas
Freya wants to spend Winter Solstice alone on her couch, sipping some mulled wine—not back in Northview, Wisconsin, where she’s the black sheep of the sunny Nilsen family. But her childhood best friend (and high school nemesis) is also back in town, and she’s determined to have a little fun while she’s here. Freya’s plan is to convince Jeremy to have a little holiday fling. Jeremy, after years of doing everything the right way, wants to show Freya that the feelings they share might be worth pursuing beyond the holidays.
The Year of Cecily by Lisa Lin
Holiday: Lunar New Year
Cecily Chang is ready for a fresh start, and the Lunar New Year is just the time to do it. She’s already got a list of resolutions to start making changes in her life. But first, she has to make it through the celebrations with her family. It should be fine, as long as he doesn’t show up. The worst mistake Jeffrey Lee ever made was breaking up with Cecily ten years ago. Now a successful screenwriter, he’s determined to win her back and write them a Hollywood happy ending.
The Kwanzaa Brunch by D.L. White
Holiday: Kwanzaa
Sienna is looking for something new, not the same old work and routine and men she’s been cycling through for ages. The new guy at work might be exactly what she’s been looking for. Booker is turning over a new leaf after leaving a stressful job and an ex-wife behind for a new career in Atlanta. He’s not planning to fall for the first pretty woman he sees—even if she’s clearly interested. Will one company Kwanzaa brunch be enough to set them both down the road toward something new?
The Holiday Trap by Roan Parish
Holiday(s): Hanukkah and Christmas
Greta and Truman each have their reasons for wanting to get away from home for a while. Truman’s discovery that his boyfriend of a year had a secret family has him reeling and looking for any escape from New Orleans. Greta loves her close-knit Maine town, but no one there understands what it’s like to be a lesbian in such a small space. When their mutual friend, Ramona, suggests a holiday house swap, Greta and Truman are all too eager to agree. But finding a place—and maybe even love—in a new town means deciding whether this newfound feeling might be worth staying for.
Setting the Stage for Christmas by Tanya Boteju
Holiday: Christmas
One woman trying to save her town’s local landmark with a Christmas play discovers that the one person with the power to fix all her problems is also the ex who ghosted her 10 years ago. Bo needs a set designer capable of making this year’s annual holiday play the best one yet; Val certainly has the skills and the willingness to help, but Bo can’t help but wonder what brought her back after all these years. Freshly divorced and helping her parents with their realtor business, Val just wants a break from all the disappointment she’s been serving up to everyone around her lately. But when she discovers the building she’s come back to help her family sell is the same one Bo is raising money to save, she’s forced to choose between making her family proud or breaking Bo’s heart—again.
Those aren’t the only diverse holiday romances we have to recommend. Here are even more to add to your holiday wish list:
While you’re at it, keep an eye out for Once Upon an Eid Reunion by Hana Sheik, coming out next year.
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