Wanna Cozy Up with a Good Holiday Rom-Com? These 8 Books Are Sure to Get You Into the Spirit

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 read of the season—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.

When I saw TikTok creator Heather McLarry rave about Snowed In by Catherine Walsh, I knew I had to add it to my December TBR list. This 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... (Psst: Once you've finished this one, you can jump into Walsh's Holiday Romance, which you're sure to love just as much.)

"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. 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 magic around the holidays? I can see myself re-reading it yearly (which says a lot considering my mile-long TBR list).

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 romance 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 heir, only to find himself in competition with Hex, the prince of Halloween. I won't give too much else away other than noting it does get spicy at a few points, but I definitely suggest giving this one a try.

I chose The Most Wonderful Crime of The Year as my Book of the Month pick for December, and after again seeing McLarry gush over it, I'm having a hard time putting it off for a Christmas Eve read like I had planned. 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. This "romystery" has already racked up more than 13,000 reviews on Goodreads with an average 4.1/5-star rating, so I have no doubt that it's a worthwhile read.

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.

Lovelight Farms sounds like a Hallmark movie in a book, and I for one, can't wait to finally read it. 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.