The 5 Romance Novels for a Christmas Under the Mistletoe

Christmas is often considered a truly magical time: romantic comedies like Bridget Jones's Diary and Love Actually have taught us that love during the holidays can be easier to find than it seems. Of course, we can't expect to wake up on Christmas morning to find a Colin Firth,an Andrew Lincoln or a Jude Law à la The Holiday. But if you're seeking gingerbread butterflies in your stomach, the easiest way is through a book. Romance novels set during the holidays warm readers' hearts: like a hint of chili in hot chocolate, they add just the right amount of spice to face the long winter days ahead.

5 Romance Novels to Read by the Tree

The Holiday Swap by Maggie Knox (2023, Mondadori)

MAGGIE KNOX - The Holiday Swap

15€

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Like in the Princess Switch films starring Vanessa Hudgens or the classic The Parent Trap with Lindsay Lohan, swaps are a recurring theme in literature and cinema. Add a touch of Christmas spirit, and you've got The Holiday Swap. Here, Cass has to step into her twin sister Charlie's shoes for a week. Charlie, a renowned chef and reality show judge, has lost her sense of taste and smell after a head injury. Meanwhile, Cass's life isn't exactly simple, as she manages the family bakery and deals with an ex who refuses to accept their breakup. The two haven't swapped lives in years, and as in any good romantic comedy, disaster is guaranteed.

My Unexpected Gift by Felicia Kingsley (2020, Newton Compton Editori)

FELICIA KINGSLEY - My Unexpected Gift

9,90€

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Italy's queen of romance couldn't miss the chance to warm our hearts at Christmas. In this short story, Freya, a delivery manager for an e-commerce company, discovers on Christmas Eve that a shipment hasn't been sent. Twenty packages are left in a broken-down van, and it's up to her to make the deliveries in the Scottish town of Dunfermline, even if it means braving all sorts of adventures. One of these adventures includes Kyle, her high school ex who dumped her the night before prom. Can Freya save Christmas—and forgive Kyle?

Kiss Her Once for Me by Alison Cochrun (2023, Mondadori)

ALISON COCHRUN - Kiss Her Once for Me

7,99€

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After moving to Portland, Oregon, Ellie feels like her life is on track: she has a rising career as an illustrator, independence, and even met the woman of her dreams in a bookstore. They shared the most memorable and romantic Christmas Eve ever. But then Ellie loses her job, and survival becomes her priority. Her diner owner boss, Andrew, offers a way out: a marriage of convenience so he can claim his hefty family inheritance. When Andrew takes Ellie home for Christmas, she discovers that his sister is none other than the woman who broke her heart. Who will Ellie choose? 

Lovelight Farms by B.K. Borison (2023, Newton Compton Editori)

B.K. BORISON - Lovelight Farms

9,90€

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The first in a quartet, Lovelight Farms tells the story of Stella, owner of a failing Christmas tree farm. To save her dream, she enters a contest hosted by a travel influencer, Evelyn St. James, hoping to gain publicity and fix the farm's finances. However, Stella has lied about a few details in her application—like managing Lovelight Farms with her (nonexistent) boyfriend to make it seem like the ultimate romantic holiday spot. With no other choice, Stella asks her best friend Luka to play the part. Luka happily agrees, but perhaps under the Christmas trees, there's more than just a bit of love—and plenty of spice!

Tis the Season for Revenge by Morgan Elizabeth (2024, Newton Compton Editori)

MORGAN ELIZABETH - Tis the Season for Revenge

9,40€

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For fans of Legally Blonde and those who believe in karma (with a little nudge), this book delivers. After being dumped by her wealthy boyfriend Richard, who dismisses their four-year relationship as a fling, Abbie decides to get revenge. She'd changed her style, dyed her hair, and pretended to love golf for him—all for nothing. Now, Richard wants to focus on work, and Abbie wants payback. With her friends’ help, she devises a plan: when she meets Damien, the co-founder of Richard's law firm, she realizes fate is on her side. Dating Damien would be the ultimate revenge to show Richard what he’s lost. But what if the charming lawyer turns out to be more than just a pawn in her plan?