It might be obvious that many of my holiday romances were put on hold at the library and didn’t become available until January. But, do you know what month needs more romance and cheering up? January!! Below, you’ll find book reviews and recommendations that certainly provide a variety to choose from. I hope you find your next great read.
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Published Date: April 2021
Genre: Psychological Thriller
How I Read: Audio
I love this author and will read anything she writes. Here is a twisty, psychological thriller that isn’t scary.
Fraternal twins are very close. One has a sensory processing disorder who works as a librarian. The other is having some troubles in her marriage and is experiencing fertility issues. When her sister discovers that she is having trouble conceiving, she decides to have a baby for her (without consulting her twin).
The librarian’s thought process about everyday life and common sayings we take for granted is hilarious and I laughed out loud numerous times. She ends up falling for the guy she decides will impregnate her which complicates the whole pregnancy matter.
The thrilling part comes from how the sister seems to have manipulated her twin throughout their entire lives. There’s murder, possible kidnapping, childhood diary entries, and more. It’s very entertaining. The sensory processing disorder gave the story a unique quality to the main character.
Published Date: September 2025
Genre: Holiday Romance
How I Read: Paper
The story gives cozy Practical Magic vibes set at Christmastime.
A woman is coming home to Scotland feeling like a failure after her long-term relationship ends and she gets let go from her job. She moves in with her mom and two elderly aunts, who are a riot.
Over time, romance blooms between her and a handsome writer. He is in town scoping out the Christmas market. She shows him all the best places in town to eat. But her best friend from childhood might be vying for her heart as well.
The story highlights great community and family coming together. I appreciated how it portrayed realistic romances of an older age plus a woman overcoming some downturns in her adult life.
Published Date: September 2025
Genre: Romance
How I Read: Paper
In this friends-to-lovers book, the story jumps back and forth between past and present.
The main character inherits a NYC brownstone along with an estranged male best friend whom she hasn’t spoken to in years. She is an actress. Her show in LA just got canceled and now she has the opportunity to audition for Broadway and go back to her roots. He is a chef and owns a very popular restaurant.
The reader questions what went wrong over the many years they were best friends and roommates. Obviously, there were feelings. There are a few spicy scenes. I liked the book a lot but the lack of communication got a tad old at the end. I loved the Broadway aspect and it left me starving for a good meal every time I picked it up.
Published Date: October 2025
Genre: Holiday Romance
How I Read: Paper
This wrecked me! I had tears dripping into my ice cream bowl.
The book features two recent widows. The woman’s husband just died from cancer; she has two younger kids and owns a popular bar. She’s tough and snarky. I liked her a lot.
His wife died in a plane crash. He hasn’t been home since and is living in an apartment. Their moms try to set them up but a friendship forms as they bond over Christmas movies and grief.
It has super short chapters. It is similar to PS I Love You but with two main characters.
Published Date: July 2024
Genre: YA Fantasy
How I Read: Kindle
This is book two in a series. While it is good, it felt slow and like a filler. Of course, it finished on a huge cliffhanger. A cliffhanger I predicted halfway through the book!
There is good yearning but too much talk of feelings and not enough action.
Now that the main character has killed the king (not a spoiler) she is trying to stay in hiding. The enforcer has been ordered by the new king, his brother, to find her and bring her back to the castle.
There are excellent fighting and escape scenes but overall, it dragged a bit. I hope book three amps up. I did want to read the next book immediately following the conclusion of this one.
Published Date: October 2025
Genre: Holiday Romance
How I Read: Paper
A mom is taking a two-week break to focus on her art that she wants to enter into her city’s holiday contest. Her friend offers her a luxurious lake house to use as a private space to get away and focus on her art. The only problem is that the friend’s sister has rented the lake house to a professional golfer for the same two weeks. He needs time to rehab his knee and make decisions about his future.
Together, they decide that it is such a large house that they can share it. The two start having meals and drinks together. It’s a lovely time except for the fact that her family can’t seem to function without her; they are constantly texting and calling. Meanwhile, his manager keeps hassling him with offers and pressuring him to make decisions. That’s when the Bossy Posse shows up.
It’s cheesy, but the story gets the family dynamics right and it is nice to read a romance about an older couple. The book definitely has Christmas vibes but it is set in the South (Texas). I did get outraged on the main character’s behalf by her family’s behavior to the point that reading was almost unenjoyable at times.
Published Date: May 2023
Genre: Fiction
How I Read: Kindle
The writing is excellent. The setting is interesting and there is some history but wow, this book is LONG. I wanted to stop reading it multiple times but forced myself to finish it for book club. Also, it’s insanely depressing. Horrible event after horrible event keeps happening and that is just not what I need to be reading right now.
It’s a multi-generational book about a family in India who have “a condition” where many of the members are fearful of water and end up dying in water in weird ways. Themes include love, parenting, and addiction.
I found the leprosy parts and all the medical aspects of the book very interesting. Although the ending wrapped up a lot of the mystery, it was not worth reading the entire thing for.
Published Date: August 2024
Genre: Romance
How I Read: Audio
A cowboy romance with some spice but it didn’t do much for me. When characters fall in love super quickly and change their whole lives it’s just too unbelievable.
She is a Dallas city girl with her own boot company. Her estranged father just died, leaving her his ranch with the stipulation that she stay on the ranch for a significant amount of time. He is the ranch’s foreman, and was like a son to the deceased since his parents died at a young age and was taken under the wing of her father.
It’s a super fast enemies-to-lovers with horse riding and dancing at a country bar.
Want to check out more of my favorite books? Take a look at my Best Reads of 2025!
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