So, this is my 2nd holiday romance blog on Libby Life! It’s hard to believe it was a year ago that I was outlining some of my previous favorite holiday reads and talking about my love of wrapping presents in the glow of holiday romcoms from the television while sipping on a warm beverage. Also, for those of you who might remember, I have still not had eggnog. Please judge away!

And, while you’re judging me for my choice of beverages, I invite you to trust in my taste in holiday romance novels, which still bring me great joy during the this time of year! These titles will all bring a smile to your face, like a beautifully wrapped present with a bow on top. And the greatest gift of all is that they're available to you through your Libby app all year long!

If you’ve been nice this year...

A Holly Jolly Ever After by Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone

If any of you read my holiday romance blog from last year, you might recognize this setting, but this book is just too good for me not to recommend everyone return to Christmas Notch again!

Winnie Baker is the perfect holiday movie heroine, at least on screen. Her personal life has taken a hit, as she has recently divorced her cheating husband, and her parents are too ashamed of her to speak with her. Looking to mix things up, she agrees to join the cast of The Hope Channel’s new After Dark movie, which is an R-rated take on Santa meeting the future Mrs. Claus. When she discovers that her St. Nick is none other than former boy band member Kallum Lieberman, all she can remember is how he humiliated her when they were child stars many years ago. Will time together help move him from her naughty to nice list?

If you think Die Hard is a Christmas movie...

10 Things That Never Happened by Alexis Hall

This book is secretly a holiday book, just as Die Hard is secretly a holiday movie (or so I’ve been told, I’ve never seen it, tbh). So, if you’re in the mood for a sweet romance, along with having a debate as to whether or not this should even be on the list, this is the book for you!

Sam manages a bed-and-bath retail shop, and while it isn’t something that brings him great joy, he does just fine at it and wants to protect his employees, even if all of them aren’t the best at what they do. This people-first, job-second attitude irks the heck out of Jonathan, the owner, who’s had enough of Sam's performance. The two get in a huge row, and Jonathan fires Sam, causing Sam to trip over a display on the floor and knock himself out. When he wakes up, his shock is interpreted as amnesia, and suddenly Sam is recuperating with Jonathan at his home, helping him decorate his tree (with a side of family drama), organizing the work holiday party and getting to know that there's a softer side to Jonathan. As their attraction grows, they both must deal with the complicated nature of their situation, that of a boss and employee (or former employee, perhaps?), along with the huge lie of Sam’s amnesia that continues to be heavy chains which he forged himself.

If you want all to celebrate...

Three Holidays and a Wedding by Uzma Jalaluddin and Marissa Stapley

Very rarely, Ramadan, Hanukkah and Christmas all fall at the same time. This wonderful book creates a cozy, inclusive town that would be perfect for anyone to spend the holidays with their friends and family.

At first glance, Maryam and Anna couldn't be more different. Maryam is traveling to Toronto with her large Muslim family to attend her sister’s wedding; Anna is heading to Toronto for a socialite’s Christmas. After an awkward meeting in an airport, turbulence on their flight leads them to express how they really feel about their lives, and things get even more awkward after they’re stranded in Ottawa during a major snowstorm, and they realize that they won’t be strangers for much longer. Did I mention that one of Maryam’s confessions was about her childhood crush (who happened to be sitting right behind her on the plane)? And what about the handsome stranger that carried Anna through the snow to her hotel? This story is full of romance, but also deepens your understanding of how everyone celebrates their joys differently.

If your favorite part is the cookies...

Mom Com by Adriana Mather

This is another that I had no idea was a holiday romance until I picked it up and started reading! Good thing that I’m always up for a baking-themed holiday romance, regardless of the time of year.

Maddi and Wilder were best friends as children. Then they were more than friends as teenagers. Then they didn’t speak for 10 years. Maddi finds herself returning to her hometown with her 9-year-old son after a humiliating loss on a reality baking competition. The cherry on top is that her father, who has recently passed away, added an addendum to his will not long before he died that Maddi must operate her family’s bakery for 1 year, alongside Wilder, before she can have full ownership. Told in alternating timelines from the present and her complicated past, you’ll get a full picture of why Maddi’s so conflicted to return, but also why she can’t stay away.

If you’re into rockin’ around the Christmas tree...

Wreck the Halls by Tessa Bailey

Tessa Bailey fans, unite! If you, like me, will read anything that TB writes, you won’t be disappointed with this one. If you haven’t read any of her books yet, I’m so jealous that you get to read her for the first time!

Imagine if your mom was one of the most famous rock stars of all time, whose band breakup is almost more famous than the band itself, and you’re a huge introvert who hates the limelight. This is the life that Melody leads as she works with books for a living to avoid having anything to do with her mom’s fame. However, when a producer finds her and offers her an obscene amount of money to try to get her mom’s band back together for a performance on Christmas Eve, all with the help of Beat, the son of her mom’s former bandmate, she can’t turn away. Will all of this time together make some reality television that's sweet as a candy cane or will they end up with coal in their stockings for even trying to make this work?

If you can keep a secret...

The Christmas Swap by Talia Samuels

So, this isn’t the fake dating that you (aka ME) know and love. This is fake dating with a twist.

Margot was supposed to spend the holidays with her girlfriend on the beach, trying hard not to think about the recent loss of her beloved grandmother. Instead, she finds herself broken up with, and heading to the country mansion owned by Ben, one her clients, and his family, ready to play his fake girlfriend for Christmas so she doesn’t have to be alone and he can show his family that he can have a normal relationship. Seems easy enough, until you factor in Ben’s sister, Ellie, who happens to be just Margot’s type. Can they keep the ruse up for the holidays or will Margot and Ellie’s attraction be its own Christmas magic?

May your days be made a bit more merry and bright with all of these holiday reads. From me to all of you, have a safe and happy holiday season and a happy new year!