14 New Year’s Eve Books to Bring in a Happy New Year

This Time Next Year by Sophie Cousens

December 2020 GMA Book Club Pick

When two women are in the hospital in labor and there is one huge cash prize for the first baby born in 1990, one child will be born into a charmed life and the other will be named Minnie Cooper.  

This book is a perfect book about New Year’s Eve from our romance books. When Minnie meets Quinn on the eve of their thirtieth birthday, well, it is the meet-cute of the decade.  I can see this rom-com on the big screen and would love every second. This is an enemies-to-lovers book at its best and is a must for anyone searching for the perfect holiday book.

One Day in December by Josie Silver

December 2018 Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick

This is another holiday book I absolutely adored. This second chance love story takes place over 10 years and you’ll be rooting for this couple the entire time. 

The perfect winter romance – this one is a bit steamy – that will have you smiling from ear to ear. I listened to this one from my local library, but it would be just as good in print. We love this pick from books about New Year’s.

The Rules of Civility by Amor Towles

Amor Towles can do no wrong! I loved this story set in 1938 that follows a year in working girl Katey Kontent’s life in NYC. Starting and ending on NYE, we get to see the many twists and turns of Katey’s life that year.

Romances, career changes, and discovered secrets pepper the year of entering womanhood for Miss Kontent. Towles’s writing was captivating as always. His characters were expertly crafted and I felt an emotional connection to each of them.

This one will have to go on our list of the best books about New Year’s Eve and the fact that it is a book set in New York is a bonus!

Oona Out of Order by Margarita Montimore

April 2020 GMA Book Club Pick

I absolutely loved this story about Oona who at the stroke of midnight on her 19th birthday, finds herself in her 51-year-old body. She is greeted by a stranger who is waiting for her in her home and tells her that every year, she will jump to another point in her life- she will live her life out of order. ⁣

This is an emotional, well-written story that will not only keep you quickly turning pages but also make you think about the small things in life that we take for granted. ⁣

This book was a must for our list of feel-good books, but you can also find it on our New Year’s Eve books post and our best time travel book lists as well.

Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk by Kathleen Rooney

This book could be an amazing movie.  It is not the type of book that you “can’t put down” because it takes place on New Year’s Eve 1984 with flashbacks from the Jazz Age all the way to the AIDS epidemic. But, it is an incredibly interesting and very well-written New Year’s Eve book.

Lillian Boxfish takes the reader with her through a look at New York City through the ages. She starts off writing copy for R.H Macy’s and becomes one of the highest-paid advertising women in the country.

Now, at 85 years old, she is still as savvy as she ever was and is determined to make the most of her time. Breaking the boundaries of what was expected of a woman was Lillian’s thing and makes this book perfect for anyone looking for books like Lessons in Chemistry.

The Second Chance Year by Melissa Weisner

This story is perfect for our list of New Year’s Eve Books. After Sadie has lost her job, her apartment, and her boyfriend, she jumps at the chance to make a wish with a fortune teller on New Year’s Eve. She wants to do over her terrible year.

She wakes up the next morning and the date is January 1st of the previous year. With what she knows is coming in the year ahead, Sadie sets off to make different choices – but can she change fate and is it worth losing herself in the process? During all of it, she leans on her brother’s best friend Jacob. Their love story is a slow burn because this is really about Sadie’s journey toward the life she deserves. *Gifted by Forever

Anxious People by Fredrik Backman

Fredrik Backman is a master storyteller and he does it again with this book. ⁣He somehow manages to tackle difficult subjects without trivializing them but still allowing them to be humorous. ⁣This is a locked room mystery that is unlike any other.

This book is a story of a bank robbery gone very wrong and the idiots in the story (his word, not mine) who are taken hostage after the failed robbery. ⁣It is also a story about compassion, human relationships, and the daily struggles that we all have. ⁣

I love how Fredrik Backman’s books show the good in people despite the flaws that make them human. Backman is such a talented writer and is able to vary his style to best tell the story. I loved this book that takes place the day before New Year’s Eve! It is a favorite from our New Year’s books

The themes that Backman weaves throughout all his books of love, friendship, and compassion make all his books perfect for a list of books like A Man Called Ove. It is also a perfect book for book clubs.

Bridget Jones’s Diary by Helen Fielding

I remember reading this contemporary fiction book shortly before it was turned into a hit movie starring Colin Firth and Renee Zellweger. This modern Pride and Prejudice retelling is told in diary form over the course of one year.

Hysterical and silly, Bridget’s antics are quite something. Mark and Daniel are deliciously brought to life via Bridget’s inner monologue. If you love the movie, try the book.

Bridget starts her diary on New Year’s day which makes in a perfect pick for books about New Year’s!

A Castle in the Clouds by Kerstin Geir

What a cute story. Taking place at a dated luxury hotel at Christmas time and culminating with a Year Year’s Eve ball, there is an abundance of antics afoot. Jewel thieves, ghosts, kid-nappers, back-door dealings, and teenage drama fill this wonderful holiday book. 

This young adult Christmas book is an adorable read for the holiday season and a perfect feel-good book as well. If you are looking for books about New Year’s Eve, this is an adorable pick.

A Winter in New York by Josie Silver

In this sweet holiday romance book, Iris uncovers a hidden family recipe, falls in love, and learns the power of mouthwatering gelato. Set against the backdrop of New York City from Halloween to NYE, this romance book covers more than just love.

It’s a story that includes uncovering new layers of a deceased parent, recovering from an emotionally abusive relationship, single parenthood, and family ties.

With secrets, romance, and a dash of culinary magic, this charming tale will leave you craving for more. My only complaint is that Iris kept the secret for a little too long. #gifted

Royal Holiday (The Wedding Date #4) by Jasmine Guillory

Looking for a last-minute Christmas Read, New Year’s book, or the perfect holiday book? Royal Holiday was the perfect first read for winter break.

When Maddie gets Kirsten’s dream gig (styling a Royal or let’s face it, hanging out with a Royal), she brings her mom, Vivian, with her to England. ⁣Vivian meets a very handsome gentleman who happens to be the Queen’s private secretary.

Sparks fly but will this be more than just a holiday romance? This adorable read is a perfect holiday/vacation read, especially for those who love a royal romance, and is a must-read for anyone who loves Emily Henry Books. Whether or not you are reading the Jasmine Guillory books in order, this romance will be a perfect holiday read.

Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

We don’t think about royals and the LGBTQ community because we don’t usually see openly gay royals, which is so sad in today’s society. And to think it all starts with a NYE kiss!

This charming book is a fabulous pick from LGBTQ romance novels. I crushed hard for their romance and found myself smiling the entire time. (Also love the nod to a female president…where do I sign up for one of those?) 

Why We Love It: The LGBTQ romance is charming but add in a female president and we are all in.
Find This Book in Royal Romance Books / Enemies-to-Lovers Books / New Year’s Books / British Romance Novels/ Books With a Color in the Title