New Christmas Books

The Christmas Yes List

Author: Melissa Ferguson

Year: 2026

Genre: Christmas Romance

Spice Rating:💋

Age Range: 14+

Plot

Chloe is a people-pleaser in a way that gets her into trouble. She’s too willing to bend over backwards for others, so she’s made a pact to get rejected by people this holiday season. But then she meets a stranger who just won’t turn her down – and she doesn’t really want him to anymore!

Why Kirsten likes it

This clean romance is Melissa Ferguson’s first Christmas romance (and it’s becoming a movie), but it was my least favorite story of hers. The premise was a little triggering as a reformed people-pleaser myself. I did still find the story cute and sweet and I can’t wait to see the adaptation!

Back Where We Started

Author: Becca Freeman

Year: 2026

Genre: Holiday Romance

Spice Rating:💋💋💋

Age Range: 18+

Plot

Katie is a Hollywood actress, like she always dreamed she would be. She doesn’t go home to Dutch Ridge, PA, unless she has to because everything reminds her of her ex, Drew. When a promise to her sister forces Katie home for Christmas, she runs into Drew. She begins to wonder if the Hollywood life were everything she thought it would be. Will she get a second chance at love?

Why Kirsten likes it

I liked the dual-timeline way this was told; it was nice to see Drew and Katie’s past alongside their present. I struggled with two things while reading though. First, the story is cute as a celebrity second-chance romance, but it felt like the Christmas part was a total afterthought – almost as if someone insisted she put it in for marketing reasons. Second, I did not like the choices Katie made at the end regarding the town that treated her poorly in the past. #gifted by Penguin Books.

Find this book in: Celebrity Romance Books / New Christmas Books

The Twelve Loves of Christmas

Author: Alexandria Bellefleur, Elise Bryant, and more

Release Date: September 29, 2026

Genre: Advent Romance Short Story Collection

More info: Twelve Holiday Love Stories

Spice Rating:💋💋💋💋

Age Range: 18+

Plot

This is a Christmas advent calendar, and it should be on everyone’s list for the holiday. There are twelve SEALED love stories from favorite authors like Sarah Hogle. There is a forced proximity, a few second-chance romances, and more.

Why Kirsten likes it

I think these advent books are just the smartest thing! A story every day leading up to Christmas? GENIUS. The representation within each story was lovely. Some end in a kiss, some are quite steamy. There are all kinds of love stories represented, and while I liked some stories more than others, the collection as a whole is dreamy. Thanks to Atria for my review copy!

Christmas in Austenland

Author: Shannon Hale

Year: 2026

Genre: Holiday Fiction

More info: Austenland #3

Spice Rating:💋💋

Age Range: 18+

Plot

Kestrel feels alone in the world and is looking for a change, so he heads off to Austenland for Christmas. Once there, she instantly befriends the staff in a very found-family kind of way, and she settles in for a 12-day trip feeling like she belongs.

Then her ex arrives, bringing with him memories of their disastrous end and stirring up the trauma of Kestrel’s childhood. If she can face her demons and accept who she is, she could find true love this holiday season.

Trigger Warnings

Child Abuse, Toxic Relationships

Why Kirsten loves it

I thought this was going to be a lighthearted romance, but it wasn’t. Intersperced between the lighter, romantic antics at Austenland are flashbacks to Kestrel’s life before her arrival, and some of those scenes are quite unsettling. There is a lot about her past that makes this story worthy of book club discussion. Gifted by Libro.FM

Find this book in: Nonfiction & Fiction Books About Cults / Christmas Book Club Books / New Christmas Books

The Little Shop of Merry and Bright

Author: Jenny Bayliss

Release Date: September 22, 2026

Genre: Christmas Romance

More info: A Contemporary Christmas Carol Retelling

Spice Rating:💋

Age Range: 16+

Plot

When Casey declined her boyfriend’s marriage proposal three years ago, she never dreamed that it would go viral, and she would still be dealing with the backlash years later. Now, she has chosen a job with no potential for humiliation. But there is no potential for a boyfriend either.

When Casey meets Margo, the spirit of Christmas present, they make a bargain. Margo will use her powers to erase the video, but Casey must first witness five alternate realities. If she still wants the video erased, Margo will do it. Casey will have to decide what she really wants from life.

Why Kirsten likes it

This story wasn’t so Christmassy, but it was a fun, light-hearted fantasy about the paths not taken. I loved Margo’s antics and the funny glimpses of Casey’s other potential futures, but mostly I loved her current life – warts and all. It wasn’t my favorite Jenny Bayliss, but I did enjoy it. It would be a good first book to transition to the Christmas season. Gifted by Putnam Books.

Find this book in: Fantasy Christmas Books / New Christmas Books

A Taste of Magic

Author: Tricia O’Malley

Year: 2026

Genre: Cozy Fantasy Romance

More info: Scottish Charms #2

Spice Rating:💋💋💋💋

Age Range: 18+

Plot

Lyra is a witch with a problem – her magic is a bit haywire due to the curse her family is under. A YouTube baker by trade, she’s been tapped to be part of a magical Christmas reality TV baking series, and she’s been partnered with the boy who broke her 16-year-old heart.

As Rabbie tries to help her hide the problems with her magic for the cameras, he’s drawn once again to the woman he thinks left him behind. Can they get past the miscommunication of what happened when they were teenagers, or will their love fail to rise?

Why Kirsten likes it

I’ll be honest and say I didn’t love this as much as the first book in the series; there were a few too many tropes in here for me to get fully into the story, and the backwards magic kinda threw my brain for a loop. But I did love the idea of a magical Christmas baking show and the sweet love story. I’d definitely still recommend it if you loved the first story, especially because it’s clear the series will continue. Gifted by Simon & Schuster Audio

Find this book in: Reality TV Novels / New Christmas Books

A Curse for Christmas Past

Author: Morgan Lockhart

Release Date: September 22, 2026

Genre: Christmas Romance

More info: Spell of Midwinter Heart #2

Spice Rating:💋💋💋

Age Range: 18+

Plot

Hayleigh has been cursed. She lost her job, her bank account has been hacked, her horse is sick, and she is seeing things! The only way she can think of to break it is by going to Elk Ridge, Washington, for the winter festival with a clan of witches. She is positive that one of them is responsible for the curse. There, she bumps into Stephan Midwinter, who assures her that nobody from Elk Ridge cursed her and offers to help break the curse.

As Hayleigh and Stephan try to find the real culprit behind the curse, she learns to ask herself what kind of life she really wants. Was her old job really what she wants, and what is she willing to sacrifice to get it back>

Why Jackie loves it

I knew I would get my HEA with this book, but getting there was delightful. I love the nod to Baba Yaga and the other characters from Russian Folklore.

Find this book in: New Christmas Books

A Knight Before Christmas

Author: Cara Stout

Year: 2026

Genre: YA Holiday Romance

More info: Fairytale in Progress #2

Spice Rating:💋

Age Range: 14+

Plot

A dating show leads to real love in this YA Christmas romance. Juliet agrees to help her mom’s Christmas reality dating show for teens get up and running, but convincing Garrick to star in it. Garrick is fake royalty at his family’s fairytale theme park, and he’s agreed to participate in the dating show. But what happens when he falls for the girl working behind the scenes?

Why Kirsten loves it

Royals and Christmas? YES PLEASE! The royals in question may be fictional, but let a girl live, OK? This is such a cute YA Christmas romance, especially if you picture Disney World while reading. I haven’t read a YA holiday novel this fun in a few years! Thanks to HarperCollins for my review copy.

Find this book in: YA Christmas Books / Reality TV Novels / New Christmas Books

Payback

Author: Elizabeth Rose Quinn

Year: 2026

Genre: Thriller

Age Range: 14+

Plot

Six inmates at a pay-and-stay prison are checked in for the holiday week between Christmas and New Year’s Eve. These wealthy criminals are usually only at the L.A. facility on the weekends, but with the promise of double days, they are checked in for the holiday stay, despite having an awful correction officer who delights in manipulating them.

When the C.O. ends up dead after the first night, it’s up to the prisoners to figure out who among them is the murderer!

Why Kirsten loves it

This was a romp! It was funny but thrilling, and my heart was genuinely beating rapidly at the climax. I couldn’t figure out who the murderer was until the whole story was laid out. While suspenseful, it also left me with a happy feeling to learn about what the inmates would do next. This is the perfect light thriller for scaredy cats like me! #gifted by Brilliance

Find this book in: New Year’s Eve Books / Christmas Mystery Books / Best Thriller Books of 2026 / New Christmas Books

Home for the Homicides

Author: Elle Cosimano and Hannah Morrissey

Year: October 13, 2026

Genre: Holiday Mystery

More info: Book 1 of The Holly and Mark Mystery Series

Spice Rating:💋💋💋💋

Age Range: 18+

Plot

Holly and Mark are both gunning for the same position in Major Crimes and are both on thin ice after making some mistakes. When they are paired together to solve a murder, it is their chance to redeem their reputations. They are headed to the small town of Christmas- yes, Christmas to solve a murder.

The town’s Jingle Bell Jubilee is in 12 days, and they need to solve the murder before then so the town festival can go on. However, after a drunken tryst at the holiday party, there is as much chance that they work together to solve the murder as there is of killing each other instead.

Why Jackie loves it

This book is a spicy, hilarious murder mystery perfect for the holidays. Holly and Mark made me laugh, and they could not be more different.

Find this book in: Christmas Mystery Books / New Christmas Books