2025 is winding down, and many authors save their book releases for after the new year. But that doesn't mean that all hope is lost for new books under the Christmas tree! Several authors managed to sneak their new releases in before the chaos of the winter holidays bogged them down.
There's something about romance at Christmastime that hits different. The spirit of generosity and cheer also amplifies the feelings of love and attraction. A holiday romance just seems extra heartwarming, and the conflicts that come up around the holidays are more relatable than ever. That's why this list of new romance books will have you feeling delightful, no matter how frightful the weather or your extended family is.
The Mating Game by Lana Ferguson — Dec. 2
Who says you can't have a werewolf romance during Christmas? Werewolves have holidays too! I'm actually loving how Lana Ferguson and other paranormal romance authors are leaning into the idea of shifters being regular people. In some ways, it seems to elevate the werewolf genre, considered trashy and cliché, to something more respected.
Tess Covington has lived without her wolf for her whole life. So, it seems especially unfortunate that this late bloomer finally transforms as she's taking on her biggest renovation job. She'll just have to push through all the strange new scents and feelings and get on with her work. The problem? Her client, Hunter Barrett, is an alpha who smells delicious. Can they make it through the project with their hearts intact?
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The Bodyguard Affair by Amy Lea — Dec. 2
The Bodyguard Affair takes place during the summer, but you can just think of it as Christmas in July! The newest romance by Amy Lea, author of The Influencer series and Woke Up Like This, is about what happens when people read too much into an author's life and confuse fiction and reality.
Andi Zeigler finds herself in hot water when her secret life as a romance novelist is blown. The fact that she's the personal assistant to the Canadian Prime Minister's wife, and her novel is a romance between a Prime Minister and an average girl brings lots of unwanted rumors. So, Andi ropes Nolan Crosby, the PM's bodyguard, into a fake-dating situation to quell the rumors and save her job. Will they be able to pull it off and forget the one-night-stand they had years ago?
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The E.M.M.A. Effect by Lia Riley — Dec. 2
What do you get when you combine AI, Jane Austen, and hockey? Don't worry, this book isn't written by a bot trained on Jane Austen novels and sports romance. Lia Riley is very much human. But her book, The E.M.M.A. Effect is about a computer scientist and her matchmaking AI.
Harriet created The E.M.M.A. to help calculate sports' players performance stats, thereby helping them to improve. But what must be a glitch in the system is saying that what hockey star, Gale Knight, needs is a love match. And who does The E.M.M.A. think is the perfect match to boost Gale's performance? Its creator, and the woman secretly crushing on Gale: Harriet. Should Harriet listen to her busybody AI program and follow her heart?
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The Dark Is Descending by Chloe C. Peñaranda (Nytefall Trilogy #3) — Dec. 2
The Dark Is Descending is Chloe C. Peñaranda's final installment in the Nytefall Trilogy. The series is a dark romance story that takes the story of the Greek goddess, Astraea, and asks what would happen to this pure and innocent star maiden if she were to fall in love with a bloodthirsty vampire.
This third book of the series finds Astraea working to save Nyte from the curse that binds him, while also trying to prepare for a war against the gods. Will Astraea's powers be enough to save the world and Nyte? Or will she have to choose between her love and her world?
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Persephone's Curse by Katrina Leno — Dec. 2
Another novel based in Greek mythology, Persephone's Curse is a tale of sisterly love as much as it is a romance. It also gives off Little Women vibes, that is, if the March sisters had magical powers and control of the dead. What could be better than that?
The four Farthing sisters didn't believe their aunt when she told them they were the literal descendants of Persephone. Not until one of the sisters falls in love with Henry, the ghost haunting their attic, and another sends him to the Underworld with powers she didn't realize she had. Now, the sisters must team up to save Henry and restore the relationship between the ghost and his lover, and the relationship with each other.
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The Rebel and the Rose by Catherine Doyle (The City of Fantome #2) — Dec. 2
The Rebel and the Rose is the sequel to Catherine Doyle's The Dagger and the Flame, and continues the story of Seraphine and Ransom. The plot around the characters is completely different, but the relationship between the main characters feels like a "what could have been" for Kylo Ren and Rey Skywalker. Meaning, this love story between rivals is successful at drawing readers in and feeling the emotions.
Seraphine is in the Order of Flames, while Ransom leads the Order of Daggers. These two guilds are the biggest and baddest of the crime underworld. So, falling in love was definitely not a part of the plan. Yet, when they are ordered by the king of Fantome to work together against a new threat, they'll have to fight their growing attraction if they want to continue on their diverging paths.
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The Last Vampire by Romina Garber — Dec. 2
Described as "Pride and Prejudice meets Crave," The Last Vampire is the latest from Romina Garber, author of Lobizona and Zodiac. It's a romantasy with dark academia vibes and a vampire version of Mr. Darcy. And you know that out of all the male characters in Pride and Prejudice, Darcy would be the best vampire.
Lorena Navarro is a Jane Austen superfan who enrolls in an old manor-turned-boarding school, hoping to find a love story that rivals Austen's tales. She ends up accidentally waking the last vampire in existence instead. William Pride is devastated to learn he's the last of his kind, but he grows close to Lorena as she teaches him about the modern world. But when a chance comes to bring vampires back to the world, William will have to choose between his love and his destiny.
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There's Always Next Year by Leah Johnson and George M. Johnson — Dec. 2
Two brilliant young adult authors have partnered to create this fun, queer rom-com. Leah Johnson, author of You Should See Me in a Crown, and George M. Johnson, author of All Boys Aren't Blue, are not related and are not romantically involved, but they are working together to bring queer love into the spotlight. If you are a fan of the Heartstopper series by Alice Oseman, you will not want to miss There's Always Next Year.
Andy and Dominique are cousins and confidants, commiserating with one another on the disasters otherwise known as their love lives. Andy puked on her crush instead of asking her out, and Dominique runs into his ex best friend whom he's had feelings for for years. When other parts of their lives begin to crumble, they both wonder if anything will go right for them. In this dual romance, Andy and Dominique must help each other gain the love stories they've been dreaming of.
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Us Without You by Vicky Skinner — Dec. 2
Us Without You is the newest release by Vicky Skinner, author of How to Breathe Underwater, All Our Worst Ideas, and We Are the Ghosts. It's a contemporary friends-to-lovers romance, but the circumstances surrounding the love story are tragic. Definitely read this book with tissues nearby.
Ellie is still grieving her brother's death when she receives some of his things in the mail. Determined to learn more about her brother and the secrets he kept from her, Ellie decides to go on a road trip to search for the return address on the package she received. Her brother's best friend and ex-girlfriend, Wes and Gwen, join Ellie on the journey. Ellie starts to feel conflicted between staying true to her brother's memory and the growing feelings in her heart.
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Trail Rides & Starry Eyes by Katrina Emmel — Dec. 9
Trail Rides & Starry Eyes is a young adult romance by Katrina Emmel, the author of Near Misses & Cowboy Kisses. Both books are cowboy romances, but despite the similar rhyming titles, they are not part of a series. If you're looking for a sweet but swoon-worthy love story this December, this is a good choice.
Wilder is a teen celebrity hoping to land a new part on a prestigious TV series. But, while he told the producers that he is great at riding horses, he doesn't actually know how. The solution is simple though: find someone to teach him to ride. Cassidy loves her simple life as a rancher, but when Wilder barrels in and turns her world upside down, she starts to wonder if she could change her dream for the boy who holds her heart.
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If you were interested by any of the books on this list, make sure you tell Santa! It's not too late to add them to your wish list. And then, get ready to read by the fire while the holiday chaos goes on in the background. Immersing yourself in a good book is the best gift you can give yourself.