Whether they are returning home or going somewhere new for the holiday break, the promise of a magical Christmas romance awaits these teens.

So, This Is Christmas by Tracy Andreen. ISBN 9780593353127. 
Gr 8 Up–Finley is home for winter break from her boarding school in New England in her aptly named hometown of Christmas, OK. A fellow classmate, Arthur Chakrabarti Watercress, arrives with his grandmother to see the local wonders all because Finley fibbed about some fantastical holiday attractions via the town’s actual lackluster website. Arthur threatens to reveal the charade to their classmates when they return if he does not get the Christmas he promised his grandmother. VERDICT This makes for a solid purchase where holiday-themed romances and dramatic realistic fiction for teens are popular.

Only for the Holidays by Abiola Bello. Soho Teen. ISBN 9781641296106. 
Gr 9 Up–Quincy Parker’s family runs a luxury guest farm in a wealthy rural community, and they are about to be the first Black family to host the town’s generations-old Winter Ball. Tia Solanké is looking for a way to sneak back to London for her sort-of boyfriend’s birthday party, and Quincy needs someone to bring to the ball, to save face for his family and to show his ex he’s over her. The two strike a deal to help each other out, and the sparks fly. VERDICT A quick and cozy story to curl up with when the weather gets cold.

Make My Wish Come True. Rachael Lippincott and Alyson Derrick. S. & S. ISBN 9781665937566.
Gr 7 Up–In order to land the role of her dreams, Arden James must shed her hard-partying starlet persona and sell herself as a small-town girl through a wholesome winter romance with her “childhood sweetheart”—to be covered by Cosmopolitan, of course. VERDICT Despite the disparity in quality between the two alternating perspectives of this book, teens who enjoy lighthearted queer love stories by authors like Jason June, Mason Deaver, and Jennifer Dugan will enjoy this candy cane-sweet holiday romance.

Joy to the Girls: A She Gets the Girl Novella. Rachael Lippincott and Alyson Derrick. (She Gets the Girl). S. & S. ISBN 9781665963930.
Gr 10 Up–Alex and Molly, the fan-favorite endgame couple from She Gets the Girl, are back in this positively cheesy Christmas rom-com. Three years later, they’re playing matchmaker together, attempting to set up their friends Cora and May during winter break at May’s family’s Christmas tree farm in the perfect little town of Barnwich. Complete with snowball fights, ice skating, hot chocolate, and pancakes, this novella gives everything readers need for a gratifying classic Hallmark-style Christmas story. Molly is biracial Korean American; the ethnicities of the other protagonists are not stated. VERDICT An adorable, romantic, sapphic rom-com perfect for fans of the original, but still accessible for new readers who just want a quick, fun romp.–Kayla Chamberlain

The Holiday Switch by Tif Marcelo. ­Underlined. ISBN 9780593379554.
Gr 7 Up–High school student and book blogger Lila Santos is ready for winter break in her small town of Holly, NY. Her plans are upended when her boss’s nephew Teddy becomes her coworker, and the two continually butt heads. VERDICT The Filipino American main character and various supporting characters make this novel by a Filipina American an easy purchase for most high school libraries.

Some Like it Cold by Elle McNicoll. Wednesday Bks. ISBN 9781250335517. 
Gr 10 Up–When Jasper Montgomery returns to her small Scottish hometown for Christmas, it’s with the intention of saying goodbye to it forever. Still in town is Arthur, Jasper’s longtime school nemesis. Arthur, a budding filmmaker, has always had a crush on Jasper. Maybe the short film he is producing about love in their small town will finally show her how he feels. VERDICT A chill read for older teens looking for a snug winter romance. Also perfect for neurodivergent readers looking for representation in the romance genre.

I’m Dreaming of a Wyatt Christmas by Tiffany Schmidt. Abrams/Amulet. ISBN 9781419754012. 
Gr 8 Up–Noelle lives for Christmas. But this year is different; she decides to accept a babysitting job that will take her to Vermont for the entirety of winter break. When the dreamy older half-brother of her babysitting charges shows up at the family ski cabin, though, will all of Noelle’s dancing fantasies come true, or is she in over her head? VERDICT Recommended for all collections.

Talk Santa to Me by Linda Urban. Atheneum. ISBN 978153447883. 
Gr 8 Up–Francie’s family is all about Christmas, and their year-round holiday store is well-known in the town of Hollydale and beyond. Francie wonders if her new crush, the boy who works at the Christmas tree lot across the street from Francie’s family store, will turn into something more. VERDICT The perfect choice for rom-com fans who love the enchantment of the Christmas season.

Finding My Elf by David Valdes. HarperTeen. ISBN 9780063288881. 
Gr 9 Up–Cam left his small town for theater school at NYU, sure he was leaving for bigger and better things. He returns home for winter break with none of these things. A job as an elf to a mall Santa puts him in competition with the cute and charming Marco, whose genuinely kind and upbeat personality eventually chips away at Cam’s too-cool-for-school persona, clearing a path for a romance. VERDICT A sweet holiday romance, complete with elfish antics and rich descriptions of Christmas cookies.