It’s Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas: YA Book Edition

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas! We’re definitely seasonal readers, which means we love reading Christmas books in December. Bring us all the fluffy romance and holiday cheer. We compiled a list of the YA Christmas books guaranteed to get you ready to deck the halls. Let us know your favorite holiday reads in the comments!

1. My True Love Gave to Me: Twelve Holiday Stories edited by Stephanie Perkins

My True Love Gave to Me: Twelve Holiday Stories is a collection of cute romantic short stories. The includes stories about Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year’s Eve. Enjoy reading tales from Ally Carter, Holly Black, David Levithan and Holly Black. If you’re looking for multiple great holiday tales that don’t take too long to read, this is the book for you.

2. So, This is Christmas by Tracy Andreen

So, This is Christmas is our most recent holiday read. Finley Brown returned to her hometown of Christmas, Oklahoma for the holidays. Too bad everything has changed since she left for boarding school in Connecticut. First, her best friend is dating her ex-boyfriend. Second, her parents separated, causing her mom to spend the holidays in Missouri. Finally, her former nemesis now works at her grandmother’s inn. Just when Finely thinks things can’t get any worse, Arthur Chakrabarti Watercress shows up at the inn with his aunt and they expect a perfect Christmas. Full of romance, holiday cheer and themes of finding yourself, Finley has the most unexpected, yet incredible, Christmas yet.

3. I’m Dreaming of a Wyatt Christmas by Tiffany Schmidt

I’m Dreaming of a Wyatt Christmas is one of our current reads this holiday season. Noelle ends up on ski vacation over Christmas with the family she babysits for. Enter Wyatt: the older half-brother and nothing goes as planned. Noelle annoys Wyatt from the beginning, yet the two are forced to spend time together at the resort. This book promises to be a hilarious rom-com about two teenagers who are both trying to make it in the competitive world of ballet.

4. The Holiday Switch by Tif Marcelo

The Holiday Switch follows Lila Castro, who loves her small town in Upstate New York that is obsessed with everything Christmas. One of the most famous holiday movies was filmed there and now every year tourists flock to the beautiful town. Lila also works at the Bookworm Inn, where scenes of the movie were filmed. Everything about this holiday season seemed perfect, until Lila’s boss tells her that she can’t work more hours over winter break because there’s a new seasonal hire. Enter Teddy Veracruz: the owner’s nephew and a complete pain in the ass. It’s beginning to look a lot like a crazy holiday season.

5. Ex-Mas by Kate Brian

Ex-Mas features an exciting and romantic Christmas road trip. Lila Beckwith and Beau Hodges were best friends and even dated in middle school and early high school. But they grew apart. Lila choosing to get an in with the popular crowd and Beau being a loner and focusing on his music. Too bad they still have to interact since their little brothers are besties. When Lila’s parents go away a few days before Christmas, they leave Lila in charge of Cooper. Except Cooper basically ruined her life by telling their parents about the party Lila planned. To get revenge, Lila leaves an article out about how climate change is melting the North Pole, which means Santa is in danger. Along with his best friend Tyler, Cooper heads North to try to save Christmas. This leaves Lila and Beau to try to drive from Los Angeles to Seattle to find their brothers before their parents notice. 

6. 10 Blind Dates by Ashley Elston

In 10 Blind Dates, Sophie Patrick is ready for winter break! With her parents away seeing her sister, Sophie finally has the freedom to spend time with her boyfriend. But when Sophie surprises him at a party, she overhears him telling his friend that he wants a break. He wants to have fun and Sophie isn’t fun. Sophie leaves the party in tears and shows up at her nonna’s house for the holidays. Her nonna wants to help Sophie’s broken heart and devises a family plan: 10 days of 10 dates. Family members get to reserve days to set Sophie up on a series of blind dates. These dates range from Christmas parties, to having to play Mary in a middle school nativity scene (Sophie is 18!), to joining a Game of Thrones themed bowling team. 

7. All I Want for Christmas is the Girl Who Can’t Love by Chelsea Bobulski

All I Want for Christmas is the Girl Who Can’t Love is about college freshman Savannah Mason, who doesn’t believe in love. After watching her grandmother and mother enter countless disastrous relationships, Savannah is convinced love is nothing more than a chemical imbalance tricking you. Enter Jordan Merrick: a college junior who meets Savannah when she’s moving into her dorm. Jordan’s been burned before, but he’s open to love. After Jordan and Savannah have an instant connection, leading to a friendship, Jordan hopes for something more.

When a mystery pops about a series of love letters written during the Revolutionary War between a William and Bex, Savannah starts to questions her beliefs on love. Will she able to get her own love story or will her family’s past keep her from living the life she wants.

8. Let it Snow by John Green, Maureen Johnson and Lauren Myracle

Let it Snow follows an ensemble of characters as a snow storm hits a small town on Christmas Eve. It’s now a Netflix movie and as far as YA book to movie adaptations go, it’s pretty great! 

Jubilee can’t make it to Florida by train and ends up spending the day at the Waffle House. But, running into a stranger named Stuart might change her entire outlook. An adventure to get to Waffle House for three friends might be the most surprising night of all for two of them. Tobin started to see his friend Angie “The Duke” as something more, but will the Christmas Eve blizzard give him the courage to tell her? Finally, Addie is having problems with her boyfriend Jeb. He doesn’t show up to their Starbucks date and Addie tries to heal by having her own adventure. One that includes an unlikely ally: a cute teacup pig!

9. To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han

To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before isn’t fully a holiday book, but Christmas is so important to Lara Jean Covey and her family. Lara Jean is very into decorating, celebrating and baking. In fact, if you buy a paperback version of this book, you’ll get Lara Jean’s favorite cookie recipes placed in the back of the book. Run to the store and stock your kitchen because Lara Jean will turn you into a holiday baking queen. 

10. Pretty Little Secrets by Sara Shepard

Pretty Little Secrets is a companion book to Pretty Little Liars. It’s Winter in Rosewood, Pennsylvania and each girl has a crazy holiday season. Hanna’s Hanukkah isn’t off to a good start, Aria’s Winter Solstice leads her to Atlantic City, Emily’s Christmas plans cause her to get arrested and Spencer spends New Year’s Eve in Florida, competing with her sister for a guy. We love this hilarious and dramatic addition to one of our favorite series.

11. Dash and Lily’s Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan

If you’re dreaming of a Christmas in NYC, then you need to read this sweet YA romance about two people who leave notes for each other across the city. Dash & Lily’s Book of Dares was recently turned into a Netflix TV show and it’s a pretty great adaptation. Explore places in Manhattan like The Stand bookstore and Central Park with Dash and Lily.

12. Talk Santa to Me by Linda Urban

Talk Santa to Me is a recent release and is basically Grandma Got Runover by a Reindeer meets a Hallmark movie. Frankincense “Francie” was born in a stable. Well, a stable at the Hollydale Holiday Shop, her family’s Christmas store. Francie loves her family’s store more than anything else in the world. But this year is annoying. Her Aunt Carol is back and trying to make the store more corporate feeling, a la cousin Mel from Grandma Got Runover by a Reindeer. Francie wants to save the magic of Christmas for her family, while also trying to kiss the cute guy from the tree lot next door. It’s bound to be an interesting holiday season for Francie.

13. Christmas After All by Cece Louise

We recently read Christmas After All by Cece Louise. In this hate to love holiday romance, Melissa Ellis and Tucker James have known each other for years. Back in high school, Melissa turned down Tucker’s very public prom proposal. What did Tucker do? He wrote a song about it. He became an overnight sensation and she became infamous. Now that Tucker is back in town, Melissa has to deal with the guy who ruined her reputation. Can these two get through Christmas in this small Wisconsin town?

14. All I Want for Christmas is the Girl Next Door by Chelsea Bobulski

All I Want for Christmas is the Girl Next Door is on our holiday reading TBR. Graham always thought he and his neighbor Sarah were meant to be. After he wishes on a star, he wakes up the next day to learn he is dating Sarah. But when things start off rocky, Graham wonders if there is someone out there who is better for him. Be careful what you wish for!

15. Snow in Love by Kasie West, Nic Stone, Melissa de la Cruz and Aimee Friedman

Snow in Love features four holiday stories that are perfect for a chilly night in spent under a blanket. From a contemporary love story set in an airport, to a Christmas Eve plot twist, to a scavenger hunt, to a Hanukkah miracle— this book has a story for everyone! Definitely pick this up if you’re looking for four quick, light hearted reads by some of our favorite YA authors. 

16. Together at Midnight by Jennifer Castle

Together at Midnight is a Christmas adventure story. Kendall, who just returned from a semester in Europe and Max, who is doing a gap year before going to college, witnessed something tragic together while in New York City. Filled with guilt, the two accept a dare to perform random acts of kindness to strangers. The challenge pulls Max and Kendall, who have a history together from back home, closer and closer as they explore the city and learn a lot about people and themselves.

17. #AllIWantforChristmas by Yesenia Vargas

#AllIWantforChristmas is a book we found recently on Goodreads. It follows five friends, who aren’t having a very good holiday season. Harper is hoping to prove to her friends that anything can happen on Christmas, but will everyone get what they hoped for this year?

18. Kiss Me in New York by Catherine Rider

Charlotte and Anthony meet by chance in an airport over the holidays. Both of them have been dumped and neither can get out of New York City because of a blizzard. In the gift shop they pick up a book about getting over their exes and set off to explore NYC in the snow.

Kiss Me in New York is a heartwarming story about finding love in an unexpected way. With the snow covered streets and the city decorated for the holiday season, how could you not fall for the person who understands what you’re going through?

19. Blame It on the Mistletoe by Beth Garrod

Blame it on the Mistletoe follows Elle and Holly, who live completely opposite lives in different countries. Elle is a social media influencer in New Jersey and Holly’s a normal girl from a small town in England. When the two decide to switch places for Christmas, they learn a lot about themselves and they both find love along the way.

20. Kiss Me in Paris by Catherine Rider

Kiss Me in Paris is about Serena, who flies to Paris before Christmas for a weekend with her sister. Only, her sister ditches her. Thankfully, she can stay with Jean-Luc, of friend of Serena’s sister. But Jean-Luc is a total pain and the two do not get along. Can Serena save her holiday memories and find love in the City of Lights? There’s nothing like Christmas in Paris.

21. Whiteout by various authors

Whiteout is a new book full of short stories full of holiday tales during a snow storm that hits Atlanta, Georgia. While we haven’t read this book yet, we’ve heard good things. Read stories from YA favorites including Nicola Yoon, Angie Thomas and Dhonielle Clayton.