Feel-Good YA Books for the Holiday Season
by Dena McMurdie
The best part about the holiday season is the feel-good vibe. From sipping your favorite drink to binge-watching Hallmark movies, there are plenty of ways to get into the holiday spirit. Reading holiday-themed YA books is one of my favorite things to do this time of year. If you want stories about kissing under the mistletoe, snowy resorts, and young love, you can’t go wrong with one of these fantastic YA holiday books.
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So, This Is Christmas
Available from:Escape to a small tourist town that loves Christmas so much it’s named after the holiday. Finley, a boarding school student, returns home for the winter break to find her world turned upside down. As she navigates the changes, she learns more about herself and falls in love — with plenty of laugh-out-loud moments along the way.
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Love in Winter Wonderland
Available from:Fans of The Sun Is Also a Star and You’ve Got Mail will adore this charming winter hate-to-love romance. Trey is juggling a lot. From maintaining popularity at school to his job at his family's bookstore Wonderland. Ariel, a creative with dreams of pursuing a coveted arts program and the need to pay for it, finds the perfect position at Wonderland. Both of their dreams are put in jeopardy when a local gentrifier threatens to shut down the bookstore Can they come together to save it in time for the holidays?
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The Holiday Switch
Available from:A holiday gift shop, a snowstorm, a cute (but frustrating) boy, and a girl with perfectionist tendencies combine into a funny and swoon-worthy YA Christmas romance. When you need a book that makes you feel warm and sweet, like a mug of hot chocolate inside, pick this one up!
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Eight Nights of Flirting
Available from:In this delightful winter romantic comedy by the author of The Summer of Lost Letters, Shira is determined to find her perfect boyfriend during Hanukkah. However, her plans are threatened by a major snowstorm. Will this be the moment when she learns the value of things not going according to plan, especially when she finds herself stranded with Tyler, her former crush and nemesis?
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All I Want for Christmas
Available from:More than anything else, Bailey wants a boyfriend — at least, someone to give her a holiday-worthy kiss. She sets her sights on Charlie, a mysterious British boy. But Jacob Marley, the local heartthrob, keeps ruining her plans to catch Charlie’s eye. This book is bursting with humor, romance, and Christmas feels!
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Eight Dates and Nights
Available from:Hannah is spending her holiday with her grandmother in a small town in Texas. She misses the excitement of New York, and can't help but think about it. However, her perspective changes after meeting Noah, a fun-loving and adorable tween who is enthusiastic about Hanukkah traditions. Can he teach Hannah that there's more to the holiday than what she assumes?
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New Year’s Kiss
Available from:Spend your winter break at a snow-covered resort in Vermont with Tess, the cute boy she meets (Christopher), and an epic bucket list to send the year off in style. Snow, romance, and secrets await inside the pages of this adorable YA novel!
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Let It Snow
Available from:When you want those fuzzy feel-good vibes, you can’t go wrong with this bestselling collection of holiday stories from three popular YA authors. These sweet and romantic stories will boost your mood and get you ready for the holidays. If you need even more holiday cheer, fire up Netflix and watch the movie adaptation.
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What Light
Available from:This year could be the last time Sierra and her family make their seasonal trip to California to sell Christmas trees, so she wants it to be memorable. When she meets a boy named Caleb, her wish for an unforgettable holiday season comes true. This story of first love, forgiveness, and redemption is a must-read at Christmas time.
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Dash & Lily Series
Spend the Christmas season in New York City with Lily and Dash and a little red notebook full of dares. Follow along as the teens explore the city, share their dreams, complete the challenges, and fall in love. You can binge-read all three books (Dash & Lily's Book of Dares, The Twelve Days of Dash & Lily, and Mind the Gap, Dash & Lily), then head to Netflix to watch the holiday-themed television series.
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Johanna’s Christmas
Available from:While this coloring book isn’t a novel, it will get you into the holiday spirit. From snow globes to stockings, each page is filled with exquisite artwork and Christmas items to color. You won’t be able to resist picking up your markers and coloring for hours. It makes an excellent gift, stocking stuffer, or activity to have on hand during downtime.
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