Christmas in July: Upcoming 2023 Holiday Books

Posted July 13, 2023 / Book Lists, Features / 0 Comments

Here I am for my annual “Christmas in July” post that features upcoming holiday releases for the new season. I’m sure this isn’t an exhaustive list and I do try to keep it to books I hope to read or have some interest in, but I’ll try my best to get them all here for you to add to your TBR! I said it last year and I’ll say it again – I love that more and more holiday books seem to come out every year!

Egalleys I Have

Snowed in for Christmas by Snowe // This cover is so cute! I love any romance where people are snowed in, so the title alone grabbed my attention 😉 The synopsis mentions grumpy/sunshine too, if that’s your thing!

The Christmas Wager by Cassidy // Another cute cover – especially sold because of the dog! This one has enemies-to-lovers and an adorable mountain town with holiday games… sign me up.

The Christmas Cafe by Evans // This one sounds soo cute and, like the other two, definitely like a Hallmark movie! A girl tries to save the Christmas Cafe in a cute Christmassy town by getting the Holiday Channel to visit.

The Wake-Up Call by O’Leary // This one may not be a specific holiday romance but the synopsis does indicate that the hotel won’t stay open beyond Christmas and it appears to be somewhat related to the holiday season? Again, a lowkey holiday option, but still there!

Other Upcoming Releases

The Christmas Guest by Swanson // I’ll kick it off with the one non-contemporary romance of the bunch. This is a holiday novella with some murder!

A Holly Jolly Ever After by Murphy and Simone // I can’t believe I haven’t read from this duo yet. The first book in the series had some mixed reviews so I’ve just hesitated, but I’m excited to finally get to it at some point!

Faking Christmas by Winfrey // Another one on the list of “I can’t believe I haven’t read her books yet.” This is a fake marriage romance set at a cute farm in Ohio, and it sounds really up my alley.

Three Holidays and a Wedding by Jalaluddin and Sapley // I’m so excited for this one and not just because the cover is absolutely perfect. This story features Christmas, Edi, and Hanukkah with snowbound strangers in a small Christmassy town PLUS the cast and crew of a holiday romance movie??? OMG.

Through the Snow Globe by Rains // Annie Rains is one of my go-to, always-read romance authors, especially when she writes Christmassy ones. Then you can add in the fact that this is a Groundhog Day story? What more could I truly ask for?

Wrapped Up with a Beau by Vale // I’m loving all of the holiday movie-centered romances this year! This one also has a cute small town and a historic Christmas house as the setting, plus an opposites-attract romance.

Wreck the Halls by Bailey // I’m not sure that Bailey’s books are for me in general (something my sister is dismayed to hear) but I did read and mostly like her holiday novella last year. This one is a full-length Christmas novel about the “adult children of two former rock stars who team up to convince their mothers to play a Christmas Eve concert,” which sounds really fun!

The Christmas Orphans Club by Freeman // Another adorable cover. I’m intrigued by the premise of a “found family” group of friends that spend their Christmases together. One member of their foursome announces they’re moving across the country so this Christmas could be their last.

Bright Lights, Big Christmas by Andrews // Wouldn’t be the holiday season or summertime without a book from MKA! I read last year’s book by her and enjoyed it. This one sounds even better: a girl who usually lives on her parents’ tree farm heads up to NYC to sell their trees for the winter, alongside her brother. She teams up with one of the neighbors and his young son to solve a little mystery.

The Trouble with Tinsel by Giglio and Giglio // Another holiday book featuring a movie! This time ex-screenwriters and ex-partners are forced to work together when an old script is greenlighted during the holiday season.

The Ex-Mas Holidays by Zoe Allison // This premise sounds really fun and its set in the Scottish Highlands around a ski resort. A pair of exes finds themselves working together again and uncovering the truth about their breakup eight years before.

The Holiday Mix-Up by Baird // This one sounds so messy but intriguing lol. The main character has a crush on a guy who frequents her diner, and he asks her to pose as his girlfriend around the holidays. He unexpectedly ends up in a coma and she’s forced to keep up the charade around his cute brother and learn more about the man she’s fake dating.

It’s a Fabulous Life by Farmer // I haven’t seen It’s a Wonderful Life but apparently this is a retelling of it. A little second chance romance, a town holiday festival, and some magic from a drag queen that helps the MC see the good parts about where she lives.

Unleashed Holiday by Schade // Obviously I’m always sold on books with dogs on the cover. It’s an enemies-to-lovers romance centered around dog training and their families. Seems like a lot going on but definitely looks cute!

Emergency Contact by Layne and Ledonne // I love Lauren Layne so I’m pumped to see this one for the holiday season! It’s a second-chance romance between a woman and her ex-husband when they’re forced to spend the holidays stuck in a blizzard together.

One Christmas Morning by Greenlaw // This one may be at the top of my list for this season. I love books involving some Christmas Carol elements with the whole ghosts visiting and such. This book has that element with a twist – the MC wakes up on Christmas morning living the lives of each of her friends, coworkers, family members, etc.. It’s like if A Christmas Carol, Groundhog Day, and Freaky Friday got squished together.

It Happened One Christmas by Guertin // Yet another great-sounding holiday movie-based book! This time the MC is a director of holiday movies and is tasked with trying to get a local mayor/tree farm owner to allow her to film in the location she needs.

A December to Remember by Bayliss // I think I’m behind on her Christmas books by one year/release but as usual, excited to add another to my list! I’ve loved them so far. This appears to be more of a family-oriented story where three sisters compete in challenges to access their inheritance.

The Christmas Swap by Samuels // This is a tried-and-true trope in books these days, including another book on this list! Girl goes home with a dude to pose as his girlfriend for the holidays, ends up falling in love with their sibling. (This time, it’s his sister!)

Along Came Holly by Hall // I keep adding Hall’s books to my TBR and still haven’t read one! Her covers are so cute too. This book involves a prank war (which is generally not my thing) and an arrangement to help set up holiday decorations? The synopsis is a little confusing but still looks pretty good.

All’s Fair in Love and Christmas by Monzon // This sounds like if The Hating Game were set at Christmastime, and I’m here for that.

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