And here we are again. The end of the year, deep in the throes of the holidays, school breaks, and colder, darker days. Reading has always sustained me when real life feels out of control, and this season is no different. There’s a lot of work to be done, but I must take time to rest, recover, and refill. When there’s a rare lull in my day, I grab a book and tuck into a romantic story. (It beats doomscrolling.) Here are the books quieting my chaotic mind this month.

Happy reading, happy holidays, and onward to a New Year!

*****

All I Want Is You (Putnam) by Falon Ballard is a sexy, lighthearted Yuletide tale packed with second-chance love, humor, and loads of festive cheer.

Struggling romance writer Jessica Carrington is blindsided when her agent and publisher ask her to present an award to her wildly successful ex, Nick Matthews — a romance author notorious for penning love stories minus happy endings. (Which means they’re not romances, as Jessica is happy to remind him.) Nick broke her heart, and Jessica isn’t keen on spending any amount of time with him, but to appease her publisher, she agrees.

Nick is just as nervous about seeing Jessica, but for different reasons. He accepts full responsibility for their breakup, but that doesn’t mean he’s over her, or that he doesn’t regret the choices he made. The tension between them reignites when a snowstorm traps them in the inn where the event is being hosted, forcing them to share a room.

As they each deal with unresolved feelings, they unexpectedly find inspiration to co-write a novel together, which forces them to confront their past and figure out what it means for their future. Along the way, we get to revisit Christmases past and see how their relationship developed — and why it fell apart.

Ballard does a terrific job of crafting relatable, engaging characters, and the witty banter between Jessica and Nick keeps the pages turning. The cozy backdrop is inviting, and the snowstorm and holiday ball create an ideal setting for this sweet, steamy read.

*****

Georgia K. Boone’s I’ll Be Gone for Christmas (Avon) is an uplifting Yuletide romcom that’s perfect for fans of “The Holiday.”

Bee Tyler is a stressed-out tech pro in San Francisco, and Clover Mills is a woman grieving her mother’s loss in the Christmas-obsessed town of Salem, Ohio. Both women crave a much-needed escape from their real lives — and they find it through a house-swap app, Vacate. As they settle into each other’s homes, their lives begin to change in unexpected and magical ways.

In California, Clover can’t seem to avoid Bee’s ambitious and beautiful sister, Beth. Meanwhile, in small-town Ohio, Bee finds herself drawn to Clover’s charming and supportive former fiancé, Knox, who helps her rekindle her holiday spirit. Both Bee and Clover are dealing with personal struggles — Bee from career insecurities and family tension, and Clover from heartbreak and loss. Running away from home doesn’t mean they can run away from their problems, though. They must find a way to face their fears, heal their past wounds, and embrace the unexpected joys of the present.

Boone beautifully intertwines Bee’s and Clover’s journeys of self-discovery and romance in parallel stories that are emotionally touching. The festive settings, from a snug Midwestern cottage to a sleek Bay Area apartment, bring fun, celebratory vibes, while the blossoming romances offer plenty of swoon-worthy moments.

*****

My favorite holiday romance this season is Amanda Elliot’s Love You a Latke (Berkley) — a heartwarming Hanukkah romance sparkling with snarky humor and festive charm. 

Abby Cohen is a grumpy coffeeshop owner in a small Vermont town who finds herself reluctantly paired with Seth Abrams, an annoyingly cheerful regular, in a fake dating arrangement. Abby, the only Jew on the local tourism board, has been tasked with planning the town’s first-ever Hanukkah festival, which becomes a comedy of errors as local vendors fail to grasp Hanukkah traditions. Seth offers to help connect her with more appropriate vendors — on one condition: She must accompany him to New York as his “Nice Jewish Girlfriend” to appease his matchmaking parents.

Abby’s crabby demeanor contrasts with Seth’s enduring optimism, but opposites attract as they work together to make the festival a reality. Abby finds herself letting down her guard with Seth, who really does have her best interests at heart as she struggles with her strained relationship with her parents and finding her place in the community.

In a season filled with Christmas-centric tales, Elliot skillfully highlights Jewish culture and traditions (and food — latkes and doughnuts and challah, oh my!). Seth’s genuinely kindhearted nature and Abby’s process of rediscovering her sense of belonging make this a joyful December treat!

Kristina Wright lives in Virginia with her husband, their two sons, two Goldendoodles and a ginger cat. She’s a regular contributor at BookBub and a lifelong fan of romance fiction. Find her on Twitter at @kristinawright or on Bookshop, where she features her book recommendations.