New Holiday Books to Read in 2025: My Most Anticipated Festive TBR Picks

The holiday season and cozy new reads go hand in hand, and 2025 is already shaping up to deliver some truly magical stories. From sparkling romances set against snowy backdrops to heartwarming family dramas and festive romcoms, this year’s holiday book releases are giving me plenty to add to my TBR. Whether you love Christmas cheer, holiday celebrations, or just a good wintry escape, these upcoming books promise to bring comfort, joy, and a little seasonal sparkle. Here are the some of the New Holiday Books to Read in 2025. Click on the book’s cover to add it to your Goodreads shelf.

---

Jenna, longtime resident and owner of the town’s general store, is content with her quiet life—until Jack Wexler, a disgruntled ex–New York investment banker adjusting to small-town living, storms into her shop demanding smoked salmon. Their rocky first encounter sets off sparks neither expected, but when they’re thrown together to organize Starr’s Fall’s Winter Wonderland parade, the frosty tension begins to thaw. As twinkling lights and holiday magic fill the air, Jenna and Jack must decide whether their unlikely attraction is just seasonal—or the start of something lasting.

Three years after a tragic Christmas Eve accident claimed his family, Paul Wanlass has shut himself off from life and love—until a mysterious stranger named Gabriel appears at his door with an otherworldly warning. Soon after, Paul crosses paths with a young widow and her son, who’ve also encountered Gabriel, and together they begin to believe his visit was no coincidence. As their lives intertwine with unexpected joy, chaos, and connection, Paul must confront whether this Christmas stranger has come to heal their hearts, reveal a greater purpose, or deliver a message far beyond what they imagined.

The Balfour family’s Christmas is full of secrets waiting to be unwrapped. Becky dreads the holiday for the first time and must rely on her brother’s best friend, Will, to keep her confidence after an unexpected airport encounter. Her twin sister, Rosie, is struggling with cracks in her whirlwind marriage to Declan, while Hayley worries about fitting into the Balfours during her first Christmas with Jamie—especially with the secret they’re hiding. With tensions, insecurities, and hidden truths threatening to unravel the holiday, the family must decide if honesty can bring them closer in time to salvage their perfect Christmas together.

Laura and Callum have crossed paths three times—though neither remembers the first two until a hilariously awkward third encounter leaves them both unforgettable. When Callum’s parents mistake Laura for his girlfriend, she agrees to keep up the charade and spends Christmas with his family in the Scottish Highlands. But things get even more complicated when Laura’s friends arrive posing as her family, Callum’s ex joins the festivities, and the line between fake romance and real feelings blurs as sparks fly between Laura and Callum.

 Longtime friends Amy, Frankie, Rachael, and Nina reunite for their cherished holiday tradition, only to find themselves on an unexpected adventure when Salvation Army buckets start disappearing around town. Determined to help, they team up with Annie and Myra, whose shipment of toys bound for a New York City charity event has also been stolen. Realizing the crimes are connected, the two groups join forces on a whirlwind chase through the city, vowing to stop the thieves, protect the spirit of giving, and create a Christmas filled with justice, laughter, and unforgettable memories.

Siblings Avery and Reed Bond, still grieving the loss of their beloved Gram, plan to spend the holiday together but find their traditions derailed when Avery is stranded on a ferry in the Puget Sound and Reed is left waiting on shore. What first feels like an inconvenience soon transforms into a holiday blessing as Avery meets a charming sailor and witnesses a Christmas miracle, while Reed unexpectedly connects with a coworker in the same predicament. Filled with heart, humour, and holiday magic, this story shows how love and joy often appear when we least expect them.

🇨🇦 Ruby Dhanji lives for Christmas and all things British, and she’s determined to honour her late mother’s dream by moving to England and opening a cozy inn—but first she needs hotel experience. Enter Rashid, a holiday skeptic whose family owns a boutique hotel chain in the UK. When he helps Ruby haul home a Christmas tree, their paths intertwine: Ruby agrees to bring holiday magic to his young nieces if he’ll connect her with his family. As their unlikely friendship deepens into romance, Ruby discovers Rashid’s hidden warmth beneath his grumpy exterior, but with her move to England fast approaching, she must decide whether to follow her long-held dream or take a chance on unexpected love.

Single mom Holly Goodwin Moore is struggling to find holiday cheer as she prepares for her ex’s family wedding, where her daughter is eager to be a flower girl and Holly is dreading showing up alone. A little white lie about having a boyfriend forces her to scramble for a date, and that’s when she meets Ryan Caldwell, who’s unexpectedly spending Christmas in Shelter Springs caring for his niece while navigating strained family ties. When Holly and Ryan strike a deal—he’ll be her wedding date if she helps him create a magical Christmas for his niece—they find themselves drawn together, discovering hope, healing, and the possibility of love along the way.

---

As you can probably tell, my holiday TBR is already looking wonderfully festive—and we’re only just getting started with the 2025 releases. I can’t wait to curl up with these stories, a cozy blanket, and maybe a mug of hot chocolate while the snow falls outside. If you’re also planning your holiday reading, I’d love to know what books are on your list this year. Did any of these new releases catch your eye? Next week I’ll take a look at backlist books for the holidays. Let’s make our TBR piles a little merrier together. Don’t forget to check out my post introducing my Christmas 2025 Reading Challenge!