When the season arrives, we're among the first to cozy up under a thick blanket with a steaming cup of mulled wine and binge festive rom-coms. But what those stories are notably missing are sex scenes. Even the rare racier film may include little more than a makeout session that cuts to black, followed by a female character in bed later, the sheets pulled securely above any offending nipples. So if the family-friendly Hallmark movies (and the chaste depictions of kissing under the mistletoe and hand-holding while lighting the menorah) aren't quite cutting it, you're not alone. This year, I've compiled my favorite holiday romances that will keep the winter blues away and your heart rate up. After all, all our visions can't just be of sugarplums dancing; sometimes those sugarplums need to be fucking, too.
As with our last seasonal smutty reading list, we understand the joy of delving into a sexually explicit romance to get your heart pumping. So rest assured that whether you're in the mood for friends-to-lovers rehabbing a Christmas tree farm, a royal wedding with a festive twist, a "dirty-talking Ted Lasso" under the mistletoe, or something else entirely, this list of holiday romance novels will add an extra dash of spice to your winter nights.
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In A Holidaze by Christina Lauren
If you want to lean into the magic of the holiday season, this offering from writing duo Christina Lauren is a smoldering treat. The novel is a sexy take on Groundhog's Day, with hopelessly defeated Mae reliving the same winter break over and over and over again. Like all of Christina Lauren's books, this one has hilarious banter, a swoon-worthy love interest, and enough sex to keep your heart rate up even on the coldest winter night.
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Amazon In a Holidaze, $, available at Amazon
The Matzah Ball by Jean Meltzer
Okay, we know that matzah is not a part of this holiday season, but this Hannukah rom-com from Jean Meltzer totally knows that. It follows a Christmas romance novelist, whose publisher insists on getting a Hannukah romance out of her, much to her Christmas-obsessed chagrin. Though this one veers more towards sweet than spicy, the romance between former summer camp nemeses Rachel and Jacob will still set your heart ablaze.
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Amazon The Matzah Ball: A Novel, $, available at Amazon
Royal Holiday by Jasmine Guillory
Cozy up with this festive addition to Guillory's extended universe from her debut novel, The Wedding Date. The romance follows Vivian, who travels to England with her daughter, for what she thinks will be a Christmas filled with sightseeing and tourist attractions. But what awaits is a steamy affair that she never wants to end. This one will have your heartstrings jingling all the way to the very end.
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Amazon Royal Holiday, $, available at Amazon
The Remaking Of Corbin Wale by Roan Parrish
If you're looking for the right recipe to add a dash of festive magic to your holiday season, look no further than The Remaking Of Corbin Wale, which the author, Parrish, calls her, "MLM romance take on Practical Magic." Straddling the line of contemporary and fantasy, this bakery-set slow-burn explodes in a well-crafted orgasmic peak that's so beautifully written you can practically taste it. Pro-tip: Make sure you have your favorite holiday baked goods in hand when you crack this one open (I will be grabbing some soufganiyot!).
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Amazon The Remaking of Corbin Wale, $, available at Amazon
The Tourist Attraction by Sarah Morgenthaler
Though this escapist romance takes place in a freezing, snowy small town in Alaska, the opposites-attract romance is sizzling hot. With flirtatious banter that's laugh-out-loud funny and a rogue moose that is a scene-stealer, I was instantly as warm as a cup of cocoa. And despite my own personal hatred of the snow, this one won me over and eventually had me researching my own trip to Alaska. (What? A girl can dream!)
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Amazon The Tourist Attraction, $, available at Amazon
Kiss Her Once For Me by Alison Cochrun
I was in love with Cochrun's debut queer romance The Charm Offensive (fans of The Bachelor MUST read), so I was thrilled to learn about her holiday season follow-up. This one centers around a fake relationship (which is my A++ trope) and turns it on its head. How so? Well, when Ellie travels home for the holidays with her fake beau, she realizes that she's already had a romance with one of his family members: his sister. Be warned, though: some of the scenes were so steamy they had me blushing (and that's a true feat).
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Amazon Kiss Her Once for Me: A Novel, $, available at Amazon
Nick And Noel's Christmas Playlist by Codi Hall
When November 1 rolls around, are you the type of person who starts playing Mariah Carey on a loop? If so, stop right there and pick up this blush-inducing romance. The best-friends-to-lovers story will warm even the Grinchiest of hearts. Plus, you can enjoy a whole Christmas soundtrack as you read the steamy mistletoe kisses (and more...).
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Amazon Nick and Noel's Christmas Playlist, $, available at Amazon
Window Shopping by Tessa Bailey
Fans of Tessa Bailey know she's not one to skimp on her sex scenes, and this NYC-at-the-holidays romance is no exception. One reviewer claims the love interest feels like a "dirty-talking Ted Lasso," if that's any indication. Enjoy this smut-filled romance with a shiny tinsel backdrop that's hot enough to thaw even the coldest of December nights.
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Amazon Window Shopping, $, available at Amazon
A Court Of Frost And Starlight by Sarah J. Maas
If you haven't read SJM's ACOTAR series, what are you waiting for? This fantasy saga is as epic as GoT but with hotter sex and hotter men. The fourth book of the series, placed after the conclusion of the original trilogy, is a Solstice-set novella with some ridiculously filthy sex scenes. If you've ever wanted to know what having sex while flying (not in a plane, but in mid-air) is like, hold onto your butts for this steamer.
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Amazon A Court of Frost and Starlight, $, available at Amazon
The Twelve Dates Of Christmas by Jenny Bayliss
Fans of The Holiday will adore this quaint English countryside set romance (totally reminiscent of Cameron Diaz's character's stint in the movie). The book follows Kate on twelve different dates with twelve different men (thanks to some dating app event that sounds totally plausible if not vaguely horrifying) and feels like getting a hug while sitting under a thick blanket with a cup of tea on a wintry afternoon. Though somewhat cheesy and predictable, it had enough swoony moments and a dash of heart to keep me in it.
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Amazon The Twelve Dates of Christmas, $, available at Amazon
Duke, Actually by Jenny Holiday
The royal wedding of the year is here, and the best woman has sworn off relationships, which is why it's perfect that the best man she'll be spending the week with is a notorious playboy, who won't consider anything other than casual — right? Duke, Actually reads like a Hallmark Christmas movie, if Hallmark were allowed some pretty spicy sex scenes. The friends-with-benefits arrangement is a personal favorite of mine, and this one did not disappoint.
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Amazon Duke, Actually: A Novel, $, available at Amazon
All About Us by Tom Ellen
This modern take on A Christmas Carol is as good as a holiday morning cinnamon roll: equal parts sweet and spicy. Not only is Ben's travel through time filled with enough romance to power a furnace, but it even thawed my Scrooge-like heart (which, at times, can be holiday-ed out).
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Amazon All About Us, $, available at Amazon
This Time Next Year by Sophie Cousens
When you're done exchanging presents and stringing the tree, it's time to watch the ball drop and for fireworks to happen to ring in the New Year. That's what sets the scenes for this second-chance romance that makes you feel unabashedly hopeful for what's to come. Filled with more romance than smut, it will still have you smiling and blushing all the same.
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Amazon This Time Next Year, $, available at Amazon
Lovelight Farms by B.K. Borison
Alexa, play "Christmas Tree Farm" by Taylor Swift. Fake dating meets best-friends-to-lovers with a sprinkling of celebrity PR in this romance that takes place on a dilapidated Christmas farm that will warm you down to your toes. The relationship starts off tame but quickly becomes a steamy, sexy time. Honestly, it's charming and swoon-worthy on top of that: A must-read for anyone who loves Christmas time.
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Amazon Lovelight Farms, $, available at Amazon
One Day In December by Josie Silver
If you want instant gratification, do not read this one. If you, like me, love a torturous slow burn filled with longing and missed connections that make you sweat with desire, strap in for this romance that spans ten years of being "just friends." Do be warned that the language relies heavily on a lot of swearing, though, despite the light-heartedness of the relationship, so maybe don't read this one in public!
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Amazon One Day in December: A Novel, $, available at Amazon
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