As cold weather brings us all inside, it's the perfect time to cuddle up with some novels full of holiday cheer. We did a round-up of great seasonal novels for adults recently, and now we want to give you a few ideas for the younger readers in your family. Here are five of the best Christmas-themed novels for young adults:
Let It Snow: Three Holiday Romances by John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle
Three bestselling YA authors have teamed up to weave a few tales of Christmas magic and holiday romance. Each of the tales in Let It Snow is full of heart and charm, and you'll immediately want to cozy up by a fire to devour all of them. The stories are only about 100 pages each, so any young adult reader will gobble up this sweet anthology in no time.
"The authors share an ironic, idiosyncratic sense of humor that helps bind their stories, each with a slightly different tone and take on love, into one interconnected volume brimming with romance and holiday spirit." - Horn Book
What Light by Jay Asher
Does the author's name sound familiar? That's because he wrote the famous Thirteen Reasons Why. Now, he tells the story of a young girl, Sierra, whose family runs a Christmas tree farm. When Sierra meets a young man who's made some terrible mistakes in his past, she must learn to forgive what seems unforgivable. Moving and memorable, this romance will leave your heart changed.
"Charming and sweet, Sierra and Caleb’s budding relationship should suit readers looking for a wintertime romance that’s as cozy (and familiar) as candy canes and gingerbread during the holidays." - Publishers Weekly
Dash & Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan
Lily left a red notebook of challenges in a bookstore in hopes that her perfect boy would eventually pick it up and complete it. When Dash stumbles across the book, he decides to play his own game with Lily. The two teens embark on a journey of self-discovery, friendship, and maybe even a little romance. Their adventures throughout snowy New York will instantly have you dreaming of a white Christmas.
"The spirit of the season amplifies Dash and Lily’s loneliness and heightens the connection between them, in another surefire hit from the creators of Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist (2006)." - Courtney Jones from Booklist
My True Love Gave to Me: Twelve Holiday Stories by Stephanie Perkins and Others
Bestseller Stephanie Perkins teamed up with twelve other amazing authors to bring you this anthology of holiday specials. Full of romance and heart, these stories celebrate many kinds of winter holidays, from Hannukkah to the Winter Solstice. You'll fall head-over-heels for the cute short tales, and they'll 100 percent leave any young adult reader in the holiday spirit.
“There's no shortage of cozy setups for holiday romance in this captivating collection of short stories…a rare seasonal treat.” - Publishers Weekly (starred review)
My New Crush Gave to Me by Shani Petroff
All Charlotte wants for Christmas is to earn the attention of Teo Ortiz, her school's most popular athlete and student. She knows they are meant to be together, but he barely even acknowledges her existence. So, she comes up with a plan, which involves working with Teo's annoying cousin, J.D. Charlie knows she's meant to go to the Christmas ball with Teo, but she can't seem to stop getting stuck with J.D. Cute and sweet as Christmas cookies, this teen novel is the perfect holiday companion.
"Petroff (Romeo and What’s Her Name, 2017) offers up a frothy, Christmas-themed romance where what’s perfect on paper may not always be what’s right... It’s light as powdered sugar and just as sweet." - Booklist
Do you have other holiday book suggestions for teen readers? Leave suggestions in the comments below!