17 YA Holiday Romances to Make You Fall in Love

From shared cups of hot chocolate to selfless gift-giving to getting snowed in with someone you especially enjoy, romance is built into the holiday season. It doesn't matter if you're young or old, optimistic or cynical, holiday romances are bound to melt the frostiest of hearts. We recently compiled a collection of holiday romance recommendations for adult readers. Now here are seventeen YA holiday romances for a range of readers to fall in love with.

My Favorite Color is Mistletoe by Eva Austin

Recently dumped and dreading the inevitable couples' activities at her family's annual Christmas gathering, Audrey reluctantly agrees to team up with Jax for a double fake date while visiting their shared hometown for the holidays. She knows it may be a terrible idea, but desperate times call for desperate measures.

It Happened at Christmas by Christen Krumm

In this YA spin on While You Were Sleeping, Murphy spends her days cleaning up after her wealthy prep school peers in exchange for tuition. When she rescues her crush, Tripp Harrington from a near fatal accident, his family assumes she's his girlfriend and their attention feels so good that she can't help but play along.

The Afterlife of Holly Chase by Cynthia Hand

On Christmas Eve five years ago, seventeen-year-old Holly Chase was visited by three Ghosts who showed her how selfish and spoiled she'd become. They tried to convince her to mend her ways. She didn't. And then she died. Now she's stuck in an afterlife working as the Ghost of Christmas Past for Project Scrooge.

Love in Winter Wonderland by Abiola Bello

Charming Trey Anderson balances student life with work at his family's London bookshop, Wonderland. For quirky Ariel Spencer, a job at Wonderland pays tuition for art school. Despite not getting along, Trey and Ariel must team up to try and save Wonderland from the threat of a corporate shutdown on Christmas Eve.

The Coal Elf by Maria DeVivo

Ember Skye is a fed up teenage Coal Elf with a big ashy chip on her shoulder. When a mysterious illness threatens to decimate elves both Above and Underground, Ember is thrust into a journey that will see her confront the demons of her past and visit the head of the North Pole himself.

Eight Nights of Flirting by Hannah Reynolds

Shira is determined to get a boyfriend this Hanukkah. And she has the perfect candidate in mind—her great-uncle's super-hot assistant, Isaac. The only problem? Shira has no game. Enter charming, popular Tyler, Shira's nemesis and former crush. When Shira and Tyler get snowed in together, they strike a deal.

Snowed In by Rachel Hawthorne

When Ashleigh moves with her mom from sunny Texas to an icy island in the middle of Lake Michigan, she has a lot to get used to, like snow, for example. And small-town life. Her new town is tiny (like 30 total students in the high school tiny). And then there's Josh, the most irresistible—and confusing—boy.  

Make My Wish Come True by Alyson Derrick and Rachael Lippincott

Arden James is a rising Hollywood star. But her messy reputation needs work. Aspiring journalist Caroline Beckett tries not to think about her former best friend (and first crush). But then Arden shows up for the holidays in their small hometown with an offer that will help them both achieve their dreams.

Dash & Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan

Sixteen-year-old Lily leaves a red notebook full of challenges on her favorite bookstore shelf, waiting for just the right guy to come along and accept its dares. Dash, in a bah-humbug mood during the holidays, happens to be that guy. This is book one in the charmingly festive Dash & Lily series.

Flopping in a Winter Wonderland by Jason June

Aaron and Kris are both focused on different wishes when some ice sends them sliding into each other at Winter Wonderland, an island north of Alaska that's home to year-round Christmas theme park. They decide to help each other out, but meanwhile neither one of them can stop thinking about the other. 

All I Want for Christmas is the Girl Next Door by Chelsea Bobulski

It's a Wonderful Life meets Wish Upon A Star in this magical holiday romance. Graham Wallace has been in love with Sarah Clarke for a decade. One night, out of sheer desperation, he wishes on a star for her to be his and, the next morning, everything has changed. Be careful what you wish for. 

Let It Snow by John Green,Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle

A storm on Christmas Eve buries the residents of Gracetown under multiple feet of snow. One brave soul ventures out into the storm from her stranded train, setting off a surprising cascade of events. Over the next three days, lives are changed as people come together in unexpected ways.

How to Excavate a Heart by Jake Maia Arlow

After being dumped days before winter break, things keep getting worse for college freshman Shani, like when she runs into May. With a car. But when a dog-walking gig puts her back in May's path, one thing leads to another and the next thing you know, they're snowed in together on Christmas Eve. 

Ex-mas by Kate Brian

Seventeen-year-old Lila's parents just left for vacation and she's all set to throw a killer holiday party. But when her Christmas-obsessed little brother, Cooper, runs away with his best friend, Tyler, to save Santa from global warming, Lila's forced to team up with Tyler's older brother, Beau, aka her moody ex-boyfriend.

The Holiday Switch by Tif Marcelo

Heading into her last winter break of high school, Lila Santos is riding high with a job at the cozy inn in her small New York town. But her perfect holiday plans crash to a halt when her boss's frustratingly cute nephew, Teddy Rivera, becomes her coworker. Lila is type A; Teddy is type "Anything but Lila's Way."

Whiteout by Dhonielle Clayton,Tiffany D. Jackson,Nic Stone,Angie Thomas,Ashley Woodfolk, and Nicola Yoon

Atlanta is blanketed with snow just before Christmas, but the warmth of young love just might melt the ice in this novel of Black joy, and cozy, sparkling romance. No one is prepared for this whiteout. But then, we can't always prepare for the magical moments that change everything.

My True Love Gave to Me, edited by Stephanie Perkins

There's something for everyone in this feel-good collection of twelve holiday stories by bestselling YA authors including: Holly Black, Ally Carter, Matt de La Peña, Gayle Forman, Jenny Han, David Levithan, Kelly Link, Myra McEntire, Rainbow Rowell, Stephanie Perkins, Laini Taylor, and Kiersten White.

No matter what you're celebrating this season, you'll find something here to warm your heart. So, curl up by the fireplace and get cozy. 'Tis the season to stay indoors and fall in love.

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Read more by Ashly Moore Sheldon