The holidays are all about cozy nights, twinkling lights, and stories that make your heart feel just as warm as your favorite blanket. And what better way to celebrate the season than with books that center queer joy, love, and a little holiday magic? Whether you’re looking for a swoony romance under the mistletoe, a festive comedy that makes you laugh out loud, or a heartwarming tale of chosen family, these gay holiday books will make your TBR list sparkle brighter than the tree.
I’ll Be Gone for Christmas
By Georgia K. Boone
If you love The Holiday, you’ll love this.
Bee Tyler needs a break from the San Francisco tech community and her perfect sister, Beth. Her best friend suggests she use the house-swap app, Vacate, to book a trip to the countryside.
Meanwhile, Clover Mills needs to get the hell outa Ohio. Between breaking off her engagement with Knox and losing her mother, she needs a change of scenery. Luckily, she also takes to the Vacate app to look for a solution.
After the switch, Clover and Beth find themselves growing closer, while sparks fly for Bee and Knox over in Salem.
Make the Season Bright
By Ashley Herring Blake
Two exes find themselves stuck at the same house for Christmas in this holiday romance by Ashley Herring Blake, USA Today bestselling author of Iris Kelly Doesn’t Date.
This Christmas
By Georgia Beers
Christmas is in full swing at Junebug Farms, a no-kill animal shelter prepping for their annual Christmas parade. To bring in a little extra awareness this season, the team decide to task their parade royalty with creating adorable content of the animals. However, what happens when Mia Sorenson, the local matchmaker, rigs the royal voting so her granddaughter Sam and her longtime friend Keegan are made the Queens of the parade?
Sam and Keegan have real chemistry they’ve been avoiding, but what is stopping them from taking the plunge?
Make You Mine This Christmas
By Lizzie Huxley-Jones
It’s a delightful twist on the beloved “fake dating” trope! One minute Haf is having an innocent kiss with a stranger under the mistletoe, and the next, she’s fake dating Christopher to spare his reputation. But what happens when she starts falling for his charming sister, Kit?
You’re a Mean One, Matthew Prince
By Tomothy Janovsky
Enemies to lovers? Check. A whimsical holiday getaway? Check. An obnoxious rich kid and an attractive local that sees right through his act? Check.
If you like Red, White & Royal Blue, you’ll love this one.
The Nightmare Before Kissmas
By Sarah Raasch
Get ready for some fun fantasy! In this world, Nicholas “Coal” Claus, the son of Santa, is in an arranged engagement to his best friend Iris (the Easter Princess). The downside: Coal has no romantic feelings for Iris, but his brother does! Things could not get more complicated, right?
In walks Hex, the Prince of Halloween, to challenge Coal for the Princess’ hand. Except he looks kinda familiar. He looks like the hottie Coal drunkenly made out with that one night at the bar.
The two must battle it out for a marriage of convenience, all while not being able to keep their hands off of each other.
Hot Mall Santa
By A.J. Truman
While the rest of the town obsesses over Hot Mall Santa, Tom gets to know the sweet, nerdy history buff under the suit and six-pack abs. But to win Santa’s heart, he must fight off the lusty moms, adoring fans, and his own fear of rejection.
Finding My Elf
By David Valdes
Cameron’s time at NYU is not everything he was hoping for. He’s flunking his classes and he does not have anyone he can really call a friend. So when he comes home for holiday break, he takes a job as one of Santa’s helpers at the mall to avoid having THAT conversation with his dad about his scholarship.
Bonus: there’s a cash prize for the worker with the most spirit. Cameron pushes aside his own Scroogey feelings to have a shot at the cash, but he’s up against the King of Christmas, his coworker Marco. They should be enemies, but Cameron thinks he might actually have a lot in common?
Other Queer Reads to Devour:
Santa’s Husband by Daniel Kibblesmith
Offering a fresh twist on Kris Kringle, a clever yet heartfelt book that tells the story of a black Santa, his white husband, and their life in the North Pole.
Poly Jolly Christmas: A Spicy Holiday Romance by Giselle Renarde
When Josie invites her high school sweetheart Kaz to stay over for the holidays, there are a few things she doesn’t anticipate: Kaz admitting he’s never been with a woman after all these years? That’s a surprise. Her husband Rob’s attempt to give Kaz a little training in the hot tub? A very sexy surprise! But after the married couple treats Kaz to the best nights of his life, who will he end up with when the holidays are through?
