Welcome back to Bookstr’s Three to Read, a weekly recommendation series that spotlights three can’t-miss books on a specific topic. This week’s theme is Hanukkah! Also known as the Festival of Lights, Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday spanning eight days and nights. It commemorates the recovery of the Second Temple of Jerusalem during the Maccabean Revolt and the miracle of the oil burning for eight days. In honor of this celebration, we’re bringing you three cozy Hanukkah rom-coms to curl up with this holiday season. Without further ado, here are our picks!
HOT PICK
Love You a Latke by Amanda Elliot
SYNOPSIS:
As the only Jew on her town’s tourism board, Abby Cohen has been tasked with planning their first-ever Hanukkah festival. However, when the local vendors prove unhelpful, Abby has no choice but to seek support online. Her plea for assistance is answered by Seth Abrams, an infuriatingly upbeat ray of sunshine who seems determined to break through Abby’s guarded exterior. Seth is more than willing to help Abby plan a perfect event, but only on one condition. To get his pushy parents off his back, Abby must pose as Seth’s Nice Jewish Girlfriend. Will this fake-dating arrangement stay purely pretend, or could this be the start of something real?
WHY:
Love You a Latke is the ideal cozy romance for anyone who adores the fake dating trope. A love story on multiple fronts, this book depicts a sweet slow-burn romance, a host of fantastic friendships, and a supportive small-town community, each bond as vital as the next. Amidst all the entertaining antics of Seth and Abby’s relationship farce is an authentic insight into the meaning of Hanukkah and a joyful celebration of Jewish culture. Brew a cup of hot chocolate and cuddle up with this delightful holiday rom-com!
COFFEE SHOP READ
Eight Nights to Win Her Heart by Miri White
SYNOPSIS:
After her father’s recent death, Andie Williams is preparing to spend her first Hanukkah alone. Add on the fact that she’s about to lose her job, and this holiday season is shaping up to be distinctly depressing. That is until Andie’s hard-of-hearing neighbor, Leo Dentz, offers to spend the celebration with her. Leo has harbored a secret crush on Andie for years, and he takes this as his chance to make a move. As each night passes, Andie and Leo grow closer, but the end of the eight days looms before them. Can they nurture this spark between them into a flame, or will their budding romance burn out with the Hanukkah candles?
WHY:
Hallmark meets Hanukkah in this touching meet-cute about two Jewish neighbors who find comfort in each other during a challenging holiday season. Eight Nights to Win Her Heart discusses everything from grief to family drama to forgiveness, all while delivering a poignant second-chance romance. At its heart, this story speaks to the healing power of love, leaving readers with a hopeful message to help them persevere through difficult times. If you love a sappy happily ever after, Andie and Leo’s love story is sure to warm your heart during the chilly winter season.
DARK HORSE
Three Holidays and a Wedding by Uzma Jalaluddin and Marissa Stapley
SYNOPSIS:
On a Toronto-bound flight during the holidays, strangers Anna Gibson and Maryam Aziz are seatmates destined for different adventures: Anna is off to meet her boyfriend’s rich family, while Maryam is on her way to her sister’s spontaneous wedding. But when the flight hits extreme turbulence, the two are scared into confessing their innermost secrets and dreams to each other. Little does Maryam know, her one true love, Saif, is sitting two rows back — and he heard everything.
After an emergency landing, Anna, Maryam, and Saif are all snowed in at the Snow Falls Inn in a picturesque town where Anna’s celebrity crush is filming a romance movie. Although their plans have fallen apart, Anna and Maryam find there’s no place they’d rather be this holiday season.
WHY:
Three Holidays and a Wedding is a feel-good rom-com that takes place during the convergence of three diverse holidays: Christmas, Ramadan, and Hanukkah. Set in a small town in snowy Ottawa, this story serves up a double helping of tender romance bursting with charm and chaos. In addition to multicultural love, it celebrates the bonds of family, faith, and unexpected friendship. An airplane is the last place any of us would hope to find festive cheer, but Anna and Maryam’s platonic meet-cute reminds us that, sometimes, holiday miracles come when you least expect them.
That’s it for this week’s Three to Read. Thanks for tuning in! Don’t forget to join us next week for more curated recommendations.
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