Say hello to cuffing season: every hopeless romantic’s favorite time of year. With the leaves falling and temperatures dropping, it’s the perfect time to cozy up with a literary romance that will warm your heart. Whether you’re bundled under a blanket solo or sharing hot cocoa with someone special, we’re about to turn up the heat this winter with these charming romances. From slow burns to second chances, these literary loves offer all the spark and satisfaction of the ultimate meet-cute.
Ready to forget dating and fall for a story this season? Here are some of the best romance reads to keep your eyes occupied as the weather chills.
If It Makes You Happy by Julie Olivia
After Michelle’s divorce in 1997, new love is the last thing on her mind. After all, she has her mom’s bed-and-breakfast in Virginia to take care of. But when Cliff, a sultry single dad, rolls into town, Michelle can’t help but feast with her eyes. She can compromise by making friends with the guy, but that’s as far as she’ll let it go, right? Find out just how tempting the chance for new love can be for a lonely, newly single young woman in Olivia’s If It Makes You Happy.
Anywhere You Go by Bridget Morrissey
When two complete opposites agree to swap lives for a while to escape their problems back home, they might find what they’ve been searching for in each other’s homes. Morrissey’s Anywhere You Go follows Tatum, a small-town waitress, and Eleanor, a big-city press agent, who might not have known a single detail about each other’s lives before, but that will soon change. Eleanor is starting to learn exactly what drove Tatum out of her small town but is strangely intrigued by it. Will a change in scenery be the final piece of the puzzle in the discovery of a new purpose for this pair?
The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally Carter
What might happen when two rival mystery writers are forced to solve a disappearance together? Maggie and Ethan have never gotten along, constantly taking jabs at each other in their work. So when they see each other at a surprise Christmas party hosted by none other than the queen of mystery writing herself, it’s safe to say they’re less than thrilled. Things are about to get a whole lot messier when Eleanor suddenly disappears from her own party, and the pair are left to figure out what happened. Will they be able to put their rivalry aside to solve this mystery, and will their newfound kinship grow into something deeper?
The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna
Mika has a secret: she’s a witch. Though she isn’t supposed to tell anyone, she finds comfort in posting anonymously online about her life as a witch without the thought that anyone would take her seriously. That is, until she receives a message begging her to help teach three young witches at a mysterious, secluded place called Nowhere House. Reluctantly agreeing, Mika’s experience at Nowhere House is living much past her expectations. She has met many people, including the handsome brooding librarian Jamie, who is skeptical yet intrigued by her. When a threat comes knocking at Nowhere House, Mika must decide how much she’s willing to sacrifice for the family she’s created.
The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston
Poston’s The Seven Year Slip follows Clementine, the kind of girl who has her whole life planned out. She won’t let even one detail slip through the cracks, leaving her exposed to vulnerability. So when a mysterious man shows up in her apartment, you could imagine how stressed she was trying to make sense of the situation. However, Clementine will soon come to realize that the man is living seven years in the past. When feelings start to brew, Clementine knows she’ll need to arrange some rainchecks. Is love worth some messed-up plans to Clementine, or will this blink in time reinforce the barriers she’s placed around her heart?
I’ll Be Gone for Christmas by Georgia K. Boone
Bee needs a break from life. Her sister Beth suggests she swap places with a stranger on a new app designed to allow strangers to take each other’s places for a mutually reclusive vacation, to which Bee agrees. When Clover takes her place, she can’t help but notice how beautiful Beth is. Likewise, Bee is starting to spend time with Clover’s ex, Knox. The two might have bitten off more than they wanted to chew in this dual-POV contemporary romance, I’ll Be Gone for Christmas.
Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez
In this classic city-girl-meets-country-boy, Alexis seems to have found everything she’s ever wanted in Daniel. The tension between the two is undeniable, flipping Alexis’ rigid world upside down. Daniel shows her a life she had never dreamt of for herself, but she might now. With her family’s legacy on the line, Alexis needs to decide what is more important to her: keeping up with reputation or chasing her heart?
Winging It with You by Chips Pons
Asher’s left in the dust when his boyfriend dumps him on the way to film a trending reality TV competition show. Now, Asher is left moping in the airport over a mimosa, just one half of the iconic TV couple they were supposed to become. Waiting for an opportunity to make it out of his demanding life as a pilot, Theo jumps at the opportunity to join Asher in the mission to convince the country they’re a real couple. When their on-screen romance bleeds into their private time together, they’re left to wonder if a real relationship is beginning to blossom.
Half a Soul by Olivia Atwater
Theodora, being cursed with just half a soul, pays herself no mind when it comes to public appearances. Her lack of a conscience means she is prone to the occasional scandal, but she attempts to mend her reputation for the London Season. That is, until she meets a man who could ruin it all for her. Elias, the most hated man in all of high society, has his sights set on the likes of Theodora in Atwater’s enchanting Half a Soul. Will Theodora be able to live a normal life, or will Elias get in the way of her plans?
Anywhere With You by Ellie Palmer
Charley has her life figured out — if you don’t count her poor luck when it comes to love. A recent divorcee, she can’t seem to stick the landing in romance. But she might come to realize that the perfect love story might have been hiding under her nose this whole time. When her sister announces she is planning on marrying her toxic childhood sweetheart, Charley recruits her childhood best friend, Ethan, to road trip across the country with her to stop them. Sparks will soon begin flying across more than just the campfire in Palmer’s Anywhere With You.
When the world outside feels cold and gray, the right romance novel reminds us that warmth is never too far. These stories, full of laughter and love in every form, are the perfect companions for cuffing season and beyond. Whether you’re in the mood for something classy or contemporary, there’s a page-turning story out there for you. So pour another cup of cocoa because it’s time for your next literary love affair to begin!
Interested in the books that our team would recommend? Check out our Recommendations page!
Find these books and more on our Love is in the Air: Contemporary Romance shelf on Bookshop.
