The holidays are all about slowing down, enjoying the small moments, and curling up with a good book that captures the magic of the seasons, from Valentine’s Day to Christmas. This year’s new releases for both adults and kids invite you to do just that. There’s something special about immersing yourself in a good book when the world feels festive. Whether you’re a romance reader, mystery lover, or a parent searching for the next perfect bedtime story, these new titles are here to make your holidays even brighter!
Thanksgiving
The Irish Goodbye by Heather Aimee O’Neill
In this gripping novel full of big secrets and strange mysteries, The Irish Goodbye is about three adult sisters who reunite for Thanksgiving on Long Island, where they are haunted by tragedies, old wounds, buried tension, and dark scandals. Each woman carries a secret, but they are all eager to connect after years since their brother died in a boat accident. The secrets and tensions have the power to not only ruin the holiday but also the family relationships unless the sisters can find a way to forgive each other and themselves.
The Irish Goodbye by Heather Aimee O’Neill is a heartfelt Thanksgiving story about reunion after heartbreak. It’s a beautiful reminder that the holidays bring together and maybe even heal the most broken families. This book is a great choice if you crave a Thanksgiving read that mixes family drama with moments of love and healing.
Thanksgiving Overruled by Libby Kay
Libby Kay’s novel, Thanksgiving Overruled, is a cozy, small-town romance, perfect for the season. The story follows Winnie Kerr, a legal professional and your typical workaholic, who is consumed by the desire to tell her girlfriend the vulnerable three-word truth (“I love you”). She decides on a spontaneous road trip to her sister’s house for Thanksgiving — the perfect time and place to finally tell her girlfriend those words, free of any distractions. But of course, holiday-style rom-com chaos follows, so the big question remains: will Winnie finally tell her girlfriend she loves her amid all of the setbacks?
Light, feel-good reads are great for the holidays — not overly dramatic, but emotionally satisfying. Thanksgiving Overruled by Libby Kay offers a charming, funny romance full of holiday mishaps and sweet moments. If you’re looking for a seasonal escape, look no more and pick up this heartwarming novel!
Pumpkin Day for Boo and Belle by Laura Sassi
This next one is for the kiddos! Pumpkin Day for Boo and Belle by Laura Sassi brings fall to life through eye-catching illustrations of golden leaves, pumpkin patches, and adorable forest animals. The story follows Belle, a rabbit who planned her annual Pumpkin Day Tea for her friend Boo, a chipmunk. But Boo’s invitation got swept away in the wind, leaving her feeling hurt and confused. In resolving misunderstandings, the characters learn the importance of compassion, understanding, and the power of friendship.
Pumpkin Day for Boo and Belle gently explores themes of friendship, thankfulness, and empathy. It’s written in rhyming, easy-to-read text, making it perfect for young readers. The light storytelling, along with the warm illustrations, encourages them to reflect on their own feelings by teaching the significance of gratitude and relationships.
Christmas
Last Stop on the Winter Wonderland Express by Rebecca Raisin
There’s something irresistible about the magic of Christmas, and Rebecca Raisin’s novel Last Stop on the Winter Wonderland Express beautifully embodies that, proving that holiday miracles can happen in the most unexpected places. After being dumped at the altar days before Christmas, Aubrey decides not to let their honeymoon trip go to waste. Alone, she rides a luxurious snow train through Europe’s enchanting Christmas markets. Aubrey starts her trip sad and embarrassed, but love and holiday spirit are still in the air. She bonds with other single passengers and can’t help but catch feelings for a handsome journalist — realizing that maybe her single Christmas-filled honeymoon was exactly what she needed.
Last Stop on the Winter Wonderland Express is guaranteed to make your heart happy. Rebecca Raisin has a way of writing captivating romance stories that you never want to end. Check out this novel for an escape to a luxurious winter train ride adventure through European towns filled with love, laughter, and holiday magic.
The Mistletoe Murder Club by Katie Marsh
Trigger Warning: Please note that this story involves murder and death, which may be sensitive for some readers. Please prioritize self-care as you read.
If you’re looking for a cozy holiday mystery that blends Christmas cheer with a thrilling whodunnit, The Mistletoe Murder Club by Katie Marsh deserves a spot on your reading list. The story follows Clio, a former actress and struggling private detective, who lands a role in the town’s Christmas pantomime (a performance that tells a story through body language instead of speech). Her excitement turns to shock when the director is found murdered on opening night. Clio is determined to solve the case, which leads to a web of secrets and unexpected twists.
Set against the backdrop of a festive holiday production, The Mistletoe Murder Club is a brilliant, fun mystery, great for chilly winter evenings. Light-hearted mysteries are appropriate for the holiday season, offering witty dialogue, engaging characters, and a merry atmosphere. With Christmas just around the corner, Marsh’s newly released novel couldn’t have come at a better time!
Santa and the Sled Dogs by Sarah Van Rijsewijk
Few things capture the magic of Christmas like witnessing it through the eyes of a child. Santa and the Sled Dogs by Sarah Van Rijsewijk is a children’s book your little one will adore — and one you’ll love experiencing with them. Set in a snowy mountain town, a family whose sled dog team is called upon by Santa to help him save Christmas after his reindeer becomes sick. With the help of their skilled dog trainer father and belief in magic, the family works together to ensure that Santa can deliver all of the gifts.
Santa and the Sled Dogs is ideal for children aged 4-8. Sarah Van Rijsewijk masterfully brings a child’s imagination to the pages. The cozy, snowy landscape and the gleeful dog illustrations compliment the festive story beautifully. It’s a delightful choice that celebrates and brings to life the joy and wonder of the holiday season. It’ll become your young reader’s new holiday favorite!
Hanukkah
Construction Site Hanukkah Lights by Sherri Duskey Rinker
Next up is a perfect edition to a young reader’s library! Construction Site Hanukkah Lights is a flap-up board book that reveals how the construction truck crew works together to light the menorah and gather gifts. It beautifully and creatively combines the celebration of Hanukkah and construction trucks that kids are guaranteed to love. The interactive lift-the-flap feature invites little ones to join in the fun as they discover new surprises on every page.
Construction Site Hanukkah Lights by Sherri Duskey Rinker is a new release, wonderful for young construction fans to get into the spirit of Hanukkah. The story’s rhythmic text, eye-catching illustrations, and heartwarming message about teamwork and celebration beautifully blend construction with the meaning of the holiday.
Kwanzaa
Once Upon a Kwanzaa by Nyasha Williams and Sidney Rose McCall
Published this past September, Once Upon a Kwanzaa by Nyasha Williams and Sidney Rose McCall is one for children ages 4-8 that celebrates the holiday of Kwanzaa through community and culture. The story introduces communities of all colors to celebrate the past, present, and future. While it teaches kids about the holiday, it also beautifully teaches heritage, value, and community, allowing them to engage thoughtfully and learn meaningfully.
Once Upon a Kwanzaa by Nyasha Williams and Sidney Rose McCall is a great picture book for children that authentically celebrates Kwanzaa by reflecting on its essential principles. Add this to your young reader’s bookshelf to enjoy the joy of the holiday.
New Year’s
There’s Always Next Year by Leah Johnson and George M. Johnson
Mark your calendars! New York Times bestselling authors Leah Johnson and George M. Johnson are releasing their new holiday romcom, There’s Always Next Year, on December 2, 2025. Centered on New Year’s Day and New Year’s Eve, the story follows cousins Andy and Dominique as they navigate personal growth, love, and life’s challenges. They couldn’t be more different, but each finds themselves confronting what truly matters as the year comes to an end.
There’s Always Next Year is a double love story with both main characters’ POV that explores what happens when your carefully planned life doesn’t go according to plan, and the work of attempting to get back on track. And if all else fails, there’s always next year. The novel’s focus on personal growth and self-discovery effectively aligns with New Year’s — a time when people reflect on who they’ve been and who they want to become.
300 New Year’s Eves by K.C. Carmichael
Coming out on November 18, 2025, 300 New Year’s Eves by K.C. Carmichael is written in a time-loop format, which helps emphasize New Year themes of second chances, reflection, and resolution right before the year truly begins. To ring in the new year with some holiday fun, Sergio Durand heads to Lake Placid with his brother and friends. He reconnects with Jeremy Weir, “the one that got away.” A series of mistakes strains his relationships. And Sergio finds himself stuck in a time loop, being forced to relive New Year’s Eve repeatedly. If he wants to get out, he has to face his past and fix his relationships.
300 New Year’s Eves by K.C. Carmichael reminds us of the true meaning of the holidays and to begin every new year with a fresh start. It’s a great time to reflect on past actions, relationships, and what you want your life to look like moving forward. It’s packed with humor, heartbreak, and life lessons that can put many things into perspective for readers.
Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Café by Ophelia Lux
Who doesn’t love a romance story set in a cute little café? Valentine’s Café by Ophelia Lux beautifully captures the enchanting atmosphere of a café — a place where people find comfort, strangers become friends, and new romances begin. Isla Martin inherited her grandmother’s café and is determined to keep it alive as Valentine’s Day approaches. One day, Leo Carter, a skeptic about love and the last person to believe in the magic of Valentine’s Day, walks into her work. Isla challenges him to attend the café for a month to witness the love that happens within. But something else happens; he falls in love with her.
Valentine’s Café is for anyone romantic and a fan of cozy spaces. There’s also always something special and entertaining about a story full of tension between someone who believes in love and someone who doesn’t. A romance novel is great for any time of the year, including this one, but reading it during Valentine’s Day will make the story feel even more heartwarming and sweet.
Aisle Be Yours by Nina High
A Valentine’s novella, Aisle Be Yours, is similar to the last one in the sense that it shows that connections can happen when you least expect them. It is a short read about Claire Briscoe, a meticulously organized woman whose life follows a strict routine. When she meets Deion, a man who challenges her world, her plans are disrupted. She is forced to confront her fears of love and learn to embrace unpredictability.
Aisle Be Yours is a cozy, delightful novella that shows love doesn’t follow a schedule, and your life can be flipped upside down in the best way. It’s a short and sweet book, capturing the essence of Valentine’s Day, and one you can read in one day!
Would You Rather? Valentine’s Day Edition by Lindsey Daly
As a celebration of the sweetest day of the year, Would You Rather? Valentine’s Day Edition is a fun, laugh-out-loud, conversation-starting game that kids will fall in love with. With this book, it will be an unforgettable Valentine’s Day. Daly does a fantastic job of curating thought-provoking, age-appropriate questions that make for awesome entertainment for kids and their families.
Surprise your kids with this hilarious, cheerful game, so they can feel the fun and joy of Valentine’s Day. Would You Rather? Valentine’s Day Edition by Lindsey Daly will spark conversation, creativity, and lots of giggles. It’s guaranteed to make Valentine’s Day special for everyone involved in the game.
I hope you enjoyed learning about these new releases of 2025 — books that can make every moment of the seasons brighter and more special. With the holidays quickly approaching, make sure to check out these festive reads!
Discover more recommendations from the Bookstr team here!
Find these and more children’s holiday books in the Young Readers’ and Children’s Holiday Recs shelf on our Bookshop page.
