If you’re ready to start building your holiday reading list, these new Christmas books 2026 give you plenty to choose from. You’ll find romance, women’s fiction, mysteries, family stories, and a few books with a little Christmas magic. I’ve included a mix of new releases so you can find something that fits the kind of holiday read you’re in the mood for.
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New Christmas Books 2026 by Release Date
I organized these new Christmas books 2026 by release date so you can easily see what’s coming out each month. The list starts with September releases and continues through November.
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Table of Contents:
September 2026 New Releases
(September 1, 2026)
(Novella) Matchmaking Christmas by Toni Shiloh
A second chance, two single parents, and daughters determined to play matchmaker.
Regina comes face-to-face with Theo, the high school boyfriend who once broke her heart, after their daughters become close friends. As the girls keep signing them up for holiday activities together, Regina and Theo have to decide if they’re ready to trust God’s plan and try again.
(September 1, 2026)
(Novella) We Wish You a Messy Christmas by Melody Carlson
A Christmas romance, two very different families, and a mother who definitely isn’t ready to become in-laws.
Olivia is dating her childhood neighbor Malcolm, but she worries her perfectionist mom will never accept his messy, fun-loving family. So Olivia and her dad plan a holiday intervention, only for Christmas to get even more complicated.
(September 11, 2026)
Christmas, Actually by Donna Ashcroft
A broken engagement, a snowy Cotswolds village, and an unexpected Christmas pairing give Clara the fresh start she wasn’t looking for.
After arriving in Hollythorpe, she meets Liam and later discovers they’ve both been pulled into the village winter fair as Mr. and Mrs. Christmas. As they spend more time together, Clara starts to wonder if this holiday could bring her something she thought she had lost for good.
(September 15, 2026)
The Christmas Cove Inn by Kristin Harper
A holiday detour turns into something Celeste never planned for.
Instead of spending Christmas on assignment in the Caribbean, she gets stranded on Sea Spray Island and lands at the Christmas Cove Inn. Between helping single dad Nathan with a community fundraiser and getting caught up in the island’s Christmas activities, Celeste starts wondering if going back to her old life is really what she wants.
(September 15, 2026)
The Cotswolds Christmas Fair by Lizzie Lee
A Christmas-hating heroine, a snowy Cotswolds village, and a best friend from her past.
Jen gets snowed in at Babblebrook and ends up helping Ted, her longtime friend and former college fling, prepare for the Christmas Fair. Between village life, an unexpected stranger, and a secret that changes everything, Jen starts wondering if the fresh start she needs has been closer than she thought.
(September 15, 2026)
Joy to the World by Beth Moran
A public life falling apart, an unexpected friendship club, and a single dad she never planned on meeting.
Alex hides away for Christmas after a viral speech exposes how messy her life has become, but the “Friends Wanted” club starts pulling her back out. As she grows closer to Will and his three children, a family crisis forces Alex to decide whether she can finally let people in.
(September 21, 2026)
A Christmas Wish for the Village Midwife by Tilly Tennant
A Christmas in the Lake District, a heartbreaking secret, and a family dream that suddenly feels uncertain.
Zoe loves her life as a village midwife, but unexpected news leaves her questioning whether she can have children of her own. As Christmas approaches, she must decide whether to keep protecting Alex and his daughter Billie from the truth or finally tell them what she’s been carrying. This is book five in The Village Midwife series.
(September 22, 2026)
The Little Shop of Merry and Bright by Jenny Bayliss
A viral proposal rejection, a quiet life, and a Christmas spirit offering Casey one unusual deal.
Margo promises to erase the video that changed Casey’s life, but first Casey must see five alternate versions of how things could have gone. The more she sees, the more she starts questioning whether the life she already has might be the one she really wants.
(September 29, 2026)
A Season of Secrets by Fern Michaels
A surprising ancestry result, a hidden twin, and a Christmas trip to England bring long-buried family secrets to the surface.
Ashley travels to learn more about her birth family, while Emily uncovers a truth of her own. As their stories begin to connect, the holiday becomes a chance for reunion, reconciliation, and a new beginning.
(September 29, 2026)
Nantucket Christmas Stroll by Nancy Thayer
A Nantucket Christmas tradition brings the Parsons family back together, but everyone arrives with a big decision hanging over them.
Lydia is torn between her career and a new relationship, Florie is considering a move for love, and Lucas is changing his career path. As the Christmas Stroll gets underway, secrets come out and the family has to face what comes next.
(September 29, 2026)
(Advent) Who Needs Mistletoe? by Sarah Estep
A ten-year-old mix-up, the wrong brother, and one last Christmas back home.
Ivy returns to Coeur-de-Lac to help pack up her parents’ house, only to find Grant hoping for a second chance. Between family chaos, Austin’s sudden interest, and an orange cat causing trouble, Ivy has to figure out which brother she really wants.
(September 29, 2026)
Christmas at Honeycomb Bay by Lilac Mills
Two people trying to avoid Christmas end up getting pulled right into it.
Eloise heads to Honeycombe Bay for a festive-free holiday, while widower Bart opens his guest house to others who feel the same. But when they help a single mother and child after a fire, their anti-Christmas plans start falling apart. Along the way, the story brings in two romances, including a later-in-life love story and a grumpy/sunshine pairing.
(September 29, 2026)
Christmas Valley by Maisey Yates
Cassidy has always believed Dalton Wade is the man she wants, so this Christmas she plans to finally tell him how she feels.
The problem is West Hancock, the brooding cowboy she is supposed to avoid and the man helping her train as a trick rider. As the attraction between them grows, Cassidy starts questioning whether the future she planned is really the one she wants. This is book four in the Rustler Mountain series.
(September 29, 2026)
(Advent) The Twelve Loves of Christmas- Multiple Authors
A Christmas countdown filled with twelve different love stories, each one meant to be opened like an advent calendar.
The collection includes forced proximity, neighbors skipping Christmas together, second chances, and exes stranded at the airport. It’s a mix of short holiday romances from several authors, with a new story to unwrap each day before Christmas.
(September 29, 2026)
Rebel Moon by Tess Thompson
Ten years of resentment, forced proximity, and a Christmas wedding neither of them can escape.
Knox blames Madeleine, the band’s publicist, for turning the music he loves into a product, while she has spent years hiding the truth about herself. Stuck together at Crescent Moon Ranch, the tension between them starts to shift into something harder to ignore. This is book two in the Cowboy Christmas at Crescent Moon Ranch series.
October 2026 New Releases
October brings the biggest group of 2026 Christmas book releases, with holiday romance, mysteries, cozy stories, and more seasonal reads.
(October 1, 2026)
Until Next Christmas by Marie Night
A love story that keeps finding its way back every Christmas, even when the timing is never right.
Ellie and Lucas first fell for each other as teenagers, but twenty years of missed chances, deployments, engagements, and heartbreak have kept them apart. When a Christmas Eve emergency brings them together again, Ellie has to decide whether Lucas is the love she lost or someone she needs to finally let go.
(October 6, 2026)
The Christmas Yes List by Melissa Ferguson
A plan to collect ten rejections before Christmas gets complicated when Chloe meets someone who keeps saying yes.
After deciding she’s done being a people-pleaser, Chloe starts asking strangers for ridiculous favors to prove she can handle hearing no. But James joins in with every holiday idea, and the more time they spend together, the harder it becomes to keep things simple.
(October 6, 2026)
Cozy Little Christmas by RaeAnne Thayne
A Christmas reunion brings Hannah face-to-face with the first love she never expected to see again.
She’s helping care for a friend’s children, while Wes returns home with his K9 to help his grandfather. As they spend more time together, old feelings start coming back and give them a chance to reconsider what they lost.
(October 6, 2026)
A Magical Scottish Christmas by Ellie Henderson
A fresh start in Rowan Bay turns into a fight to save the inn Lily now calls home.
She turns to Hamish, her closest friend and the man she’s tried not to fall for, as Christmas events bring them even closer. Between the snow, the village support, and the future of the inn, Lily has to decide whether she’s ready to risk their friendship for something more. This is book three in the Rowan Bay series.
(October 6, 2026)
Santa Maybe by Hazel Henry
Three sisters, two holiday weeks, and a lot changing before New Year’s.
Daisy hopes to define things with Owen, Georgia is trying to put herself first, and Eden is juggling big plans with Leo joining for Christmas. Their stories unfold around a small-town festival, family time, and the messiness that comes with figuring out what each of them really wants. This is book two in The Holliday Girls series.
(October 6, 2026)
(Advent) The Naughty List Agreement by Katherine Garbera
A Christmas festival in trouble, a grumpy toymaker, and one very unusual deal.
Cora needs Nick to save her Winter Wonderland after her toy supplier falls through, while Nick needs a wife before Christmas Eve. When their problems collide, an enemies-to-lovers setup turns into a fake relationship with a lot riding on Christmas. It’s also an Advent romance, with a chapter to read each day of December.
(October 6, 2026)
Falling Like Snow by Misty Wilson
A new winter festival, a best friend she’s never seen that way before, and a hockey player who changes things.
Sloane throws herself into planning Bramble Falls’ first Falling Snow Festival while trying to sort out her feelings for Asher and Micah. The more complicated things get, the more she hopes a little Christmas magic will help her figure out what she really wants.
(October 6, 2026)
Mistletoe All the Way by Lauren Blakley
A Christmas-loving optimist, a grumpy veterinarian, and a town competition neither expected to bring them together.
Noah returns to Evergreen Falls to fight for his grandfather’s sleigh-ride farm, while Eloise hopes the Mr. Holiday contest will help her land her dream job. As she tries to turn the town’s resident Scrooge into a festive favorite, fake kisses and real attraction start making things much more complicated.
(10/13/2026)
The Christmas Getaway by Debbie Mason
A fake boyfriend, a Christmas wedding, and a trip to Scotland turn into something Charlotte never planned.
Hoping to convince everyone she’s over her ex, she heads to Edinburgh and meets Ewan, a handsome duke and single father. When he agrees to play along with her fake relationship, the line between pretending and real feelings starts to blur.
(October 13, 2026)
The Bluff by Wade Rouse
A picture-perfect Christmas on Mackinac Island starts unraveling when a snowstorm traps the Chapman family under one roof.
Chris is struggling with the family business, Kat is fed up with her in-laws, and old tensions only grow when she invites her own parents for the holiday. Add in sibling rivalry, money, secrets, and family expectations, and Christmas quickly turns into a mess no holiday card can hide.
(October 13, 2026)
A Date With Santa by Debbie Macomber
A Christmas with her young nephew gives Sage a reason to do the holidays differently.
With help from Ethan, who agrees to play Santa, she trades her usual low-key plans for ice skating, baking, and more time together. As Sage grows closer to both Ethan and Ricky, she starts questioning whether the life she built is still the one she wants.
(October 13, 2026)
Snow This is Love (multiple authors)
Five holiday romances, five different authors, and a new spin on beloved Disney stories.
The collection moves from Christmas to New Year’s Eve and Lunar New Year, with each story reimagined as a contemporary romance. It’s a short-story collection with a mix of winter settings, holiday traditions, and a little seasonal magic.
(October 13, 2026)
Have Yourself a Merry Little Meltdown by Sheila Roberts
A secret pen name, a trip home for Christmas, and a longtime friend who knows exactly who wrote the book.
Jordan hopes her family never finds out she turned their holiday chaos into a novel, but Charles recognizes her right away. As family problems pile up, he steps in to help—and starts hoping Jordan might finally see him as more than a friend.
(October 13, 2026)
Merry Spooky Love by Josie Silver
A haunted department store, an ex on the opposing side, and a Christmas deadline give Melody plenty to deal with.
After Lucy Libertine dies, her family’s store is at risk of being sold, and Lucy’s ghost turns to Melody for help. With only two months to save the store, Melody also has to juggle her ghost-hunting ex and a relationship with Fletcher that is already on shaky ground. This is book three in the Melody Bittersweet series.
(October 20, 2026)
The Christmas Competition by Zoe Allison
A Christmas decorating competition turns into an all-out rivalry between newly single neighbors Nisa and Kerr.
Their matching displays only make things worse, especially with years of tension already between them. But as the competition heats up, Nisa starts seeing a different side of Kerr and has to decide whether she wants to keep fighting him or take a chance on something new.
(October 20, 2026)
The Christmas Curse by Aliz Kelinda
A Christmas curse, a holiday-obsessed new neighbor, and a feud that quickly gets out of hand.
Devra spends every December avoiding anything festive, while Bradley celebrates his fresh start with over-the-top decorations next door. As their rivalry turns into something more, Devra starts wondering if Bradley is part of the curse—or the person who might finally help her break it.
(October 20, 2026)
Light Up My Life by Kasie West
A long-running family rivalry, a Christmas decorating contest, and a romance neither side would approve of.
Jasmine is determined to beat the Morenos for the best-decorated house, but things get complicated when she and Ryan are thrown together at a holiday party.
As their secret relationship grows, Jasmine has to decide how much she is willing to risk for someone she was never supposed to like.
(October 22, 2026)
A Lucky Little Christmas by Sophie Snow
A rough Christmas, a single mom, and an unexpected houseguest bring Killian and Scarlett together in Clover Pines.
After learning what his father has done, Killian steps in to help Scarlett and her two children. But living under one roof makes it harder to ignore the attraction between them. This is book one in the Clover Pines series.
(October 22, 2026)
The Christmas Cookie Bookshop by Anita Faulkner
A struggling bookshop, a rival pop-up next door, and a Christmas competition neither of them expected.
Noémi wants to protect her shop and has sworn off love, while Shay’s adventurous new business starts stealing her customers. As their rivalry heats up, so does the chemistry between them. This is book one in the Hazel Blooms series.
(October 27, 2026)
Montana Christmas Target by Terri Reed
A murder, a masked attacker, and a blizzard leave Fiona with nowhere to turn.
After finding her ex-fiancé dead, she is rescued by FBI agent Bryce, who is investigating a counterfeit ring tied to her art gallery. Forced on the run together, they have to uncover the truth and prove Fiona’s innocence before the people chasing them catch up.
(October 27, 2026)
Surgeon’s Ex-Mas Date by JC Harroway
A quiet Christmas plan turns into a second chance when Imogen is paired with her ex at work.
She only wanted a no-strings holiday date, but Mark is still hard to resist. When he turns out to be her blind date too, old feelings come rushing back just as his return to New York gets closer.
(October 27, 2026)
One Last Shot at Christmas by Heidi McCahan
A new guardianship, an old flame, and a Christmas festival pull Jenna back into a life she planned to leave behind.
She wants to return to Tulsa for a promotion, but taking care of her nephew changes everything. When Wyatt helps with the town’s Christmas lights festival, old feelings return and Jenna has to decide where home really is. This is book three in the Opportunity, Alaska series.
(October 27, 2026)
Silent Night Standoff by Joanne Rock
A hidden past, a dangerous family connection, and a threat that pulls Morgan back into the life she escaped.
Nine years after PI Durham helped her get away, her half brother returns and forces her to use her hacking skills again. Durham steps in to protect her, but the danger also brings old feelings back to the surface.
This is book one in the In the Crosshairs series and can be read as a standalone.
(October 27, 2026)
Prideful Billionaire for Christmas by Jessica Gilmore
A Christmas ball, a proud billionaire, and a fake relationship inspired by Pride and Prejudice.
Betsy is thrilled to help plan the Fitzhenrys’ holiday event, but working with heir Will quickly gets complicated. When her podcast draws unwanted attention to his past, Will asks her to help fix things with a relationship ruse. As the charade continues, their rivalry starts giving way to something much harder to ignore.
(October 27, 2026)
A Rebel Cowboy for Christmas by Makenna Lee
A career-making art exhibit, a mystery kiss from the past, and a cowboy she never expected to find again.
Samantha needs a local artist to deliver his collection by Christmas, only to discover he’s the man she kissed at a costume party. With her promotion on the line, she tries to keep things professional, but working together at the ranch makes that harder than she planned. This is book three in The Cameron Family series.
(October 27, 2026)
Christmas Trees and Weak Knees by Katrina Emmel
A Christmas tree farm, two stalled music careers, and a songwriting partnership bring Paisley and Kash together in this YA holiday romance.
Paisley has been quietly holding onto her songwriting dreams, while Kash arrives at the farm struggling with writer’s block. As they start writing together, the connection between them grows, but one risky choice could end things before they really begin.
(October 27, 2026)
Mingle All the Way by Susan Mallery
Two sisters, a Christmas wedding, and two very different chances at love.
Reggie returns home and reconnects with Toby, her first love, while Dena meets a grieving songwriter staying at her inn. As the family wedding gets closer, both sisters have to decide whether they’re ready to trust what’s growing between them. This edition also includes a bonus novella.
(October 27, 2026)
The Santa Clause Con by Lauren Kung Jessen
Two Christmas-hating FBI agents, one threatened holiday event, and a second chance neither expected.
Scarlett is forced to team up with her former rival Nathan when someone threatens to sabotage New York’s Santa Claus Con. Going undercover puts them back in each other’s orbit, and old feelings start resurfacing while they race to stop the attack.
(October 27, 2026)
The Best Christmas Ever by Sarah Morgan
A Christmas-hating author, a snowstorm, and a house full of unexpected guests turn Mabel’s quiet holiday upside down.
After two cars crash near her cottage, she ends up sheltering a family with young children and two coworkers with a complicated history. As Christmas slowly makes its way back into her home, Mabel has to decide whether she is ready to let people in and face the secrets she has kept buried.
November 2026 New Releases
(November 3, 2026)
Are You Staying, Mandy Boyle by Melanie Moore
A struggling New York copy editor, a newspaper she unexpectedly wins, and a Christmas move to small-town Vermont change everything for Mandy.
She has one year to keep the paper running, even though it is losing money and she feels completely out of her depth. As she settles into town, she grows closer to local mechanic Greg and starts building connections that make leaving feel more complicated.
(November 3, 2026)
The Tinsel Twist by Rosie J. Potter
A failed restaurant, a hometown Christmas feast, and a second chance with the guy Adelaide never forgot.
Back in Tinsley Falls, she gets pulled into saving the town’s holiday event and reunites with Jace, her best friend’s brother. But as old feelings return, sabotage around the feast turns dangerous and forces them to deal with both the threat and their complicated past.
(November 5, 2026)
Christmas at the Ritz by Julie Caplin
A Christmas in London, two people who don’t expect to fall for anyone, and one very unexpected connection.
Belle isn’t looking for a whirlwind romance, while Finn is even more guarded. But with Christmas all around them, the city starts making their unlikely match feel harder to resist.
(November 24, 2026)
Christmas in Chestnut Crossing (multiple authors)
Four Christmas novellas bring together stories of reunion, second chances, mystery, and a wish waiting to be fulfilled.
The collection follows characters finding forgiveness, friendship, hope, and new beginnings during the holiday season. Each story is written by a different Guideposts author, including Amy Clipston, Tia McCollors, Shaen Layle, and Heidi Chiavaroli.
(November 24, 2026)
Holiday Bodyguard by Danielle M Haas
A Christmas threat, a determined bodyguard, and a secret Molly has kept hidden since coming to Wyoming.
Ben insists on protecting her, but solving the danger means earning her trust first. As the threat closes in, their feelings become harder to ignore. This is book four in the Sunrise Security series.
(November 24, 2026)
The Farmer’s Unexpected Christmas Gift by Lillian Warner
A blizzard rescue, memory loss, and an unexpected Christmas stay bring Stan and Louisa together.
After Stan saves Louisa and her young son, he lets them stay at his farmhouse while she recovers. As the connection between them grows, Louisa’s returning memories threaten everything they have started to build.
Find Your Next Christmas Read
Whether you’re in the mood for romance, family stories, mystery, or something with a little holiday magic, there are plenty of new Christmas books to choose from this year. I hope you find a few that sound perfect for your holiday reading list.