The holidays are just around the corner, and there’s no better time to snuggle up with a cozy romance novel. The books on this list perfectly capture the magic of the holiday season— and they also include the endlessly entertaining fake-dating trope. Whether it’s a marriage of convenience, a ruse to appease family members, or a professional strategy, the fake relationship trope has long entertained readers and romance lovers. Grab a blanket, make yourself a cup of tea, and dive right in!
Check out these heartwarming coming-home holiday romances>>
Snowed in for Christmas by Sarah Morgan
Lucy Clarke is not looking forward to spending Christmas alone. And to make matters worse, unless she secures business from Ross Miller, she might lose her job. Lucy plans to deliver her proposal to Ross’s family home and then make a quick exit. But when she’s mistaken for Ross’s girlfriend, things get complicated—especially after a heavy snowfall traps her inside with the Miller family. Lucy soon learns that Ross’s siblings, Alice and Clemmie, have secrets of their own. Meanwhile, the spark between Lucy and Ross ignites, and Lucy’s Christmas starts to look very different from how she imagined.
Written in the Stars by Alexandria Bellefleur
Darcy Lowell and Elle Jones are complete opposites. Darcy is an actuary and an analytical realist, while Elle is a whimsical, free-spirited astrologer. When Elle’s new business partner (who also happens to be Darcy’s brother) sets the two of them up, the date is a disaster. But, desperate to stop him from arranging any more blind dates, Darcy lies and tells him it was a success. She begs Elle to keep up the ruse, and Elle agrees, but with a few conditions: Darcy must help her manage her own overbearing family through holiday season. But things become complicated when Elle and Darcy start to develop real feelings in their fake relationship. Can they unravel the truth of their feelings before their arrangement expires on New Year’s Eve?
All I Want for Christmas by Maggie Knox
Sadie and Max are thrilled when they’re individually selected as contestants on Starmaker, a popular reality singing show. But when they’re paired together for duet week and blow the audience away with their onstage chemistry, they must fake a relationship for the network—and the fans—despite the fact that they can’t stand each other. Sadie and Max only need to keep up the ruse until their final performance for the Starmaker holiday special. Can they pull it off and achieve their dreams? Or will they be exposed before the Christmas finale?
Meet Me in London by Georgia Toffolo
Vintage clothing designer Victoria Scott has always dreamt of opening her own boutique, but her dream is threatened when she discovers a new department store opening at the end of her street. Oliver Russell is struggling to make sure his family’s store opens in time—a task made more difficult by his overbearing mother and the lies he told her about his fake girlfriend. When Oliver and Victoria meet, he suggests a mutually beneficial arrangement: The two of them will fake a relationship to appease his mother while he focuses on the business, and in exchange, Victoria can showcase her designs at the new store. It sounds like the perfect plan, but when their fake relationship begins to feel real, Victoria and Oliver must navigate the complications of mixing business and pleasure.
Her Christmas Secret by Melissa McClone
Mountain rescuer Sean Hughes enjoys being single, but his family has been pressuring him to settle down. Desperate to get his relatives to stop playing matchmaker, he asks snowboarder Zoe Flynn to pretend to be his girlfriend at Thanksgiving dinner. Zoe agrees, thinking it’s only for one night and at least she’ll get a good meal out of it. But when an injury occurs, Zoe and Sean are forced to keep up the charade, and it’s not long before their fake relationship ignites real feelings. The only thing standing in the way is a secret that Zoe is keeping. Can her new relationship survive the truth?
Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall
Luc O’Donnell is thrown back into the spotlight when his rock star father announces a comeback. Feeling pressure to clean up his image, Luc decides to pursue a fake relationship with Oliver Blackwood, a nice, normal, drama-free guy. But even though Oliver is perfect boyfriend material, he and Luc have nothing in common. Oliver just needs a date for a big event, Luc needs someone who repels scandal, and when their arrangement has served its purpose, the two can go their separate ways. But it’s not long before the fake connection between Luc and Oliver begins to blossom into something real…
Kiss Her Once for Me by Alison Cochrun
One year, Ellie Oliver is working her dream job in animation and falling in love over the course of a single night. The next, she finds herself unemployed and betrayed. Now working at a local coffee shop, Ellie is just going through the motions. That is, until the shop’s landlord, Andrew, proposes an idea that might help both of them. A fake marriage would give Andrew access to his inheritance and help Ellie with her own debt and loneliness. When they concoct a plan to showcase their fake romance while spending the holidays at his family’s cabin, Ellie is shocked to discover that Andrew’s sister is the same enigmatic woman she fell in love with last year. And Ellie must decide whether the ruse is worth risking something real.
Don’t miss these feel-good holiday romances centering single parents>>
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