There’s a chill in the air, holiday lights are twinkling in neighborhoods around the world, and in the spirit of the season, we have a gift for you! Presenting… our favorite tradition of the holiday season here at Simon Teen: a list of the books we’ve loved over the past year! Take a look to find a little something for your loved ones (or yourself).
Amelia recommends To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han.
Celebrate the 10-year anniversary of To All the Boys I've Loved Before with this absolutely adorable keepsake edition! Sixteen-year-old Lara Jean’s love life goes from imaginary to out of control when her secret love letters – five letters, meant for her eyes only – are mailed. This edition features a faux notebook cover with an elastic enclosure – like a journal Lara Jean herself would love to write in – and a new foreword from Jenny Han. This is the perfect gift for new readers looking for a sweet romance to pick up during the holidays or long-time Lara Jean fans who want to add a special edition to their collection.
Lindsey recommends The Ballad of Darcy & Russell by Morgan Matson.
This is the PERFECT book for all of the hopeless romantics out there! If you believe in love at first sight, then this is the meet-cute for you. From New York Times bestselling author Morgan Matson comes a sweeping romantic novel about love, fate...and that one night that can change everything. *SWOON* Filled with football field picnics, night swimming, and escape-artist dogs, Darcy and Russell’s lives will change forever as they discover things they never imagined about each other – and about themselves.
Saleena recommends The Dagger and the Flame by Catherine Doyle.
The Dagger and the Flame is an action-packed enemies-to-lovers romantasy with a super unique magic system. After her mother's tragic and suspicious death, Sera runs to the Cloaks, Fantome's thieves guild, for protection. In doing so, she has also made the Daggers, the city's assassin's guide and rivals to the Cloaks, her enemy. Now, she is a target, and the assassin assigned to her death? Ransome, a dark-haired boy she can't help but feel a spark with. This book gives everything you want a romantasy to give.
James recommends Make My Wish Come True by Rachael Lippincott and Alyson Derrick.
If the title of this book gets a certain holiday song—with this exact lyric—stuck in your head… then the only way to replace that earworm is to read this book! I listened to the audiobook of Make My Wish Come True a month ago, and it was the perfect way to reinvigorate my holiday spirit. It has everything you’d ever want in a holiday rom-com: Sapphics! Second chance! Ex–best friends to lovers! Fake dating! Twelve fake holi-dates (that don’t stay fake for long) between an up-and-coming Hollywood teen actor and her former best friend, whom she left behind in their Christmas-obsessed hometown! You’ll devour this romance faster than your favorite cup of hot chocolate.
Remi recommends Past Present Future by Rachel Lynn Solomon.
If you were a fan of Today, Tonight, Tomorrow (and even if you weren’t—give both books!) and fell in love with the beloved rivals-to-lovers, then the perfect holiday gift has to be the greatly anticipated sequel, Past, Present, Future. We follow Rowan and Neil all the way to the east coast as they go to separate colleges, but things obviously don’t go as smoothly as they planned. While they deal with the distance in their relationship, both Rowan and Neil also come to terms with their own personal problems and figuring out who they are and what they want. It’s the perfect combination of endearing cute romance and the coming-of-age story we all need!
Thad recommends Prince of Fortune by Lisa Tirreno.
Prince of Fortune is a high-stakes epic page-turner that will leave readers delighted and at the edge of their seats wondering what will happen next! Inspired by Regency-era England, it follows the story of Prince Edmund, gifted with elemental magic, and Lord Aubrey Ainsley, a charming Seer, as their slow-burn romance unfolds amidst the looming threat of a war filled with dark sorcerers and troops of terrifying creatures. It’s an unforgettable blend of romance, magic, and action perfect for fans of Red, White, and Royal Blue, A Darker Shade of Magic, and Shadow and Bone!
Amy recommends Love, Off the Record by Samantha Markum.
This absolutely amazing romcom is a must-read for romance fans! It's a classic enemies-to-lovers/academic rivals love story following Wyn and Three (our protagonists) throughout their first year of college as they battle for the same spot at their university newspaper. The banter? Almost TOO good. The swoon level? Off the charts. If you love rivals-to-lovers, read this IMMEDIATELY!!!
Bezi recommends Courtesy of Cupid by Nashae Jones.
This adorable, academic rivals-to-lovers tween romance has hilarious magical hijinks and is perfect for fans of Percy Jackson and the Olympians! In this story Erin discovers she has an unexpected godly parent – the Roman god of love, Cupid – and on her birthday she inherits the power to make people fall in love. When she decides to use that power to make her school rival fall in love with her so he won’t run for club president, her first foray into love and power gets … complicated.