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 something special for your loved ones (or yourself).
Advent calendars are arguably one of the best and most exciting parts of the holiday season. Who doesn’t want a fun little surprise every day, no matter what you celebrate? That’s why our advent book A Heart for Christmas by Sophie Jomain is not only the perfect gift, but also a joyful story just to read yourself! This innovative advent-style book invites readers to count down to Christmas with one chapter a day (24 in total!), each one tucked behind its own perforated enclosure for you to tear open. It’s an experience that’s both playful and immersive, like unwrapping a tiny present every day! This charming read will have you savoring every page as the anticipation builds alongside the countdown.
Recommended by Remi
'Tis the season for cozying up with a romantasy read to take your mind off the snow and ice outside, and nothing will warm your heart (AND get it racing) like the drama, romance, and action in Lauren Roberts' Powerless Trilogy! Snag a boxed set for yourself (and gift one to a friend) so you can uncover every plot twist of the series and enjoy every line of banter between Kai and Paedyn this holiday season!
Recommended by Amy
This boxed set is perfect for everyone who was obsessed with Conrad, Jeremiah, and Belly this summer. We still have to wait for the Summer I Turned Pretty movie, but a re-read will make sure you're warm on the beach (and stay invested in the drama) at Cousins in the meantime.
Recommended by Trey
This timeless classic is perfect for the holidays: It’s filled with themes of unique friendships, dysfunctional families, and ongoing self-discovery. I’ll never forget grabbing a copy for the first time and having my world shifted! This anniversary edition is a timestamp marking 25 years of “wallflowers” navigating life, love, and loss alongside these complex characters. This is the perfect gift for the laugher, the crier, and the star of the show!
Recommended by Kayah
For the reader in your life who does not shy away from heart-wrenching stories and loves a gorgeous collector's edition! This New York Times bestseller in the vein of Speak follows Eden through her entire high school career as she attempts to navigate the trauma of being sexually assaulted by her brother's best friend. Necessary and unforgettable, this book will remind readers that there is strength and there is hope, even in the darkest places.
Recommended by Karina
As someone who was reading EVERY paranormal romance I could find in 2009, I grabbed this special edition of Hush, Hush the moment I saw it. And it turns out that fallen angels still hit in 2025! Whether you already know Patch and Nora or are looking for your next paranormal romance obsession, this edition deserves a place on your shelf.
Recommended by Shannon
As Simon Teen's resident office dog, I get to read a TON of books, but Fake Skating was my one of my favorite treats this year! If you need a gift for someone who loves snow, banter, and fake dating, this read will definitely make their tail wag!
Recommended by Seven
NovemBree may have come to a close, but EVERY month is the perfect time to bring more of your friends into the BreeHive fandom by convincing them to check out the Legendborn Cycle! Without getting into spoilers for Oathbound, it picks up as Bree and her friends are on very different paths after the events of the first two books in the series. And while I have been—and ALWAYS will be—Team Bree, it’s time for me to come clean… Oathbound is the book that swayed me from Team Nick to Team Sel. Read it to find out why.
Recommended by James
Even though the holiday season has JUST begun, I can admit that I've already gifted this book to TWO of my friends. Whether you're a Chloe Gong superfan or you've never heard of her, Coldwire is Chloe at her peak. The book follows Eirale, a soldier who has been framed for murder, and Lia, a military student in the midst of her final exam, as they navigate downcountry (the real world) and upcountry (virtual reality). I think this is the first time I have EVER successfully predicted (part of) the ending, and I can tell you all that NONE of you are ready. Even thinking of it now makes me want to re-read those last few chapters!! Best part: this is just the beginning of a trilogy! So you'll already have your holiday gifts lined up for the next few years :)
Recommended by Julia Ashley
This is the queer holiday romance of my HEART and I’m so glad that we get to catch up with Alex and Molly from She Gets the Girl! The character growth that brought them together in She Gets the Girl is on full display in Joy to the Girls, and it has some of my favorite rom-com tropes as Alex and Molly play matchmaker to two of their friends, while also preparing for what comes next after high school graduation. Plus, the novella itself is just about the right size to be a stocking stuffer—the perfect gift for any holiday rom-com lover in your life!
Recommended by James
You can never go wrong with Neal Shusterman, and Mindworks is the perfect gift for fans both new and old. You’ll lose yourself in this compendium of uncanny stories (including brand new stories from The Arc of a Scythe). Journey to a place where the wind can be captured, time can be crafted into infinite attic space, or a hot tub can house an ancient monster. In this collection, there’s always something new and strange waiting for you on the next page. Make sure to pick up the deluxe editions to bring some shine to any bookshelf!
Recommended by Brian
Part true crime thriller, part historical fiction, If Looks Could Kill is the genre-defying mashup that sees Medusa going toe-to-toe with Jack the Ripper. It’ll take you through the dark underbelly of late 1800s New York City and you won’t be the same after reading it. Get it your friend who refuses to pick a favorite genre—because surprise, it’s several genres in one!
Recommended by James
You got me! I’ve already gifted Taylor Cassidy’s nonfiction debut to my creative friend, my educator friend, and my entrepreneur friend. This collection of twelve true stories combines Black American history with Cassidy's personal anecdotes making it the best fusion of insightful chronicles and lighthearted fun. Aside from the captivating doodles throughout, Cassidy’s inviting tone and uplifting approach makes this the absolute best gift for reluctant readers, young artists, aspiring scientists, and everyone between!
Recommended by Kayah
Seraphine and Ransom are SO. BACK.
The stakes are high, the enemies are hotter, and the magic is deadly. I must say that no other romantasy has come close to pulling me in in the way that The Dagger and the Flame did when I first read it last year! Since then, I have been desperately waiting for the sequel, and now that it's here, I must shout it from the rooftops! If you haven’t met Seraphine and Ransom yet, this is the perfect time to get (or gift!) the first two books in the trilogy in preparation for next year's conclusion. Also, whether you’re visiting the City of Fantome for the first time or revisiting, I HIGHLY recommend you listen to the audiobook. Freddy Carter is simply *chef's kiss*
Recommended by Julia Ashley
Despite sharing classes and splitting shifts at the same diner, Dawson and Harper are not friends. He thinks she’s stuck-up. She thinks he’s nothing more than a self-centered hockey jock. After a rumor goes around that Harper’s the one who got the beloved hockey couch fired, their mutual dislike is at all-time high. And yet…
Heart Check is a warm and cozy romance with a sprinkle of forced proximity and a dash of enemies to lovers, the perfect combo for any romance reader to curl up with over the holidays! And if you snag a copy of the paperback in the first printing, your copy will have the most adorable hockey-themed sprayed edges.
Recommended by Amelia
Fade Into You is one of those books that captures a moment in time perfectly. This book grapples with what it meant to be queer in the nineties and how powerful it is to love yourself and to dream of a brighter future. Bird and Jessa’s sapphic romance is made all the sweeter because the authors are a real-life married couple, Amber Smith and Sam Gellar! A must-read for anyone unsure of the future who is looking to the past for a reminder that queer people have always been unapologetically themselves and always will be. it is such a hopeful look about how two people can come together and find possibility - both for themselves and each other.
Recommended by Shannon
Call Your Boyfriend is a sapphic allies-to-lovers rom-com that had me laughing and kicking my feet in equal measure. Beau agrees to give Charm “flirting lessons” so they can get back on the flaky popular girl they’re both crushing on. But as their plan starts working, do they REALLY want revenge…or do they want to take a chance on what’s building between them?
Recommended by Shannon