Written by contributor Julia Fleur
The holiday months are a perfect excuse to catch up on some romance reading! Here’s a list of some underrated romances to enjoy over the holidays!
Perfectly Adequate by Jewel E. Ann
This follows recently divorced Doctor Elijah and nurse Dorothy, who is on the autistic spectrum. The two have a meet-cute at the hospital but after numerous failed attempts to ask Dorothy out, Elijah is at loss what to do. This romance is funny, heart-warming, and covers important topics! Perfect for fans of Christina Lauren and R.S Grey!
Long Shot by Kennedy Ryan
Kennedy Ryan is one of those romance authors that just gets it. Her books cover important (well-researched) topics, and feature beautiful realistic characters. Long Shot follows Iris and August who meet at the wrong place in the wrong time. This book deals heavily with sexual/physical abuse and can be hard to read sometimes. But, because its heavy subject matter, Long Shot marks an important addition to the romance genre.
Trick by Natalia Jaster
The Foolish Kingdoms series by Natalia Jaster is one of the most underrated romances within fantasy genre. The first book, Trick, follows princess Briar of the Autumn court as she falls in love with a mischievous court jester named Poet. This is no ordinary romantic fantasy, as it heavily deals with the topic of ableism. Trick is absolutely worth a read if you’re a fan of the genre!
Waiting for Tom Hanks by Kerry Winfrey
Waiting for Tom Hanks centers around Annie, who just wants to meet her own version of a rom-com Tom Hanks. When she starts working on a movie set in her own hometown, she meets star of the show Drew. While Drew is literally the opposite of her ideal man, could it be that the two are made for each other? This is an underrated rom-com gem, perfect for fans of The Hating Game!
The Bridge Kingdom by Danielle L. Jensen
The Bridge Kingdom follows princess Lara, who has one mission: to kill her new husband. She is sent to marry the king of a neighbouring country, but doubles as a spy to plot his demise. This romantic fantasy has everything you want: arranged marriage, hate-to-love romance, and a beautiful setting.
Baking Me Crazy by Karla Sorensen
If you’re looking for a cosy read for the holidays, this is a perfect one! Baking Me Crazy follows Joss, who works at small town bakery, and her best friend Levi, who’s looking for a job after finishing his Master’s. The two met when they are in their teens, and have been best friends for over 5 years. Levi thinks he’s content with being just friends, until Joss starts showing interest in one of her new customers… This books is here for all your friends-to-lovers feels!
Ayesha At Last by Uzma Jalaluddin
This Muslim Pride and Prejudice retelling centers around Ayesha, who is stuck between her job and overbearing family. She meets Khalid, who is judgy, conservative, but oh so pretty. The two are set to marry different people, as arranged by their parents, but they can’t seem to get rid of thoughts about each other. This diverse, ownvoices retelling of a classic is perfect for this romantic holiday month!
