4 Winter Romances To Read If You're Obsessed With Hallmark Movies

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Winter can be gloomy. Fortunately, Hallmark movies are the ultimate cozy, cheerful antidote to gray days and chilly temperatures. "For me, Hallmark movies are like comfort food that we eat after long days. Good-looking casts, beautiful scenery, simple plot, happy ending," wrote one Reddit user. "It's so soothing." In that way, these films have the dependable and escapist charm of romance novels. But if you are more of a reader, there are lots of romance novels that have the same vibes as Hallmark movies.

With many people "hibernating" due to the cold, winter is the ideal season for reading. "I love winter reading with hot chocolate by the fire while bread or cookies are baking in the oven or something is simmering in the Crockpot," wrote one Reddit user. And romance novels feature lovey-dovey plots, reliably happy endings, and are often set in small towns. That means these cheerful books are perfect if you're considering embracing the JOMO (joy of missing out) mentality this holiday season and staying home with a book. So, if you've run out of cozy Tyler Hynes Hallmark movies perfect for a fall night, there might just be a book that will keep the festive spirits going in the winter. 

In "Merry and Bright" by Debbie Macomber, Merry isn't exactly looking for a boyfriend. Her plans get upended when her family decides to sign her up for a dating site anyway. She finds herself connecting with a mysterious man. But when they meet in person, Merry is shocked to discover it's someone she already knows and dislikes. As she helps him reconnect with the Christmas spirit, though, she finds they have more in common than she ever imagined. Like many Hallmark movies, "Merry and Bright" is a reminder that first impressions aren't always correct.

"'Merry and Bright' is a warm, feel-good, clean holiday romance that will get you into the holiday spirit. I was looking for a light, easy, and satisfying read and this one definitely hits the mark," wrote one Goodreads reviewer. If you love Hallmark movies with the enemies-to-lovers romance trope, then this is the perfect quick read to illuminate your winter evenings.

Romance unfolds behind the scenes of a big family Christmas in this sweet holiday novel by Sarah Morgan. In "Snowed In for Christmas," Ross hopes he can dodge the annual barrage of questions about his girlfriend by inventing an imaginary girlfriend named Lucy Clarke, but the plan falls apart when a woman with the same name turns up on the family doorstep. When a blizzard rolls in, Lucy finds herself swept up into the kind of warm Christmas celebrations she's always longed for, and she quickly finds herself falling for both Ross and his whole family.

Fake holiday relationships are a staple of Hallmark movies, and the trope is no less charming here. "This was such a cozy, feel-good read! I loved the mix of family chaos, humor, and tender moments... it captures the beautiful messiness of what makes people who they are," wrote one Goodreads reviewer. "There's a light sprinkle of romance and just enough Christmas magic to give it that warm, festive glow." It's the perfect story to brighten your holiday season, especially if you happen to be snowed in yourself.

A missed connection at a bus stop turns into an unexpected love triangle in this warmhearted novel from Josie Silver. "One Day in December" turns the love-at-first-sight trope on its head after Laurie spends a year trying to track down the man she locked eyes with, only for him to turn up as her best friend's boyfriend. As in many Hallmark movies, the course of true love doesn't always run smoothly.

This is a romance, but the close friendship between friends is central to the story as well. "It is a love story, but it doesn't talk only about romantic love. It talks about different shapes of love: platonic love, love between lovers, friends, parents and children," wrote one Goodreads reviewer. "It also talks about grief, falling apart, life taking you [in] different directions, marriage, and human interactions." The sparkling Christmas vibes and warmth of the relationships make for an addictive, comforting holiday read.

In "Snowed in at the Winter Palace," an American architect falls for a prince right around the holiday season. When Pepper's promotion falls through, she accepts a job redesigning a castle and arrives just ahead of a blizzard. As she tackles the remodel, she develops a close relationship with Prince Zeno that threatens to upend her entire life's trajectory. It's a charming, forced-proximity romance that offers a reminder that sometimes life's disappointments can turn out to be the best opportunities.

If a commoner falling for a prince sounds like a plot line you've heard of before, that's because it's popped up in more than a couple of Hallmark Christmas movies. "I really enjoyed this fresh twist on a familiar trope where the handsome prince falls in love with the beautiful, smart commoner," wrote one Goodreads reviewer. "The author of this story did an incredible job of developing the characters, both the main characters and the secondary characters."

To select these books, we looked for books that recreated the comforting feel of Hallmark movies. That is, relatively low-stakes stories with cozy atmospheres, quirky characters, and heartwarming themes. We avoided books with dark or heavy plot points, and opted for stories with romantic plots and happy endings. Consideration was limited to holiday stories, given the close association between winter Hallmark movies and Christmas. Additionally, we avoided including books that couldn't stand on their own; that meant avoiding sequels or books that were a part of a series. Reader opinions on these novels were also carefully considered based on a holistic review of comments and ratings on Goodreads, Reddit, and Amazon.