’Tis the season for sparkle, wonder, comfort, joy … and romance! Nothing captures the magic of the holidays like a sweet and oh-so-cozy rom-com. While decking your halls, wrapping presents, or taking a break with a mug of hot cocoa, why not give yourself the gift of getting lost in an uplifting, heartwarming listen? Our list of festive rom-coms features a little mystery, a dash of spice, and a lot of hilarity. There’s something to delight every fan of the genre, with the added bonus of holiday cheer.
On the flight before Christmas, Molly gets an unexpected upgrade to first class and, after one too many complimentary cocktails, drunkenly tells her hunky seatmate all her secrets. At least, she won’t have to see him again, she tells herself. So, imagine her shock when she arrives at Christmas House, the rental home she and her family are sharing with her sister’s fiancé and his family, to discover that the hot stranger who knows way too much about her is one of her soon-to-be in-laws. Playing it cool, Molly and Liam struggle to keep their hands off each other. But it’s tough when family drama keeps swirling all around them. And Liam is hiding a secret of his own. Andi Arndt and Teddy Hamilton are a fan-favorite romance narrator duo, and their performance of this Audible Original demonstrates why.
Love at first sight happens only in the movies. That’s what Laurie thought—until one snowy December day when she sees the man of her dreams through a misty bus window. They lock eyes. Then, her bus drives away. Determined this will not be a one-off encounter, Laurie looks for the man everywhere, scanning every bus stop and café in London. Suddenly, she sees him again—at a Christmas party, where her best friend Sarah introduces Jack, the man of Laurie's dreams, as her new boyfriend. One in December follows the intertwined fates of Jack, Laurie, and Sarah over the next ten years—with unexpected turns along the way. Told from the alternating perspectives of Laurie and Jack, this heartwarming story of romance, friendship, and missed connections is performed by Eleanor Tomlinson and Charlie Anson.
From the author of We’re All Damaged, this comforting second-chance romance is sure to delight fans of classic holiday movies. Nearly a year after losing their spouses, Grace and Henry are each facing their first holiday season alone. They become friends out of a mutual understanding of the sadness intensified by the Christmas cheer all around them. Henry and his late wife had an annual tradition of binge-watching iconic holiday movies. Sensing his wistfulness, Grace offers to watch some of his favorite films with him. Soon, her two young kids join in on the fun of a holiday movie marathon. With each movie, Henry and Grace’s shared grief eases. Is their bond purely based on loneliness, or could they be more than friends? Narrators Alex Finke and Jay Myers capture this comforting rom-com’s spirit of nostalgia and hope.
If you can’t get enough of fake romances for the holidays, Yours for the Season is a must-listen. There’s one thing ambitious attorney Sameera Malik and rising-star chef Tom Cook have in common: neither has time for romance. When they meet at a holiday party, they share a few laughs while making samosas and then go their separate ways. But when one of Tom’s posts sparks a juicy viral rumor, they agree to keep pretending to be a couple for a while—a faux romance will boost Tom’s popularity and, in return, he’ll help Sameera land a wealthy client. It all sounds like a great plan—until Sameera’s traditional parents insist on meeting Tom’s very not Muslim family over Christmas. Narrated by Zaara Noor, this captivating cross-cultural rom-com features an introduction by the incomparable Mindy Kaling.
What’s more fun than a locked room mystery? How about adding a holiday theme and a rivals-to-lovers twist? When cozy mystery queen Maggie Chase and thriller king Ethan Wyatt both accept a cryptic invitation to a holiday party at the house of a reclusive fan, neither expects their host to be celebrated author Eleanor Ashley, aka the Duchess of Death. The next morning, Maggie and Chase not only find themselves snowbound at a secluded English estate but also forced to work together to find Eleanor, who has vanished. Ally Carter's crackling, fast-paced writing has an extra sparkle and charm when performed by Saskia Maarleveld and Zachary Webber.
This sweet little Amazon Original holiday story is hilariously narrated by Vivienne LaRue and features another snowbound couple, this time a pair of family friends who get a second chance at happiness. Jamie needs to borrow a pan, which leaves her at the door of her brother’s best friend, the one who got away. Cue the blizzard and subsequent sparks.
A holiday house swap leads to heartwarming hijinks in the third installment of Liz Maverick’s festive Winter Nights series. After a broken engagement, Cher ditches sunny California to spend her first Hanukkah in snowy NYC. Her cute but complicated new neighbor, Eliot, is also nursing a broken heart. As sightseeing trips around the city turn into flirtatious escapades, Dara Rosenberg and Andrew Eiden’s narration of this often funny and always adorable romance captures the warmth of celebrating the holidays with friends who feel like family, and the magic of New York City in winter
Codi Hall takes us back to Mistletoe, Idaho, in Along Came Holly, the third installment of her holiday rom-com series. Holly is living her best life in Mistletoe. She owns a very popular Christmas shop on Main Street and is enjoying her newfound fame as a TikTok personality. If she could change one thing it would be her cranky Scrooge of a neighbor, Declan, who runs the hardware store next door and is always complaining about her holiday music being too loud. When a prank war starts between the two, Holly sees a new side to Declan. This enemies-to-lovers rom-com is sure to warm hearts this holiday season.
Once Upon a Christmas Carol combines the magic and music of the season in a heartwarming holiday romance. Rachel’s career as a musician is on the brink of disaster when her record label suddenly drops her. She receives a mysterious Christmas card with lyrics to a classic Christmas carol, urging her to return home to Crystal Falls. Once she’s back home, Rachel continues to receive more cards filled with lyrics and clues she must follow—all leading her back to Matt, her first love. This full-cast production features classic Christmas carols throughout for a truly special audio experience.
Not only is Marlo nursing a broken heart in The Upside Down Christmas, but with her recent move to Sydney, Australia, she’s also far away from the quaint village life she left behind in Britain. Marlo’s flatmate, Alex, is determined to lift her out of her grinch slump and convince her that Christmas down under may be unfamiliar, but exactly what she needs to start her life on a new course. Narrator Rachael Tidd’s spot-on English and Australian accents add to the charm of this clever holiday rom-com.
Rachel Rubenstein-Goldblatt has a shameful secret: she loves Christmas. Behind closed doors, writing under a pen name, this seemingly perfect Jewish girl has become a popular Christmas romance novelist. But when her publisher shakes things up and asks Rachel to write a Hanukkah rom-com, Rachel feels uninspired. Hanukkah just doesn’t seem very merry. Determined to find her muse, Rachel turns to the Matzah Ball, a Jewish music celebration held on the last night of Hanukkah. The catch? Participating in the Matzah Ball means working with her summer camp archenemy, Jacob Greenberg. Their rivalry has been ongoing since childhood, but the more time the two spend with each other, the more Rachel sees the magic in Hanukkah. And the more she finds herself surprisingly drawn to Jacob. Dara Rosenberg narrates this refreshing holiday rom-com with charm.
Who would pass up the chance to spend the holidays in Great Britain? Not Vivian Forest, who never travels and is thrilled to tag along on her daughter Maddie’s work trip to style a royal. She’s looking forward to sightseeing but doesn't expect to fall into a whirlwind romance. Malcolm Hudson has served as the Queen's trusted secretary for years and never gives private tours to anyone–until Vivian. Their flirtatious banter leads to a kiss under the mistletoe … the promise of more. Will Vivian and Malcolm be able to say goodbye by New Year's Day? Fans of The Proposal will thrill to this holiday-themed entry in Jasmine Guillory’s bestselling multicultural romance series, narrated with heart and sizzle by Janina Edwards.
When it comes to romance, 34-year-old Kate Turner is ready to say "Bah, humbug!" Her sleepy town isn’t exactly a hot spot for eligible bachelors. Besides, with her career as a designer and side gig baking for her old friend Matt’s neighborhood café, her plate is full. Still, she agrees to give romance a try when her best friend signs her up with a dating service promising to help singles find love in time for the holidays. It’s 23 days before Christmas, and Kate has lined up 12 dates with 12 different men. What could possibly go wrong? Narrator Elizabeth Knowelden captures the hilarity of Jenny Bayliss’s delightful rom-com, which comes with a PDF of sweet recipes.
Mae has spent every Christmas happily together with her family and close friends in a cozy cabin in Utah. But this Christmas is different. First, she accidentally hooks up with her crush's brother. Then, she discovers the cabin is being sold, and this is their last Christmas there. As her family drives away, Mae throws out a plea to the Universe: "Please show me what will make me happy." In a flash, Mae awakens on a flight to Utah. When she lands, she gets to live out the entire Christmas again … but it still goes wrong. Every time something disastrous happens, Mae finds herself back on the plane, starting over. A holiday rom-com mixed with the wild possibilities and what-ifs of Groundhog Day, In a Holidaze will keep listeners rooting for Mae to find her way out of the time loop by realizing what will make her truly happy.
What cozier setting for a Christmastime rom-com than a bookshop? Grab a hot chocolate and curl up with Jenny Colgan’s heartwarming holiday rom-com. Carmen has just been laid off from her department store job, and heading into the holidays, she has very few options. Her sister Sofia isn't exactly ecstatic about having Carmen stay with her for Christmas, but with another baby on the way, she desperately needs help to revitalize her client's shabby bookshop. Carmen reluctantly takes the job and finds herself charmed by the little shop in spite of herself. Will she be able to make it shine in time for Christmas shopping? And what will happen when a famous author takes a sudden interest in the bookshop–and Carmen?
The holiday season is the perfect time for a reset, and that's exactly what newly divorced Ivy Perkins is looking for when she buys an old farmhouse. While sorting through the stuff, Ivy finds a Santa suit. Tucked in its pocket, there's a note from a little girl who says all she wants for Christmas is for her father to come home from the war. Deeply touched, Ivy embarks on a quest to uncover the mysteries of the note. Who was the girl? Did her father come home? As she looks into the story, she's unexpectedly pulled into the community. And right at a point in her life when she thought she wanted nothing more than to be left alone, Ivy becomes a part of a welcoming town. As The Santa Suit affirms, Christmas is a time for miracles, reuniting families, and perhaps even a second chance at love.
