It’s the most wonderful time of the year for teens to read the best Young Adult Christmas books! This collection of books is highly rated, age-appropriate, and offers a variety of holiday themes, from romance to family. Grab a cup of hot cocoa and relax because these Christmas-themed books for young adults are so indulgent, even for adults. Take the holiday reading challenge!
My Favorite Young Adult Christmas Books
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
A Christmas Carol is the most classic of all classic Christmas books for reader of all ages, including teens who love the beauty of the written word.
It’s the famous Christmas short story of the bitter old Ebenezer Scrooge, whose holiday spirit is transformed after a visit from the ghost of his former business partner and the Ghosts of Christmases Past, Present, and Yet to Come, including Bob Cratchit and Tiny Tim of course.
It’s exquisitely written, easy to read, and well-suited for teens.
The Christmas Clash by Suzanne Park
The Christmas Clash is set at a mall during the holiday season. Having worked at a mall many Christmas seasons myself, it has a special place in my heart. It also gets points for being diverse!
Chloe’s Korean family and Peter’s Chinese family operate rival restaurants in the food court. For Christmas, Chloe is a photographer at the mall’s Santa Village, while Peter works at the virtual reality North Pole.
When the mall is about to be sold to developers and eviction notices are handed to their families, though, they must band together in the spirit of Christmas to save their families’ livelihoods.
This rivals-to-lovers trope is so engaging! The shared goal of the protagonists holds the plot together nicely and makes you root for them in the spirit of the season
The Holiday Switch by Tif Marcelo
In The Holiday Switch, Lila embarks on her last winter break from high school in her small New York town by working at the local inn, which is the setting of a renowned holiday film, while also writing an anonymous book blog.
At the inn, Type A Lila butts heads with the innkeeper’s nephew, Teddy, her new co-worker. But when they accidentally switch phones, they realize they’ve each been hiding things that may bring them together.
The festive inn vibes are perfect in this cute workplace rivals Christmas romance book. The book blogging content is also great for book lovers!
So, This is Christmas by Tracy Andreen
In So, This is Christmas Finley returns home from boarding school and finds her life in Christmas, Oklahoma, to be a mess. Her parents have separated, her ex is dating her best friend, and her enemy works at her grandmother’s inn.
In this holiday story of family, friendship, and love, she must show a boy the magic of “Christmas.” It’s a fun read with holiday spirit and adventure for fans of the enemies-to-lovers trope and quirky small-town romances.
The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street by Karina Yan Glaser
Technically, The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street is a middle-grade novel, but it’s such a cute story that I couldn’t help but include it for those who want something lighter or easier to read level. After all, even as an adult, I thoroughly enjoyed it!
The Vanderbeekers are a family of five children, two parents, and a few furry pets living in a Harlem brownstone. The week of Christmas, their landlord, whom they refer to as “The Beiderman,” decides not to renew their lease, which saddens the children. Together, they devise plans to change the landlord’s mind.
It has colorful characters, adorable illustrations, and a heartwarming plot about the meaning of home.
Reading Tip: If you like it, you can also read the books that follow it in this bestselling series.
Whiteout by Angie Thomas, Nicola Yoon, et al.
Whiteout is a Black teen anthology with interconnected stories, some romantic, from six mega-bestselling and award-winning authors. It’s uniquely set during a blackout and a snowstorm, bringing the weather directly into the plot to keep you engaged.
Twelve teens band together in snowy Atlanta at Christmastime to pull off one epic apology in the face of a storm stranding people, from the airport to the mall.
The quality of the writing of these renowned authors makes it especially immersive as the suspense builds.
More Popular YA Christmas Fiction for Teenagers on My “To Be Read” List
SHOP MORE BOOKS FOR TEENS
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remember, it’s a good day to read a book. – jules
