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
10 Blind Dates by Ashley Elston
In 10 Blind Dates, Sophie is a newly single high school senior when she visits her grandparents’ house for Christmas. There, her family concocts a plan for her to go on ten blind dates over the holiday.
These dates lead to various humorous and unexpected situations, from exclusive parties to a quirky nativity play. When her ex crawls back to her, she must decide between her past and her future while also navigating her sister’s complicated pregnancy.
This is a fun book that teens will devour. It’s light, romantic, and heartfelt– all in very age-appropriate ways. The ending also brings a minor, yet very satisfying, plot twist.
The Afterlife of Holly Chase by Cynthia Hand
The Afterlife of Holly Chase is one of my favorite books on this list. Seventeen-year-old Holly is stuck working as the Ghost of Christmas Past for a secretive organization called Project Scrooge after dying five years ago. When this year’s “Scrooge,” Ethan, becomes intriguing to Holly, she questions whether she can change her fate.
This story felt festive and very much in the spirit of A Christmas Carol, yet it also felt fresh and different simultaneously. It remained fun and interesting throughout and even ended with a bit of a twist. It’s a standout of all the Christmas books I’ve read in any genre!
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, 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
Dash & Lily’s Book of Dares by Suzanne Park
In the popular book Dash & Lily’s Book of Dares, 16-year-old Lily leaves a red notebook filled with challenges on a famous New York City bookstore shelf, hoping the right guy will take it on. When grumpy Dash discovers the notebook during the holiday season, he embraces the dares, sparking a playful romance as they exchange dreams and challenges throughout the city.
As they connect through their written words, the question remains: can their real-life selves match the chemistry of their notebook adventures, or will it lead to unexpected chaos?
Its tone is lighthearted and fun, exploring finding yourself in young love and seeking your first kiss.
Reading Tip: Already read it? Try the next books in this festive series: The Twelve Dates of Dash & Lily and Mind the Gap, Dash & Lily. Or, watch the Netflix adaptation!
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!
Let It Snow by John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle
Let It Snow is a collection of three somewhat interconnected short stories by popular Young Adult authors. On Christmas Eve, a storm makes a small town snowbound.
Three sets of teens navigate through unexpected situations, including a trek from a stranded train with a charming stranger and a treacherous trip to Waffle House. In the process, they discover that love often finds them in surprising ways.
Teens will like how quick and light the stories are, and how they build upon each other.
Reading Tip: Pair it with the Netflix adaptation!
Midnight in Everwood by M.A. Kuzniar
Midnight in Everwood takes place in 1906 Nottingham, where Marietta Stelle dreams of becoming a ballerina. With Christmas approaching, her hopes are dashed as she faces the societal expectation of marriage.
Her life takes a magical turn when a mysterious toymaker moves in next door. He creates a stunning set for her final ballet performance, which holds a dark power. At midnight on Christmas Eve, Marietta is whisked away to a frosty, secretive sugar palace surrounded by a snowy forest. She must race against time to find a way back before it consumes her.
This retelling of The Nutcracker has a mystical feel and adds in elements of historical fiction, female friendship, and female empowerment themes amidst the backdrop of the ballet.
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
