To me, there’s something special about MM romances, but Christmas romances are even more special.
It’s the messy families and found families.
The weird traditions, the string lights, and December.
And of course: men who absolutely did not plan to fall in love over hot chocolate, snowstorms, and fake Santa beards—but do it anyway.
This list is all MM, all Christmas (my favorite time of the year). You’ll find small towns and city breaks, single dads, nerds and jocks, reclusive neighbors, and a whole lot of emotional warmth. Heat levels range from soft and sweet to “absolutely not safe for reading at the office.”
Curl up, plug in your fairy lights, and pick your next holiday book boyfriend.
1. Let Your Hearts Be Light – Fae Quin
My take:
This one felt like watching two exhausted single dads finally exhale—I kept grinning every time their kids plotted one more “totally innocent” setup, and the book cover is just as hot as the story. Blurb
Baxter Baker is a 42-year-old single dad and small-town baker whose life is mostly bills, early mornings, and trying to keep his daughter smiling. His business is hanging on by a thread, and romance isn’t even on the radar. Then his daughter secretly signs him up for a “Christmas Buddies” matchmaking event.
His assigned buddy? Paxton Montgomery—the big, grumpy single dad who seems to be the only person in town who doesn’t like Baxter. A rigged drawing, kids with their own crushes, and a calendar full of forced holiday outings push them into each other’s orbit, whether they like it or not.
Why it’s worth reading
If you love stories where tired adults get a second shot at joy, this delivers. The book balances money stress, mental health, and parenting with a ton of warmth and humor. Watching Paxton’s “I don’t like you” melt into “you’re my safe place” is incredibly satisfying.
What you’ll get
- Single dads in a cozy town
- Grump x sunshine dynamic with grown-up problems
- Meddling kids and a matchmaking program
- Slow burn that turns very steamy once it tips over
Read if you like
Bakery settings, meddling teens, soft masculinity, and holiday romances where family chaos is part of the charm.
Heat & mood🔥🔥🔥🔥 – Sweet, emotional, and very explicit once the sparks catch.
Grab Let Your Hearts Be Light on Amazon and spend Christmas with two single dads who finally get the softness they deserve
2. You Can Count On Me – Fae Quin
My take:
I loved how Rooster and Trent look so big and tough on the outside, but read like anxious softies once you’re in their heads—it gave me all the warm, protective feels.
Blurb
Miles “Rooster” Johnson is a young single dad and teacher who’s more comfortable grading papers than flirting. His whole world is his son. Dating? Not really on the agenda.
Trent Montgomery is his neighbor—big, flirty, outdoorsy—and firmly against dating anyone with kids. That changes when Rooster’s son corners Trent with a baseball bat (in the most chaotic way possible) and basically forces him to ask his dad out. Awkward neighborly help turns into a real connection as Christmas closes in.
Why it’s worth reading
This book is a love letter to anxious, tender-hearted men who are trying their best. The mental-health rep feels thoughtful, and underneath Trent’s playboy reputation is someone just as scared of being hurt as Rooster.
What you’ll get
- Neighbor romance in a tight-knit town
- Single dad + flirty, secretly soft neighbor
- Holiday events, community, and family drama
- Slow burn, plenty of kink-leaning steam, and lots of cuddly moments
Read if you like
Big soft lumberjacks, protective parents, small-town queer joy, and watching two men slowly realize they’re already each other’s home.
Heat & mood🔥🔥🔥🔥 – Tender, a little filthy, and full of heart.
Pick up You Can Count On Me on Amazon and fall for Rooster, Trent, and their wonderfully chaotic little family.
3. Flake It Till You Make It – Beth Bolden
My take:
This one scratched that Hallmark itch for me in the best way—small town, coffee shop, fake dating, and just enough spice to make the mistletoe moments worth it.
Blurb
Rocco Moretti jumps at the chance to buy a struggling coffee shop in Christmas Falls, Illinois. He’s thinking “fresh start with good espresso,” not “entire town built around holiday festivals.”
Taylor Hall is the deputy mayor and Christmas Falls’ unofficial cheerleader. His whole life revolves around keeping the town thriving, which means events, decorations, and endless planning. When the town needs a good PR story, Taylor pulls Rocco into holiday activities…and into a pretend relationship that might solve both their problems.
Why it’s worth reading
This is small-town holiday romance turned up to eleven. You get parades, planning meetings, late-night talks over coffee, and the push-pull between a grumpy outsider and a local golden boy. The fake relationship setup gives them plenty of excuses to flirt in public and argue in private.
What you’ll get
- Small-town Christmas series vibes (hello, Christmas Falls)
- Grumpy coffee shop owner x civic sunshine
- Holiday events, public appearances, and fake-boyfriend antics
- A medium-high level of steam wrapped in rom-com charm
Read if you like
Festivals, small-town gossip, found family through community, and heroes who pretend they hate Christmas but secretly like feeling included.
Heat & mood🔥🔥🔥 – Cozy, funny, and flirty with satisfying bedroom scenes.
Get Flake It Till You Make It on Amazon and escape to Christmas Falls for coffee, fake dating, and festive small-town drama.
4. Merry Measure – Lily Morton
My take:
Arlo and Jack had me snorting at the banter and then getting unexpectedly emotional a few pages later—it’s that perfect mix of cheeky and tender.
Blurb
Arlo Wright is a clumsy, big-hearted primary school teacher who once clocked himself on a table trying to impress his crush: his older brother’s best friend, Jack Cooper. Years later, Arlo joins his brother and friends for a pre-Christmas trip to Amsterdam.
When the hotel booking gets messed up, Arlo and Jack end up sharing a room. Snowy canals, cramped space, and years of unresolved tension do the rest, turning a simple holiday trip into something much messier—and much more meaningful.
Why it’s worth reading
Lily Morton is known for sharp humor and big feelings, and this novella is a great example. The friend-group energy is chaotic and warm, and you really feel that long-standing crush finally being returned.
What you’ll get
- Brother’s best friend + forced proximity
- Amsterdam at Christmas instead of the usual small-town setting
- A chaotic, loving friend group as the backdrop
- Dual POV, flirty banter, and a satisfying emotional arc
Read if you like
Travel romances, friends-to-lovers tension, and characters who cope with feelings by being sarcastic and ridiculous.
Heat & mood🔥🔥🔥 – Bantery, warm, and sexy with enough heart to leave you smiling.
Download Merry Measure on Amazon and join Arlo and Jack for a snarky, tender Amsterdam Christmas getaway.
5. Better Not Pout – Annabeth Albert
My take:
Nick and Teddy gave me total “grumpy soldier vs chaotic Christmas elf” energy, and watching Nick slowly lean into joy instead of fighting it was so, so good.
Blurb
Sergeant Major Nicholas Nowicki is weeks away from leaving upstate New York for a quiet Florida retirement. One last favor stands between him and the sunshine: filling in as Santa for a local charity event.
Teddy MacNally, the community center director, lives for Christmas. He’s cheerful, chatty, and determined to make Nick’s reluctant Santa turn into something magical for the town. When a snowstorm strands them together, Nick ends up stuck in Teddy’s world of tinsel, cocoa, and relentless optimism.
Why it’s worth reading
If you love grump/sunshine with an age gap, this feels like catnip. The Santa/elf setup is fun without being silly, and Nick’s gradual shift from “I hate everything” to “I’d do this every year if it meant staying with Teddy” is incredibly satisfying.
What you’ll get
- Older military hero + younger holiday enthusiast
- Snowed-in forced proximity
- Community events, small-town charm, and costume moments
- Steamy scenes balanced with big, soft emotions
Read if you like
Age gaps, holiday makeovers (emotional, not physical), and watching a hardened character realize they’re allowed to want more than survival.
Heat & mood🔥🔥🔥🔥 – A bit angsty in places but ultimately warm, indulgent, and very spicy.
Order Better Not Pout on Amazon and watch a grumpy soldier and a chaotic Christmas elf turn one Santa gig into a full-on holiday romance.
6. The Christmas Deal – Keira Andrews
My take:
This one hit me right in the chest—between the fake boyfriends, the awkward parenting, and Logan’s bisexual awakening, it felt like watching a real family get built brick by brick.
Blurb
Logan is a widowed ex-Marine, broke and on the verge of losing his apartment. He’s trying to be a good stepdad to a grieving preteen who isn’t sure he wants him around.
Seth is an office worker whose boss is all about “family values.” When Seth needs to look more “stable” for a promotion, his sister suggests a wild solution: Logan and his stepson move in and pretend to be Seth’s boyfriend and kid for the holidays. Fake smiles, shared space, and late-night talks slowly turn their deal into something neither of them saw coming.
Why it’s worth reading
Fake dating can be gimmicky; this never feels that way. The stakes are real—housing, income, a kid’s security—and the romance grows out of the work they’re doing together as an almost-family. Logan’s bisexual awakening is handled with care, and the stepdad storyline adds another layer of heart.
What you’ll get
- Fake boyfriends -> real family
- Single dad/stepdad dynamics and co-parenting struggles
- Office politics, holiday events, and domestic cozy scenes
- Strong emotional beats and open-door intimacy
Read if you like
Found-family Christmas, bisexual awakenings, and stories where the kid isn’t just window dressing but part of the emotional core.
Heat & mood🔥🔥🔥🔥 – Big feelings, big steam, and a very satisfying HEA.
Grab The Christmas Deal on Amazon and sink into a fake-boyfriend holiday story that turns into a real, messy, beautiful family.
7. Merry Cherry Christmas – Keira Andrews
My take:
I flew through this in one sitting; it nails that lonely, in-between stretch of early college and then quietly turns it into something soft, safe, and hopeful. I’m a sucker for college MM romance—especially when there’s an athlete in the mix—so if that’s your thing too, you’ll also want to check out my post on Face Off and Cheap Shots next.
Blurb
Jeremy “Cherry” Rourke is a red-haired college freshman stuck on campus for Christmas after his plans fall apart. His parents are distant, he hasn’t really found his people yet, and the idea of spending the holidays alone in a dorm is depressing.
Instead of a silent, empty building, Cherry ends up spending the break with the jock who’s always had his back. An almost-empty campus, shared traditions, and years of low-key pining finally have room to breathe.
Why it’s worth reading
This novella leans more on emotion than spectacle. It’s about being young, queer, and stuck between the family you came from and the life you’re trying to build. The romance is gentle but still sexy enough to feel mature.
What you’ll get
- College setting & forced proximity over winter break
- Nerd/jock dynamic with a soft center
- Themes of loneliness, belonging, and first love
- On-page steam that fits the story without overpowering it
Read if you like
Campus romances, quieter Christmas stories, and characters figuring out what “home for the holidays” looks like when home is complicated.
Heat & mood🔥🔥 – Soft, intimate, and hopeful with a bit of sizzle.
Get Merry Cherry Christmas on Amazon for a cozy college-set MM holiday novella that you can finish in one snug reading session.
8. Christmas Kitsch – Amy Lane
My take:
This is the one that almost had me tearing up—Rusty’s journey is messy and painful at times, but the payoff with Oliver and his found family made it worth every page.
Blurb
Rusty Baker is a rich, popular jock who has coasted through life without thinking too deeply about anything. Oliver Campbell, his brilliant best friend from the “wrong” side of town, is the one who sees the real Rusty. One impulsive kiss before college forces Rusty to face the truth about himself.
When Rusty comes out, and his family reacts badly—especially around Christmas—he ends up leaning on Oliver and Oliver’s family instead. The story follows Rusty as he stumbles, learns, and slowly grows into a man who can love honestly.
Why it’s worth reading
This isn’t a fluffy tinsel romance. It’s raw in places: family rejection, class differences, and a very clumsy coming-out process. But it’s also deeply romantic, with a found-family thread that hits hard. If you like your holiday reads with emotional teeth, this is one to pick up.
What you’ll get
- Best-friends-to-lovers, slow and messy
- Rich boy/working-class boy dynamic
- Family drama, found family, and real character growth
- Moderate steam, high emotional intensity
Read if you like
Bittersweet holidays, heartfelt coming-of-age arcs, and romances that feel like they could leave a mark long after you close the book.
Heat & mood🔥🔥🔥 – Emotional first, steamy second, but both are memorable.
Find Christmas Kitsch on Amazon and follow Rusty and Oliver through a messy, emotional, ultimately hopeful holiday coming-of-age love story.
9. The Lights on Knockbridge Lane – Roan Parrish
My take:
Adam, Wes, and Gus felt like a little found-family bubble I didn’t want to leave—by the end, their house full of lights and experiments felt like somewhere I’d actually want to visit.
Blurb
After a painful breakup, Adam Mills moves back to Garnet Run with his young daughter, Gus. Money is tight, and life feels heavy, but he’s determined to give her a good Christmas.
Their new house is on Knockbridge Lane, and Gus has one big wish: the most over-the-top Christmas lights in town. Their next-door neighbor, Wes Mobray, is a reclusive scientist who prefers experiments to people. Gus ignores all his walls and pulls him straight into their plans. As the decorations go up and the neighborhood starts paying attention, Wes must decide if he’ll keep hiding—or step into the light with Adam and Gus.
Why it’s worth reading
This is a quiet, gentle story that still packs an emotional punch. Wes’s awkwardness, Adam’s exhaustion, and Gus’s determination combine into an adorable picture of queer family life in a small town. It feels like a soft blanket with just enough weight to feel grounding.
What you’ll get
- Single dad + reclusive neighbor in a small Wyoming town
- Holiday lights, neighborhood curiosity, and cozy domestic scenes
- A sweet parent-child relationship at the heart of the story
- Medium heat, strong focus on emotional connection
Read if you like
Grumpy/sunshine, brilliant weirdos with big hearts, gentle father–kid relationships, and holiday romances built on home and second chances.
Heat & mood🔥🔥🔥 – Quietly sexy, very tender, and full of twinkle-light feelings.
Pick up The Lights on Knockbridge Lane on Amazon and let Adam, Wes, and Gus light up your Christmas reading list.
Final Thoughts: Queer Holiday Magic & Beautiful Misfits
MM Christmas romances really lean into the idea that family is something you build.
Sometimes, family looks like two single dads accidentally matched by their scheming teens.
Sometimes it’s a lonely college kid finding home in an almost-empty dorm.
Sometimes it’s the grumpy scientist next door, pulled into a tangle of lights and love by a determined kid.
Wherever you are this season—overwhelmed, hopeful, lonely, or secretly sentimental—there’s a story here that can keep you company and remind you that it’s never too late to find your people.
Want to read any of these right now? Click the Amazon links in this post to grab your favorites and stack your holiday TBR.
Helpful Resources
Want more holiday love stories but with extra fluff and laughter? Head over to my Small Town Snowfall: Cozy Christmas Rom-Com Reads post after this one.
Love hard, read harder—and always choose the wild ones.
~Kay~
