8 Hanukkah Romances Bringing Love & Light to Our TBR
If you ask us, December is best spent reading cozy, holiday romances. That’s why we’ve rounded up eight of our favorite Hanukkah love stories, perfectly paired with a cup of hot chocolate and sweet sufganiyot.
From a small guy bringing the only other local Jew home for Hanukkah as part of a fake dating scheme to a divorced couple reuniting on the set of a televised holiday feature, it’s clear that eight nights is plenty of time to fall in love. The only question is, which love story should you start with? With authors like Hannah Reynolds, Miri White, and, of course, prolific Hanukkah romance novelist Jean Meltzer, this list is the perfect place to find your next great read.
Scroll to find out Swooon top Hanukkah romance novel picks, including Love You a Latke, Eight Dates and Nights, Season of Love, and more. Comment below with the Hanukkah romance bringing love and light to your TBR this holiday season!
The Matzah Ball
Jean Meltzer
The Matzah Ball follows author Rachel Rubenstein-Goldblatt, who hides her Christmas romances from her Jewish family. However, when her publisher insists that she should write a Hanukkah romance, Rachel is forced to search for a muse at the Matzah Ball, on the last night of Hanukkah, and work with her summer camp archenemy. Can these childhood rivals work it out over the menorah lights?
The Eight Heartbreaks of Hanukkah
Jean Meltzer
Described as “a tender second-chance romance bursting with Jewish joy,” Eight Dates and Nights by Jean Meltzer is a Hanukkah twist on Charles Dickens’ The Christmas Carol. Except in this story, all of the Hanukkah “ghosts” are tied to the leading lady’s past heartbreaks, and every single one leads to her ex-husband. Set to the backdrop of a live-action televised musical, an accident on set lands Evelyn in the medical bay, where she’s shocked to find her ex-husband, David Adler, filling in for the usual studio doctor.
Love You a Latke
Amanda Elliot
Abby hates her café’s most annoying customer, the sunshiny Seth. However, as the only other Jew in town, Abby pretends to be Seth’s Nice Jewish Girlfriend for Hanukkah, promising that he’ll introduce her to all the vendors she needs to make her Hanukkah festival a success. Readers adore this book, praising the story for helping them feel seen, especially during the holiday season. If you love a fake-dating plot, this is the perfect romance for you.
Eight Nights of Flirting
Hannah Reynolds
Did someone say Hannukkah love triangle? This YA love story follows Shira Barbanel, who is determined to get a boyfriend this Hanukkah. The problem? Shria is horrible at flirting. Enter Tyler Nelson, Shira’s nemesis-slash-former-crush, who just happens to be the perfect person to teach her how to win her crush, Isaac, over. There may be eight nights of Hanukkah, but is that enough time for Shira to choose between these two guys?
Season of Love
Helena Greer
When her beloved great-aunt Cass passes away, Miriam is left part-owner of Carrigan’s, her (ironically) Jewish-run Christmas tree farm, and forced to work with the farm’s grumpy manager, Noelle Northwood. This queer enemies-to-lovers story has been described as holiday romance perfection. This may be the coziest read on our list, so be sure to add it to your Hanukkah wishlist!
Eight Nights to Win Her Heart
Miri White
Andie Williams is about to spend her first Hanukkah alone ahead of moving across the country for work. That is, until her neighbor across the hall, Leo Dentz, notices her drug store Hanukkah candles. Ready to take a chance outside of his comfort zone, Leo offers to join Andie on the first night, sharing his dinner with her. From there, Andie and Leo fall for each other one night at a time. With this one, we definitely came for the Hanukkah magic and stayed for the couple’s immaculate chemistry.
How to Excavate a Heart
Jake Maia Arlow
If you love an enemies-to-lovers holiday moment, How to Excavate a Heart is the book for you! The story takes place during winter break, days after Shani was unceremoniously dumped. After Shani runs into May (literally, with her mom’s car), the two get snowed in together on Christmas Eve in this sapphic, Jewish YA love story. Is Shani ready to try a committed relationship again, or is she okay with this just being a passing winter fling?
Eight Dates and Nights
Betsy Aldredge
This YA romance is perfect for the holiday season! Eight Dates and Nights follows New Yorker Hannah Levin, who’s snowed in at her grandmother’s home in a small Texas town. That’s when she meets Noah, and they share a spectacularly memorable kiss following a made-up game of truth or dare dreidel. Is there more to Hanukkah than Hannah originally thought? This coming-of-age story isn’t just a stunning holiday treat for young readers; it’s the perfect love story for romance lovers of all ages.
