The 12 weeks of Christmas romance novels

By Michael Patrick O’Brien–

When I had to do some field research for my current writing project, I turned to Anne Holman and asked if I could visit with her at The King’s English (“TKE”), Salt Lake City’s beloved bookshop.

Anne has been bringing people and books together for twenty-five years. After working as a compensation analyst in Chicago, she moved to Salt Lake City in 1999 looking for a new life with her daughters. 

A friend suggested she check out the nearby neighborhood bookstore, and the rest of the story is happy local history. Anne worked at TKE as a bookseller, events manager, and store manager before becoming a co-owner, and her daughters grew up between the shelves.

On a warm day in early October, about 12 weeks before Christmas, Anne and I discussed a topic she rarely chats about with men—romance novels. Why was I there with her then talking about that?

A few months ago, my book agent Joe Durepos, the man who helped me publish Monastery Mornings in 2021, suggested I write a novel that includes a romance storyline. I thought he was a little bit crazy. 

It’s not something I’d ever done or even contemplated before. Soon, however, I was the crazy one…crazy about the book idea and crazy busy writing it. And why not?

Love, in all its forms, makes life worth living, and that in turn makes love worth writing about. I even added the backdrop of a holiday—Christmas (one of my favorites)—to my emerging storyline.

Given my complete lack of experience in this genre, however, I need help. So I asked Anne to help me understand these types of novels better and for some reading recommendations.

I wondered why so few men came to TKE in search of romance novels. Anne said men probably are “embarrassed” to even consider reading what, for many years, has been rather unfairly known as “silly women’s fiction.”

Another writer confirms Anne’s suspicions, and lists “stigma” as the number one reason men avoid romance novels. Notwithstanding that undeniable hesitation from about half of the reading population, Anne told me this “silly fiction” has exploded in popularity in recent years. 

Anne recalled that her mother surreptiously read romance novels. One day, Anne read one of them too, and was quite surprised how “steamy” it was, and how it revealed another human side of a woman she thought she knew quite well.

For many like Anne’s mother, that type of reading was done in the closet. Anne said romance novels typically arrived at a reader’s home concealed in nondescript brown paper wrapping. 

Then, over time, books sales and reading generally declined, due to competition from other forms of entertainment, like cell phones and social media.

“The Harry Potter books gave adults permission to read again and that was supercharged when we all were at home alone during the pandemic,” Anne explained. And romance novels often led the way during those years of resurgence, including such bestselling offerings as the Stephenie Meyer Twilight books and movies.

Anne told me that young readers (still mainly women) today don’t hide their love of romance novels. As a result, the genre has evolved in many ways, including fusing with various other types of writing to create new sub-genres.

Today, the romance novels for sale at TKE cover two full walls. They range in “spice” from G-rated to X-rated, and TKE uses a clever system of bookmarks illustrated with chili peppers of various colors to help readers discern just how “hot” each book is.

TKE offers some of the fusion novels too. One is “romantasy,” where the imaginary and unusual creatures and characters of fantasy fiction find love through one of the traditional romance novel tropes (e.g., “forbidden love” or “enemies to lovers” or “stuck together”).

I asked Anne about a common criticism of romance novels…they are predictable. The girl always gets the boy (or various other modern couple permutations). 

To illustrate, I explained how whenever I watch a Hallmark Christmas movie with my wife Vicki, I know just five minutes into the film how it will end. Anne said predictability is an important selling point, like turning to your favorite comfort food (for me, potato chips) knowing it will always deliver the goods.

Yet, Anne also said that skilled romance authors make their books less predictable and more attractive by ensuring they have great, interesting, and likable characters. However, a writer must grab the readers early—interest them in these characters quickly—lest they get bored and turn to another book.

And although everyone knows the main protagonists eventually will get together in the end, readers still like it when their romance novel characters nonetheless endure (and overcome) intriguing plot twists and story lines along the way.

Anne said readers also like to read about unique and unusual settings for romance novels. (More on that from me in a future blog.)

Two of Anne’s comments—which seem both obvious and striking at the same time—probably best summarize the appeal of romance novels. “Everyone is looking for love,” Anne said, “and there’s nothing wrong with a happy ending in a life where so many other things are so hard.”

When I left TKE, I had an armful of holiday romance novels Anne helped me collect to read. The complete list is below, along with a publisher’s or critic’s summary of each book. 

I’m going to try to read them all during the 12 weeks before Christmas.

***

The Christmas Remedy

by Cindy Woodsmall and Erin Woodsmall

When an Old Order Amish woman takes a job at a small-town pharmacy struggling to survive in a world of “big box” stores, her motive is to help her Plain community. But the advent of the holiday season brings an unusual mystery to the surface — and possibly love.

***

Always, in December

by Emily Stone

Every December, Josie posts a letter from her home in London to the parents she lost on Christmas night many years ago. Each year, she writes the same three word: Missing you, always. But this year, her annual trip to the postbox is knocked off course by a bicycle collision with a handsome stranger — a stranger who will change the course of Josie’s life.

***

The Twelve Dates of Christmas

by Jenny Bayliss

When it comes to relationships, thirty-four-year-old Kate Turner is ready to say “Bah, humbug.” The sleepy town of Blexford, England, isn’t exactly brimming with prospects, and anyway, Kate’s found fulfillment in her career as a designer, and in her delicious side job baking for her old friend Matt’s neighborhood café. But then her best friend signs her up for a dating agency that promises to help singles find love before the holidays. Twenty-three days until Christmas. Twelve dates with twelve different men. The odds must finally be in her favor … right?

***

The Holiday Swap 

By Maggie Knox
I’ve never actually seen a Hallmark Christmas movie (I know, I know!) but all the reviews tell me that this is the book equivalent. If you’re looking for something deep, this isn’t it, but if you want a fun, fluffy holiday romance, this one gives you two for the price of one, since it features identical twins swapping places over the holidays and, naturally, both finding love in the other’s life. I read this one last December and it was a perfect light-hearted holiday escape.

***

Christmas Masquerade

By Debbie Macomber

After Jo Marie first meets Andrew, her dream man, in the romantic crush of a Mardi Gras parade, she cannot stop thinking about him. But when their paths cross again later that year over the holidays, she’s devastated to discover that Andrew is actually engaged to be married. Jo soon notices, however, that the relationship between Andrew and his fiancée may not be what it seems. In the whirl of Christmas parties and festivities, the spark from Andrew and Jo’s first meeting remains, and though Jo holds back in fear of falling in love with a taken man, it seems his situation is more complicated than what meets the eye.

***

The Gift of Christmas

By Debbie Macomber

Cooper Masters gave Ashley Robbins the gift of her education when he lent her money for school years ago. Now, Ashley has graduated, affirmed her faith, and launched her career. She is able to pay Cooper back the money for her education and has achieved all of her goals—except for one: confessing her love for Cooper. Faith intertwines with love in this Christmas novel as Ashley works to achieve her final goal of winning Cooper’s heart.

***

The Perfect Christmas 

By Debbie Macomber

What would make your Christmas perfect? For Cassie Beaumont, it’s meeting her perfect match. Cassie, at thirty-three, wants a husband and kids, and so far, nothing’s worked. Not blind dates, not the internet and certainly not leaving love to chance. What other options are there? Well, she could hire a professional matchmaker. Simon Dodson has quite a reputation, but he’s very choosy about the clients he takes on and very expensive. Cassie considers him a difficult, acerbic know-it-all, and she’s astonished when he accepts her as a client. Claiming he has her perfect mate in mind, Simon assigns her three tasks to complete before she meets this paragon. Three tasks that are all about Christmas: being a charity bell-ringer, dressing up as Santa’s elf at a mall and preparing a traditional turkey dinner for her neighbors (most of whom she happens to dislike). Despite a number of comical mishaps, Cassie does it all and then she’s finally ready to meet her match. But just like the perfect Christmas gift, he turns out to be a wonderful surprise!

***

Christmas by the Book

By Anne Marie Ryan

In small-town England, two booksellers facing tough times decide to spread some Christmas cheer through the magic of anonymous book deliveries in this uplifting holiday tale for book lovers everywhere.

***

Happy Place

By Emily Henry

(FYI, not a Christmas novel but said to be a good example of the genre.) A couple who broke up months ago pretend to still be together for their annual weeklong vacation with their best friends in this glittering and wise new novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Emily Henry. Harriet and Wyn have been the perfect couple since they met in college—they go together like salt and pepper, honey and tea, lobster and rolls. Except, now—for reasons they’re still not discussing—they don’t. They broke up five months ago. And still haven’t told their best friends. Which is how they find themselves sharing a bedroom at the Maine cottage that has been their friend group’s yearly getaway for the last decade. Their annual respite from the world, where for one vibrant, blissful week they leave behind their daily lives; have copious amounts of cheese, wine, and seafood; and soak up the salty coastal air with the people who understand them most. Only this year, Harriet and Wyn are lying through their teeth while trying not to notice how desperately they still want each other. Because the cottage is for sale and this is the last week they’ll all have together in this place. They can’t stand to break their friends’ hearts, and so they’ll play their parts. Harriet will be the driven surgical resident who never starts a fight, and Wyn will be the laid-back charmer who never lets the cracks show. It’s a flawless plan (if you look at it from a great distance and through a pair of sunscreen-smeared sunglasses). After years of being in love, how hard can it be to fake it for one week…in front of those who know you best?

*Mike O’Brien (author website here) is a writer and attorney living in Salt Lake City, Utah. Paraclete Press published his book Monastery Mornings, about growing up with the monks at the old Trappist monastery in Huntsville, Utah, in August 2021. The League of Utah Writers chose it as the best non-fiction book of 2022.