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If you spend hours comfort watching the Great British Bake Off and love a good twin-hijinx movie such as The Parent Trap<\/em> or The Princess Switch<\/em>, then oh Move over Christmas, it\u2019s Hannukah\u2019s time to shine. Rachel is the daughter of a prominent Rabbi and well-known obstetrician who secretly writes Christmas romance novels under a pen name. When her publisher insists she writes a Hannukah novel instead, she\u2019s left without hope for inspiration. That is until she learns of the \u201cMatzah Ball,\u201d a party celebrating the last night of Hannukah hosted by her 7th-grade crush and first kiss, Jacob. This is a great pick for any book club looking for something fun that isn\u2019t completely without substances or lessons to learn. This witty-banter-filled joyous read also tackles more serious issues such as the main character\u2019s invisible disability, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. The author herself lives with the same disability and is currently studying to become a Rabbi, so the more serious topics explored in this book are handled with sensitivity and care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Can\u2019t wait for February to get your Groundhog Day<\/em> fix? Look no further than this quirky time loop holiday romance set at an idyllic, snowy cabin in remote Utah. Maelyn is having a no-good, very bad Christmas full of dreadful decisions and even worse news. The end of the night finds her sending a plea out into the universe, getting in a terrible accident, and setting off a time loop in which she’s forced to relive the weeklong family vacation over and over again. In order to break free, she must step away from family traditions, confront a decades-long crush head-on, and figure out what truly makes her happy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fun fact to bring to your book club: Christian Lauren is the pen name for a co-author and best friend duo, Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings\u2014talk about living the dream.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you can\u2019t tell by the title, Duke, Actually<\/em> pulls some slight inspiration from the ever contentious holiday favorite Love, Actually<\/em> and features some elements of plot convergence. The story centers on Max, a baron set to inherit a dukedom in fictitious Eldovia, and Dani, a recently divorced New York academic. Neither has any interest in love or romance, but that\u2019s just what they find as their worlds increasingly collide. It\u2019s a friends-to-lovers holiday romp full of witty banter and plenty of tension. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A word of warning: this is the second book in a series. Although you don\u2019t need to read the first book, A Princess for Christmas<\/em>, to enjoy this novel, this book will spoil the plot of the first. Read with caution if you\u2019re a purist in regards to reading order and spoilers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You got me! It\u2019s another not-explicitly-about-Christmas holiday romance novel, but this time instead of centering on Hanukkah, the Jewish festival of lights, it focuses on Diwali, a five-day festival of lights celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs, and Jains that is celebrated in the fall each year. Niki is a quintessential \u201ctype A\u201d good girl who in the space of a few minutes is shamed by her parents for being single and laid off from her job. She makes the first impulsive decision of her life and hops on a plane to India to attend her best friend\u2019s wedding. While there, she meets a London-based musician named Sam. A whirlwind romance leads her to question what she truly wants out of her life and how she wants to live it. A great read for anyone experiencing any major life changes this holiday season or looking to be introspective and intentional about their decisions as we move into the new year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s no exaggeration to call Jasmine Guillory the queen of contemporary romance. Her books are always fun, engaging, and perfectly paced – Royal<\/em> Holiday<\/em> is no exception. As this is the fourth book in her Wedding Date series, this is not a standalone novel, but that doesn\u2019t make it any less of a fantastically festive holiday read. The book centers on Vivian, a middle-aged woman who accompanies her daughter, Maddie, on a work trip overseas to style the new duchess for her first Christmas as part of the royal family. While there, she unexpectedly finds herself drawn to Malcolm, the stuffy private secretary to the Queen. This book is a cozy quick read perfect for getting you in the holiday spirit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fun fact for your book club: the premise of this novel was inspired by a tweet<\/a> about Meghan Markle\u2019s mother, Doria Ragland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n —<\/p>\n\n\n\n So grab a blanket, a cup of hot cocoa, and cozy up to a crackling fire (literally or figuratively) as you enjoy these festive reads. What books are you reading with your Meetup book club this holiday season? Let us know on Twitter<\/a>, Facebook<\/a>, or Instagram<\/a> which books you\u2019ve chosen to end the year with.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Help your book club get into the holiday spirit this holiday season by adding these six fun and festive reads to your group\u2019s to be read (TBR) list.<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":45,"featured_media":8968,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nboy<\/s> joy do I have the holiday read for you! Identical twin sisters Charlie and Cass are forced to swap places when Charlie has a run-in with a cast iron pan that leaves her without a sense of taste or smell while on the set of an LA-based reality baking show where she\u2019s a contestant. The swap is a reprieve for Cass who has been stressed out trying to run the family\u2019s small-town bakery and escape the attention of a far too clingy ex. You don\u2019t need a crystal ball to predict the chaos that ensues as they struggle to maintain their assumed identities (and navigate budding romances started with a lie). As one Goodreads reviewer<\/a> puts it: \u201cBaking? Romance? Twins swapping places and falling in love? Yes, please!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n2. The Matzah Ball<\/em>, by Jean Meltzer<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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3. In A Holidaze<\/em>, by Christian Lauren<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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4. Duke, Actually<\/em>, by Jenny Holiday<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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5. A Holly Jolly Diwali<\/em>, by Sonya Lalli<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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6. Royal Holiday<\/em>, by Jasmine Guillory<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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