The Twelve Loves of Christmas: An Advent Romance Collection

by Alexandria Bellefleur, Elise Bryant, Olivia Dade

Count down to Christmas with twelve sealed holiday love stories by beloved romance authors.

The Twelve Loves of Christmas is a swoon-worthy short story collection about finding love during the most magical time of the year. Including a playful forced proximity romance featuring a woman and her older brother’s grinchy (yet unexpectedly endearing) best friend, a tender love story of two neighbors who decide to skip Christmas together, a second-chance spark reignited between exes stranded at the airport, and many more festive love stories, there’s a little holiday magic waiting for every reader.

Open one sealed story each day in the lead-up to Christmas to unwrap a season full of love, warmth, and happily-ever-afters.

Genres: Romance, Holiday, Christmas, Contemporary, Short Stories, Adult, Anthologies

384 pages, Paperback

Expected publication September 29, 2026

About the author

Alexandria Bellefleur is a bestselling and award-winning author of swoony contemporary romance often featuring loveable grumps and the sunshine characters who bring them to their knees. A Pacific Northwesterner at heart, Alexandria has a weakness for good coffee, Pike IPA, and Voodoo Doughnuts. Her special skills include finding the best Pad Thai in every city she visits, remembering faces but not names, falling asleep in movie theaters, and keeping cool while reading smutty books in public. Her debut novel, Written in the Stars, was a 2021 Lambda Literary Award winner and a 2020 winner of The Ripped Bodice Awards for Excellence in Romantic Fiction.

Reviews

[Dab · Rating 4 out of 5]

So since it’s 12 unrelated novellas, I should write 12 reviews, which means I deserve Christmas cookies.

🍪🎅🎄🎅 🍪

1. A Merry Little Christmas, Jessica Joyce

A very cute second-chance romance. They’d broken up because of the distance, but never stopped loving each other. It was sweet, and they were both perfect 🥰

🍪 🍪 🍪 🍪 🍪

2. Decking His Halls, Alexis Daria

The heroine moved into the hero’s minimalistic home and started spreading Christmas decorations all over the place, even though he told her that he didn’t like clutter. Since I hate clutter too, this was a little anxiety-inducing 😬

🍪 🍪 🍪

3. Mas, Alexandria Bellefleur

Very similar to the first one; I would’ve probably liked it more if I hadn’t just read the exact same story, so it’s a bit unfortunate, but it was still a fun read.

🍪 🍪 🍪 🍪 🎄

4. Someone to Hold On To, Elise Bryant

This one was a little bland. It screams “they settled” rather than “it’s the love of their lives.”

🍪 🍪 🍪

5. Ho Ho Oh No, M.A. Wardell

I love stories that remind me that we don’t have to be perfect to deserve good things in life. Also, look at me, I accidentally read a romance written by a man and liked it—yaay!

🍪 🍪 🍪 🍪 🍪

6. Twelve Seconds to Forever, Rebecca Jenshak
Another second chance, which seems to be the theme here. It was okay, but then he said that she didn’t have to “worry her pretty little head” over something, and that’s how a star was lost, oops!

🍪 🍪 🍪 🍪

7. A Solstice Kiss, Olivia Dade

I was hoping for an international love story, but the guy the American girl spotted in a Stockholm museum, guiding a tour in perfect Swedish, turned out to be American.

Swedish boys not good enough for ya?

🍪 🍪 🍪 🍪

8. All Roads Lead Home, Joss Richard

Joss Richard, I adore your style and your heroes. I also very much hope that you will ditch the third-act breakups one day… 😭

🍪 🍪 🍪 🍪

9. Skipping Christmas, Rebekah Weatherspoon

Remember Elle’s nail tech and her delivery man from Legally Blonde? You can’t write a romance about a nail tech and a delivery man and not make me think of them 🤡🤡🤡

🍪 🍪 🍪 🍪

10. Holiday Blackout, Susan Lee

Ohh, this one was good, a second chance, with lovable characters who finally dared to be vulnerable. I love it when brooding men get their shit together and stop brooding for a sec.

🍪 🍪 🍪 🍪 🍪

11. Hope This Helps, Sarah Hogle

A momzilla, an English teacher, and a You’ve Got Mail vibe. I liked it more than I thought I would, I’d love to know what happens next 👀

🍪 🍪 🍪 🍪 🎄

12. Is It New Year’s Yet?, Zakiya N. Jamal

Aaaaaand another second chance. This one was also cute, and the New Year’s countdown kiss made for a nice ending.

🍪 🍪 🍪 🍪

Overall, a heartwarming Christmas collection. The vibe of second chances is strong, but there’s enough variety to give it a unique feel. Some of the stories are very spicy, some squeaky clean. There’s queer representation, including an m/m romance and a f/m story with bisexual characters. There’s also Black, Hispanic, and Asian representation, as well as themes of living in a foreign country. The writing was consistently engaging, and every author’s style worked for me.

I was pleasantly surprised by this book and would recommend it for a cozy, uplifting Christmas read.

Thanks to Simon & Schuster and Edelweiss for the arc, all opinions are my own.

[Shelby Westerdahl · Rating 4 out of 5]

These were all so cute and really well written. Pure, fluff and sweetness, exactly what I wanted for the holiday season. I always have a hard time rating short story collections because some hit better than others and they almost always end too soon, I am constantly left wanting more. That said, this one felt pretty cohesive and the vibes matched throughout the tropes? So good. Second chance romance, friends to lovers, with a little dash of brother’s best friend and best friend‘s brother. Pretty much all my favorite in one place. It is a fast read if you want something cute to get you in the holiday mood. I am a total sucker for holiday wreaths, so this was right up my alley. Thanks to Atria and NetGalley for the ARC, I really enjoyed it! Happy reading.

[Kaitlyn]

Atria has blessed my NetGalley shelves yet again. TYSM for the e-arc!

[Mai H.]

ANHPI TBR

Black History Month TBR

Holidays TBR

Latine Heritage Month TBR

Pride TBR

Valentine's Day TBR

📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books

[SelkieReader · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m pretty sure I did not ask to get edged when reading this!

I loved all the stories and all the characters and they all ended too soon!!!

[carolina]

I’m not in a Christmas mood but I’m always in a Jessica Joyce mood. I missed reading her words 😭 Jessica’s short story left me wanting more, I wish it was a full length holiday romance 🥹 I won’t read the other stories yet, but I’ll come back to this review once I read everything to give my final thoughts.

[Cassie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Atria Books for the ARC!

A Merry Little Christmas by Jessica Joyce was a 5 star story for me. A lovely second chance romance.

Decking His Halls by Alexis Daria was cute and a little spicy!

I’ll Be Home for Ex-Mas by Alexandria Bellefleur was a sweet second chance romance. I loved that they found each other in an airport bar. Felt very nostalgic.

Someone to Hold On To by Elise Bryant a wholesome Christmas story about the importance of community.

Ho Ho Oh No by M.A. Wardell not what I typically read honestly.

Twelve Seconds to Forever by Rebecca Jenshak a second chance romance at their best friend / sisters Christmas wedding.

A Solstice Kiss by Olivia Dade

All Roads Lead Home by Joss Richard

Skipping Christmas by Rebekah Weatherspoon

Holiday Blackout by Susan Lee

Hope This Helps by Sarah Hogle

Is It New Year’s Yet? by Zakiya N. Jamal

[Reading in Brussels · Rating 4 out of 5]

Highlighting the ones that I rated 4 stars and more:

A Merry Little Christmas - Jessica Joyce: 5 stars
I love everything JJ writes, and this short story is perfect for a quick JJ fix. It is signature Jessica Joyce, infused with lots of feels in a few pages.

I’ll Be Home for Ex-Mas - Alexandria Bellefleur: 4 stars
I really liked this one, fun!

Twelve Seconds to Forever - Rebecca Jenshak: 4 stars
Honestly would read more! Time to go and check out this author's work.

A Solstice Kiss - Olivia Dade: 4 stars
This was absolutely adorable!

Hope This Helps - Sarah Hogle: 5 stars
I kept turning the pages hoping for more! Utterly delightful, I'd read a whole novel of this!

.. and more short stories in this compilation, I think everyone will have some really lovely ones they'll enjoy!

Thank you to Atira for the ARC via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m a big advocate of advent calendar books. These short stories were so great that I couldn’t help but read more than one a day. Some were better than others, of course, but I think it’s a good way to get to know many authors at once.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a fun holiday read. 🎄

As a Christmas advent book I really enjoyed the idea of short stories. Being able to start a story and finish the story in one sitting was fun.

Twelve little stories about love during the holidays with some spicy twists (some stories spicier than others) 🤭

Overall this was a really fun book!

[Rebecca · Rating 2 out of 5]

Netgalley & Atria Books, thanks for the ARC!

The Twelve Loves of Christmas would make a delightful Advent calendar leading up to Christmas Day. Each story is short and sweet, with varying degrees of spice. Each story is also written by a different author and some stories had me wishing for another chapter, while others had me content with the length.

It's a challenge to create a romance in such a short number of pages without each fictional pairing having a history that the reader is given the synopsis of in order to create the illusion of elapsed time in their relationship.

[belle · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 ⭐️

this was so very cute!!! i loved all these stories! thank you, atria for sending me a widget! 🫶

[Angelina Harlow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, this was such a wonderful holiday read and I’m so curious how the advent style will work with this book I hope you unwrap a chapter. This also introduced me to so many new authors that I’m excited to look them up.. The collection of stories felt diverse, with a wide range of characters that offer something for everyone. Below are my thoughts on each story thank you again atria for the arc.

1. Cute, but it felt like it was missing something. I loved El and Max, especially the fake girlfriend setup to dodge questions about his love life. I understand it’s a short story, so things had to move quickly, but I would have loved more flashbacks of their relationship in Chicago and an epilogue when they reunite. Honestly, I just need this as a full book.

2. I enjoyed this one more! I’m a sucker for a brother’s best friend trope, and even more so when the brother is actively setting them up (David and Noli were adorable). The forced proximity, pop culture references, and cozy apartment movie nights made this such a fun read.
3. Frankie and Benji’s story was so emotional. two people clearly in love, but with timing working against them. Frankie stepping aside so Benji could chase his rockstar dreams was heartbreaking. A missed flight and a napped bring them back together, and it felt like such a tender, well-earned second chance.

4. Cute and cheesy in the best way. I loved the Hallmark references. I genuinely couldn’t tell if some of those movies were real that they were talking about on hallmark, but I’d absolutely watch them. really enjoyed the conclusion and the message. You can chose to look for small glimmers of excitement in the ordinary day.

5.PJ and Brad Lee’s story was such a surprise in the best way. Definitely spicier than expected, but with the “one bed” trope, I probably should have seen it coming. Snowed in, forced proximity, emotional confessions it had everything. I also loved that the ending carried into New Year’s, with that “let’s call this new beginnings” moment. A great opposites attract story.
6. Has to be my new favorite from the short stories now sorry el and max. I loved the male main characters Alex and Lainey the female. Also I really enjoyed that this could have been a sports romance, had the best friends brother troupe and if this was fleshed out more it would have been such a cute novel. Lainey’s best friend is about to get married and she has to go and find Alex that is currently MIA. Lainey gets to the cabin to find Alex and then snow falls and has them forced together for a little bit! I need more write me a novella pleaae

7. Correction this is my new favorite short story that seems to be seamlessly put together. A kiss that sparks a night of adventure did I mention in Sweden? I loved how both characters were so open with each other. This also has the most highlights so far that I’ve made in the book . Felix saw Ellie in the museum and she was it for him and she just didn’t know it yet he fell the second he met her it was already the end of the story. Ellie wanted to make someone jealous and asked Felix to help and that’s just the start of the shory…

8. 8. A love letter to family and childhood friendships. Joss Richard’s writing always blows me away and to do so in a short story is something special. She writes New York so beautifully and can describe a scene so vividly. I loved the reconnecting with your childhood best friend and a cozy cafe that’s Christmas themed, this one branches out a bit more and leans into family and reconnenection and intertwines A story of being in love with your best friend and reconnecting with those you love the most even if it’s scary. I also loved her ambition and taking a leap and moving back to a place that scared her.

9. Unfortunately, I just couldn’t get into this one

10. Ian and Yoona were incredibly well-developed for such a short story. Office rivals-to-lovers, stuck working late on Christmas Eve when the power goes out it’s such a great setup. I loved seeing Ian’s vulnerability and the way they both reflected on what they’d sacrificed for their careers. The small gift exchange was such a meaningful touch especially the paperweight. What didn’t seem like much is really everything.

11. Wait… you’re really not giving me an ending for Audrey and Mr. G?! This was so cute, and then it just ends with the hint of a happily ever after. I need more at least a prologue of their coffee date!

12.Win and Ben were a great way to close out the collection and “start the new year.” It did feel a bit rushed, but I still really enjoyed their storyespecially Ben finally opening up.

[Linda Dominick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to @atriabooks for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

All these stories are fun and will get you into the Christmas spirit.

Featured stories:

“A Merry Little Christmas” by Jessica Joyce— Eleanor & Max: exes reunited at a snowy holiday gathering must confront what they left behind.

A second chance romance that has a surprising plot twist. Tropes include second chance romance and it’s always been you.

“Decking His Halls” by Alexis Daria— Noelia & David: roommates and longtime crushes blur the line between friendship and something more.

Imagine always crushing on your brother’s best friend and end up being roommates! He likes his space clutter free and she tries her hardest to push his buttons! Very fun and festive!

“I’ll Be Home for Ex-Mas” by Alexandria Bellefleur— Francesca & Benji: exes reconnect during a Christmas Eve airport delay.

Stuck at the airport on Christmas Eve only to reunite with someone with an ex. Tropes include, snowed in, one bed, second chance romance,

“Someone to Hold On To” by Elise Bryant— Simone & Henry: two strangers form an unexpected bond while navigating personal upheaval.

The main characters meet when they show up at senior living facility to visit their respective parent. They bond over being in the same stage of life and trying to solve the mystery of the cookie thief. Tropes are: midlife main characters, forced proximity, and new beginnings.

“Ho Ho Oh No” by M.A. Wardell— Phillip & Brad Lee: a holiday event—and a snowstorm—bring two opposites closer than expected.

MMC romance where one plays Santa and the plays the elf. They are snowed in and realize mutual feelings. They celebrate Christmas and Christmas Eve together. Tropes include: MM romance, snowed in, one bed, instalove.



“Twelve Seconds to Forever” by Rebecca Jenshak— Lainey & Alex: childhood connections resurface during a snowed-in reunion.

It’s a Christmas Eve wedding and best friend’s brother is missing. The FMC goes to find him at a cabin and they realize they both still care for each other. Tropes are snowed in, second chance romance, best friends brother.

“A Solstice Kiss” by Olivia Dade— Ellie & Felix: a spontaneous kiss in Sweden sparks something life-changing.

She wants to make her ex jealous by posting some photos of herself having a good time while in Stockholm. She’s there visiting to see if it’s a place she can see herself living since she was offered a job transfer. Tropes include strangers to lovers, cinnamon roll. Two expats living in Stockholm, HEA

“All Roads Lead Home” by Joss Richard— Elle & Ryan: a hometown return rekindles a long-buried connection.

FMC is stressing about being home for the holidays. She hasn’t seen her dad in a long time and is stressing about their reunion. She is planning to stay with him while she figures out her job situation. At her first stop in town she walks into a café and sees her high school best friend and crush. Tropes are second chance romance, small town, new beginnings.

“Skipping Christmas” by Rebekah Weatherspoon— Ashley & Micah: neighbors create their own version of the holidays together.

FMC is staying away from her mom for Christmas because she doesn’t want to deal with her. So she stays home and connects with a man who lives in her building. Tropes are forced proximity and instalove

“Holiday Blackout” by Susan Lee— Yoona & Ian: workplace rivals are forced together during a Christmas Eve blackout.

Workplace rivals are the last ones in the office when there’s a blackout. Shocked to find out her rival is afraid of the dark, they have their own little Christmas with breakroom snacks. Tropes are second chance romance, forced proximity, workplace romance

“Hope This Helps” by Sarah Hogle— Audrey & Mr. Gladwin: a series of tense emails between a parent and teacher leads somewhere unexpected. Single mom is worried about her daughter’s grades. She begins to email her teacher asking for her child to retake tests. They begin a snarky back and forth and meet at a school dance. Tropes include single mom, mother/teacher, over protective mom, and humor.

“Is It New Year’s Yet?” by Zakiya N. Jamal— Win & Ben: lifelong friends confront the truth of their feelings at a New Year’s Eve party.

Family friends come together to celebrate New Year’s Eve. Best friend’s brother comes out as bi and also proclaims his love for the FMC. Tropes include best friend’s brother, family shenanigans, forced proximity, coming out, and a grand gesture.

[Patrice · Rating 4 out of 5]

These are 12 short, easy to read, stories to get you in the Christmas spirit with a little romance. There are second chance loves, unrequited love, teenage crushes to adult lust, etc. A nice variety of different tropes with superb storytelling and likable characters.

A Merry Little Christmas by Jessica Joyce
A cute second chance at love story. When Eleanor accompanies her best friend on a family and close friends' holiday at Lake Tahoe, she gets the shock of her life when the ex she has never gotten over appears....

Decking His Halls by Alexis Daria
When Noelia finds herself needing a place to live because her roommate is moving out in less than 2 weeks; her brother offers his room in an apartment he shares with his best friend. Noelia has had a crush on the best friend since middle school. Let's see how this plays out...

I'll Be Home for Ex-Mas by Alexandria Bellefleur
This is a cute second chance romance when former high school sweethearts are accidentally stranded in an airport on Christmas Eve due to a ground stop due to inclement weather.

Someone to Hold On To by Elise Bryant
When life throws you lemons; make lemonade or something like that. As long as it helps you feel like your world isn't falling apart and there is one thing you might have some control over. Two people find each other in an unusual way when trying to “solve a mystery”. Wonderful characters and warm storytelling.

Ho Ho Oh No by M.A. Wardell
A cute story of two people, who work together, that feel something for each other but haven't made those feelings clear to the other person. Then a sick “Santa” and a surprise snowstorm put them in forced proximity. What happens next is a wonderful surprise.

Twelve Seconds to Forever by Rebecca Jenshak
This is a second chance love story. The wedding of a best friend has a chance to reunite friends. It's a BFF's brother and best friend romance … or is it?

A Solstice Kiss by Olivia Dade
I loved this story. It takes place in Sweden where two lonely hearts have a chance meeting and maybe a chance at love...

All Roads Lead Home by Joss Richard
This is a wonderfully executed second chance meeting of two friends that haven't seen each other in 10 years. Elle comes home for Christmas, to upstate NY, to her father's house after having lived in Florida with her mother since she is graduating high school. Delightful.

Skipping Christmas by Rebekah Weatherspoon
A nice meet cute. After two years of seeing each other around the apartment building; Ashley and Micah are in the mail room of the complex at the same time. He was always the cute guy in 2A to Ashley and her friends; but he was living with his girlfriend and her young daughter. Now he is unattached ….

I liked the whole premise of this story, and it was told in a great way. My only negative is that there are a few typos in this story. I hope that they are corrected for the actual release.

Holiday Blackout by Susan Lee
Cute office romance. On Christmas Eve, two workaholics get stranded in their office building in NYC, when there are a blackout and a huge snowstorm.

Hope This Helps by Sarah Hogle
A recently divorced mother is feeling guilty and overwhelmed, with having main custody of her 13-year-old daughter. She's worried that maybe she's not doing enough for her daughter. She strikes up an “e-mail war” with her English teacher. A cute “oops” when the parent/teacher meet for the first time by chance while chaperoning a school event.
I felt that this story has a good, strong, different vibe. I really like the concept of the divorced mom and the unbending English teacher.

Is It New Year's Yet? By Zakiya N. Jamal
Great story, well written, wonderful characters.
Family friends have feelings for each other but don't want to jeopardize their family's friendship and their own, so they never voice their attraction. Then one New Year's Eve it all comes out....

[Katie Tyler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Atria books and NetGalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review 📕 🌟

An advent calendar AND a book? SOLD. Sign me up. I love the concept. I wish I was reading it at Christmas time but it still had a certain ✨ magic ✨. I usually have a hit or miss mentality for short story collections but the fact that this is meant to be read like an advent calendar helps that a lot. Due to it being a collection- I find it hard to rate. 5 stars would be if every story knocked it out of the park and I enjoyed every story… BUT not all hit the mark.

3.5 / 5 stars as a collection , rounded up to 4 stars on Goodreads.

There are 12 authors. I originally tried to review all of them but the review got too long. Instead, I will have a short review on the standouts (in my opinion) of this collection. I will give a star rating to all the stories that do not get a review.

1- A merry little Christmas by Jessica Joyce - excuse me!!!! Jessica, can you move to the front please? Girl stop playing with me and write a Christmas book!!! What do you mean??? You teased me with Max and Eleanor. 5/5 stars. Hell of a way to start the advent

2- Decking his halls by Alexis Daria - 3/5 stars

3-I’ll be home for ex mas by Alexandria bellefleur- Francesca and Benji. This isn’t my favorite trope in this story but I went in with an open mind. But I devoured this. I loved it. I need more 4/5 stars. One star docked because it felt short even for a short story.

4-someone to hold on to by Elise Bryant -3/5 stars

5- ho ho oh no by M.A. Wardell- Brad Lee and Phillip - I loved the lgbtq representation in this story! I loved these two together and it did feel cozy and romantic. It has a little spice and my one critique is it was not slow burn enough for me. 3.5 /5 stars

6- twelve seconds to forever by Rebecca jenshak- Lainey and Alex, loved their banter. I wanted more than this short story can give me. I’ll have to check out this authors work 4/5 stars

7- a solstice kiss by Olivia Dade, Ellie and Felix , 5/5 stars. No notes.

8- all roads lead home by joss Richard , okay 3/5 stars

9- skipping Christmas by Rebekah weatherspoon- 2/5 wasn’t my fav

10-holiday blackout by Susan Lee- yoona and Ian, 3.5/5

11-hope this helps by Sarah hogle- 3/5 , initially enjoyed but then fizzled more towards the end. I think she needed to cook on this more. I wanted more! The writing was fantastic. The story compelling but just kind of ended ? Idk I was left unsatisfied.

12- is it new years yet? By zakiya Jamal - 3/5 loved lgbtq representation though. I just wasn’t a huge fan of the story direction.

[Molly Larson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This festive collection leans fully into what holiday romance readers want: cozy settings, emotional payoffs, and just enough magic to make love feel inevitable. The Twelve Loves of Christmas is designed as a countdown experience, with twelve sealed short stories meant to be opened one day at a time leading up to Christmas. It’s a clever concept that turns reading into a seasonal ritual, echoing the anticipation of an Advent calendar.

The variety is one of the book’s biggest strengths. Each story explores a different romantic trope, keeping the collection fresh and engaging. You get the playful tension of forced proximity—complete with a grumpy (but secretly soft) best friend—alongside quieter, more introspective narratives like two neighbors choosing to step away from the holiday chaos together. There’s also the classic second-chance romance, where exes reconnect under less-than-ideal circumstances (being stranded at an airport), proving that timing can change everything.

Because these are short stories, the emotional arcs are necessarily condensed. Some readers may wish for deeper character development or longer resolutions, but the trade-off is a brisk, satisfying pace that fits the busy holiday season. Each story delivers a complete romantic journey, even if it’s more of a snapshot than a sweeping saga.

The tone throughout is consistently warm and uplifting. There’s a strong emphasis on connection—not just romantic love, but also healing, forgiveness, and the comfort of companionship during a time of year that can feel both joyful and complicated. The “swoon-worthy” promise is largely fulfilled, though the charm lies more in sincerity than in dramatic twists.

If there’s a drawback, it’s that not every story will resonate equally; with multiple authors and styles, some entries will naturally stand out more than others. Still, the overall experience is cohesive, tied together by the holiday theme and the sense of anticipation built into the format.

In the end, this collection works best when embraced as intended: one story at a time, savored slowly. It’s less about binge-reading and more about creating a daily moment of warmth. For fans of romance and Christmas traditions, The Twelve Loves of Christmas offers a sweet, comforting escape—like unwrapping a small gift each day in December.

[Haley · Rating 4 out of 5]

First and foremost, thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

In the true spirit of this book, I read a chapter a day to keep with the advent theme! I personally enjoyed this, and while some of the stories felt a little rushed with the "initiation" part of the romance, they were all enjoyable. I don't know if I could pick a favorite, however I was a big fan of Joss Richards's and Jessica Joyce's short stories. I also wish some of these were full-out stories, especially the one where the male love interest shows up with a fake girlfriend.... I'll have to figure out the specific story that one was from (note - it was Day 1 I figured it out), but it was cute and I'm a sucker for a friends to lovers trope!
In other words, if you are into holiday short stories this is an excellent read!

Below are my updates I made while reading:
April 9, 2026 – Started Reading
April 9, 2026 –
8.0% "Finished day 1- adorable, they're so cute! Couldn't figure out the Abby situation despite knowing they definitely were not dating lol. Five stars 🤩"
April 12, 2026 –
8.0% "I am now on day 4! The second story was decently cute, albeit felt a little rushed. Day 3 was absolutely adorable toooo."
April 12, 2026 –
30.0% "Okay part 4 was a like "meet cute" and while I wanted to know more of their story, it was absolutely adorable!"
April 14, 2026 –
30.0% "Okay up to day 5 - love that the first spicy story was the gay men. Also they're adorable how clearly they've liked each other for years and just got confused if the other one likes the other. If that makes sense"
April 16, 2026 –
58.0% "Just finished up story 7 and that one was easily one of my favorites - ADORABLE CUTE YES"
April 16, 2026 –
63.0% "Joss Richard's story was day 8 and like how flipping cute is this childhood friends reconnect years later ON CHRISTMAS!?!"
April 20, 2026 – Finished Reading

[‎Lia .☘︎ ݁˖ · Rating 5 out of 5]

★★★★★ ~ five stars

・❥・I received an advance reader copy of *The Twelve Loves of Christmas*, and it turned out to be exactly the kind of festive, feel-good story I was hoping for. This book leans into the magic of the holiday season while still grounding its romance in relatable emotions and believable character growth.

⌗ The premise is charming and a little whimsical, following a journey of love that unfolds in a way that mirrors the spirit of the classic “twelve days” theme. Each stage adds something new, not just to the romance but to the protagonist’s personal development. I appreciated how the story didn’t rush—each “love” or connection had its own distinct tone, giving the narrative a nice sense of progression.

⌗ The writing styles are all warm and easy to read, making it perfect for cozy winter evenings. There’s a comforting predictability to the structure, but it never felt dull; instead, it enhanced the anticipation of what would come next. The emotional beats landed well, especially in the quieter moments where the characters reflect on what love really means beyond grand gestures.

⌗ That said, some parts felt a bit formulaic, and a few of the romantic developments could have used more depth. I occasionally wanted more tension or complexity to fully invest in certain relationships. However, the overall charm and sincerity of the story made up for those shortcomings.

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥If you’re looking for a light, heartwarming holiday romance with a creative twist on a familiar theme, this is a great pick. It captures the spirit of Christmas, love, and second chances in a way that feels both comforting and uplifting.

・❥・Overall, I’d recommend *The Twelve Loves of Christmas* to readers who enjoy seasonal romances with a touch of whimsy and a strong emotional core.

xx! Lia

[Jennie Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

1 story for 12 days leading into Christmas is such a cute idea and a great way to be introduced to new authors. There are some that I’m definitely going to check out the rest of their books!
My favs were 2, 5, and 10

1. A merry little Christmas - Jessica Joyce - second chance romance 4/5
Super freaking cute

2. Decking his halls - Alexis Daria
Brother’s best friend/roommate 5/5
New author for me, really enjoyed it! Loved the passive-aggressive Christmas decorating. I would love a full-length book!

3. I’ll be home for ex-mas - Alexandria Bellefleur
Second chance 2/5
This was just meh for me

4. Someone to hold on to - Elise Bryant
Meet cute kind of 2/5
Not a romance at all

5.Ho ho oh - M.A. Wardell
Grumpy/sunshine 5/5
I have yet to read something written by M.A. Wardell that I didn’t love and this is no different

6. Twelve seconds to forever - Rebecca Jenshak
Best friend’s brother 4/5
Rebecca was the reason I requested this book. Really enjoyed it. Short, sweet and really well done.

7. A solstice kiss - Olivia Dade
Revenge kiss 3/5
Adorable!

8. All roads lead home - Joss Richards
Childhood best friend 5/5
This was my fav of the bunch. I absolutely love it and want a full-length immediately!!

9. Skipping Christmas - Rebekah Weatherspoon
Neighbours 2/5
It was cute but not for me

10. Holiday blackout - Susan Lee
Pining trapped co-workers 5/5
Probably my second favourite story. It was sweet and spicy. Really no notes, a really well done short story.

11. Hope this helps -Sarah Hogle
Single mom/ teacher 4/5
Funny, sassy and full of snarky emails.

12. Is it New Year’s yet? - Zakiya N. Jamal
Pining Childhood friend 4/5
This was a wonderful way to end the book!

[Betsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

An ADvent Romance book with 12 sealed stories... YES please.

There are twelve different Christmas love stories… all in ONE book. This is a holiday anthology, so every story is by a different author and the vibes are all different. Immaculate. Cozy. Slightly chaotic. Occasionally spicy. Such a vibe.

You’ve got ALL the tropes in here from second chance romance, best friends catching feelings, snowed-in reunions, workplace tension, fake kisses…you name it! It’s basically a holiday romance trope sampler.

And some of these stories.... STOOD. OUT.

And then there’s a lifelong friends to lovers story that just HIT with the history, the chemistry, and the tension. I was eating that up. Also… some of these stories bring a little spice to the forefront, which I was not mad about at ALL.

BUT I will say that the short story format is a blessing and a curse. Because it’s super easy to bing…but some of these romances felt TOO good to be that short.

Like I kept finishing stories thinking ....wait… that’s it?? I need MORE.

I wanted full books, deeper dives, more time with these characters.

Still though if you’re in the mood for something festive, quick, and full of variety??

This is such a fun pick.

Thank you to Atria Books for the invite for the galley through NetGalley. All opinions are mine.

CONFESSION: I lowkey get mad when a short story is THAT good… because now I’m emotionally attached and there’s no full book to continue it.

QOTD: Do you like short story anthologies… or do you prefer full-length romances you can really sink into?

[Nadia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet, 12 Christmas holiday love stories.  Who doesn’t love Christmas love stories?! The first two love stories were okay but not really memorable. The third love story was a bit unfinished.  I didn't understand if they got back together or not. I had no clue why Frankie broke off things with Benji if he was a solid guy. The fourth love story was nice. Not much of a romance though. The fifth love story was my favorite. Slow-burning love between two sweet co-workers. The 6th love story was about old friends at a wedding. It was cute. The 7th love story was about new beginnings in Sweden. It was nice. The 8th love story was about coming home for the holidays and reconnecting with an old best friend after a 10-year absence. It was cute. The 9th love story was about neighbors getting to know each other. It was okay. The 10th love story was about two co-workers who had a brief hot night but will they become more after a blackout? It was good but I didn't care for Ian. The 11th love story was about a single mom of a thirteen-year-old girl who emailed her English teacher excessively for test retakes. It was okay. Audrey was too overbearing in the beginning.  It was a nice start to a story. The 12th and final love story was about two best friends who realized they had more than a friendship on their mind on New Year's Eve. It was okay. Overall,  these were cute Christmas love stories. Some I'm hoping the authors will expand to full-length novels or novellas. Others were a bit forgettable.  Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my ARC.

[alice · Rating 3 out of 5]

💚The Twelve Loves of Christmas❤️
An Advent Romance Collection~ a story for each day as you count down towards Christmas!

I haven’t read anything by any of these authors so this was a good crash course on their styles.

❄️A Merry Little Christmas by Jessica Joyce: She let the love of her life go so he could pursue his dreams & music, but when she sees him walk thru the door w a new gf years later…

🎄Decking His Halls by Alexis Daria: Living w your brother’s hot best friend & smothering his grumpiness w Xmas cheer~

✈️I’ll Be Home for Ex-Mas by Alexandria Bellefleur: A second-chance encounter during a layover to repair what was broken.

🍪Someone to Hold On To by Elise Bryant: Extending grace & a helping hand to those going through life’s ups & downs. (Not really a romance but more about compassion & friendship?)

🎅🏻Ho Ho Oh No by M.A. Wardell: (MM) A little ⛈️ meets a little ☀️.

🌨️ Twelve Seconds to Forever by Rebecca Jenshak: Snowed in w your bff’s brother aka your crush since forever.

🖼️A Solstice Kiss by Olivia Dade: Perhaps kissing a stranger in Sweden will provide clarity to life’s daunting choices?

🧣 All Roads Lead Home by Joss Richard: Big city girl returns to small town & reconnects w childhood crush.

🎁Skipping Christmas by Rebekah Weatherspoon: A routine trip to the apt mailroom can be the first spark to new beginnings.

🌚Holiday Blackout by Susan Lee: Work rivals w unresolved feelings are stuck during a blackout.

💌Hope This Helps by Sarah Hogle: A snarky email exchange between a single mom and beloved teacher.

🎉Is It New Year’s Yet? by Zakiya N. Jamal: A NYE party where childhood besties reunite….

This collection is a cute idea but bc there are 12 stories and they’re all around the Xmas/NY time, they get pretty repetitive plot-wise though I appreciated each author’s unique style.

I experienced a little xmas in April thanks to ssatria and netgalley. This book comes out on 9/29/26!

[Andraya Hamilton · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC provided by NetGalley and Atria.

When I was invited to read this book I was thrilled! I had been eyeing it from the moment Jessica Joyce posted about it, and I was dying to read the short story she wrote. I was very pleasantly surprised when I ended up loving pretty much all of these short stories and finding some new authors whose other work I will now definitely be checking out.

This compilation of short stories is obviously a festive one, with all of the stories being set between Thanksgiving and New Year's. The winter/holiday vibes were immaculate and made me yearn for a cold snowy day curled up on the couch with a cup of cocoa (Alas, I live in sunny California, so I had to work with my imagination here).

I loved the set up of this book. While I read the entire thing in one sitting, I think upon release it will be such a fun experience for readers to read one story for the twelve nights leading up to Christmas. Its a fun little magical holiday treat for adults who miss the magic of being a kid and getting to open your advent calendars and soak in the holiday joy.

Each story had something new and fun to offer. We had some great second chance romances, some roommate situations, and many more beloved tropes were explored in these shorts. Again, I came for Jessica Joyce and I walked away with a lot of new authors to check out, and I think a lot of readers will be able to say the same.

[buveurdencre · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jessica Joyce participated in The Twelve Loves of Christmas, a collection of seasonal short love stories for the holidays written by twelve different authors. A Merry Little Christmas is Joyce’s story, and it centers around Eleanor McIntyre and Max Durham. Eleanor and Max dated back in college but broke up due to wrong timing. In the present time, Eleanor’s best friend Naomi invites her to celebrate Christmas with her family. Eleanor doesn’t have fond memories of Christmas due to her parents always fighting, but her best Christmases were created and spent with Max. When Eleanor arrives at Naomi’s family house, she’s surprised to see Max with his new girlfriend, reminding her of painful memories of what could have been before everything went wrong.

I love reading this cozy, sweet short story. I could feel the chemistry between the two despite it being such a fast read, but the pining and the yearning were ardently palpable throughout its short length. Jessica Joyce knows how to write unresolved romantic tension and desire so well, and I desperately need a full novel of Max and Eleanor right now. 

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Ana · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Twelve Loves of Christmas is a cozy holiday anthology featuring twelve festive stories from authors like Alexandria Bellefleur, Olivia Dade, Rebecca Jenshak, Rebekah Weatherspoon, and more. 🎄❄️

The collection includes a fun mix of tropes - second chances, lifelong friends realizing their feelings, snowed-in reunions, workplace rivals, fake kisses, and even one story that focuses more on community than romance.

Some stories really stood out for me, especially Rebecca Jenshak’s snowed-in reunion romance, which was my favorite of the bunch, and Zakiya N. Jamal’s lifelong friends story, which had great chemistry and history between the characters. A few of the stories also bring a bit of spice to the holiday vibes. 🔥

The only downside for me was the short story format. While it makes the book quick and easy to read, several of the romances felt like they could have been amazing full-length novels. I often found myself wishing for just a little more time with the characters and their stories.

Overall, this is a cute, festive collection that’s perfect if you’re looking for quick holiday romances and a variety of authors in one book. 🎁

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. 📚

[Topo Chicas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will be the first to admit that I am not the biggest fan of novelas/short stories. I am always left wanting more from the story. I wanted to give this anthology a chance and was pleasantly surprised! I genuinely enjoyed each of the stories and wanted even more of them!

This anthology featured 12 romance stories set around Christmas time from some of my very favorite authors. While I won’t give anything away (it’s best to go in to each of them blind and enjoy the ride), I will say that no two stories are alike. All your favorite tropes are likely featured within the pages. There was second chance romance, brother’s best friend, forced proximity, best friend’s brother, and many others.

By far, my favorite stories were A Merry Little Christmas by Jessica Joyce, Someone To Hold On To by Elise Bryant, and All Roads Lead Home by Joss Richard.

I tried so hard to space out the stories and read them slowly, but I ended up devouring them and finishing in two days. Despite this, I do love the way this anthology is designed and the idea of reading one story per day during the 12 days leading up to Christmas as an advent calendar in book form. It’s such a fun and unique way to celebrate the holidays, bookish style.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC!

[phantom · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Sky blue. The color of the marker he used to scrawl his number across my thigh the night we met at some frat party after flirting for hours.”

ˋ°•*⁀➷ 4 stars

Thank you so much to Atria and all of the contributing authors for the advanced copy of this collection!

This was so sweet and fun and while I imagine it would be a fantastic Christmas read as an advent calendar of sorts, like it will be marketed, it was also such a fun way to end cold weather heading into May. When I was approved for the collection and looked at the contributing authors I had only previously read one of them and this was such a fun way to taste test some writing I’d never gotten to see before. I added a few books from some of these authors to my TBR by the time I was done with it!

A few of these stories really stood out to me which were A Merry Little Christmas by Jessica Joyce, All Roads Lead Home by Joss Richard, and Hope This Helps by Sarah Hogle. Even though none of the stories are connected, they all share the same sweet Christmas romance vibe that I was hoping for with this collection and I could have kept reading a dozen more of them. I’ll definitely be looking out for these authors in the future and I’m so grateful to have gotten read this ARC!

[andrea ✩ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short story collections are complicated to review because it isn’t easy for a short story to convince me of a couple’s chemistry, to present a plot, and resolve it in less than 50 pages.

This was very cute, and honestly, I did not find them cringe-worthy at all, which is a bonus. I think it’s a collection very sweet reads and I definitely would love to have this to look forward to every day counting down to Christmas.

Here are the most memorable ones for me:

Jessica Joyce’s story is a 4.5/5 for me. Jessica Joyce has a way with words and with second-chance that just always pulls at the heart strings.

Alexandria Bellefleur is a 4/5! I found it quite interesting, it didn’t go in the direction I first thought it would. I was entertained and it is very distinctly her.

Sarah Hogle’s story is a 3/5 for me, but it was so funny. It reminded me of how much I laughed reading You Deserve Each Other. There was an element I wasn’t completely on board with here, but it was so funny, I did not mind!!

All other stories are between a 3 and a 3.5 for me, but these are my favorite ones!

Thank you to Atria for the ARC in exchange for an honest reviews.

[kaikai reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Twelve Loves of Christmas is a cute and cozy holiday read that I enjoyed overall, even if it didn’t completely wow me. The concept is really fun. Twelve sealed stories to open one by one, leading up to Christmas, and it would definitely add to the festive experience if I read it during December.

The collection offers a nice variety of romance tropes, from forced proximity with a grumpy (but secretly sweet) best friend, to second-chance love and quieter, more emotional stories like neighbors choosing to skip the holidays together. Because of that mix, there’s something for almost everyone, and a few stories really stood out and felt genuinely heartwarming.

That said, not every story hits the same level. Some felt a bit rushed or predictable, which is kind of expected with short story formats, but it still made the overall experience a little uneven. I found myself loving a few and just feeling “meh” about others.
Still, it’s a sweet, easy read that captures the cozy, romantic vibe of the holiday season. If you’re looking for something light and festive to get you in the Christmas spirit, this is a solid pick. Just don’t expect every story to be a favorite.