Romance and romantasy readers, our Best New Books of December list is for you! Cozy up with some of the best books the month has to offer or use this list as recommendations for some bookish gifts for the readers in your life this holiday season.
Raiders of the Lost Heart by Jo Segura
Rival architects? I was sold by the cover but I’m pretty sure I found a new favorite rom-com and best new book of December before I even started reading.
Synopsis: Rival archaeologists must team up on a secret Aztec expedition, or it could leave their careers–and hearts–in ruins.
Archaeologist Dr. Socorro “Corrie” Mejía has a bone to pick. Literally. It’s been Corrie’s life goal to lead an expedition deep into the Mexican jungle in search of the long-lost remains of her ancestor, Chimalli, an ancient warrior of the Aztec empire. But when she is invited to join an all-expenses-paid dig to do just that, Corrie is sure it’s too good to be true…and she’s right. As the world-renowned expert on Chimalli, by rights Corrie should be leading the expedition, not sharing the glory with her disgustingly handsome nemesis. But Dr. Ford Matthews has been finding new ways to best her since they were in grad school. Ford certainly isn’t thrilled either–with his life in shambles, the last thing he needs is a reminder of their rocky past.
But as the dig begins, it becomes clear they’ll need to work together when they realize a thief is lurking around their campsite, forcing the pair to keep their discoveries–and lingering attraction–under wraps. With money-hungry artifact smugglers, the Mexican authorities, and the lies between them closing in, there’s only one way this all ends–explosively.
On Sale: December 5, 2023, via Berkley Books. Order here.
A River of Golden Bones by A.K. Mulford
For good reason, romantasy books are having a big moment in the book world and A River of Golden Bones, a best new book of December, looks to be a new favorite among them. Promising an enchanting Sleeping Beauty retelling with a lupine twist, I’m so excited to dig in!
Synopsis: Twins Calla and Briar have spent their entire lives hiding from the powerful sorceress who destroyed their kingdom…and from the humans who don’t know they are Wolves.
Each twin has their own purpose in life: Briar’s is to marry the prince of an ally pack and save the Golden Court. Calla’s purpose is to remain a secret, her twin’s shadow . . . the backup plan.
On Sale: December 5, 2023, via Harpercollins. Order here.
Second Chances In New Port Stephen by TJ Alexander
Looking for a holiday romance to start off a season of festive reading? I know what’s at the top of my TBR! TJ Alexander dazzled romance readers with Chef’s Kiss and now is back with this best book of December, another charming read about found family and second chances.
Synopsis: Eli Ward hasn’t been back to his suffocating hometown of New Port Stephen, Florida, in ages. Post-transition and sober, he’s a completely different person from the one who left years ago. But when a scandal threatens his career as a TV writer and comedian, he has no choice but to return home for the holidays. He can only hope he’ll survive his boisterous, loving, but often misguided family and hide the fact that his dream of comedy success has become a nightmare.
Just when he thinks this trip couldn’t get any worse, Eli bumps into his high school ex, Nick Wu, who’s somehow hotter than ever. Divorced and in his forties, Nick’s world revolves around his father, his daughter, and his job. But even a busy life can’t keep him from being intrigued by the reappearance of Eli.
Against the backdrop of one weird Floridian Christmas, the two must decide whether to leave the past in the past…or move on together.
On Sale: December 5, 2023, via Atria Books. Order here.
The Curse of Penryth Hall by Jess Armstrong
This outstanding debut is on our best new books of December list not only because it has a cover I can’t stop looking at but because it excels at atmospheric gothic mystery that is perfect for cuddling up on early winter days.
Synopsis: After the Great War, American heiress Ruby Vaughn made a life for herself running a rare bookstore alongside her octogenarian employer and house mate in Exeter. She’s always avoided dwelling on the past, even before the war, but it always has a way of finding her. When Ruby is forced to deliver a box of books to a folk healer living deep in the Cornish countryside, she is brought back to the one place she swore she’d never return.
A more sensible soul would have delivered the package and left without rehashing old wounds. But no one has ever accused Ruby of being sensible.
Thus begins her visit to Penryth Hall. A foreboding fortress, Penryth Hall is home to Ruby’s once dearest friend, Tamsyn, and her husband, Sir Edward Chenowyth. It’s an unsettling place, and after a more unsettling evening, Ruby is eager to depart.
But her plans change when Penryth’s bells ring for the first time in thirty years. Edward is dead; he met a gruesome end in the orchard, and with his death brings whispers of a returned curse. It also brings Ruan Kivell, the person whose books brought her to Cornwall, the one the locals call a Pellar, the man they believe can break the curse. Ruby doesn’t believe in curses–or Pellars–but this is Cornwall and to these villagers the curse is anything but lore, and they believe it will soon claim its next victim: Tamsyn.
To protect her friend, Ruby must work alongside the Pellar to find out what really happened in the orchard that night.
On Sale: December 5, 2023, via Minotaur Books. Order here.
This Cursed Light by Emily Thiede
Synopsis: Six months after saving their island from destruction and almost losing Dante, Alessa is ready to live happily ever after with her former bodyguard. But Dante can’t rest, haunted by a conviction that the gods aren’t finished with them yet. And without his powers, the next kiss from Alessa could kill him.
Desperate for answers, Dante enlists Alessa and their friends to find the exiled ghiotte in hopes of restoring his powers and combining forces with them to create the only army powerful enough to save them all. But Alessa is hiding a deadly consequence of their last fight–a growing darkness that’s consuming her mind–and their destination holds more dangers than anyone bargained for. In the mysterious city of the banished, Dante will uncover secrets, lies, and ghosts from his past that force him to ask himself: Which side is he on?
When the gods reveal their final test, Dante and Alessa will be the world’s last defense. But if they are the keys to saving the world, will their love be the price of victory? In This Cursed Light, Dante and Alessa face their most daunting challenge yet when the Gods demand they prove their worth by choosing the ultimate sacrifice to save humanity, once and for all.
On Sale: December 5, 2023, via Wednesday Books. Order here.
To Dogs, with Love: A Love Letter to Dogs Who Help Us by Maria Gianferrari and illustrated by Isha Laboo
This adorable and beautiful picture book makes our best new books of December list because it gives thanks to all the best good boys and girls who make us smile, laugh and are the best companions we can ask for.
Synopsis: A book for anyone who has ever loved a dog.
Dear Dogs, Thank you for being there when we are sick, or hurt, or in trouble.
Thank you for licks and hugs when we feel down, or just need to smile.
Thank you for all that you do, for always being at our sides.This is our love letter to you!
Give thanks to every human’s best friend, in this sweet and inclusive ode to dogs of all kinds – with an emphasis on service dogs – written by animal expert Maria Gianferrari and illustrated by Ishaa Lobo.
On Sale: December 5, 2023, via Wednesday Books. Order here.
Our Cursed Love by Julie Abe
Julie Abe’s highly anticipated new book was an easy addition to our best new books of December list. I’m always on a hunt for anything cozy and a romance with a unique premise needs to be at the top of my TBR. If you feel the same, don’t miss out on this one.
Synopsis: Remy Kobata has always wished she was destined to be with her best friend, Cam Yasuda. All the way from being neighbors from birth to mixing up magical prank potions together to their “just friends” homecoming date during their senior year in high school, nothing’s a secret between Remy and Cam–except for how much she is in love with him. Remy is trying to work up the courage to confess her feelings during their winter break trip to Japan, when she gets selected for a mystical tea leaves reading and it reveals that they’re not meant to be together.
After they stumble upon a secret magical apothecary in the back alleys of Tokyo, Remy and Cam are offered an ancient soulmate elixir, created before all love potions were banned by the magical government. They each have their reasons for wanting to take it, but what could go wrong with finding your soulmate a little earlier? Except, after they drink up, their senior year trip flips into the worst vacation ever: Cam has forgotten who Remy is.
If she can’t help Cam remember her by midnight New Year’s Eve, they’ll both be cursed to forget each other. To unravel their past and rewrite the future, Remy and Cam must travel through Tokyo to rediscover Cam’s memories and make new ones–and maybe even fall in love all over again.
On Sale: December 12, 2023, via Wednesday Books. Order here.
Her Dark Wings by Melinda Salisbury
Retellings, especially ones as epic as Melinda Salisbury’s latest, will always end up on my TBR. This Persephone myth retelling about childhood best friends was an easy add to our best books of December list. Read it as soon as it comes out to find out why.
Synopsis: For all of Corey’s life, it’s been Bree and Corey, Corey and Bree. Best friends, the girls are inseparable–until a devastating betrayal leaves Corey shattered and alone. Corey is sure nothing could hurt more, until Bree suddenly dies. Now Corey is heartbroken and furious. How can she mourn her one-time friend when she is still so angry at her?
Yet Corey and Bree’s tale is far from finished. When Corey accidentally catches a glimpse of Bree’s spirit passing into the afterlife, she finds herself face to face with a god pulled from the darkest myths of her girlhood: Hades, lord of the dead.
Turns out, the legends are real. But Hades is different from what Corey imagined–and so are the Furies, terrifying and beautiful creatures who encourage Corey to embrace her rage. The more Corey discovers about the Underworld, the more her own power stirs. But can she resist the lure of the darkness within?
On Sale: December 12, 2023, via Delacorte Press. Order here.
Game On by Seressia Glass
A feminist, nerd-focused rom-com is high on our list of the best books of December because it takes a favorite trope (enemies to lovers) and does something new and fun. Fans of Cathy Yardley and Cecilia Tan will definitely enjoy this book.
Synopsis: Samara Reynolds has built a large following as a gamer under an anonymous screen name, and uses her skills as a DEIA consultant to advocate for equal representation in video games. When she posted a video critiquing the popular game Legendsfall, she knew she’d get a reaction from her fans, but the video leads to hundreds of female gamers critiquing the game and its company, Artemis Games. The only thing more unexpected than starting an online movement is getting a job offer from the handsome CEO of Artemis.
Aron Galanis has been on a mission to get his company certified to create gaming content for people with disabilities. When he sees Artemis trending online for all the wrong reasons, he’s determined to right his wrongs and offers the originator a mea culpa, as well as a job offer to overhaul the character options in Legendsfall.
Working together turns Aron and Samara from adversaries into allies, allies into friends, and after that–something more. But once their relationship goes public, will Aron and Samara be able to weather the storm and fight for their happy ending, or is it game over?
On Sale: December 12, 2023, via Berkley Books. Order here.
Brianna Robinson is a book publicist and Sarah Lawrence College alum. She lives in New York with too many books and two enthusiastic dachshunds. You can find her on twitter @blrobins2.
