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17 Hanukkah Books for Adults: Romance & Rom Coms
By: Angela & Melissa
Updated:
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, we may earn a referral fee from qualifying purchases.When we first started making book lists, we could only find a handful of Hanukkah rom-coms for our list of books about winter holidays (that aren’t Christmas). Over the past few years, however, that’s changed in the best way, so we decided it was time to give these books a list of their own!
The eight-night Hanukkah festival, known as the Festival of Lights, is a relatively minor holiday in terms of religious observance within Judaism, but it has many joyful traditions. Because these books land during the same cozy, snowy season as so many Christmas romances, they’ve become a favorite for readers of all backgrounds who love a holiday love story.
We are so grateful for the Jewish authors on this list who bring their own traditions, humor, and heart to the page. We’re always learning, so if you have a favorite Hanukkah romance we missed, or if you’d like to share how your family celebrates, we would love to hear from you in the comments!
Hanukkah Romance Books & Rom Coms
These romances and rom-coms are all about Hanukkah, with friends and family gathering each night to light a new menorah candle, symbolic of a miracle in which a small amount of oil lasted for eight full days. Toghether, they also enjoy potato latkes, sufganiyot (jelly donuts), and other delicious foods fried in oil as a nod to the miracle.
Eight Ways to Say I Love You
Book Summary
Shira Levinson is going home to New Jersey for Hanukkah, proud to celebrate some major milestones. A recent college grad, she already landed her dream job as well as her dream apartment in LA.
For Leo David, life hasn’t been on quite the same trajectory. He failed out of college and was forced to move in with the dad he’s been estranged from ever since his dad cheated on his mom. The only thing he has to look forward to is seeing his childhood friend (and secret crush), Shira, at her family’s annual Hanukkah party.
That’s just the beginning… over the course of eight holiday seasons, Shira and Leo’s lives take them in many different directions, sometimes with their paths converging, and sometimes leading them further apart. If they can ever get the timing just right, they might just find forever together.
Another Hanukkah Book by This Author
We really enjoyed Amanda Elliot’s 2024 novel, Love You a Latke, which you’ll also find on this list!
Book Summary
It’s been nearly a decade since Norah Gold last fell in love. After her father passed away suddenly, her world fell apart, and ever since then she’s worked hard to avoid emotional situations and meaningful relationships at all costs. When things start to get real, she bolts.
Recently, she finds herself in a friends-with-benefits situation that has gotten a little too clingy, so it’s time for her to run once again. She heads home to Chicago for the holidays, but that just brings about another situation to dodge. While she’s home, she has to avoid Henry Cole, the boy who broke her heart back in high school.
Henry, her childhood best friend turned nemesis, is now all custom suits and condescension. And when Norah learns their mothers are dating and insist on celebrating the holidays together, avoiding him becomes impossible. Once they’re snowed in together, they’re forced to call a truce in order to get through the eight nights of Hanukkah without driving each other mad. Will they be able to ignore all of the unfinished business from their past?
The Eight Heartbreaks of Hanukkah
Book Summary
Evelyn Schwartz’s Hanukkah plans look different from most. Rather than spending the holiday with family, she’ll spend the eight nights producing a live, televised musical version of A Christmas Carol. Long hours and impossible deadlines are far from festive, but it’s her dream job. The dream is upended, however, when Evelyn lands in the medical bay with a migraine, and she discovers that her ex-husband, David Adler, is filling in for the usual on-set doctor.
It’s been two years since David left Evelyn, but she’s still the same driven workaholic he remembers. He’s not surprised to learn that she’s still putting her career above everything, including her health.
When Evelyn starts seeing ‘ghosts’ from her past heartbreaks, and each one leads to David, he finds himself spending more time with his ex than he ever expected. And it’s becoming harder for him to deny the chemistry that’s still there. Could they have a Hanukkah future?
What to Expect in This Book
Evelyn is producing a live A Christmas Carol broadcast, so Christmas is her job, but the story follows her Hanukkah season.
Another Book by This Author
Jean Meltzer is also the author of the popular holiday novel The Matzah Ball, which you’ll also find on this list.
Book Girls’ Readers Rate This Book
100% Would Recommend to a Friend
Book Summary
Abby Cohen is the only Jew on the tourism board for her small Vermont town, and as such, she’s been tasked with planning the town’s inaugural Hanukkah festival. The problem is that every vendor in town simply wants to repurpose their Christmas decorations. Can’t the Three Wise Men from the light-up Nativity scene just wear yarmulkes?
Desperately in need of support, Abby puts out a call for help online and is surprised to discover that she’s not the only Jew within 100 miles, like she thought. It turns out there’s also Seth – the annoyingly cheerful man who comes into her cafe each day.
She soon learns that Seth’s parents have been begging him to bring a “Nice Jewish Girlfriend” home to NYC for Hanukkah. He promises that if she poses as his fake girlfriend, he will introduce her to all the vendors she needs to make her festival a success. It doesn’t take long, however, for Seth to start melting Abby’s frozen heart over latkes, doughnuts, and winter adventures in Manhattan.
Our Thoughts On This Book
This Hanukkah novel will transport you to the heart of New York City, and you’ll love joining Abby as Seth and his friends introduce her to the wide variety of Hanukkah pop-ups and celebrations around the city.
Eight Nights to Win Her Heart
Book Summary
Andie’s father died recently, and her only job prospect is on the other side of the country, so she’s now faced with spending her first Hanukkah alone.
Leo has had a crush on the cute girl across the hall from his apartment, but it wasn’t until she dropped her grocery bags and he spotted drug store Hunukkah candles that he finally had the courage to say something to her. Leo offers to join Andie for the first night of the holiday, and the two slowly begin to fall for each other one night at a time.
Consider This Before Reading
Readers say this book gets pretty steamy, so keep that in mind if it’s not your thing.
Love and Latkes
Book Summary
Batya fled her hometown of Rivertown, New York, years ago, hoping to escape her embarrassing past. She was also hoping to get over her unrequited crush on Abe Neumann. But when she’s chosen as the web designer for a latke fry-off competition, she learns that it will require her to return to Rivertown. Unwilling to give up the career opportunity, she agrees.
Abe is now an accountant, but he dreams of owning his own Jewish deli one day. He can’t pass up the opportunity to enter the latke contest because the prize money could put him closer to his dream. Seeing Baty again, however, has him wishing for more than just a win.
When the celebrity host of the competition has to pull out, Batya is asked to step up to the challenge. With Hanukkah approaching, can Abe do the same?
Thoughts On This Book
Readers warn not to crack this book open on an empty stomach! The descriptions of Jewish food go far beyond latkes and will leave you feeling very hungry. In addition to the shared food, this second-chance romance also explores the traditions and culture related to Hanukkah.
Book Summary
Rachel is a nice Jewish girl and a Rabbi’s daughter. She also has a big secret she’s been keeping from her family for years. Not only does she love all things Christmas, but she’s also a bestselling author of Christmas romance novels. But this year, her publisher wants something different – a Hanukkah novel. As far as Rachel is concerned, there is nothing magical or merry to write about.
Desperate not to lose her contract, Rachel agrees to volunteer for a Jewish music celebration being held on the last night of Hanukkah. On the upside, she hopes it will inspire her writing. On the downside, it means working closely with her old summer camp archenemy, Jacob.
What to Expect in This Book
While the main character loves all things Christmas, this book is squarely about the celebration of Hanukkah. If you are looking for books that include characters celebrating both Hanukkah and Christmas, you’ll find them in the next section of the list.
About the Author
Author Jean Meltzer spent five years in rabbinical school before her chronic illness forced her to withdraw. The character of Rachel also deals with chronic illness, providing a counterbalance to the book’s otherwise lighter, humorous premise.
The Dreidl Disaster
Book Summary
Olivia Nachman is the outgoing mayor of a small town in New York’s Hudson Valley, and she’s recently been elected to the county legislature. She’s worked hard to serve the town and the Jewish community, but her mayoral legacy is suddenly in jeopardy due to a public relations disaster.
The town is set to accept a dreidl sculpture from a local hockey team, crafted from championship-winning hockey sticks. But the team representative coordinating the event presents a proposal to the town that amounts to little more than Christmas traditions painted blue for Hanukkah. The hockey team sends in “fixer” Artur Rabinovich to clean up the PR mess.
Artur knows how to spin a story to fix almost any problem, but in this case, he initially makes things worse. He turns to Mayor Olivia for help, but she is loath to trust him. To make matters worse, Artur finds himself attracted to Olivia. Can he find a way to mix business and pleasure without his career spinning off course?
About the Series
This is the third of four books in the Last Girls Standing series, each of which focuses on one of the four Nachman women. While this novel can be read as a standalone, there are many recurring characters (including Artur) and references to earlier events, so you’ll get the most out of it if you read the full series.
Eight Dates and Nights
Book Summary
This cozy YA romance introduces us to two very different teenagers. New Yorker Hannah is visiting her grandmother when a freak snowstorm leaves her stranded in Texas. She’s missing the latkes and reliable wi-fi from back home.
She wanders into an old deli where she meets the only other Jewish teen in town, Noah, who is overflowing with Hanukkah spirit. It’s a bit much for Hannah, but she still agrees to help him try to save his family’s deli.
Consider This Before Reading
While the rating on this book is lower than we typically recommend, this young adult novel has been described as short, sweet, and charming. It truly centers on Hanukkah, with lots of warm, Hallmark-style holiday charm.
On the other hand, some reviewers complain that the romance moves quickly over the course of eight nights, and some adult readers found the teen heroine a bit frustrating, which helps explain its lower ratings.
The Holiday Book Club
Book Summary
Andrew’s holiday season starts out on a bad note when his research department gets disbanded. His sister doesn’t want him to spend the holidays alone with the goofy dog he’s pet-sitting, so she drags him along to her book club meeting at a charming West Village bookshop.
Evie, another member of the book club, is dealing with a recent breakup. Her ex has sent her a cruel parting gift – a single ticket to the black-tie gala she paid for. But her friends have an idea for revenge and encourage her to embrace her villain era. And the handsome new man at book club offers to help.
More Audible Only Hanukkah Novellas
Liz Maverick has written a number of quick and fun Hanukkah novellas that are available exclusively in audio format through Amazon Audible.
The Holiday Book Club is her latest novella, and while the publisher’s description doesn’t specify, it sounds like it’s likely connected to these two book-lover Hanukkah stories with interconnected characters:
Booked for the Holidays (we especially liked this one)
Liz Maverick also authored these three novellas in another series:
Holiday Romances That Blend Hanukkah and Christmas
For many families and couples, December means celebrating both Hanukkah and Christmas, and these romance books capture that blend of traditions. Whether the characters come from two different backgrounds or simply find themselves swept up in both holidays, these stories celebrate the joy of sharing traditions with the people you love.
Merry Little Bookshop
Book Summary
Shira works for a bookstore that is opening a holiday pop-up in the tiny town of Azalea, Texas. When she gets the assignment to fly to Texas, she assumes that she was picked for the job because she’s Jewish and wouldn’t mind working away from home during the holidays. Did they forget about Hanukkah!?!
When she arrives in town, she runs into Jonny, who has come home to care for his aging father. With his help, they transform the bookshop into a dreamy haven for readers. The townspeople quickly rely on Shira to help them find the perfect books for gifts, or for themselves. While Shira gets to know Jonny, his family, and the rest of the town, she also struggles with being away from her own important traditions.
What to Expect in This Book
While the cover says “A Novella,” it falls between a long novella and a short novel at 230ish pages. Melissa read it and loved the bookish theme and the blend of Christmas and Hanukkah, along with the relatively slow build of the relationship.
Be aware that once the relationship escalates, it does get steamy, so skip it if you prefer closed-door holiday reads.
About the Authors
Ali Brady is the pen name for the best friend writing duo of Alison Hammer and Bradeigh Godfrey. They first met in a writing group, where they began as critique partners, exchanging early drafts of their individual works before later deciding to co-author novels together.
Alison lives in Chicago, where she works as a creative director and is the Founder of Artists Against Antisemitism. Bradeigh lives in Utah with her husband and four children and works as a doctor.
Eight Bright Lights
Book Summary
Set over the eight nights of Hanukkah, this multi-point-of-view novel follows three different women.
Hannah is stuck in a dead-end life in South Devon until her estranged father dies, pulling her to Tel Aviv, Israel. With only her handsome-yet-insufferable host for company, she has just a limited time to sort out her father’s affairs — and along the way, she’ll discover things about herself she never knew.
Meanwhile, back in London, Hannah’s cousin Rachel is trying to plan a simple Christmas wedding while chasing her big break at a fashion magazine. But when an article exposes a long-held family secret, everything gets a lot more complicated.
Wedding planner Ella never planned to quit her job and burn bridges with her terrifying boss, but when she does, she’s left with just one client. Can she still pull off Rachel’s wedding while everything else is falling apart?
What to Expect in This Book
This novel is structured around the eight nights of Hanukkah and is deeply tied to Jewish identity, family, grief, and love. Christmas is also present in the story, but mostly as a backdrop to the wedding drama.
While this novel is marketed as a romance, reviewers say it leans more toward women’s fiction.
Three Holidays and a Wedding
Book Girls’ Readers Rate This Book
100% Would Recommend to a Friend
Book Summary
Maryam is on her way to her sister’s impromptu wedding, and Anna is headed to meet her boyfriend’s wealthy family. These two strangers are seatmates on a flight to Toronto when they find themselves in extreme turbulence. The scary flight causes the two women to confess their deepest hopes and fears to each other.
They think they’ll never see each other again, but the rough ride leads to an emergency landing in Ottawa. Instead of making it to Toronto, the duo (along with Maryam’s sister’s entire bridal party and Saif, the love of Maryam’s life) find themselves at the quirky Snow Falls Inn in a picture-perfect town. Could being snowbound in a small town unexpectedly turn into the best holiday ever?
Thoughts On This Book
We really enjoyed this book that celebrates not one, not two, but THREE winter holidays. Only three times a century (or every 30 to 33 years) do Hanukkah, Ramadan, and Christmas overlap, and this book is set during one of those years.
Season of Love
Book Summary
When her beloved great-aunt Cass dies, Jewish artist Miriam Blum returns to Carrigan’s Christmasland for the first time in a decade. In an ironic twist of fate, she is now part owner of the struggling Christmas tree farm and inn in the Adirondacks. Her co-owner, farm manager Noelle Northwood, isn’t happy about it.
Noelle resents Miriam for staying away so long, but the two must work together to save the business. As Miriam’s family quietly observes shiva, Shabbat, and Hanukkah amid an avalanche of Christmas cheer, the sparks in this sapphic slow burn become impossible to ignore.
About the Series
This is the first of three books in the Carrigan’s Christmasland series. The second and third books are not about Hanukkah or Christmas, but the second, For Never & Always, does show Carrigan’s becoming a place to celebrate different holidays throughout the year, incuding other Jewish traditions.
One Night, Two Holidays
Book Summary
Jack’s plans to spend Christmas with his family are derailed when a record-breaking snowstorm leaves him stranded and alone in Chicago.
Nessa, on the other hand, doesn’t have any Hanukkah plans. With her roommates away and her family busy elsewhere, she is prepared to spend the holiday binge-watching TV.
When the storm knocks the power out, these two neighbors team up to help each other find the holiday cheer they’ve been missing. As they try to fry latkes from whatever ingredients they can scrounge and stuff stockings with improvised gifts, they stumble on the unexpected joy of blending Hanukkah and Christmas into something entirely their own.
As the storm rages outside, sparks begin to fly between Jack and Nessa. But can the magic last beyond the holidays?
Novella Length
This short, dual-holiday novel is under 150 pages, but we enjoyed every minute of it.
Book Summary
Marisa Silver is a nice Jewish girl, but she can’t wait for Christmas. Her floundering confectionery business needs the kind of boost that only the Christmas season can bring.
Desperate to land the catering contract for the town’s couples-only Crystal Christmas Ball, Marisa not only lies about having a Christmas-loving boyfriend, but she also doesn’t correct the Ball’s chairwoman when she mistakenly believes that Marisa’s boyfriend is famed Scottish rugby player Alec Elms.
Fortunately, Alec agrees to go along with a fake-dating charade, but he has ulterior motives of his own. Their very public ‘relationship’ quickly gets more personal than either of them planned.
The Holiday Trap
Book Summary
Greta loves her tight-knit hometown in Maine, but it can be hard being a lesbian in such a small community. She needs space to figure out who she wants to be. Meanwhile, her family keeps meddling and signs her up for a dating auction right before Hanukkah.
Truman was crushed when his boyfriend dumped him and even more upset to learn that the boyfriend had a secret husband and daughter.
Enter Greta and Truman’s mutual friend, Ramona, who facilitates a month-long house swap. Over the winter holidays, each of them will have a chance to try on a new life…and maybe fall in love with the perfect partner of their dreams.
Are Any of These Books Included With Kindle Unlimited (KU)?
While we can never promise a given book is included with KU as availability can change daily, the following titles have been included in the past and are a good place to start if you’re looking for a KU option.
Love Reading Seasonally? Join this Challenge!
Our free three-prompt mini-reading challenge is perfect for anyone who enjoys reading seasonally. Each prompt comes with a list of recommended books for you to choose from, making it a fun and easy way to enhance your winter reading.
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