One surprise guest. One infuriatingly hot man. This holiday just got complicated.
When a freak blizzard cancels the resort’s big holiday buyout, front-desk overachiever Julia Martin is left alone to lock up paradise. She’s one key-turn away from calling it when Margo Vale—the famously ruthless New York Times critic—shows up expecting luxury service and ocean views.
There’s just one problem: the power’s out, the staff’s gone, and the only help left on the island is Wes, a tattooed, half-naked chef secretly squatting in the basement.
Julia’s promotion is on the line. So she lies. She checks Margo in and ropes Wes into faking a flawless tropical Christmas.
What starts as a panicked charade turns into fairy lights, makeshift feasts, and one very real bed. And when Wes discovers Julia’s stash of steamy romance novels? He’s more than willing to play the part of her fantasy hero.
🎄 Why You’ll Love Booked for Christmas
Tropes You Crave: Forced proximity, enemies-to-lovers, secret squatter, holiday makeover, romance-novel roleplay, one bed, “I’m only helping you because you’re impossible.”
Vibes You Want: Tropical Christmas chaos, blizzard-induced isolation, fairy lights in a powerless resort, late-night confessions, cozy heat in a cold storm.
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ (playful, intimate, deeply emotional—and yes, the roleplay fantasy scene is chef’s kiss).
What Readers Say: Readers adore the “half-naked chef squatting in the basement,” the chaotic improv-Christmas, and the way Wes turns Julia’s secret romance-novel fantasies into reality. A perfect blend of heat, humor, and holiday magic.
At its heart, Booked for Christmas is about two lonely people trying desperately to hold it all together—until they find comfort, delight, and unexpected courage in each other. It’s tender, it’s hilarious, it’s spicy, and it’s everything you want from a holiday romance with a twist of tropical mischief.
🎁 If You Loved These, You’ll Devour Booked for Christmas
Fans of cozy-but-spicy holiday romance and chaotic forced proximity will feel right at home. If you enjoyed:
- Christina Lauren’s holiday rom-coms — humor, heart, and irresistible banter
- Emily Henry’s character-driven slow burns — emotional intimacy wrapped in wit
- Tessa Bailey’s grumpy/sunshine energy — especially when the grump is secretly soft
- Ali Hazelwood’s forced proximity setups — tension that snaps in the best ways
- Sierra Simone’s roleplay moments — playful fantasies that turn all too real
…then Booked for Christmas deserves a prime spot on your December (or year-round!) reading list.
✨ Behind the Scenes of Booked for Christmas
Booked for Christmas began as a playful idea—what if a tropical resort, meant to be bursting with holiday cheer, ended up completely shut down… except for one panicked perfectionist and one chaotic, half-dressed chef with nowhere else to go? From there, the story became equal parts farce, fantasy, and heartfelt connection.
This novella expands the White Sands Resort world with a fresh, winter-warm twist: a blizzard on the mainland, a VIP guest who shouldn’t be there, and two reluctant helpers who have to fake the perfect holiday with zero power and even fewer supplies. What emerged was a romance about making your own magic, finding home in unlikely places, and allowing yourself to be seen—messy, hopeful, yearning and all.
Whether you’re escaping into a holiday mood or simply craving a short, sparkling, spicy adventure, Booked for Christmasoffers charm, heat, and a love story that glows brighter than the fairy lights Julia and Wes string together in the dark.
