YA Book Recommendations Based on Your Favorite Holiday Movie

We can’t decide what’s more satisfying during the holiday season: Is it curling up under a fuzzy blanket and watching your favorite Christmas movie? Or curling up under that same blanket and escaping into a fantastic YA book?

Since it’s the holiday season and Santa says you’ve been very good this year, you can have it all! Pick the movie you’d most love to watch right now, and we’ll tell you which YA book you should read next.

If your favorite Christmas movie is The Knight Before Christmas, you should read The Guinevere Deception by Kiersten White.

The Guinevere Deception

By Kiersten White

In The Knight Before Christmas, the reigning queen of Netflix holiday rom-coms Vanessa Hudgens finds herself falling for a medieval knight who has been magically transported to the present day. Let the swooning commence!

Fans of knights in shining armor will be right at home in Kiersten White’s enchanting YA fantasy. The first in a new series, The Guinevere Deception follows Queen Guinevere as she fights to protect Camelot from dark forces . . . and to keep her real identity a secret. A medieval knight stuck in 2019 can probably relate to the struggle!

House of Salt and Sorrows

By Erin A. Craig

“Sisters, sisters, there were never such devoted sisters.” If you’re a fan of the 1954 classic Christmas film, you know what song we’re singing right now.

In White Christmas, two sisters are scheduled to perform at a New England inn over the holidays, where they team up with two famous entertainers. There is definitely some #drama, but also plenty of romance, sisterly love, and holiday cheer to go around.

For the ultimate sister story, read House of Salt and Sorrows, a dark and romantic tale about twelve sisters who must attend balls, wear beautiful slippers, but most importantly must unravel a curse to save their family.

American Royals

By Katharine McGee

Who doesn’t love a royal romance? This take on the classic “(regular) girl meets (prince-in-disguise) boy” features ambitious journalist Amber masquerading as a royal tutor to get close to Prince Richard . . . only to realize she’s falling for the heir to the throne.

A little closer to home, American Royals features three royal siblings dealing with all the glamour and intrigue of palace life, and offers royal romances for us to enjoy. This YA book is pure escapist fun, featuring forbidden love, sibling rivalry, and mysterious secrets.

Pet

By Akwaeke Emezi

In How the Grinch Stole Christmas, everyone in Who-ville loves Christmas. But the Grinch, who lives just outside town, is a miserable creature who hates the holidays. When he plans to steal Christmas, it’s up to little Cindy-Lou Who to save the day!

In Pet, the children of Lucille are taught that monsters are dead, but when Jam sees a horned beast climb out of one of her mother’s paintings, she has to fight to get others to believe her.

Let It Snow (Movie Tie-In)

By John Green, Lauren Myracle, Maureen Johnson

If you haven’t yet streamed the brand-new Netflix movie based on the YA book Let It Snow (featuring novellas by John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle), let us introduce you to your favorite Christmas movie of 2019. If you’ve already read the book, you’ll be excited to revisit the Waffle House, get trapped in a blizzard, and watch three adorable romances play out. And if you’re new to the story, the flurry of heartwarming holiday teen romance will sweep you off your feet.

It's a Whole Spiel

By Array

Who can resist the humor and heart of Adam Sandler in the animated musical film Eight Crazy Nights? If you’re watching the movie this Hanukkah, don’t miss It’s a Whole Spiel, an insightful, funny, and romantic Jewish anthology from a collection of diverse Jewish authors.

A Jewish boy falls in love with a fellow counselor at summer camp. A group of Jewish friends take the trip of a lifetime. A girl meets her new boyfriend’s family over Shabbat dinner. Two best friends put their friendship to the test over the course of a Friday night. A Jewish girl feels pressure to date the only Jewish boy in her grade. Hilarious pranks and disaster ensue at a crush’s Hanukkah party.

From stories of confronting their relationships with Judaism to rom-coms with a side of bagels and lox, It’s a Whole Spiel features one heartwarming story after another.

Who Put This Song On?

By Morgan Parker

In The Nightmare Before Christmas, Jack Skellington, the pumpkin king, is tired of scaring the people of Halloweentown year after year. When Jack discovers there’s a place called Christmastown, he decides it’s time for a change: he’s going to celebrate Christmas instead. What could go wrong?

Like Jack Skellington in Nightmare, seventeen-year-old Morgan feels trapped. She’s depressed and tired of the downbeat track that’s playing inside her head. This funny, moving story celebrates identity and individuality.

YA Book Recommendations Based on Your Favorite Holiday Movie

If your favorite Christmas movie is The Knight Before Christmas, you should read The Guinevere Deception by Kiersten White.

The Guinevere Deception

By Kiersten White

If your favorite holiday movie is White Christmas, you should read House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig.

House of Salt and Sorrows

By Erin A. Craig

If your favorite Christmas movie is A Christmas Prince, you should read American Royals by Katharine McGee.

American Royals

By Katharine McGee

If your favorite Christmas movie is How the Grinch Stole Christmas, you should read the YA book Pet by Akwaeke Emezi.

Pet

By Akwaeke Emezi

If your (new) favorite Christmas movie is Let It Snow on Netflix, you should read the book that inspired the movie!

Let It Snow (Movie Tie-In)

By John Green, Lauren Myracle, Maureen Johnson

If your favorite holiday movie is Eight Crazy Nights, you should read It’s a Whole Spiel by Mayim Bialik and Katherine Locke and Laura Silverman.

It's a Whole Spiel

By Array

If your favorite Christmas movie is The Nightmare Before Christmas, you should read the YA book Who Put This Song On? by Morgan Parker.

Who Put This Song On?

By Morgan Parker

Did you love this article about holiday movies and YA books? Get social with us at @getunderlined!

Join the conversation

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YA Book Recommendations Based on Your Favorite Holiday Movie

If your favorite Christmas movie is The Knight Before Christmas, you should read The Guinevere Deception by Kiersten White.

The Guinevere Deception

By Kiersten White

If your favorite holiday movie is White Christmas, you should read House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig.

House of Salt and Sorrows

By Erin A. Craig

If your favorite Christmas movie is A Christmas Prince, you should read American Royals by Katharine McGee.

American Royals

By Katharine McGee

If your favorite Christmas movie is How the Grinch Stole Christmas, you should read the YA book Pet by Akwaeke Emezi.

Pet

By Akwaeke Emezi

If your (new) favorite Christmas movie is Let It Snow on Netflix, you should read the book that inspired the movie!

Let It Snow (Movie Tie-In)

By John Green, Lauren Myracle, Maureen Johnson

If your favorite holiday movie is Eight Crazy Nights, you should read It’s a Whole Spiel by Mayim Bialik and Katherine Locke and Laura Silverman.

It's a Whole Spiel

By Array

If your favorite Christmas movie is The Nightmare Before Christmas, you should read the YA book Who Put This Song On? by Morgan Parker.

Who Put This Song On?

By Morgan Parker

Did you love this article about holiday movies and YA books? Get social with us at @getunderlined!

Join the conversation

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