The holiday season may still be a few months away, but Berkley is already giving romance readers two festive releases to place at the top of their fall TBR lists.

Arriving Oct. 20, Zoe Allison’s The Christmas Competition brings holiday chaos, enemies-to-lovers sparks, and plenty of twinkle lights to a charming Scottish village. Newly single Nisa Ansari is ready for a distraction from the gossip surrounding her divorce, and a Christmas decorating competition seems like the perfect escape, until it places her directly against Kerr Murdoch, her grumpy neighbor and fiercest rival.  Yet beneath the wreaths, traditions, and determination to win, Nisa discovers a softer side to the quiet veterinarian. 

Perfect for readers who believe a little competition can lead to unexpected chemistry, this cozy romance promises humor, heart, and a wonderfully festive second chance.

Then, on Oct. 27, Amanda Elliot’s Eight Ways to Say I Love You follows childhood friends Shira Levinson and Leo David across eight Hanukkah seasons filled with missed opportunities, changing dreams, and feelings that refuse to disappear. Each celebration brings them back into one another’s lives, even as timing and distance continue getting in their way.

Nostalgic, emotional, and beautifully slow-burning, this upcoming friends-to-lovers romance promises to remind readers that some connections can survive every setback, and some people simply feel like home.

With plenty of holiday magic, emotional warmth, and swoony romance ahead, consider your seasonal reading list officially started. Happy reading!