Finding My Elf by David Valdes

Finding My Elf by David ValdesTitle: Finding My Elf
Author: David Valdes
Genre: , , ,
Publisher: HarperTeen
Publication Date: November 7, 2023

Summary (from Goodreads):

Single All the Way meets Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda in this festive romcom about Cam, who’s trying to find the “the one” and also trying to find himself—while spending winter break working at a hectic Santa’s Village.

Escaping to NYU for college didn’t turn out the way Cameron planned—he’s flunking his theater classes, about to lose his scholarship, and he still hasn’t found anyone he can call his “people.” When he gets home for winter break, he’s so desperate to avoid a Conversation with his dad that he takes the first acting job he can get—as a mall elf. Despite how Scroogey he feels, the plus side is that there’s a cash prize for the most festive of Santa’s helpers.

But the competition is fierce—especially from fellow elf Marco. Christmas spirit oozes out of his veins. At first Cam is determined to see him as nothing but a rival, but as they spend more time together, Cam starts to second-guess himself. What if he’s finally found his people here—in the fakest consumerist nightmare place on Earth, where he least expected it?

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About David Valdes

David Valdes

David Valdes is the author of the young adult novels Spin Me Right Round (a New York Public Library Best Book for Teens) and Brighter than the Moon as well as three nonfiction books, including Today Show "Top 10 Holiday Books" pick A Little Fruitcake. His plays have been produced coast to coast and abroad. As a columnist, he has written for the New York Times, Boston Globe, and HuffPost. He lives outside Boston with his teenage daughter.

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Last updated on May 21, 2024

New Year’s Kiss by Lee Matthews

New Year's Kiss by Lee MatthewsTitle: New Year's Kiss
Author: Lee Matthews
Genre: , , ,
Publisher: Underlined
Publication Date: December 1, 2020

Summary (from Goodreads):

A fun and upbeat paperback original romance about a girl who has a New Year’s resolution to make the coming year epic in every way—and is willing to put herself out there for love.

Tess and her opinionated older sister Lauren are spending the week after Christmas at the snowy Evergreen Lodge in Vermont and they aren’t happy about it. Their stern grandmother, who owns the holiday resort, is not known for her warmth and good humor. But when shy, straight-laced Tess meets Christopher in the lobby, things are suddenly looking up. And when she decides to get out of her comfort zone and create a bucket list of things to accomplish before the New Year-like singing in public and skiing a black-diamond slope-Christopher is happy to help, even as he keeps a secret that could turn everything upside down. When the ball drops, will Tess and Christopher share a magical kiss-or will Tess start the new year off alone?

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Book Quotes

“The boy was cute. No, cute didn’t cover it. He was YouTube–star worthy. And not just I made this video in my backyard and almost broke my neck so I got a million likes cute, but I have my own channel and product and entourage cute.”

“If you want to change something about your life, just change it. Why do you have to wait for an arbitrary holiday to do it?”


About Lee Matthews

Lee Matthews is the pen name of a prolific YA author. She lives in New Jersey with her incredibly awesome family.

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Last updated on May 7, 2024

The Prince and the Snowgirl by Simon Cheshire

The Prince and the Snow Girl by Simon CheshireTitle: The Prince and the Snow Girl
Author: Simon Cheshire
Genre: , , ,
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: February 13, 2006

Summary (from Goodreads):

Everyone thinks Tom Miller is lucky. For starters, Tom looks so much like England's Prince George that he makes money impersonating him. Unfortunately, that usually involves signing autographs at the latest supermarket opening. Still, Tom is one of the most popular guys at Emerson High, the finest school in the area. And best of all, nearly every girl falls for his princely good looks—every girl, that is, except Louise.

Tom wishes he could find the way to Louise's heart, and the school skiing trip seems like the perfect opportunity to impress her with his royal charm. But when the real Prince George arrives at their hotel, it's time for Tom to shed his public persona and start living up to his own potential.

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About Simon Cheshire

Simon is the award-winning author of the Saxby Smart and Jeremy Brown series. Simons ultimate dream is to go the moon, but in the meantime, he lives in Warwick with his wife and children and contents himself with writing in a tiny wardrobe and eating too much chocolate.

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Last updated on May 13, 2024

Blame it on the Mistletoe by Beth Garrod

Blame it on the Mistletoe by Beth GarrodTitle: Blame it on the Mistletoe
Author: Beth Garrod
Genre: , , ,
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Publication Date: October 1, 2020

Summary (from Goodreads):

Tweet Cute meets the movie The Holiday in this funny holiday rom-com where two very different girls swap lives for a Christmas adventure.

Elle is a social medial star with the #DreamLife...or so it seems. Determined to shake up her content and gain new followers, she's on a mission: can she find a British fan to swap with for Christmas?

Holly loves everything about Christmas. But after a mortifying mistletoe disaster with her ex, her perfect plans unravel like a bad Christmas sweater. Can Holly save the holidays when she switches places with favorite social media influencer?

Elle gets more than she bargained for when she meets the cute boy from across the street. And Holly wasn't expecting Elle to have a handsome twin brother. This holiday is full of surprises.

Original Title:  All I Want for Christmas 

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About Beth Garrod

Beth Garrod

Beth Garrod is the author of the bestselling SUPER AWKWARD series. Before becoming an author, Beth worked for CBBC and MTV, launching everything from mental health campaigns to music awards. SISTER SWITCH was her debut middle-grade book for 9+ readers. Her second middle-grade standalone, THE (UN)FORTUNATE WISHES OF NELLY YOUNG, publishes this year.

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Last updated on May 17, 2024

Our Cursed Love by Julie Abe

Our Cursed Love by Julie AbeTitle: Our Cursed Love
Author: Julie Abe
Genre: , , ,
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Publication Date: December 12, 2023

Summary (from Goodreads):

Six days to remember.
Love or lose him forever.

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 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.

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About Julie Abe

Julie Abe

Julie Abe is the author of the EVA EVERGREEN, SEMI-MAGICAL WITCH middle grade fantasy series; the middle grade fantasy ALLIANA, GIRL OF DRAGONS; and the young adult novel THE CHARMED LIST. She has lived in Silicon Valley, spent many humid summers in Japan, and currently basks in the sunshine of Southern California with never enough books or tea, where she creates stories about magical adventures.

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Last updated on May 19, 2026