“Make My Wish Come True”

Rachael Lippincott & Alyson Derrick

Simon & Schuster, $19.99

If basic cable programming has taught me anything, it’s that what people want most of all this time of year is a good rom-com. The proliferation of holiday-themed lovey-dovey flicks (I’m looking at you, Hallmark Channel) clearly scratches a particular itch in the zeitgeist. Meet-cutes, opposite attractions and will-they-or-won’t-theys just feel better when they’re wrapped up in cozy sweaters, cocoa and picturesque snow-covered hamlets.

Readers looking for an extra hit of yuletide spice should look no further than “Make My Wish Come True” from Rachael Lippincott and Alyson Derrick. Arden James is a young Hollywood starlet with a bad reputation. Her wild behavior keeps her name in the tabloids, but when she goes after the role of a lifetime, the director is unconvinced James can pull off being a regular small-town girl. To prove her bona fides and that she isn’t the enfant terrible she’s been portrayed as, Arden and her agent hatch a plan.

Arden will travel back to her hometown of Barnwich, Pennsylvania, for the holidays to be with her long-time love, Caroline, and the whole trip will be written up in Cosmo. And it doesn’t hurt that Barnwich is obsessed with all things Christmas. Arden promises a sleigh-load of wholesomeness. The only hitch is Arden hasn’t spoken to Caroline since she left town four years ago. Will her once best friend go along with the ruse? Will old flames reignite? “Make My Wish Come True” is the definition of delightful and the perfect companion for long winter nights.

“Pride and Prejudice in Pittsburgh”

front view of Blank book cover white .

Rachael Lippincott

Simon & Schuster, $19.99

Still hankering for some cute canoodling? Check out Rachael Lippincott’s solo novel “Pride and Prejudice in Pittsburgh.”

Audrey Cameron hadn’t planned on adding time travel to her to-do list. She just wants to get into the art school of her dreams and give her broken heart some time to heal after an unexpected break-up with her boyfriend. When she finds herself suddenly whisked out of her family’s East End convenience store and literally dropped onto Lucy Sinclair’s English estate in the year 1812, Audrey will need to figure out why she’s there and how to get back to 2023.

Here’s a hint — romance might just be her ticket home.

(We independently review everything we recommend. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission.)