6 Enchanting Settings For Your Christmas Romance Novel

Sage Kay

Writer, reader, outfit repeater.

Romance novels are known for their amorous settings that up the romance factor with glittering skylines or close-knit towns. When writing the Christmas $ subgenre of romance novels$ , however, you get a rare free writing pass: a holiday ripe with atmospheric locations and aesthetics. With a holiday as recognizable as Christmas, your setting is practically handed to you, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty of room to flex your creative setting muscles. Before we get into the list of setting ideas, first: 
Why is setting important in romance novels?The setting of a romance novel affects the energy, atmosphere, and even the plot of the story. A snowstorm might keep your characters in forced proximity to advance their dynamic, or a sprawling city hiding secrets in unexplored corners can provide intrigue. In any novel, the choice of an abandoned hotel versus a cozy small town can make all the difference in the tone of your story. So, don’t pick your setting from a hat—really think about what mood or purpose you want it to serve.
﻿
Six Christmas romance novel settingsAnd without further ado, here are six setting ideas that scream "romance" and "Christmas" in harmony:
1. Small townSmall town settings in romance novels are already perfectly intimate on their own, but when you throw Christmas in the mix, the vibes shift completely. Small shops with twinkling fairy lights hanging from the windows, mom and pop shops with a snowman by the entrance and a Christmas tree in the dining room—I'm getting goosebumps. I mean, we can all agree that small town settings are some of the most mundane yet immersive locals for a novel to take place in, right? It feels almost too obvious to put this on the list, but I couldn’t not mention it.
﻿
2. Forest lodge There’s something about Christmas stories that take place in non-wintery settings that just hit different. No, don’t click off—HEAR ME OUT. Oak lodges lined with deep green garlands, shining white string lights reflecting off the forest trees. The vibe is there if you look for it. A cozy Christmas cabin in a wooded forest is perfect for a romantic getaway. Maybe $ there's even only one bed.$ ﻿
﻿
3. On a mountainsideFor lovers of snowy settings, have you ever heard of a mountain? For lovers of snowy settings, boy do I have the naturally occurring merging of the earth’s crust for you. For lovers of snowy settings, you might lean toward a mountainside lodge complete with blizzards trapping your love interests together and intricately decorated ski lifts. After all, the only thing prettier than Christmas decorations is Christmas decorations in the snow. Mountainside settings provide plenty for your main characters to do, like one teaching the other to snowboard, making s'mores, having a meet-cute at the fireplace of a ski lodge, and going on adventures in the frozen forest. You’ll be able to play around with plenty of scenic descriptions and breathtaking atmospheres (no pun intended).
﻿
4. Return to home townThe only thing more atmospheric than a small town setting is a small home town setting because in this one, you have that added feeling of nostalgia. Home towns are where troubled pasts are unearthed, old flings are reignited, and that quirky childhood friend side character shines. There’s plenty of room for plot-stoking conflict, like meeting a partner's family, tense holiday dinners, and romantic gift-giving. Did I mention the nostalgia factor? Seriously, imagine showing your romantic interest your old stomping grounds and finding a new love for those places that were so formative in your childhood. I’m basically writing your story for you at this point.
﻿
5. Around the world A setting that spans the entire world may sound like a copout, but it holds tons of opportunities for exploring differing landscapes, diverse cultures, and different ways of celebrating holidays. Just imagine a montage like the one in The Devil Wears Prada with Anne Hathaway changing outfits as the city moves around her…except each of those moments take place in a different romantic setting and get the screen time those outfits deserved. Again, writing the story for you. 
There are also plenty of cool plot reasons to explain being in so many different locations: traveling musicians, your main character searching for their long-lost lover, road trip to visit all of a romantic partner's annoyingly spread out family members, etc. If you can’t decide on one romantic setting, just do all of them!
﻿
6. Historical settingsPeriod pieces already dominate the romance genre, but can you imagine if Pride & Prejudice had been set during Christmas? The winter wardrobes? I’m going to faint. Seriously, though, the elegant balls, romantic tension, and skyscraping castles make for beautiful settings overflowing with Christmas descriptions and slow-burn romance. And of course, older time periods allow for entirely different atmospheres and interior design to mess around with.
﻿
Next time you’re looking for the perfect romantic setting for your Christmas story, try one of these ideas to immerse your readers in the holiday spirit!