It’s Monday, December 22nd, 2025. Today marks the 73rd birthday of Canadian fantasy novelist Charles de Lint, as well as the birthday of the late Charlotte Lamb.
We’re down to the final few shopping days before Christmas, and there are more than 30 new books hitting shelves today. If that’s not enough to fill your Christmas list, check back tomorrow – there will be plenty more. But don’t sleep on today’s lineup. There are some especially intriguing releases out now, including…
Rockin' My Muse by Kristin Lee
USA Today bestselling author Kristin Lee returns with a standalone, second‑chance holiday romance – perfect for this time of year. At just over 100 pages, Rockin’ My Muse is a quick read that blends rom‑com charm with a touch of drama, following a rockstar and a PR rep in a small town, with a bit of spiciness added in. Originally a short story in the Let’s Get Naught anthology, it has now been expanded into a full novella‑length tale.
When Delilah is brought in to help steady a troubled rock star’s career, she’s forced to face Diesel, the first love she never truly left behind. As old feelings resurface and a long-kept secret edges toward the light, both must decide whether their shared past is something they can survive again.
Juniper Wiles Does Not Want to Be Queen by Charles de Lint (Juniper Wiles Series)
I mentioned earlier that it was Charles de Lint’s birthday, and it seems he’s the one handing out gifts this year with a brand‑new fantasy novel. The World Fantasy Award–winning author’s latest, Juniper Wiles Does Not Want to Be Queen, is the second book in the “Juniper Wiles” series. As The Phoenix Gazette once wrote of de Lint: “In de Lint’s capable hands, modern fantasy becomes something other than escapism. It becomes folk song, the stuff of urban myth.
Juniper left Hollywood to live quietly in Newford, but a warning from the local faerie seer forces her to attend the town’s ComicFest anyway. When events spiral fast, Juniper learns that avoiding trouble can be just as dangerous as facing it head-on.
A Magical Mending by Kory M. Shrum (A Magical Mending Series)
USA Today bestselling author Kory M. Shrum launches a new series perfect for readers who enjoy the cozy fantasy vibes of T. Kingfisher and Travis Baldree. A Magical Mending is a story of second chances, soft magic, renewed hope, and finding home even after the world has fallen to pieces. It’s the first book in the “A Magical Mending” series.
After surviving a long war, battle-mage Saya Duskbane retreats to her mother’s abandoned cottage by the sea, hoping for quiet and distance from her past. As the village slowly draws her in and her magic begins to change, Saya must learn that healing, not battle, may be the hardest path of all.
Here is a list of all of the new books releasing today:
New Book Releases for December 22nd, 2025
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Based near Toronto, Brandon is a news writer and Book Specialist for Book Notification who covers the world of books, maintains author pages, writes a variety of content, and is an avid reader of non-fiction and biographies.