9 Winter-Set Queer Stories That Deserve a Netflix Adaptation
- Joao Nsita
- 7 hours ago
- 15 min read
Introduction
There's a special kind of magic reserved for winter stories. The snow, the twinkling lights, the cozy fires—it's a setting that practically begs for heartwarming tales of connection and love. For too long, however, the landscape of mainstream holiday and winter entertainment has been overwhelmingly straight. But in the world of books, queer authors have been crafting stunning, vibrant, and deeply moving stories that are more than ready for their close-up.
The demand for inclusive, joyful, and authentic representation has never been higher. Viewers are hungry for stories that reflect the beautiful diversity of love in all its forms. This is our pitch to the streaming gods. We’ve gathered 9 incredible winter-set queer stories—from laugh-out-loud romances to thrilling mysteries—that are practically begging for a Netflix adaptation. These are the shows we want to binge-watch in our pajamas next winter.
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Main Body Content
1. The Holiday Trap by Roan Parrish
The Vibe: A queer, deeply heartfelt, and modern take on The Holiday, swapping sunny LA for vibrant New Orleans and a cozy Maine cabin.
Why It Would Make a Great Netflix Limited Series: The premise is pure, unadulterated comfort-viewing gold. Greta, a quiet, bookish lesbian from a small town in Maine, is nursing a broken heart. Truman, a gregarious gay man in New Orleans, is feeling adrift and lonely despite his bustling life. Through a house-swapping website, they trade homes for the month of December. The dual narratives—Greta discovering a new community and a surprising connection with a confident, charming local, and Truman finding solace and an unexpected romance in the quiet of Maine—are perfect for a limited series format. Each episode could toggle between the two stories, building the parallel romances against two visually stunning and distinct winter backdrops: the festive, colorful chaos of a New Orleans Christmas and the serene, snow-dusted beauty of a New England winter.
Netflix has seen massive success with both cozy romances and stories centered on found family. A series based on The Holiday Trap would tap directly into this market. According to a 2025 consumer trends report from Nielsen, viewers are actively seeking "feel-good" and "aspirational" content that still feels emotionally grounded. This story, with its warm, inclusive cast of characters and its focus on community and self-discovery, is exactly that. It's a low-stakes, high-reward story that would be an instant addition to everyone's holiday watchlist. The show would celebrate the idea that "home" is a feeling you build with your chosen family, a theme we explore in our guide to designing a space that tells your love story.
The Emotional Heart: This is a tender, introspective story about healing and the courage it takes to build a life that is truly your own. It’s a beautiful exploration of how a change of scenery can change your perspective, allowing you to break free from old patterns and open your heart to new possibilities. The two distinct love stories are developed with such care and emotional intelligence, exploring themes of anxiety, trust, and what it means to be truly seen. A Netflix adaptation could be a quiet, beautiful triumph of heartfelt storytelling.
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2. Season of Love by Helena Greer
The Vibe: Gilmore Girls meets a queer Hallmark movie, with a Jewish Christmas-tree-farm setting and a whole lot of delicious baked goods.
Why It Would Make a Great Netflix Movie: The setting alone is a pitch-perfect concept: Carrigan's, a beloved Christmas tree farm and queer-owned inclusive haven, has been passed down to Miriam, the estranged artist granddaughter of its late owner. Miriam must return home to help her large, chaotic, and loving found family save the farm from financial ruin, all while clashing with the farm's grumpy-but-gorgeous new manager, Noelle. The enemies-to-lovers romance, the "saving the family business" plot, and the incredibly cozy, festive atmosphere are the perfect ingredients for a holiday movie hit.
This story offers a fresh and much-needed perspective by centering a Jewish family in a traditionally Christmas-centric setting, celebrating Hanukkah and Jewish traditions alongside the Christmas festivities. This inclusive approach is exactly what modern audiences are craving. As a recent feature in Variety on holiday movie trends highlighted, there is a strong push for more diverse and representative storytelling within the genre. A Season of Love adaptation would be a vibrant, funny, and heartwarming film that celebrates love in all its forms. The chemistry and banter between Miriam and Noelle would be an absolute delight to watch unfold, reminiscent of the push-and-pull dynamics in some of the best enemies-to-lovers books.
The Emotional Heart: This is a beautiful story about grief, found family, and the courage to embrace your own artistic path. Miriam's journey of reconnecting with her past and finding her place within her chaotic, loving family is the emotional core of the novel. The central romance is a slow burn, built on witty banter and a gradual understanding of each other's vulnerabilities. It’s a story that will leave you with a full heart, a renewed sense of community, and a powerful craving for a fresh-baked pastry.
📚 Buy it on Amazon Here → [Affiliate Link]
3. The Charm Offensive by Alison Cochrun
The Vibe: A sharp, witty, and deeply compassionate look behind the scenes of a Bachelor-style reality show, with a sparkling holiday-season finale.
Why It Would Make a Great Netflix Series: Dev Deshpande is the most successful producer on the hit reality dating show Ever After. His talent? Crafting epic, fairytale love stories for his contestants. But his own love life is a mess. When the show's disgraced tech-genius star, Charlie, turns out to be a socially anxious disaster who has no interest in finding love, Dev is tasked with producing a convincing romance for him. The problem is, the only person Charlie is connecting with is Dev himself. A series could brilliantly satirize the absurd world of reality television while developing the incredibly tender, slow-burn romance between its two leads. The final episodes, set during a lavish, on-camera Christmas, would be the perfect festive finale.
The world is obsessed with reality dating shows, and a scripted series that pulls back the curtain is a proven concept. A series based on The Charm Offensive would appeal to fans of shows like UnREAL, but with a much kinder, more hopeful heart. According to a 2025 report from Statista on media consumption, content that provides a "behind-the-scenes" look at popular industries continues to be a major draw for viewers. The book's fantastic mental health representation—Charlie has OCD and anxiety, and Dev has depression—is handled with incredible care, adding a layer of depth that would resonate strongly with audiences.
The Emotional Heart: This is a powerful and moving story about learning to believe you are worthy of love, even when your brain tells you otherwise. The relationship between Dev and Charlie is built on a foundation of mutual care, understanding, and the revolutionary act of seeing someone for who they truly are, not who the world wants them to be. It’s a hilarious, sharp, and profoundly romantic book that champions the idea that the greatest love stories are the ones that are real. It's a story that reminds us that real love is about more than grand gestures, a theme we explore in our guide to building a deeper emotional connection.
📚 Buy it on Amazon Here → [Affiliate Link]
4. Whiteout by Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, Ashley Woodfolk, and Nicola Yoon
The Vibe: Love Actually meets a thrilling YA mystery, set during a once-in-a-century Atlanta snowstorm.
Why It Would Make a Great Netflix Movie or Miniseries: This book is an event. Written by six of the biggest superstars in Young Adult fiction, it follows twelve interconnected Black teens as they navigate new love, old heartbreaks, and a city-wide scavenger hunt during a massive snowstorm on Christmas Eve. The central story follows Stevie, who is trying to win back her ex-girlfriend, Sola, with an elaborate apology tour across the snow-covered city. Along the way, their story intersects with a whole cast of charming, funny, and relatable teens. A movie adaptation would be a visual feast—the contrast of a southern city like Atlanta completely blanketed in snow is inherently cinematic. The ensemble cast and intersecting storylines are perfect for a fast-paced, heartwarming, and thrilling holiday feature.
The "shared universe" concept, with multiple authors contributing to a single narrative, is a huge draw, and bringing that powerhouse authorial team on as executive producers would be a major selling point. The book’s blend of romance, friendship, and a high-stakes scavenger hunt plot makes it a multi-genre hit that would appeal to a broad audience. As a recent article from The Hollywood Reporter discussed, ensemble cast films are making a major comeback, and Whiteout is a perfect vehicle for a cast of exciting, up-and-coming young actors. The book is a celebration of Black love and joy, and its hopeful, celebratory tone would make it an instant holiday classic. The epic quest for love is as grand as the gestures in our playlist of the best songs to dedicate to your girlfriend.
The Emotional Heart: This is a joyful, hopeful, and deeply romantic story about the power of grand gestures and the importance of fighting for the people you love. It’s a beautiful tapestry of different kinds of love—romantic, platonic, and familial. It perfectly captures the magical, anything-can-happen feeling of a snow day, and it's a powerful and necessary celebration of Black teen romance in a genre where it has been historically underrepresented.
📚 Buy it on Amazon Here → [Affiliate Link]
5. Winter's Orbit by Everina Maxwell
The Vibe: A high-stakes, political space opera with a cozy, arranged-marriage, "there was only one bed" romance at its heart.
Why It Would Make a Great Netflix Series: Prince Kiem, the fun-loving black sheep of the imperial family, is forced into a politically motivated arranged marriage with the quiet and reclusive Count Jainan after Jainan's first husband is killed in a mysterious accident. The two must navigate their awkward new marriage while uncovering a conspiracy that threatens the stability of the entire empire. While not set on Earth, the planet of Iskat has a cold, wintery feel, and the political intrigue and high-stakes action would make for a gripping, binge-worthy sci-fi series.
Netflix has had huge success with genre shows like The Witcher and Shadow and Bone, and there is a massive and underserved audience for queer-led sci-fi and fantasy. A series based on Winter's Orbit would be a perfect addition to their slate. The world-building is rich and cinematic, and the blend of political thriller with a tender, slow-burn romance is a winning combination. A 2025 trends report from Nielsen highlighted science fiction as one of the fastest-growing genres in streaming, and a story like this, with its universal themes of trust and communication, would have broad appeal.
The Emotional Heart: This is a beautiful and incredibly satisfying story about healing from trauma and learning to trust again. The romance between Kiem and Jainan is a masterclass in communication (and miscommunication), as they slowly break down each other's walls and find a genuine, supportive partnership. The novel is a powerful exploration of how gentle, patient love can be a radical act of healing. The journey of its characters is as profound as the emotional depth in our review of Happy After All by Maisey Yates.
📚 Buy it on Amazon Here → [Affiliate Link]
6. A Little Light Mischief by Cat Sebastian
The Vibe: A delightful, cozy, and surprisingly steamy historical romance novella set in a snowy, festive English country house.
Why It Would Make a Great Netflix "Episode" (like in an Anthology Series): This novella is short, sweet, and utterly charming. Alice, a straight-laced and quietly yearning lady's companion, finds herself increasingly flustered and fascinated by Moll, a brash and unapologetic lady's maid (who also happens to be a thief). When they are thrown together during a holiday house party, sparks fly. This story is a perfect, bite-sized piece of historical romance that would be a fantastic installment in a holiday-themed romance anthology series, like a queer, historical version of Modern Love.
The massive success of Bridgerton has proven that audiences are hungry for historical romance, and there is a growing demand for queer stories within that genre. A project based on Cat Sebastian's work would be a critical darling. The story is a wonderful exploration of class dynamics and features two deeply compelling female characters. As a recent article from Book Riot on historical romance trends noted, there is a strong reader interest in stories that focus on working-class characters and queer relationships, a niche this novella fills beautifully.
The Emotional Heart: This is a story about desire, liberation, and the thrill of finding someone who sees and accepts every part of you. The chemistry between the proper Alice and the "wicked" Moll is electric. It’s a joyful and empowering story about a woman breaking free from the constraints of her life and embracing her own desires. It’s a perfect, cozy read that will leave you feeling warm and completely charmed, capturing the exciting, forbidden feeling of the romance in our review of The Deal by Elle Kennedy.
📚 Buy it on Amazon Here → [Affiliate Link]
7. Mistlefoe by Kimberly Lemming
The Vibe: A hilarious and steamy fantasy romance that feels like a cozy D&D one-shot with a grumpy orc and a sunshine human.
Why It Would Make a Great Animated Netflix Special: In the world of fantasy romance, Kimberly Lemming is a rising star, known for her humor and heart. Mistlefoe is a delightful holiday novella that turns classic fantasy tropes on their head. It features a cheerful human woman and a grumpy, himbo orc who are forced to work together during a winter festival. An animated special could fully embrace the fun and charm of the fantasy setting, bringing the adorable and hilarious characters to life. The "cozy fantasy" subgenre is exploding, and an animated feature would be a perfect, low-risk way for Netflix to tap into this trend.
The #fantasyromance (or #romantasy) genre is one of the biggest forces on #BookTok, and the "human falls for a monster/orc" trope is particularly popular. An adaptation of Mistlefoe would be a viral hit. Animation would allow for a faithful and visually stunning depiction of the fantasy world and the non-human characters, appealing to both romance fans and fans of adult animation like Arcane or Castlevania. The story is a joyful, low-angst romp that would be a refreshingly different addition to the holiday line-up.
The Emotional Heart: This is a pure, unadulterated dose of joy. It’s a story that is unapologetically fun, sweet, and spicy. The grumpy/sunshine dynamic between the two leads is perfectly executed, and their banter is laugh-out-loud funny. It’s a book that celebrates finding love in the most unexpected of places and proves that even a grumpy orc deserves a happily ever after. The story's focus on an unlikely pairing is as charming as the ones we explore in our guide to odd-couple relationships that work.
📚 Buy it on Amazon Here → [Affiliate Link]
8. Dash & Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn & David Levithan
The Vibe: A whirlwind, literary scavenger hunt through a magical, Christmas-lit New York City.
Why It Would Make a Great Netflix Revival or "Next Chapter" Movie: This book already has a beloved, one-season Netflix adaptation, but its world and characters are so rich, they deserve another visit. The story of the cynical Dash and the optimistic Lily, who trade dares, dreams, and desires in a red notebook they pass back and forth throughout the city, is pure magic. A revival movie could pick up with the characters a few years later, perhaps as they navigate college or their early twenties during another holiday season.
The original series was a critical and audience favorite, praised for its charm and its wonderful queer side characters, especially Lily's brother, Langston, and his own budding romance. A revival would tap into the massive well of nostalgia and love for the original. The "scavenger hunt" format is endlessly adaptable and visually exciting, and a "next chapter" story could explore more mature themes while retaining the original's whimsical spirit. The existing fanbase and the timeless appeal of a New York Christmas story make it a surefire hit. The book is a love letter to the city and the power of stories, a theme we celebrate in our own love stories set in iconic cities.
The Emotional Heart: This is a story about the power of words to connect us and the courage it takes to step outside of your comfort zone. It’s a celebration of being different and finding someone who not only accepts your quirks but cherishes them. It’s a deeply romantic and hopeful story that captures the unique, anything-is-possible magic of New York City during the holidays.
📚 Buy it on Amazon Here → [Affiliate Link]
Conclusion
The landscape of holiday entertainment is slowly but surely becoming more inclusive, and these nine stories are proof of the incredible, heartwarming, and diverse narratives that are just waiting to be told. From cozy cabins in Maine to distant star systems, these books show that queer love stories can and should exist in every genre and every setting.
Netflix, if you're listening, the audience is here. We are ready for our queer holiday classics. We are ready to see these beautiful, funny, and deeply human stories light up our screens and become a cherished part of our winter traditions for years to come.
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FAQ Section
Q1: What defines a "winter-set queer story"? A: A winter-set queer story is a book where the winter season—including holidays like Christmas, Hanukkah, or New Year's—is a significant part of the setting or plot, and where the main characters and their relationships are part of the LGBTQ+ community. This can range from a lighthearted holiday romance to a more serious drama or even a sci-fi novel that takes place in a cold, wintery environment.
Q2: I'm looking for a cozy, low-stress read. Which of these is the best fit? A: For a truly cozy and low-stress experience, you can't go wrong with Season of Love by Helena Greer or A Little Light Mischief by Cat Sebastian. Both feature charming settings, heartwarming found families, and gentle, low-angst romances that are perfect for curling up with on a cold day. The Holiday Trap by Roan Parrish is also an excellent choice for its deeply comforting and heartfelt tone.
Q3: Are there any spicy or "open-door" romances on this list? A: Yes! If you're looking for a story with more heat, Mistlefoe by Kimberly Lemming and The Charm Offensive by Alison Cochrun both feature steamy scenes. Cat Sebastian's historical novellas, including A Little Light Mischief, are also known for being surprisingly spicy. The key is to check reviews or story content warnings if you're looking for a specific heat level.
Q4: Why is it important to have queer stories in the holiday genre? A: Holiday entertainment is often about universal themes of love, family, and coming home. It's incredibly important for queer audiences to see their own lives, love, and families reflected in these joyful and hopeful narratives. Inclusive storytelling validates queer experiences and shows that everyone deserves a magical, heartwarming holiday love story. It moves representation from solely being about struggle to also being about joy.
Q5: I love the idea of a sci-fi or fantasy queer story. Where can I find more? A: The world of queer SFF (sci-fi and fantasy) is vast and wonderful! Authors like T.J. Klune (The House in the Cerulean Sea), Tamsyn Muir (Gideon the Ninth), and Neon Yang (The Black Tides of Heaven) are fantastic places to start. Following SFF-focused reviewers on #BookTok and Goodreads is a great way to discover new and exciting titles in the genre.
Q6: Are these books appropriate for young adult readers? A: Whiteout and Dash & Lily's Book of Dares are specifically written for a Young Adult (YA) audience and are perfect for teens. Most of the other books on this list are adult romance or fiction and may contain mature themes or explicit content. It's always a good idea to check the book's specific genre classification and read reviews if you're unsure.
Q7: What does it mean for a book to be "character-driven"? A: A character-driven story is one where the plot unfolds primarily because of the characters' personalities, decisions, and relationships, rather than external events. The focus is on the internal journey of the characters—their growth, their fears, and their emotional development. The books on this list are all strongly character-driven, which is what makes them feel so heartfelt and emotionally resonant.
Q8: Some of these books are novellas. What's the appeal of a shorter story? A: Novellas are perfect for holiday reading. They offer a complete, satisfying story that can often be read in a single cozy afternoon. They are a great way to discover a new author or to get a quick dose of festive cheer without the commitment of a full-length novel. They are the literary equivalent of a perfect holiday short film.
Q9: How has the rise of #BookTok affected the popularity of queer romance? A: #BookTok has had a massive, positive impact. It has created a space where authentic, word-of-mouth recommendations can turn books into bestsellers overnight. It has allowed queer romance to find a huge and passionate audience, proving to traditional publishers that there is a strong market for these stories. It has also helped to destigmatize the romance genre and champion diverse voices.
Q10: Beyond Netflix, what makes these stories so adaptable for the screen? A: These stories are highly adaptable because they have strong, clear concepts (like a house swap or a fake dating plot), compelling and relatable characters, and settings that are visually rich and atmospheric. They are built around witty, sharp dialogue that would translate beautifully to a screenplay. Most importantly, they have a powerful emotional core that would resonate with a broad audience.
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