The Christmas Wish by Lindsey Kelk
Goodreads blurb: Newly single lawyer Gwen Baker is hoping that a family Christmas—countryside, a mountain of food and festive films—will salve the sting of her career hanging by a thread and her heart being trampled on. Because everyone else has their life sorted: even Dev, her boy-next-door crush, is now a tall, dark and handsome stranger with a fiancée. She can’t help wishing her future was clearer. Then Gwen wakes up to discover it’s Christmas day all over again. Like Groundhog Day but with eggnog. And family arguments. On repeat. As she figures out how to escape her own particular Christmas hell, Dev is the one bright spot. He might be all grown-up but underneath he’s just as kind and funny as she remembers. Maybe, just maybe, her heart can be mended after all. But how do you fall in love with someone who can’t remember you from one day to the next
This is an ARC review thanks to a gift from the publisher, the book came out Nov 15th, 2022
My take: 4 out of 5. This was an adorable book. Groundhog Day meets Christmas Day and I was a fan. Loved the characters and the family dynamics and not as predictable as one might think of what the outcome might be. One of my favorite Christmas books of 2022. A quote I loved: “ loneliness is how you know something is missing… feeling lonely means you havent given up hope” as well as this line on the little mermaid: ” I never had been convinced of their happily ever after, emotionally healthy young men dont marry 16 year ol fish child simply because they are very pretty and good at karaoke and their dog likes them”
The Naughty or Nice Clause by Kate Callaghan
Goodreads blurb: When Lyla’s father retired as CEO of the toy company which has been in their family for generations, she was meant to receive his shares. Instead, she discovers the company is bankrupt and her father has given her shares to Mason Klaus, an investor known in the corporate world for his cold and callous nature. Much to Lyla’s frustration, her only option is to run the company with him, despite their evident loathing for one another. When Mason cancels the annual Christmas party, Lyla throws it anyway – only for the event of the season to result in a terrible fire. With the offices and Lyla’s credibility ruined, Mason offers her a deal: he’ll forget her part in the disaster, but she must join his family for the twelve days of their Christmas holidays. Taken to a fantastical winter wonderland, Lyla hopes that she might discover some of the secrets Mr Klaus is hiding, and maybe even a way to get her company back. However, when Mason introduces her to the secret village as his fiancée, she is horrified to realise she has no choice but to go along with the pretence – because the cost of bringing an outsider to their magical land is far too high.
This is an ARC review thanks to a gift from the publisher, the book came out Nov 8th, 2022
My take: 3.5 out of 5. The name of this book really doesn’t make much sense with the actual book. Yes there is a list that appears once but that’s not what this is about. It sweet and a bit absurd at time but I cant truly say no to a romance with a sprinkle of magic. However there are better Christmas books out there and plenty I’ve reviewed here.
The Christmas Clash by Suzanne Park
Goodreads blurb: Who’s naughty and nice at Riverwood Mall? In this hilarious holiday rom-com, two rivals get together to save their families’ livelihoods, and Christmas, too! Chloe Kwon can’t stand Peter Li. It’s always been that way. Their families don’t get along either: their parents operate rival restaurants in the Riverwood Mall food court―Korean food for the Kwons and Chinese food for the Lis. Now it’s the holiday season and Chloe’s the photographer at the mall’s Santa Land, and Peter works at the virtual reality North Pole experience right across the atrium. It’s all Chloe can do to avoid Peter’s smug, incredibly photogenic face. But it turns out the mall is about to be sold to a developer and demolished for condos. Eviction notices are being handed out right before Christmas. Their parents don’t know what to do, and soon Chloe and Peter realize that the two of them need to join efforts to try to save the mall. Just when it seems like they can put aside their differences and work closely (very closely) together, they discover that the Kwon and Li feud goes far deeper than either of them realize.
This is an ARC review thanks to a gift from the publisher, the book came out October 5th, 2022
My take: 3 out of 5. This really isn’t a Christmas book. It happens during Christmas but it doesn’t have much to do with Christmas, apart from the Santa village where one of the characters work. Also there is little Christmas cheer. The main holiday is actually Thanksgiving. It’s a cute YA and an easy read, it’s like a predictable but nice Made for TV Christmas Movie
Tati's Tidbits 