As it is Christmas in July time in the Hallmark Channel, as we did last year I figured we would do Christmas in July here in the blog. I am always in for Christmas so an excuse to read Christmas books early? I’m there. Also this is probably something more of a Holiday roundup as there is some great multicultural representation in the crop this year. I received a lot of Christmas ARC books, so I’m going to give you all the thoughts here so you can figure out which ones to read/buy/enjoy with a large mug of cocoa in the winter (Whist I read them with rose and red wine in the summer, it still works)
Love, Holly by Emily Stone expected publication date: September 26
Goodreads blurb: A young woman tries to heal a rift in her elderly pen pal’s family in time for Christmas, all while falling in love—and maybe even reuniting with her own family—in this dazzling romance from the author of Always, in December and One Last Gift, Sometimes it takes a stranger to bring you back to yourself. Ever since a car accident tore her family apart, Holly has been part of a lonely-hearts holiday letter–writing club. Each December, she writes to a stranger who is also spending Christmas alone, and receives a letter from another lonely person in return. Usually, the letters go unanswered. That’s the point—the letters are anonymous, and the senders write whatever is in their heart. But this year, the letter Holly receives is different; not only is the letter full of a grief she knows all too well, but its writer, Emma, mentions a place that Holly has visited. When she realizes that she might actually be able to find the letter’s author, Holly becomes determined to reunite Emma with the estranged grandson, Jack, with whom Emma is desperate to reconnect. When Holly finally tracks him down, she remembers that she’s met Jack once before . . . and the connection was electric. The spark between the two of them is still there—until a misunderstanding risks their burgeoning romance and his strained relationship with Emma, too. But Holly is determined; if she can fix Emma’s family, she might also be able to fix her own. Though as it turns out, Holly might have less time to put things right than she thought.
my take: 4.75 out of 5. I am obsessed with Emily stone books. They are Christmas tear jerkers that pull at your heartstrings in all the best ways. Just when you think she could not pull it off again, as here previous two books Always in December and One Last Gift were stellar, here is this book that wrecked me. Trust me there was a lot of crying in the plane whilst I was reading it. It is the perfect mix of devastation and hope, of loss and renewal of serendipity and hope. Here books are not happy Christmas tales, but they use the spirit of Christmas to heal which is a beautiful thing.
Also how can you not like a book that starts with this definition: Serendipity: (noun) finding something good without looking for it.
Another great quote: Some people you know for a lifetime, but they never really make an imprint on your soul – and some people, you only have to know for an instant, to know they will be part of you forever.
You need to pick this book up for the Christmas season, trust me
The Book Club Hotel by Sarah Morgan expected publication date: September 19
Goodreads blurb: This Christmas, USA Today bestselling author Sarah Morgan returns with another heartfelt exploration of change, the power of books to heal, and the enduring strength of female friendship.With its historic charm and picture-perfect library, the Maple Sugar Inn is considered the winter destination. As the holidays approach, the inn is fully booked with guests looking for their dream vacation. But widowed far too young, and exhausted from juggling the hotel with being a dedicated single mom, Hattie Coleman dreams only of making it through the festive season. But when Erica, Claudia and Anna—lifelong friends who seem to have it all—check in for a girlfriends’ book club holiday, it changes everything. Their close friendship and shared love of books have carried them through life’s ups and downs. But Hattie can see they’re also packing some major emotional baggage, and nothing prepares her for how deeply her own story is about to become entwined in theirs. In the span of a week over the most enchanting time of the year, can these four women come together to improve each other’s lives and make this the start of a whole new chapter?
my take: 3.75 out of 5. This was a really sweet take. Not necessary a Christmas book but so close to Christmas and in a Christmas setting that it becomes one. What is has is a hell of a premise. From Simeone who loves her book clubs and her books, I need to get myself a bookclub hotel club. Going on a trip in the guise of discussing a book with your best friends that leave in different places in the world? count me in. The ending tied itself up in a bow too perfectly but then again it is a Christmas book and that’s what we expect right? This would actually make a great Christmas movie.
A good quote: Some people exercised, some people meditated, but all anna had to do to relax was pick up a book and she was immediately transported to another world.
Three Holidays & a Wedding by Uzma Jalaluddin & Marissa Stapley expected publication date: September 26
Goodreads blurb: A multi-faith holiday rom com about the delightful havoc that occurs when Christmas, Eid, and Hanukkah all fall at the same time, and two strangers-turned-friends are snowbound in the small, charming town of Snow Falls along with the cast and crew of a holiday romance movie, nosy family members, and their lifelong crushes. Three times the holiday magic. Three times the chaos. As strangers and seatmates Maryam Aziz and Anna Gibson fly to Toronto over the holidays–Maryam to her sister’s impromptu wedding, and Anna to meet her boyfriend’s wealthy family for the first time–neither expect that severe turbulence will scare them into confessing their deepest hopes and fears to one another. At least they’ll never see each other again. And the love of Maryam’s life, Saif, wasn’t sitting two rows behind them hearing it all. Oops. When Anna, Maryam, Saif, and Maryam’s sister’s bridal party are snowbound at the quirky Snow Falls Inn–on the outskirts of a picture-perfect town where a holiday romance starring Anna’s actor-crush is being filmed–chaos ensues. But as Maryam and Anna start to feel the magic of Snow Falls–and find love beyond their deepest hopes–they just might realize there’s no place they’d rather be for the holidays.
My take: 3.75 out of 5. Although it might be a tad forced I really enjoyed the multicultural aspect of this. A progressive Holiday read and I am in for all of it. This also has like so many wonderful things of Christmas movies and Christmas romance tropes. A lot in one book again but then again why be greedy, I say just enjoy the madness. We have Travel troubles, snowed in, Christmas pageants, Hidden identities, Famous /normal trope, surprise weddings, Christmas towns, the list goes on. The three Christmas past ghosts, becoming different holiday ghosts wax a wonderful take.
Winter in New York by Josie Silver expected publication date: October 3
Goodreads blurb: A young chef stumbles on a secret family recipe that might lead her to the love—and life—she’s been looking for in this stunning novel. When Iris decides to move to New York to restart her life, she realizes she underestimated how big the Big Apple really is—all the nostalgic movies set in New York she’d watched with her mom while eating their special secret-recipe gelato didn’t quite do it justice. But Bobby, Iris’s best friend, isn’t about to let her hide away. He drags her to a famous autumn street fair in Little Italy, and as they walk through the food stalls, a little family-run gelateria catches her eye—could it be the same shop that’s in an old photo of her mother’s? Curious, Iris returns the next day and meets the handsome Gio, who tells her that the shop is in danger of closing. His uncle, sole keeper of their family’s gelato recipe, is in a coma, so they can’t make more. When Iris samples the last remaining batch, she realizes that their gelato and her gelato are one and the same. But how can she tell them she knows their secret recipe when she’s not sure why Gio’s uncle gave it to her mother in the first place? Iris offers her services as a chef to help them re-create the flavor and finds herself falling for Gio and his family. But when Gio’s uncle finally wakes up, all of the secrets Iris has been keeping threaten to ruin the new life—and new love—she’s been building all winter long
my take: 4.25 out of 5. Josie Silver is another queen on the Holiday books and her reads will be must reads for me. One day in December is a classic and it should have gotten a higher grade on my review. This book I liked because although it does finish in the holiday crescendo that is Christmas and New years, it is a slow burn and we go from Fall to winter in a beautiful buildup of both seasons and relationship. Misunderstanding tropes give me a bit of anxiety and at the beginning this was going to drive me insane but it actually was a really interesting development. I love all the characters in this book and want to be invited to their holiday celebrations.
Also i will want to reiterate what this book says; 80s rom coms are not dated and you can reference meg ryan anytime you want. Actually those that do not get them might need a rom com education and sit with the trifecta of them all: Sleepless in Seattle, You’ve Got Mail and When Harry Met Sally.
As I am in my 40s now, I appreciated this description of a leading character – i guess im becoming more mature: “he’s coming on 40 and exudes this air of being a man who knows stuff. He looks as if he could build me a bookshelf and mend his own car with those hands of his, and is the sort of person you need around in a crisis”.
A December to Remember by Jenny Bayliss expected publication date: September 26
Goodreads blurb: Three bickering half-sisters must come together to compete in a series of wacky challenges to access their inheritance in a winsome holiday story from the author of The Twelve Dates of Christmas. Wildly different half-sisters Maggie, Simone, and Star have hardly seen each other since their sprightly summers at Rowan Thorp, their eccentric father Augustus’s home. Known for the fruitful ways in which his bustling knick-knack shop kept the tired town afloat, Augustus was loved by all and known by none, not even his daughters. Now, years later, the three estranged women are unexpectedly reunited at the reading of Augustus’s will. Maggie, Simone, and Star are shocked to find out that Augustus has engineered a series of hoops through which the three women must jump to unlock their inheritance—the last thing any of them want to do. But Maggie and Star desperately need the money. And who would Simone be to resist? Through hilarious goose chases, community mishaps, and one heart-warming winter solstice celebration, love, hope, and reconciliation is in the air, if only the three sisters can let themselves grasp it.
my take: 3.5 out of 5. Jenny Bayliss is an interesting author for me. I should love her Holiday approach and want to love her books, but it always end up in the middle for me. Same thing happened here. They are good Holiday stories just not great. A good predictable but nice, in my category but not a must read or cry fest.
This one had some beautiful moments. The sisters relationship and how it evolved was beautiful. And the sprinkle of magic a well as the solstice holiday was fab, another one for the winter holidays not just Christmas. I want to host a solstice event now on the 21st! this seems fun. I usually have mixed feeling about epilogues but here I really enjoyed it and was very satisfied to get closure on the stories. I actually need a prequel because I want to hear so much more about their ancestors, Augusts and Prudence seem like badasses.
A good quote: you must embrace the cold days and long dark nights and learn to find the jo in them for there is much joy to be found
Wrapped with a Beau by Lillie Vale expected publication date: September 26
Goodreads blurb: In its heyday, Piney Peaks and its beloved Christmas House were made famous by Sleighbells, a romantic holiday movie. 50 years later, the small town is ready for a new love story. As a successful film liaison, Elisha Rowe has her heart set on one thing and one thing only: putting her hometown back on the map. So, when she gets the chance to secure a sequel to Sleighbells, she’s willing to do whatever it takes to make sure everything goes smoothly. Unfortunately, that includes claiming to have already secured permission to film at the historic Christmas house—permission she was very much denied by the gorgeous new owner. Ves Hollins is only back in Piney Peaks long enough to sell the house he inherited from his great-aunt. The holidays have always been tough for Ves, and it’s not any easier when he’s distracted by memories of a Christmas long, long ago, and the undeniable charm of neighbor Elisha. Ready to return home to New York as quickly as possible, he has no plans to put down roots or fall in love…even if Elisha unravels his hesitations like a bad Christmas sweater. There’s no question the two are oppposites in every way. Ves is unquestionably frosty. Elisha is brimming with warmth. He doesn’t do commitment. She never runs from a challenge. But as the two grow closer, they quickly realize that the growing spark between them may be just what the season calls for.
my take: 3.75 out of 5. This book is an ode to Christmas movies and how can I not love that. A girl obsessed with movies living in the backdrop of a famous Christmas movie? sign me up. There is less tension and more just friendliness throughout but it was super cute. Also the red scarf – too cute. I have to admire her movie choices. Her favorite Christmas movies are some of mine: Love Actually and The holiday (the British have just done it so much better). Also I Was obsessed that on her trip to NY she wanted to revisit all the places in her movies: Breakfast at Tiffanys, serendipity and Enchanted, I mean those are some seriously beautiful NY moments and great movies in my book too.
Tati's Tidbits 