I started doing the book version of Christmas in July three years ago and I loved it so we are back for one more year. Inspired by Hallmark, I’m reading the Christmas ARCs I get in this season, to prepare you as to what you should purchase/order/reserve on Libby for the Christmas season. We are making it bigger this year, we had 3 in 2022, 6 in 2023, 8 in 2024 and 9 this year (I’ll read more throughout the year and post those closer to the holidays. There are 4 books that we are Saving for Christmas in actual December because half haven’t even been available in NetGalley the new Christmas books from Hannah grace, Lindsey Kelk and the other 2 I have not been approved for the Arc so I’m going to have to wait to September/October like all of you, the new Christmas books from BK Borison and Fallon Ballard)
Grace & Henry’s Holiday Movie Marathon by Matthew Norman
Goodreads blurb: A sentimental advertising creative and a blunt, no-nonsense bar owner find a second chance at love while binge-watching iconic holiday movies in this poignant and heartwarming romance, from the author of Charm City Rocks and All Together Now. The new year barely began when Grace White and Henry Adler both lost their spouses. Now, nearly a year later, the first holiday season since their “Great and Terrible Sadnesses” approaches. Although their mothers scheme to matchmake the two surviving spouses, it’s clear that neither is ready to date again. Yet no one understands what they’re going through better than each other, and a delicate friendship is born. When Henry sees an ad for a Christmas movie marathon—once an annual tradition for him and his wife—Grace offers to watch some films with him, despite her aversion to a few of his picks. Her two young kids, Ian and Bella, also join in whenever possible—bedtimes permitting, of course. With each movie, Grace and Henry’s shared grief eases as they start to see a life beyond the sadness. But as they draw closer, other romantic possibilities leave them both uncertain about their future together. Is their bond merely the result of loneliness and shared circumstances, or have they found something that’s worth taking a shot at . . . again?
This is an ARC review thanks to a gift from the publisher.
my take: 3.75 out of 5. This was an adorable story. In my Hallmark Movie ranking it definitely is even a bit higher than predictable but nice. I love the concept of hanging out to watch Christmas movies, but I wanted more movies! there are so many to choose from they could have gone even more. I even added some movies to my list, I have not watched Planes, Trains and Automobiles and I definitely do not remember a Charlie Brown Christmas so might need to revisit that one. Edward Scissorhands however was a stretch for a Christmas movie. I will also add in that Die Hard will never be considered a Christmas movie for me. I get why its on the list but its a no for me. Bella is a highlight I loved her.
Christmas at the Ranch by Julia McKay
Goodreads blurb: A swoony second chance holiday romance, about a woman who escapes family scandal in the city by fleeing to Evergreen Lake for Christmas, where she first found love and heartbreak at Wilder Ranch. On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to a run-in with my ex, two flat tires, and a miracle horse to help me find love. With the holidays around the corner and her father under arrest for financial fraud, journalist Everly Oakes has no idea where to turn. She’s only certain of one she needs to get away. Fate and her subconscious take her to Evergreen Lake, the picturesque town where she spent her happiest Christmas as a teenage girl – and fell in love for the first time. Stranded due to car trouble and a blizzard, Everly is rescued by Charlie Wilder, father of her first love, who offers her the guest house at Wilder Ranch. Tate, he promises, is out of town. But kismet and Christmas magic have other ideas, and when Tate comes home early and finds a half-dressed Everly in his cabin, all bets are off for what else the holidays will hold this year.
This is an ARC review thanks to a gift from the publisher.
my take: 4 out of 5. I really enjoyed her book last year, The Holiday Honeymoon Switch, and this year she does not disappoint. It kind of helped that I’ve been on a Cowboy romance kick so maybe I appreciated the setting even more? Everly is a well developed character and you totally feel for her journey. Also you have to love that she’s a bit of a book lover as well. It is also not that predictable (again its a Christmas story so it will be a bit predictable) and the connections are sweet and enjoyable. The local was a whole character in itself and now I want to get lost in Evergreen Lake.
Yours for the Season by Emily Stone
Goodreads blurb: Could a fake relationship with your ex over Christmas in Scotland be the perfect opportunity for revenge—or a second chance at love? One woman is about to find out in this charming holiday romance from the author of Always, in December and A Winter Wish. Melanie has not had a good year. Things are definitely not going as planned in her work life, her best friend has moved to the other side of the world, and her favorite bagel shop is closing down. But the real reason this year has been awful is because Finn, the man who she was sure was the love of her life, dumped her. In front of everyone. At his sister’s engagement party. So when Finn shows up at her doorstep two weeks before Christmas asking if she’ll help him, her first instinct is to slam the door in his face—or punch him. But he has a proposal for her. Finn wants Melanie to spend the week of Christmas with him. He has to face the holiday at a vacation cottage in the Scottish Highlands with his two perfect siblings who are happily paired off with their perfect partners. His mother is obsessed with the idea of a perfect Christmas—and to try and help, Finn may have told his mother he and Mel are dating again. All she has to do is come with him and pretend they’re back together. Melanie may hate Finn, but she loves his mom. And with her own parents on a trip, it looks like the only way to spend the holiday with someone she cares about is to suffer through being around the person she despises most. So Melanie agrees—on one condition. At the end of the week, Finn will allow Mel to publicly dump him—in front of his family—so she can get her dignity back and he can experience the same humiliation she felt. As they embark on seven days with Finn’s family, Mel tells herself it’s only a week. She just has to pretend to still be in love with him. Until she starts to lose track of which feelings are fake, and which are for real…
This is an ARC review thanks to a gift from the publisher.
my take: 3.5 out of 5. Emily Stone is my go to Christmas author always and her books are excellent always. Her take this year its not bad, its just ok for me and that’s a bit of a disappointment as I was expecting to love it and I just liked it. I think my issue is that although I loved the concept of the whole family together and the fake dating was fun, things we’re just to evident. I don’t know if it’s because I know her books to well or I know Christmas stories too well, but the predictability meant that three of the storylines I saw from miles away. When the reveals came it was a bit of a dud. Also, I get why Mel is great, she is a wonderful character but why is Finn? He’s just a baby, I did not love him and also did not get what Mel saw in him. Big props for all the Christmas activities, I kind of want to copy the Chopped style Christmas competition, called Come dine with me here.
Christmas People by Iva-Marie Palmer
Goodreads blurb: Some people are Christmas people, but Jill Jacobs is most certainly not. She hasn’t been ever since her hometown love broke her heart on Christmas Day three years ago. After that, Jill moved to L.A. to pursue her dream of becoming a screenwriter. She hasn’t been home in years to avoid her ex, but this winter she finds herself back in drab, suburban Illinois for the holidays. After one very hazy night, Jill wakes up to a hometown that’s filled with jolly neighbors, covered in pristine white snow, and shimmering with the smell of nutmeg. She realizes that this is more than just a bad hangover… she’s stuck in a Heartfelt movie. One set in her town, starring real people from her life, including her family, her high school crush (uber perfect, owns a bakery, and definitely a Christmas Person), and of course, her ex —handsome as ever and now exclusively clad in plaid flannel. The only way out of this bizarro world is to complete the plot of the movie, including a holiday bake off and a cookie-sweet love story. To get home in time for Christmas, Jill must act out a picture-perfect holiday romance with the one that got away, all while her ex watches on. Fa la la la freaking la….
This is an ARC review thanks to a gift from the publisher.
my take: 3 out of 5. Jill is so insufferable even all the hallmark (heartfelt!!) magic can’t make her be logical or stop stupidity miscommunications. The setting is the perfect traditional Christmas book, I mean this is a Hallmark storyline if there ever was one, shes literally inside a Hallmark movie, but I could not care to root for Jill. I was rooting for Grant and even loved her baker crush, but didnt want any of them to end up with Jill. That does not bode well for the story.
You Make It Feel Like Christmas by Sophie Sullivan
Goodreads blurb: All bets are off when a single-minded photographer and a professional hockey player are forced to spend a week together on his sister’s Christmas tree farm, perfect for fans of Jenny Holiday and Maggie Knox. Maisie Smart has a don’t-look-back policy–not on the choice she made to be a photographer (despite her family’s wishes) and not on the one-night stand she had six months ago. Sleeping with someone she barely knew was out of character; sleeping with a professional hockey player who bolted the morning after is a whole new level of embarrassing. Getting invited to spend the week at Tickle Tree Farm with her family this Christmas is a sure way to fill her with holiday spirit. Until the universe throws a Grinch in her festive plans in the form of the one man she hoped to avoid. Nick King is a mess. After a significant injury lands him on the bench for every game for the rest of the month, he has more time to dwell on the one night stand he can’t get out of his head. With time on his hands, his anxiety hovering, and the holidays around the corner, he figures visiting his sister and nephew at their Christmas tree farm will be a good way to lie low and sort himself out. He’s in for a surprise when it turns out Maisie is staying at his sister’s and his attraction for her hasn’t lessened one bit in the last six months. Apparently, neither has her anger at him for bailing. But Christmas is the time for second chances, and the forced proximity may help Nick and Maisie unwrap feelings neither of them can walk away from twice.
This is an ARC review thanks to a gift from the publisher.
my take: 4.25 out of 5. This book gave me all the feels and now I want to go and read more Sophie Sullivan as this was my first book by her. The banter was great, its steamy but appropriate (I mean hot hockey player for the win) and its set in a freaking Christmas Tree farm in a Town called Merry Washington. Adorable! Also Maisie’s Christmas love goes after my heart, all her Christmas activities I want to copy. And also what absolute level of toxicity of her family, and yet she’s still so lovable, I was a fan. one of my favorite quotes:
” Adulting should come with awards. Or points! points would be epic. You could save them up and give yourself prizes” – i want adulting points!
Also Im writing this currently leaving Seattle and having driven through the Washington countryside and I kind of love that 3 out of my 9 books were set here!
The Christmas Bookshop by Jenny Colgan
Goodreads blurb: Carmen has always worked in her local department store. So, when the gorgeous old building closes its doors for good, she is more than a little lost. When her sister, Sofia, mentions an opportunity in Edinburgh – a cute little bookshop, the spare room in her house – Carmen is reluctant, she was never very good at accepting help. But, short on options, she soon finds herself pulling into the snowy city just a month before Christmas. What Sofia didn’t say is that the shop is on its last legs and that if Carmen can’t help turn things around before Christmas, the owner will be forced to sell. Privately, Sofia is sure it will take more than a miracle to save the store, but maybe this Christmas, Carmen might surprise them all…
my take: 3 out of 5. This is the only one on the list, that is not a new book this year. It however has had a lot of buzz and considered somewhat of a classic, and since it had generated sequels and there were new ones this year I figured I should check out a classic for this recap. It was not the greatest of ideas. The concept of it being set in a bookstore in Edinburgh during Christmas is lovely and the locale descriptions and vibes made it not tough the 2s. However the romance element of it is not so great, and Carmen can be quite annoying. I tried to read the second book, I started but just couldn’t go past 10%. Its an ok christmas book, but there are better out there.
A Ferry Merry Christmas by Debbie Macomber
Goodreads blurb: A delayed ferryboat brings people together in the best of ways during the holiday season in this enchanting Christmas novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Debbie Macomber. Avery and Reed Bond have always shared a close-knit relationship, having weathered life’s storms side by side. Even so, Avery often finds herself exasperated by her brother’s relentless matchmaking, while Reed can’t resist teasing his sister—after all, isn’t that what siblings do? Following the recent passing of their beloved Gram, the woman who lovingly raised them, Reed and Avery decide to honor her memory by spending Christmas together.
However, their holiday plans take an unexpected turn when a mechanical failure strands Avery on the ferry in the middle of the Puget Sound and Reed waiting for her arrival. At first, the inconvenience seems to halt the festivities, but soon, Avery and Reed discover that this unforeseen detour might just be a blessing in disguise. While stuck on the ferry, Avery meets a handsome sailor and witnesses a Christmas miracle that reignites her belief in the holiday spirit. Meanwhile, Reed runs into a coworker who’s also waiting for a family member to arrive, sparking an unexpected and delightful connection. In this tale of holiday magic, the Bond siblings find themselves swept up in taking a chance on love, proving that sometimes the best moments in life come when we least expect them.
This is an ARC review thanks to a gift from the publisher.
my take: 3.5 out of 5. I am writing this review, having just walked by the ferry station where most of the story happens, and I loved how it made the story come to life even more. Its a very quick read, and as with most of Debbie Macombers, heartfelt and sweet in a not necessarily obvious way. Christmas magic is in spades. And although the double serendipity might seem a bit obvious, it actually works out and is super sweet in the end. The ending birthday party was absolutely adorable. A picture of the Ferry:
The Best Christmas Choir Ever by Elizabeth Hrib
Goodreads blurb: ’Tis the season to sing your heart out in this cozy holiday romance that mixes a dash of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever with a pinch of Pitch Perfect—the singing senior citizens are the sugar on top. “A swoony, often laugh-out-loud read about believing in yourself and taking chances. It’s a harmony of second chances, forced proximity and festive mayhem
in this warm and bright holiday romance! Music was everything to professional soprano Charlie Ward…until her brother died, leaving her lost in grief. But when her beloved Gram moves into the Glendale Retirement Village, Charlie is cajoled into temporarily volunteering to direct the community’s new choir, their sights set on winning the Annual Christmas Choir Competition.
Only, the home’s activities director happens to be the super-cute guy she once spent a hot, hazy, sexy summer with. Julian Guerrero hasn’t forgotten Charlie Ward. Not even a little. Fortunately, he has his hands full with the lively residents who are determined to win, even if they must twerk their way to victory. Amid mince tarts, gingerbread houses and Christmas lights, Charlie and Julian must find a way to transform their quirky singing seniors into a sensation. It’ll take hard work. It’ll take heart. And it’ll take just enough holiday magic to surprise everyone…Charlie most of all.
This is an ARC review thanks to a gift from the publisher.
my take: 3.25 out of 5. I am divided on this book. On the one hand, its adorable, and as a choir singer the whole concept of a retirement home choir competing was cute and adorable. There was also some sweet second chance romance that always works for the vibes. My main issue with this is, and it happens with a lot of the Christmas movies/books is that can happiness only happen if you leave your high powered super successful career and follow the man in whatever crazy situation/small town? spoiler alert: I mean I get it but really could there have been a compromise. Did the absolutely promising singer only need to be a Choir director for a retirement home? Could she do a concert ever so often in NY? i mean they are driving distance. Funny thing, I thought I had heard every single Christmas Carol ever but I had never heard o Grandma got run over by a Reindeer. And to make it even weirder, its the second book in this recap that features it as it also appears in a Ferry Christmas.
My Favorite Holidate by Lauren Blakely
Goodreads blurb: Wanted: one hot billionaire to pose as my Christmas boyfriend. Must be willing to make my cheating ex jealous when you kiss me under the mistletoe at all the holiday parties. Bonus points if you make him cry. To my surprise my billionaire boss is more than up for the challenge of coming down the chimney as my holiday boyfriend. The sexy single dad desperately needs a plus one at a Christmas Eve wedding, where he’s the best man and I’m the maid of honor. And since my ex is in the wedding party too, my boss and I team up as a pair of insta-lovebirds for the holiday season, including during the annual week-long Christmas competition leading up to the snowy destination wedding. But soon staying up late to string the best popcorn balls ever turns into a scorching night in his arms where the chestnuts aren’t the only thing roasting on the open fire. Can all these winter wonderland nights seeking revenge turn into the real thing when we return to the office? Or are we destined to go the way of a Christmas tree on New Year’s?
This is an ARC review thanks to a gift from the publisher.
My take: 2.5 out of 5. First of all I do not understand why this was presented as an ARC as a new book, when in reality it came out last year. In a way that was positive because I could both read and listen to the audiobook as it was available in the library. But in general I just did not love this story. It was a bit too on the nose. First of all if you are doing fake dating, there has to be a portion of will they wont they, but here they actually start to hook up at the beginning of their fake dating, which really means is it really fake dating? The best part of the story is all the gifts/cute things her fake boyfriend does for her, which makes it very evident he’s into her, so why do w have to read a whole book for her to figure it out?
Tati's Tidbits 