Mini Reviews: Holiday Edition

 

The holidays can be busy and stressful. It's really nice to be able to sit down and relax with a book-- there's nothing like it! Whether you are looking for an emotional holiday novel this season or a fluffy romance, I've got your covered. 

 

 

The Christmas Countdown by Holly Cassidy

Pages: 316

Genre: Holiday/Romance

Pub. Date: October 22, 2024

Oublisher: Putnam

Source: Publisher for review

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

 

 

Goodreads says, "She’s given up on love and Christmas…but fate has other plans.

All Callie wants for Christmas is to hibernate. She's still reeling from being dumped by her childhood sweetheart, and under no circumstances will she go home for the holidays considering her ex will be right next door with his new, perfect partner. Callie is officially in grinch mode, but her meddling sister, Anita, won’t let her give up on life, love, and Christmas quite so easily.

Anita stages a Christmas intervention for Callie with a homemade Advent calendar challenge—cheerful tasks to push Callie out of her comfort zone and into the holiday spirit, inspired by a childhood tradition. Callie reluctantly plays along, but when she comes face-to-face with a charming baker who just might be the spoonful of sugar she needs, her strict rules on love and the holidays are tested.

As they strike a deal to do the activities together, could the twenty four little doors on Callie’s Advent calendar not only open up one, but two closed-off hearts?"

 

Callie is feeling really down this holiday season. Her ex-boyfriend, Oliver, dumped her and everyone thought they were destined to be together since they were little kids, including her mother. She doesn't  want to return home this holiday season, because not only will she have to face things, Oliver is coming home and he lives next door. He is bringing his new girlfriend and this isn't something Callie wants to  deal with. Enter Anita, Callie's overbearing and energetic sister who is determined to get Callie out of her holiday funk. She makes a homemade Advent calendar that gives her new activities and holiday  challenges each day. Callie decides to give it a try and during one of the activities she meets a good looking baker, Marco. Cue the holiday magic! Holly Cassidy's The Christmas Countdown is a sweet holiday romance that will definitely get readers in the holiday spirit.

The Christmas Countdown is a sweet fluffy romance, so if that is your thing, definitely check it out this holiday season. If you want something light, not overly heavy, and filled with a lot of holiday details, this one is perfect. The addition of the Advent calendar was a lot of fun and felt very nostalgic. My only gripe was Callie's sister. I did get annoyed at her meddling as well as their mother's, but other than that, I felt like this was a heartwarming read that's perfect for fans of Jenny Bayliss.

Love, Holly by Emily Stone

Pages: 400

Genre: Holiday/Romance

Pub. Date: September 26, 2023

Publisher: Random House

Source: Personal Copy

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

 

 

Goodreads says, "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."

 

Nothing has been the same for Holly since that fateful Christmas Eve. Holly and her pregnant sister, Lily, were on a road trip to spend the holidays with their parents. They stopped at a cafe and Holly met a handsome stranger who caught her eye immediately. They exchanged pleasantries, but this is all forgotten when later that evening while driving, they get into a horrible accident. This accident claims the life of Lily's baby, and in turn, the two sisters have stopped talking as Lily feels Holly wasn't being a responsible driver. As the years progressed, Holly was depressed to spend the holidays alone, so she joins a pen pal group that exchanges letters to other grief stricken and lonely people in the hopes that it provides comfort and camaraderie. This year Holly receives a letter from a woman named Emma, who is sick and approaching the end of her life. Her one regret is that she never made up with her grandson, Jack. Holly recognizes where this woman lives and is determined to find her and reunite her with her  grandson before Christmas. The more time that Holly spends with Emma, the more time she learns about her own life and her own regrets regarding her family. Also, there's the niggling feeling that Holly might actually have met Jack before! Emily Stone's Love, Holly is an emotional holiday tale that's perfect for fans of Nicholas Sparks.

I love a fluffy romance that isn't going to make me reach for my tissue box, but sometimes you want something with a little more substance and that's the case with Love, Holly. Although it touches on difficult topics like estranged families, cancer, and miscarriage, it does so gently and heartfelt. So, yes, this was a more of heavier and emotional holiday read, but it was definitely worth it as Holly's journey is one that many may be able to relate to. I adored Emma and  Holly's blossoming friendship and was rooting for both of their happy endings.

Have you read either of these holiday tales? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.