Kate and Matt were the best of friends growing up until a falling out in college. They rekindled their friendship when Kate moved back to their small town outside of London to be near her father.

Bayliss has a way of quickly putting you in the holiday spirit with her idyllic setting and food descriptions. As with so many British romcoms, this one has the best supporting characters - from the dates, to the friends and parents - I loved them all! Kate was a strong, smart heroine and I truly loved her personality. Matt’s slightly aloof and grumpy persona was endearing.

I loved that each chapter was a separate date, but in doing that the chapters were super long and sometimes he details dragged on. As fun as the 12 dates were, I wanted a little more focus on the main characters current love connection with each other.

Definitely recommend it as a holiday read for fans of small town, friends to lovers romance! ♥️

3.5 stars. Thank you to Putnam Books and NetGalley for a gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Overall, I thought it was a very cute and adorable small British town Christmas romance but my god it was wordy! The detailed descriptions of the town, her work, etc were a little over the top for me. I skimmed some of the details and pushed through it. The dates were interesting but I thought the demographics of some of the men were repetitive - with the exception of Drew and Richard, I think they were all older, divorced or divorced with kids.

I want to live in the world of this book. It's basically the perfect Christmas Hallmark movie rom-com to soothe our dilapidated souls.

Cute small town romance featuring a cafe owner and fabric designer who have known each other for their entire lives. While she goes on her 12 dates of Christmas to find a partner, she may discover there was love in front of her all along.

What I liked:
- quaint small town and it’s characters that reminded me of Gilmore Girls
- Kate and Matt, they made for a cute couple and loved their banter and friendship
- the details of her work and the things that inspire her
- Kate’s friends, Drew and Laura - I wanted to spend time with them!

What I didn’t like:
- slow burn
- focused so much on the town and the dates and not enough of the couple
- closed door romance

While I enjoyed reading this love story come together in this small town, I felt like there was so much potential with the cast of characters and the setting and left feeling a little disappointed in the execution. Overall it was an adorable and fun journey for those who love Christmas hallmark movies.

Still single, well-traveled 34 year-old Kate returns to Blexford and signs up for the town’s Twelve Dates of Christmas—organized dates and matches every night. Enduring date after date after date, she realizes that she is already in love with someone else. And, could that someone else love her back?

British humor and dialogue are always a treat; there were a bunch of funny moments that I couldn’t help snicker. While the premise and the romance were super cozy, sweet, and holiday vibing, the execution fell just a bit for me. Every chapter was a date, so they were long (talking 45 minutes long), which is a damn killer for me. Certain parts dragged, and could’ve done without. It actually would’ve flowed more seamlessly if it were written in 1st POV since it was mainly in Kate’s anyway, and if the focus was more on her rekindled romantic relationship with her childhood friend. Regardless, it was a cute holiday read that would actually be better portrayed as a movie.

I recommend to fans of British and/or small-town romances, and 10 Blind Dates by Ashley Elston.

THE TWELVE DATES OF CHRISTMAS by Jenny Bayliss was the cozy, romantic holiday read I didn’t know I needed.

Kate Turner is 34, a successful fabric designer for a big department store, and surrounded by loving friends and family. Her two best friends Laura and Matt, and the Sex Kitten Knitting Club. Honestly, she’s perfectly happy as is - so when her best friend signs her up for a kitschy holiday dating event, she’s put out at first but decides to give it a go.

The Twelve Dates of Christmas gives Kate more than she bargains for, but luckily her spunk, smarts and openness to love makes it a enjoyable ride for both her and the reader. The premise was just so much fun, and while the romance is predictable, it was my absolute favorite romance trope and how this books gets there is worth every page.

Perfectly written and laugh-out-loud funny, I’d recommend this for anyone who loves Hallmark holiday marathons and clever, convincing romances. The perfect book to put you in the Christmas spirit!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

THE TWELVE DATES OF CHRISTMAS was jolly good fun to read. I loved the village, the characters, their jobs, just about everything. I appreciated that Bayliss kept the angst to a minimum. I was really ready for a lighter rom-com, and that's what I got.

A few years ago, Kate Turner moved back to her childhood village in Kent to support her dad as he battled depression after the end of his marriage. Since then, Kate has made a great success of her career as a fabric designer for a big-name store, but her love life has wasted away to nothing. Her friend Laura urges her to sign up for an online dating company's Twelve Dates of Christmas to break her slump. Kate agrees because as she sees it, she'll give it one last shot (go big or go home), and if no one sticks, she'll go it alone. Of course, nothing private stays private for long in a village like Blexford. Soon the whole town is offering advice, including Kate's other childhood friend, Matt.

TWELVE DATES was a very satisfying romantic comedy. Kate is strong, sensible, funny, talented, and just all-around likeable. I genuinely enjoyed the look at her process as an artist: how she found inspiration in nature, her preparations and design process, and her watercolor painting. It was so calming to read about it; I nearly got as lost in her work as Kate did. (If only I had artistic talent....) The dates were interesting and fun for the most part. Bayliss employed some tried-and-true tropes and stereotypes, but nothing that had me rolling my eyes. And a few scenes had me laughing out loud. The romance was a slow-burn. I would definitely say this book felt more "comedy with romance" than "romance with comedy."

My only criticism is the ending felt weak and a little rushed. This might be because of the fade-to-black, or it could be because of how little discussion there was after the love interest's about-face. Either way, the weak ending would only have knocked off half a star, so I didn't dock the overall rating.

TWELVE DATES is a funny, light-hearted novel with a likeable lead character. Rom-com fans will definitely want to pick this one up. And now I can't wait for Christmas....

I know that it’s October, and most of you are elbow deep in thrillers and gothic horrors, but I just can’t. Sometimes I dabble in those genres, but if I want my insomnia to take a break, I have to recognize that I just can’t get my heartrate pounding...unless, of course, it’s of the romantic sort.⠀
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SO - I’ve been enjoying a handful of Christmas romance/rom-coms that I’ve gotten. They’re sweet and charming, and a glimpse and promise of a jollier season to come.⠀
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The Twelve Dates of Christmas by Jenny Bayliss was so fun! Signed up with a dating agency for 12 dates before Christmas, Kate gives it a go! What could go wrong? HA! If you’ve ever dated, chances are you’ll see a replica of your date-from-Hades in here. I was laughing out loud, and groaning in commiseration, and sighing for relief at the end. (Because it’s a lovely Christmas novel, there’s DEFINITELY a HEA!)⠀
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Grab yourself a copy - this one comes out next week! It’s not too early to start getting ready for the holidays (you know, the one AFTER spooky/election season)

This book follows Kate, who isn’t really looking for love. But when her best friend convinced her to sign up for the Twelve Dates of Christmas, essentially 12 blind dates, some seriously awkward situations ensue. And of course, we’re left guessing if she will find the one out of these 12 potentials.

I’m a sucker for holiday romances! Especially British ones. I really enjoyed not knowing who she would end up with. The awkwardness of each date was really well done and unique. I wondered how the author would pull off so many characters, but it really worked here! I definitely recommend if you love light, sweet, holiday themed reads and British settings 💛

Light-hearted, perfect read! The Twelve Dates of Christmas by Jenny Bayliss is about finding love and happiness in the least unexpected place.

Kate Turner was already content living her good and simple life in the town of Blexford, England. She had her dream job, a fabric designer, and a part time job as a baker for her childhood friend Matt's cafe. At her age, she was comfortable being single. However when her best friend Laura convinced her to sign up for a series of blind dates, Kate decided to try. Awkward and hilarious situations ensued from her twelve dates with twelve different men. Would Kate finally meet 'the one?'

I totally enjoyed this novel. I liked the story, characters, and setting. To be honest, it was quite obvious who Kate would end up with, but I was curious to see how things would play out. Each date was ridiculous and funny. Kate met different people, and I admired her how she dealt with the quirks her dates had. I found myself laughing and cringing at some vicarious embarrassments. The pacing was fast, and I liked how it did not have heavy drama but just some misunderstandings to spice up the plot.

The characters were all likeable, especially the main characters. I love Kate and her male lead's chemistry, their banters, and their history. Even the secondary characters were lovely. The people of Blexford were supportive and kind. The author did a great job realistically portraying the close and harmonious relationship that could be found in a small town. Moreover, the author superbly described the setting. It felt like I went myself to Blexford and was part of the community. The landscapes were breathtaking, the food and drinks were mouth-watering, and the Christmas elements added more warmth and comfort that we felt during the holidays.

I wish there were more romantic scenes between the main characters. Nevertheless, this book was an absolute treat!

Overall, The Twelve Dates of Christmas by Jenny Bayliss is an excellent, funny romance read. I recommend this book!

4.5/5 stars!

When you read and watch enough Christmas romances you pretty much know where your story will end up, but the journey is always where we get to be judgmental. And this was one journey I was thrilled to take. This book is brimming with hilarious misadventures that somehow just make you feel all warm & "sparkly". Between the descriptions of the her dates, the English countryside and the food (goodness that food!), there is a lot of world to explore here.

Plus--apparently there will be recipes in the actual printing. So yay!

For libraries: Funny and heart-warming-your patrons are going to enjoy this one.

One of the best Christmas Romances I have read in a while! Jenny Bayliss has brought the magic of Christmas in this delightful read. I think anyone who wants a holiday romance this year NEEDS this book!

Kate is looking for a long-lasting relationship but isn't putting herself out there much. Enter Laura, her best friend, she signs her up for the Twelve Dates of Christmas, hoping that her friend will finally meet her Mr. Right. Kate will embark on an exciting series of dates. Some will be nightmares, and others will have potential. In the end, she finds what she has always been looking for, but not in the place she thought she would find it.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It was a light, sweet, and quick read that I think will get people in the holiday spirit. Christmastime is normally a very stressful time, add on top of that going through twelve blind dates makes this a really original idea for this story.

Delightful! I loved the concept - you know there are going to be good, maybe even great dates and some real disasters in a book that's built on the 12 dates of Christmas. As a US reader, I loved that this one was in a village a train ride away from London, rather. than in London proper. And, it's got a cast of characters who feel real versus so many other books that fall into quirky caricature.

You sort of always know where you're headed with Christmas romances, and I had a feeling early on where Kate would end up, but I wanted to see how it would all play out. It takes a little longer than I would have expected to get there, with some plot machinations that I would probably side eye at any other time but Christmas, but it's still totally satisfying.

It's closed door, for those who want to know.

This books is a reminder of why we like the rom-com genre. For me, this was a welcome respite from the seriousness of everyday life. The book was charming, undemanding, had appealing characters and a happy ending. And at times it was wickedly funny.

Kate has returned to her English home town village. She has a great job showcasing her artistic talents and she can work from a small town, occasionally checking in with her boss in London. She has travelled, had adventures, proven herself to be an independent adult.

But she has sort of put her love life on the back burner, so at her friend Laura's urging, she signs up for a dating series featuring twelve differently themed dates with twelve different men. Her dating experiences range from hilarious to creepy. But, in the way of fiction, her real heart's desire has been closer than she ever would have expected.

An amusing feel-good romp. Thanks to the publisher and to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book gave me all the holiday feels! I really liked the premise of the book: a girl goes signs up for a dating program where she gets to meet 12 guys, i.e. goes on 12 dates before Christmas. I am a fan of the English small town setting so that's where the book definitely scored points for me

The plot is fairly predictable in that I worked out Kate's OTP (Only True Pairing) pretty early on, but that really didn't bother me. Unfortunately, I felt her and the OTP lacked chemistry and I never really managed to warm up to him - there's a lot of miscommunication / lack of communication between him and Kate, which I felt delayed them getting together unnecessarily. Kate's dates were definitely fun, but I wish the book'd spent more time on developing Kate's relationship with the hero.

Overall, a fun Christmas read though. Fans of small town Christmas Hallmark movies will enjoy this book.

3.5 stars! A cute, holiday love story.

Kate lives in the small, English town of Blexford with her dad and two best friends Laura and Matt. Her love life isn’t going anywhere, so she tries the Twelve Dates of Christmas- a dating service where she goes on 12 different dates leading up to Christmas Day. After both good and horrible dates, Kate finds love where she least expected.

While this was a predictable read, it was fun nonetheless. The characters are likable, and there were some laugh out loud moments. I liked the small town, Hallmark Christmas vibes.

Thank you NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons for sending me an advanced copy.

This book was a cute concept and really puts the reader in the Christmas spirit. I know that it's the 12 days of Christmas, but it felt like a bit of a stretch to cover 12 different dates. The author tried to make each one different and weave the plot around that, but I think less dates would have been more effective. Also, I was disappointed by the rushed ending of the ultimate guy/girl pairing. The pairing is telegraphed from the beginning, but the ending didn't give the payoff I was hoping for. Also, there were some unanswered questions about the actions of the male protagonist in the past that bothered me. Overall, it's a pleasant read and many people will enjoy this.

I really enjoyed this book, even though it was 95 degrees outside! It was a nice light-hearted romance, with a strong storyline and delightful characters. Exactly what a holiday romance should be. 4 stars.

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Books - Putnam for the ARC of this book, the review is unsolicited and all opinions are my own.

Romance, humor, and Christmas in England... that's a lot to love and enjoy in a book version of a Hallmark movie. If you like those movies, definitely grab this book.