Rating 5

"A Very Merry Holiday Movie Guide" by Rachel McMillan is a great book to read to prepare for the holidays. I've been wanting to do more around the holidays but other than googling I did not know where to start. Luckily, I came across this book and now have so many ideas and wants for the holiday season. This book is filled with movie ideas, book ideas, holiday clothing options, cooking recipes, and a variety of different traditions. I loved how the book was separated into different categories because it will help the reader seek out what exactly they are looking for. It also made it easier to organize and plan my own holiday with how the chapters were set up. I loved the helpful tips when it came to Christmas shopping and how to put together a good stocking. I have already made a list of some movies I have to watch just based off of reading the little synopsis that was provided in the book. Overall, this was an easy enjoyable read that I will look back on for the years to come. 

Should you read "A Very Merry Holiday Movie Guide"?
Yes! This book has a little bit of everything so I'm sure you will find something helpful. Whether you are alone, have family, kids, pets, this book can help make an impact on your holiday season. 

**Received an advanced copy through NetGalley in return for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. **

Thank you NetGalley and Harvest House Publishers for this ecopy of A Very Merry Holiday Movie Guide! Rachel McMillan lets her affinity of Hallmark movies and holiday cheer really shine through in such a way that inspires you to bake a fresh batch of chocolate chip cookies or sing Christmas carols. Her book is more of a guide to enjoying the season, ranging from ideas of movies to watch, to giving you tips on how to, “make Christmas shopping an event.” The joy that radiates from this book is so soothing and genuine that it is sure to plant a soft smile on your face for the remainder of the day.

I initially was interested in this book because I’ve been feeling in the festive mood the closer we get to November. Okay, I’ll be honest I was in the holiday mood since September 1st, but this book really took me to a new level of excited. I already love Hallmark movies and almost use the excuse to watch them as a rite of passage into adulthood: once you genuinely love watching them is when you know you’re finally living your best life. McMillan structures this book so perfectly that it feels effortlessly like she was raised in the North Pole herself. Each “chapter” is written for the type of Christmas-lover there is, such as, “the romantic’s Christmas” or “The Homebody’s Christmas” (obviously went straight to that one after this year we’re having.) There are so many fun facts surrounding this holiday spirit snuck into each section that only enriches the reading even more. I’ll be sure to buy my sisters a copy this holiday season since we all share this love for Hallmark, baking and all things festive. The best part about it is that it doesn’t cater to this commercialized perception of what the holidays have become with Black Friday and gift giving, but she highlights the true spirit of the season and the memories that you can create during these few months of the year. Thank you Rachel McMillan for making me feel so cozy and warm after this enjoyable read!

If you are looking for a great book to help you with your holiday movie watching, this is the book for you! I am a holiday movie fanatic and loved using this book to help me plan out what I wanted to watch this Christmas and get me into the mood for Christmas! I loved the cover art and how quaint it looks along with the layout and interior design of this book. It is a very festive book and the interior art is adorable and on point for the book's subject. This book would also be a great gift for a fellow Christmas movie lover as well!

This was a really cute idea for a book. I especially loved how it was divided into movie themes with tips, recipes and ideas for new traditions based around the specific theme and film list My only complaint was that this was very American so I hope i can watch these films on Canadian channels.

This book is aimed for a US market, as it reference a lot of American TV channels and store. However, the phenomenon of Christmas Movies has crossed the pond. And so the book can be enjoyed in the UK as it’s all about creating your own holiday traditions based from Christmas movies.

McMillan identifies sixteen types of Christmas movies and creates a tradition around them. Each chapter follows a similar structure, discussing the themes, ideas for a party or event based on that theme, often with a recipe or . A viewing list of films from that them, ideas for a new tradition and a festive fact.

Mixed in are recipes, party games and helpful lists for you to create your own new Christmas traditions, so you too can pretend you are living in a feel good Christmas movie.

Full review to follow on my blog.

I received an ARC from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Such an excellent guide to Christmas movies and I really enjoyed some of the tips for having a cosy evening and enjoying the movies. Even though I am fairly certain I have seen most hallmark Christmas movies over the years,I will admit I found a few listed here that were new to me and have been added to the list!

This delightful guide evokes the Holiday spirit with lots of hacks, tips, and ideas for new traditions. It includes an assortment of themed Christmas viewing nights complete with movie recommendations, recipes, decorating ideas, and more. The Christmas movie spirit definitely takes over in December, and this guide gives busy moms an extra way to add even more family fun to movie night.

Like so many others, I’m a Christmas fanatic and any book with Rachel McMillan’s name on it is one I will no doubt be picking up. So when I heard about her nonfiction offering celebrating the love of Christmas, I was extremely excited. A Very Merry Holiday Movie Guide did not disappoint.

Filled with festive facts, creative craft ideas, and sparkling suggestions for new ways to celebrate the holiday, A Very Merry Holiday Movie Guide is sure to put you in a yuletide mood. Whether you love celebrating Christmas with plenty of glitz, or prefer spending a cozy December 25th at home with a cup of eggnog, there’s something for everyone in this book. Each chapter focuses on different personalities and gives tips on ways to enjoy the season to the fullest, complete with a customized viewing list of some of Hallmark’s made-for-TV Christmas movies to help get you in the spirit.

One of my favorite parts of the book is the author’s writing style. McMillan’s voice evokes that cozy feeling of home that we all search for throughout the holiday season. I also love how the idea that there is no right or wrong way to celebrate the season is portrayed throughout the book. Whatever brings you the most joy is the manner in which you should spend this beloved season.

Put on your favorite Christmas music, pour yourself some hot cocoa, and snuggle into your coziest pjs and socks and get ready to be swept away by this charming love letter to the most wonderful time of the year.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Harvest House through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This is the perfect gift for someone who loves Christmas.
It’s filled with movies, starting new traditions, festive facts and so much more.
I discovered movies I’d never heard of before.
Thank you Netgalley for this arc, in return for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harvest House Publishers for my copy of A Very Merry Holiday Movie Guide by Rachel McMillan in exchange for an honest review. It published October 6, 2o20.
Oh, my, goodness! I ADORE this book! I had to read it in one setting! It actually brought tears to my eyes with the longing of Christmas. This book reminded me of that special holiday feeling and made me oh, so nostalgic! I had to put Christmas music on and drink Countdown to Christmas tea while reading it to set the mood.
I love the format of this book, with different movie recommendations, ways to make new traditions, and facts!
If you're a Christmas lover, you need this sweet book! So many sweet and thoughtful tips that go beyond commercial Christmas things, but rather ways to love others and make the holiday season much more meaningful.
This would make an excellent gift, I know my mom is going to love getting a copy!!

I LOVE ANYTHING CHRISTMAS!! I always love playing anything Christmas during the season, especially music and movies. This is such a great guide to all the Christmas classics. Love it. Thank you netgalley for this! Christmas came early and I’m in love.

I don’t know about you, but it’s 2020, and I’m ready for Christmas movies yesterday.  Even my 17-year-old daughter who is a confirmed “We don’t do Christmas before Thanksgiving” traditionalist is ready for all the Christmas right here in the middle of October.  

That’s why I was so excited to receive a complimentary e-galley of this book, and I’d like to thank NetGalley and Harvest House Publishers for this gift in exchange for my honest review.  

This book is a celebration of Christmas movies and so much more.  It’s a nod to the festive joy of that most wonderful time of the year – and all that that encompasses.  It’s a guidebook for doing Christmas in a way that maximizes that cozy pleasure that we all long for in December.  

From baking to shopping to reading to carols (and yes, movies) and so much more, this little book is sure to become an instant favorite.  I enjoyed it so much, I’ll be buying my own copy for my coffee table this year and several copies for stocking stuffers and Secret Santa gifts.

Thank you to NetGalley, Rachel McMillan nd Harvest House Publishers for a copy of A Very Merry Holiday Movie Guide. This is my personal review.

I was so happy I got this to review! I loved the ideas - suggestions for movies and activities to go with them! What a perfect preholiday gift this is for so many of my friends and family. None of us are sure what the upcoming holidays season will be like and to have this amazing book full of such great things is going to be a great book to have. The recipes are a great addition to go with the entire theme of the book.
I will be sending this to many people to enjoy as much as I have.

I loved this book as it made me discover a lot a new to me to Christmas movies and gave a lot of ideas for Christmas activities.
It's well written, full of humor and the perfect read for Christmas.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

This was so much more than a listing of Christmas movies! Yes, there were MANY movies with a little blurb about each of them but there were also holiday recipes, gift ideas, and even Christmas movie bingo! In all, it's a pretty cute book full of Christmassy goodness. I'm ready for all the holiday movies to begin!

Delightfully warm and cosy, this book was like a warm hug! Though, I have never seen the "Hallmark" channel I have seen a few Hallmark films and some of them are so deliciously cosy especially in the cold weather and have some of my favourite watches on there!

There is a lot of personality in this book and it makes you feel like you are relating the things you love with an old friend and I love that, it's very personable and it makes you feel a connection with author, which is a nice feeling and that makes me feel like lots of care and attention has gone into this book. I definitely think this book is a winner especially as 2020 could never have too much goodwill going on and it's hundred per cent needed this time of year, when is all dark, cold and cosy!

Christmas is such a good time and such a good holiday, we share it with loved ones, with friends and with those who want to be with us and this book would be such a lovely present to give someone, especially those people who like baking, decorations and in need of the best films to do some much needed holiday wrapping with!

100% recommend this!

Many thanks to the publisher and also Netgalley who approved me this copy in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own!

My absolute favourite sections of each chapter in this book Festive Facts (always a sucker for anything history-related, these wonderful tidbits proved very interesting reading for me!) & Start a New Tradition, Rachel's entertaining sense of humour and personality shines through. Her perspectives and insights on Christmas, the different aspects involved in it, it's meaning to different people, and the important role TV Christmas films can have is also all pulled together really well.

While each chapter has at least one thing about it I love, it's The Best of the Rest (particularly The How To Find the Perfect Holiday Guy at Christmas list... gold!), The Homebody's Christmas, The Romantic's Christmas, The Old-Fashioned Christmas, The Music Lover's Christmas, and, of course, The Book Lover's Christmas which were particular highlights for me.

An overall enjoyable and thought-provoking book I read in one sitting, I would definitely recommend this book to all the Christmas lovers out there... the illustrations are also adorable!

This was a really fun book that I enjoyed working my way through. It was really nice to sit down and read a couple of chapters a day as its quite short and broken up nicely into sections. Unsurprisingly as the title suggests it is filled with Christmas movie recommendations. Its divided into subsections of common genres and themes that Christmas movies may fall into or feature for example: The Royal Christmas, The Old-Fashioned Christmas and The Destination Christmas. I am sure we can all think of some movies that fit into those themes and this book is packed with lots more to explore.

Each chapter then introduces us to the theme, gives some recommendations, be it recipes, tips on shopping for the big day or making a play list etc as well as a suggestion for a new tradition and a festive fact. There are then of course lots of film suggestions to fit the chapters theme. Its really beautifully laid out with some lovely illustrations. My favourite chapter was shockingly The Book Lovers Christmas which is not only filled with the film recommendations but also has a list of lots of books that have been adapted to movie or film. I am always looking for new Christmas movie recommendations and I definitely found some here. I also managed to add a few new books to my TBR shelf too!

I would definitely recommend picking this book up for a little festive treat to help get you in the Christmas mood. However, be aware it will make your to be watched list very long!

I thought I'd seen quite a lot of the Christmas movies that are out there, but wow. This has opened my eyes.

This is a fascinating look at all the different styles of Christmas movie (and I know what I'll be doing all this Christmas!) along with themed activities and recipes, and a brief history of Christmas movies. There's at least a hundred movies here, divided into different categories like the Baker's Christmas, the City Lover's Christmas and the Best of the Rest. The illustrations are cute and charming and match the tone perfectly.

The only complaint/suggestion I have; since the movies are coming from various different streaming and live services, it would be nice to have a little note to say 'Netflix' or 'DVD' or 'Airs on (network)' for each title. That would make it much easier to track down the titles that interest the reader. But it's a small thing, and of course a list like that would go out of date quite quickly.

I really enjoyed this. I'll be coming back to it before Christmas to plan my movie nights (and possibly at other times as well!) A fantastic read that I highly recommend.

I received this book from the publisher through Netgalley for review and all thoughts and opinions are my own.
I suspect this Christmas will look a lot different than last Christmas season. However, this book may help with ideas for making the holiday season a pleasant one, even if you're at home. With ideas and lists, sources for films and ways to make it personal for your family, this book may inspire your own creative thinking and make movie watching during the season a pleasant and festive one.