This was such a cute YA Holiday romance. I loved learning about the town of Christmas and Finley & Arthur's budding romance.
I also loved how we saw some major character devlopment from Finley and also learned about her family.
Overall cute young adult holiday book.

Thank you Viking Books and Penguin Teen for my copy! All thoughts are my own!

The cover alone made me want to read this book! I usually love a small town romance, but unfortunately this book was just okay for me. I was happy to read a Christmas novel with a diverse group of characters and it had all the festive vibes, but it won’t be a new favorite.

Synopsis:

“When Finley Brown returned to her hometown of Christmas, Oklahoma, from boarding school, she expected to find it just as she left it. Christmas hasn't changed much in her sixteen years. But instead she returns to find that her best friend is dating her ex-boyfriend, her parents have separated, and her archnemesis got a job working at her grandmother's inn. And she certainly didn't expect to find the boy she may or may not have tricked into believing that Christmas was an idyllic holiday paradise on her grandmother's doorstep. It's up to Finley to make sure he gets the Christmas he was promised. This is Finley's Christmas. It's about home and family and friends and finding her place, and along the way she also finds the best Christmas present of all: love.” —NetGalley

What I Liked:

The Cover—I just need everyone to appreciate how lovely the cover of this book is. I think it will draw people in!

The Festive Vibes—It’s a Christmas book set in a town called Christmas. You are going to feel cold and happy and cozy while reading this book.

The Side Characters—I was a big fan of the side characters in this book! Ayisha, Esha, Grandma Jo were all great! It was nice to have a wlw romance represented and a diverse group of characters!

What Didn’t Work:

The Romance—Insta love…but also a weird slow burn? I can’t explain it correctly. I didn’t feel any chemistry between Arthur and Finley, personally.

The Pacing—It was too slow for me and wrapped up too quickly in the end. I think I would have enjoyed it more if it had taken place at their boarding school!

Cliches that Made Me Uncomfortable—There were a couple cliches/language used in this book that made me unsure if they were appropriate or necessary. The treatment of a character experiencing homelessness (avoid jail by dressing as an elf??) was a big one. I try not to be too sensitive of a reader but I can’t ignore my gut reactions.

Content Warnings:

Toxic friendship, parental separation

Character Authenticity: 2/5 Steam Rating: N/A (YA genre)

Overall Rating: 3/5

Finley Brown told all of her boarding school classmates that her hometown, Christmas, Oklahoma was the picturesque Christmas town, straight out of a Hallmark movie. So when she returns home for winter break to find one of her classmates in town, she is caught in her lie and has to make sure he and his aunt have the perfect Christmas.

What a perfect book to kick off my holiday reading. This YA holiday story was filled with sweet moments, sarcasm, and plenty of things that had me laughing out loud, with the perfect amount of teenage drama. This was a wholesome read that left me feeling so cozy and got me in the holiday spirit.

This was a great book. It’s about a girl named Finley who comes back to Christmas, Oklahoma where everything changed but has also told a buy that Christmas is a paradise city which now she has to prove to him. I have to be honest, that when I started this book I totally forgot that Christmas was a city and was thinking of the holiday of the holiday which made this book confusion during the first 30 so pages. I do have to say once I understood the concept of the story I did start to enjoy it. I loved the setting as I thought it was amazing and the pacing was well done. I enjoyed the conflicts in the story and to be honest this was an ok Christmas book.

The main character is Finley in the book and I have to say that she kind of annoyed me a little. I didn’t like her but she did have a good character development. The side characters were well done and I loved the involvement of Finley’s family. There was one part that confused me which was when she was calling Arthur’s aunt AUNT. I was confused at first if they were related because of the way the story was going and made it a little disturbing that Arthur could be her cousin and she has a crush on him. Then there was the “friends” to lovers trope which was ok not the best romance in all books as there really wasn’t much romance. It was mostly towards the end which kind of disappointed me. There is also a lgbtq romance between the side characters.

The ending was good not the best. This book was an okay read but honestly it could have been better. Mostly for me it was about the character part of the story but I enjoyed the whole concept of the book. I think readers who love hallmark movies will love this book.

When I started So, This Is Christmas I knew immediately it wasn’t going to be a favorite. The beginning felt very disjointed and didn’t have a rhythm I typically like in my books. But I wanted to give it the benefit of the doubt so I kept reading. Did the story get better? It did. By 100 pages I was more invested. And by 200 pages I wanted to see how things played out for these characters. In the end the book was just okay. Sure I liked how it went in the middle but the beginning was a real struggle. All in all it was an okay holiday book about second chances and not being afraid to try.

Such a cute contemporary book, I loved the way the scenes are written and the character development. I was totally rooting for them!

This book started out pretty cheesy. A boarding school, a drowning bumble bee, a town called Christmas at Christmastime. But as the story went on I became more and more invested. The characters were flawed, but likable and adorable. I am a fan of the enemies to lovers trope, so this one was a really cute plot. While it's mostly predictable, there were still some twists and turns that kept the story interesting. YA romance is not one of my most frequently read genres, but from time to time I do enjoy the character and relationship building that happens without the steamy physical attraction. This one was definitely satisfying and everyone gets their Happily Ever After. I will say that for a YA, there was a surprising amount of curse words. I'm obviously not bothered by this, but it's something I noticed during my read.

I'd highly recommend this one for anyone looking for a lighthearted holiday romance that doesn't require a whole lot of emotional investment!

Such a cute novel! I really enjoyed the plot and the whole Christmasy feel. I'm personally a huge sucker for Christmas and the holiday season, so this book was right down my alley! It has a similar writing style to Crave, so if that's not your thing, I wouldn't suggest it. But so so cute and definitely gets you in the holiday spirit!

Boarding school is not what Finley thought it would be. And it turns out that going back home to Christmas, Oklahoma for the holiday break isn’t what she thought it would be either. Her parents are separated, her best friend is making out with her ex-boyfriend, and she may end up busted for hacking the town’s website in order to make the town look better than it does so she can brag about it at school. When a posh British classmate shows up with his aunt at Finley’s grandmother’s inn, she must do everything she can amidst the chaos that is her life and make their holiday like the one advertised!

Finley is a relatable hot teen mess and I love that about her! Though faced with disappointment, she does what she can to make the best of things. I loved watching her loved ones, both young and old, learn life lessons alongside her and adored the reconciliation amongst family and friends that we see throughout. This is a fun holiday pick!

Private school outcast Finley returns home to Christmas, Oklahoma with her world upended. Her mother has left and much to her surprise, Arthur Chakrabarti Watercress, her very British classmate has shown up at her Grandma Jo's Inn demanding a proper American Christmas. Not what the website advertised, Finley is now scrambling to make her dilapidated and run-down look presentable and deliver on a Christmas for the ages.

This was exactly the YA Christmas novel I needed to read right now! So, This is Christmas is a warm hug for your heart. I didn't stop smiling the entire time I read it. Finley and Arthur had the most adorable banter and I immensely enjoyed Finley's hilarious inner dialogue. Both main characters had such distinct voices, thanks to the author's style of writing. I could totally hear Arthur's accent as I read.

Finley is a quintessential teen, feeling out of her depth and questioning her path in life, especially when things at home start falling apart. She doesn't feel like she belongs anywhere, until Arthur forces her to see the magic in Christmas through new eyes. I felt myself falling for Arthur right alongside Finley, discovering inadvertent butterflies all while simultaneously warring with herself over her newfound attraction. Their meet cute in the beginning of the book was perfect and I thought the pacing their relationship development was completely believable.

Not only is this a YA romance, it also tackles complicated friendships, difficult family relationships and small-town views. There were twists I didn't see coming, which added a rich layer of drama to the story. I enjoyed this book so much!

Thank you to Penguin Teen and NetGalley for gifted copy!

If you love a good YA book with a Christmas feel, you’ll love this book. Finley has falsely advertised her town as being the charming, picture-perfect holiday town it once was, and a her nemesis (who is also adorable and has a British accent) stumbles upon her website and brings his aunt to the town of Christmas hoping for the perfect holiday escape. Shenanigans ensue. There is love, there is family drama, there’s an ex boyfriend dating a friend, and there are reindeer.

Add this to your holiday TBR!

Thank you to Penguin Teen for a gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

This was a cute small town holiday romance with LGBTQIA representation that focuses on family and friendship as well. It's comical with a lot of what could go wrongs when Finley and Arthur try to get into the holiday spirit. I think the middle dragged a bit for me and would have been better if it was cut down 50 or so pages. It's perfect for a snowy afternoon!

When Finley returns to her hometown of Christmas, Oklahoma after her first semester at boarding school she doesn't expect that much will have changed. Instead, her world is turned upside when she finds her BFF making out with her ex at the local Sonic, her parents living in separate houses, and her longtime enemy working at her grandmother's quaint Inn.
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If it couldn't get any worse, a boy who she may or may not be interested in is spending his winter break at her grandmother's Inn. A trip, he and his aunt booked after some creative marketing on the Inns website from Finley herself convinced them this was the place to have the ultimate Christmas experience. The only trouble is Finley took some creative liberties on the website and now it's up to her to deliver.
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I felt like I was in a Hallmark movie reading this novel and if you know me that's a good thing. The details of small-town Christmas were wonderful and Finley was a realistic character with a lot of real teenage problems. I found myself cheering her on. Adore this book and the cover is so cute!

Even though it’s coming out on October 12th, Tracy Ardeen’s new YA novel So, This Is Christmas has me ready for the holidays and all of the joy that comes along with the most wonderful time of the year! So what happens during the holidays in a town called Christmas when unexpected guests arrive? Only a little bit of holiday mischief...

This book is like a Hallmark movie in book form (which isn’t surprising considering the author has literally written multiple screenplays for Hallmark) and it’s the perfect read to get you ready for the holiday season! With the holiday activities described in the book and the cozy romances in the air, it’s really not hard to fall in love with this book.

Not only is this YA romcom adorable, but I really enjoyed all of the subplots of the story that intermixed with the main plot, all of which is amazingly (and sarcastically) narrated by Finley. Plus, I’m a sucker for a small-town story and this book makes me want to visit Christmas, Oklahoma and experience the town for myself!

This is the perfect book to get you in the mood for the holidays (even if it’s only October lol)! Make sure to add this to your holiday TBRs!

*I received an ARC from Penguin Teen in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was such a fun and enjoyable romcom! I loved how relatable Finley could be, especially with the topics of parental divorce, as well as going from being the smartest kid in school, to struggling to keep up. My favorite parts of the book were the vivid descriptions of al the Christmas cheer and scenery!

So, This Is Christmas is a really cute contemporary romance that is perfect for the holidays! I was grateful to receive an ARC of this from Penguin Teen, and I was very excited to read it. This book was really cute, and a fun fast read. I enjoyed the plot, and felt like it did very much resemble a Hallmark Christmas movie (the author is a screenwriter for Hallmark) and was very cheery. The main character was likeable but lacking a bit of depth. I enjoyed the romance in this and I thought it was very cute. The town of Christmas and all of it's quirky touches was very fun to read about as well and added a unique touch. However this book fell a bit flat for me. Some of the chapters were boring, and I felt as if nothing was going on. Overall I enjoyed it and felt that this book shined on it's outlook on relationships. There are romantic relationships, family, and friends, and the relationships between the main character and everyone really shined through. This is definitely a feel good book! If you want a cute Christmas book to cozy up with this winter break, I recommend, although it wasn't a huge standout novel of the year.

Absolutely adorable YA Christmas book! I loved the story of how Arthur made it to Christmas and all the laugh out loud hijinks that ensued. Was definitely not expecting the slight plot twist, but it was so perfect! This was a really enjoyable, lighthearted read perfect for getting into the holiday spirit. Made me long for Christmas and cheer for everyone to get their happily ever after! Thanks so much to Penguin Teen for sending me this. *I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

So, This Is Christmas made me laugh out loud and was a YA version of the holiday reads I've come to love. Once I saw "Sarah Dessen meets Let It Snow" I knew I had to read it because I love Sarah Dessens novels.

I appreciated the humor and heartfelt moments that made this story into holiday cheer. Finley's sarcasm and dry humor were relatable to me. I appreciated the focus on family dynamics, privilege, and how getting older sometimes means learning and understanding that there is more to your elder family members. I liked that Finley recognized what she actually wanted in a friendship and her journey to self-awareness was one that many teens take. This definitely gave me those Hallmark movie vibes but in a YA setting.

I did a combination of audio and e-reading for this book. I listened to it on 2x and wished that I could have listened to it faster because I wanted to know how it ended, that's when I switched mostly to physical reading.

Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Young Readers, and PRH Audio for providing me with an advanced readers copy and ALC in exchange for an honest review.

thank you penguin teen for this arc in exchange for my review.
this book is the definition of a hallmark movie in ya book format. and i am LIVING for it!
this book is the perfect christmas read, and is essential for everyone to read when holiday season is here.
this book is so fluffy, cute, funny, and the romance is to die for!
also, so many things i didn’t see coming, and let me tell you guys, you will be SO surprised in all the best ways :)

Finley returns to her hometown, Christmas, Oklahoma, for the holidays and nothing is as she expected it to me. In On top of sorting out her own issues, her family issues and friendship issues, Finley has her handful with a guest visiting a version of Christmas she nearly made up. This is a quintessential YA novel with character development, working through several teenage and family issues and fun in between. I loved the supporting characters and the depiction of Christmas, Oklahoma. The build up and resolution of the issues were slower than I would have liked and would have liked more from the ending. Nonetheless, this was a fun, cozy YA read and perfect for the upcoming holiday season.