What a delightful quick Christmas read. I want to surround myself this holiday season with warm, heartfelt Christmas books - and the Christmas dress delivers! While predictable as to the plot,i appreciated that the book had only low level angst and drama. You knew the characters were going to make it together as the plot unfolded. Just what I needed!

This was so well written. I was engrossed from the first page and it ticked all the boxes of my expectations. I would definitely recommend to others.

These is nothing I love more than sitting in front of the Christmas tree, a warm blanket and a good book. This is the book you want! It has all the feels. I can see this beautiful, heartfelt story as a Christmas movie in the near future! Highly recommend!

Beautiful Christmastime romance. Parkview West was so beautifully described, I felt like I was there. The romance was perfect. The ending tied everything up in a neat little bow. Definitely read this one around the holidays.

Oh I loved this! Christmas, a love story and fashion? What’s not to love?

Meg inherits an apartment building when her dad dies. She hasn’t been home to Chicago in many years. She’s been living in New York, working hard to achieve her dreams of being a clothing designer.
Her dad understood that it was painful for her to come home. Her sister died when they were very young and her mother died too. Her dad’s house felt like a shrine to the ones she lost. Now her dad is gone too and Meg feels alone in the world.

But the residents of the apartment quickly take her in and show her the love they showed her father.

She meets Ellie, who gives her the most beautiful vintage dress. Ellie’s life changed the night she wore it, decades ago and she tells Meg her story of a lost love.
She gives the dress to Meg and makes her promise to wear it before the year ends, it’s almost Christmas time. Ellie thinks maybe Meg will wear it to the apartment’s Christmas party. But she has no idea that huge impact that dress will make on Meg’s life, her career and the future of the apartment itself.

If that’s not enough, how about two beautiful love stories? One for Meg, involving a handsome, caring man who is working on repairs of the apartment. He even brings her a kitten, if we didn’t love him enough already.

I was a bit irritated with one of the characters named Sylvie for awhile, but rest assured that she changes quickly. She’s not sure whether she can trust Meg at first.

This book also has lots of Christmas magic.

I got to read an early ebook edition from NetGalley, thank you!

*3.5 stars *

If you’re looking for a book that reads like a Hallmark movie, look no further! The Christmas Dress is about Meg, who is trying to become a fashion designer in NYC until she finds out that her father has died and left her an apartment building filled with sweet and quirky elderly folk in Chicago.

She has (for the moment) given up her fashion dreams to take care of the dilapidated building and restore it to its former, historical glory. Along with all of the issues in the building comes a handsome handyman named Logan.

We also meet Ellie who gives Meg “The Christmas Dress’, which is a slightly magical piece of clothing that seems to fit every woman who wears it. We are also introduced to Sylvie who is the ornery “building manager” who works for free and does seemingly everything for our main character, Meg.

I loved the Christmas vibes in this and the heartwarming moments, but I struggled with a few things.

#1: Meg as a main character was so frustrating. She was so whiny and helpless throughout (the world's laziest pushover), even though the narrative tried to keep telling us how wonderful and hardworking and steadfast she was. The two things she did was: send an email, and create a fashion line at the very end while all of the other supporting characters in the story did everything else.

#2: Logan and Meg were total instalove, and Logan was constantly described as manly or a “real man” while the narrative sh*t on other types of men like a metrosexual businessman being called a boy while Logan, a sexy lumberjack type, was a “real man”. The amount of times that Logan was called manly or handsome or a gentleman was so annoying. Being “manly” isn’t a freaking personality trait, and the fact that other men were made to look bad in order to promote Logan’s fragile masculinity was enough to make me put the book down multiple times. A man can still be a man shopping in a doll aisle or holding a kitten without you constantly pointing out his masculinity. C’mon.

#3: The book was kind of slow until the last 20% which was whiplash fast with every issue in the book being wrapped up in 24 hours. It was also annoying that the complex had issue after issue in the span of days and, again, Meg never fixed anything herself and was not self-sufficient enough to even find out a lick about the building she took over.

#4: I wasn't always a fan of the writing style.

If you’re looking for a feel-good Christmas read, I would recommend!

**Thanks to Netgalley and William Morrow and Custom House for an eARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review**

After Meg's father dies she goes back to her hometown to take over the apartment complex he left. She is not happy to see all the issues it has. She also upsets the person who can help her the most. While trying to figure it out she realizes the tenants all really care about the building and each other. Dur to her taking her time to come home, she really let them down. SHe ends up creating relationships with the tenets. The closest relationship she makes is with Ellie a long time resident. Theybecome friends over a dress. Which is what the story is based on.
THis was a beutifully written story that brings the past to the present. I enjoyed it and was able to read it one day.


** I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for a honest review**

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book so much that I've added it to my list of books that I'm going to buy. This book was wonderful.

The Christmas Dress....such a sweet, enjoyable read by Courtney Cole. You cannot help but fall in love and feel all the feelings and emotions the cast of characters go through. Meg is a sweetheart, driven, well developed and I loved the match-up with Logan. Love, friendship, and goals all wrapped up in a great book!

Meghan has had to leave her job working for a top fashion magazine to take over the management of her father’s condo building called Parkview West. Now that her father has passed away, there is no one in the family left to assume responsibility.

The condo has 60 tenants some of whom have lived there for many years. Her father had been very generous to them, often letting the rent go if they were having difficulties with payment.

Meghan realizes that there are a number of things that need to be fixed. She calls upon Logan, the handyman who knows the building well and is able to fix a lot of things. He also knows that there are many things that need replacing and that they won’t be cheap. Meghan dives in and gets to know the tenants and begins to address the things that need immediate attention.

As it is Christmas time, she wants to make things as festive as possible. One tenant, Ellie, at the request of her daughter, is preparing to move into an assisted living facility. She and Meghan become close and Ellie gives her Christmas decorations for the lobby. In addition, Ellie gives her a beautiful dress perfect for Christmas. She insists that she keep it and hopefully wear it for Christmas.

Meghan learns that the building once had a speakeasy during Prohibition called the Red Alibi which was probably bricked up. Meghan hopes to locate it and get funding to designate it a historical landmark.

As Meghan and Logan work closely together a friendship develops that begins to turn to love. All of the characters in the book are delightful and the story is so charming that I know readers will love it. I certainly did. Don’t miss this wonderful story!

Copy provided by the NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Chicago - Present Day

Meghan Julliard, promising fashion designer who is now unemployed after leaving Stitch magazine, has arrived in Chicago to take over Parkview West, the condo building that her late father left her. His sudden death shocked her, and now she must face an uncertain future because the building is falling apart, its elderly residents are relying on her to fix everything, and there is no money to do anything. Plus, the self-appointed manager, resident Sylvie Reinhart, clearly dislikes Meghan for not being here more for her father over the years. And, it's apparent that only Sylvie knows what's going on in the running of the building. What she isn't aware of is that Meg, who grew up in her parent's condo, has stayed away due to the inability to control the sad memories of, first, losing her sister to cancer, and then her mother.

So, the hot water is out, the elevator is broken, and it's pretty obvious that these aren't the only things wrong with Parkview West. Sylvie breaks down and lets Meg in on what's going on, or what isn't going on, and calls in the building's handyman. Meg is expecting an old codger, but instead, a hunky young man around Meg's age appears. Logan Scott is nothing like Meg's ex-boyfriend, Drake, whom she dumped recently because he clearly isn't "the one". Logan sets to right the hot water issue, and tinkers with the electrical system to get the elevator up and running, but points out to her these are stop-gap fixes, and she needs to address them eventually. But how?

Meg meets tenant, Ellie Wade, who, at the urging of her London-based daughter, is planning to move to an assisted living facility. She invites Meg in and there on the sofa is the most beautiful dress Meg has seen in ages. Ellie tells her it's a special dress that she wore only once on the happiest and saddest night of her life. The green material shimmers in the light, and Meg is thrilled when Ellie gives her the dress. Once in her condo, she tries it on and it fits as if made for her. This gives Meg an idea as she sits and sketches versions of the dress. When Logan emails her about a fashion contest set for Christmas Eve where the winner can win enough money to fix Parkview West, Meg sets her sights on winning.

Ellie and Logan are helpful in that they, as well as Sylvie, know a bit of the history of the building. Fascinated, Meg, with their help, begins to work on a plan to have the Chicago Historical Society give her a grant to restore the building. Can Meg resurrect Parkview West for its tenants? And can her growing relationship with Logan be for real? What they all find in the basement of the old structure will bring back memories, good and bad.

If readers want a feel-good story for the holiday season, THE CHRISTMAS DRESS can't be beat. What kind of magic does the dress possess? Can it help further Meg's career? Will it bring back memories and love for others? Don't miss this poignant, heart-warming Christmas story filled with wonderful characters and a lovely premise.

I just loved this book! This is my first Courtney Cole book, but I'll definitely be reading more now! The story was lovely and the characters were all so well-written - I felt like I had met them in real life. This was an easy-to-read, fun, heartwarming, engaging book full of hope. I flew through this book, not wanting to step away from these characters. And of course, it has just the right amount of Christmas cheer. Although I received a free digital copy of this one through NetGalley, I'll be purchasing a physical copy to add to my collection of Holiday Books!

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the free eBook in exchange for this review.

I'm sorry, but I was unable to finish this title. The description sounded intriguing and engrossing. However, as I was reading, the story focused more around the apartment building than the dress. I wasn't able to get into the story about the building as much because I kept trying to figure out how the dress was going to come into play.

I wish the author and the publishing company much success on it's release. I hope many readers gravitate to it and fall in love with it.

This book was super cute!! It is the perfect feel good Christmas read to add to your list this holiday season. This book will leave you with a smile on your face. I love Christmas books so this was an easy, quick read for me! The storyline was enjoyable and the characters in this book were fun.

Thank you Net Galley and William Morrow Custom House for the ARC in return for my honest review.

What a charming story, Megan, the last of her family, is now responsible for an entire run down building full of tenants. They become her family. I loved good with his hands Logan, I swooned over him. I liked the magic of the dress and the stories permeating around it. Dreams can come true and Megan was never really alone, she just had to open herself up to a new reconfigured family.

An absolutely wonderful, feel good book.
It seems as if the world is conspiring to make Meg Julliard's life miserable. Her father dies, leaving her an apartment building that has seen better days. The tenants are all senior citizens who are desperately needy and demand her attention. Looking at her life, there is no way she can follow any of her dreams.
The tenants are all characters, they've lived their best lives and are just trying to keep from wasting away. As we watch, Meg will learn so much about life from them. The Christmas Dress is gifted to Meg by one of the tenants, she wants Meg to feel beautiful and the dress does its' magic. There is no limit to magic, share it with everyone and it will multiply. Guaranteed to make you feel good!

When Meg returns to take charge of her late father's apartment building, she encounters the tenants, an attractive handyman, and an unlikely friendship with Ellie. Ellie is reluctantly moving to a nursing home and gifts a dress to Meg. This dress changes Meg's life amidst the holiday season.

This is an enjoyable holiday story by Courtney Cole. It has an eclectic set of characters and a bit of romance between Meg and the handyman. It has an overall holiday vibe but also features some emotional parts that will brings tears to one's eyes. As a personal preference the story needed some more details in my eyes. Overall an enjoyable read and not my last Courtney Cole book.

**Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy. All opinions and thoughts in the review are my own.**

It’s book review time. This month, I decided to step completely outside of my comfort zone and into potential Hallmark Christmas movie territory. I wanted something happy and annoyingly cutesy, so I requested The Christmas Dress by Courtney Cole. It was released yesterday (October 26th) from William Morrow Paperbacks (an imprint of HarperCollins). As usual, I must thank them and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. Let’s get to it!

The Christmas Dress follows Meg Julliard who returns to her Chicago home after her father’s death. She leaves behind a bad ex as well as a budding fashion career in NYC to take care of a 1920s era apartment building filled with elderly residents and so many things that need to be fixed. With very little money and no idea what she’s doing, Meg thinks things are impossible. But with a little help from the residents, the hunky handyman, and a smidge of luck, things just might turn around.

Sounds sickeningly sweet, doesn’t it? It is. It has everything you could ask for in a Hallmark holiday movie. Quirky best friends and random new friends, manly dudes to lust after and fall in love with, and so much drama that you know will work out perfectly. Plotwise, there are plenty of twists and turns, but none of them are unexpected. Awkward moment with the ex witnessed by the new beau? Right on cue. Drama from the new beau’s manipulative ex? Ditto! I can honestly say I’ve only read like three books in this particular genre in my life and they all have the same basic plot points. That’s not bad. It’s a really popular structure. It just leaves little to be said that hasn’t already been said.

The characters are all sweet and endearing, except for the two exes. As it should be. Personally, I thought Meg was over the top dramatic, especially when it comes to Logan’s ex. Who in their right mind would decide to break up with their new boyfriend without even listening to his thoughts on drama that he had no idea was coming? And she puts her decision on him because she repeatedly says that he’s such a good guy that he’ll end up doing the “right thing” despite the fact that he’s flat out said he’s not going back to the ex for any reason. Meg’s whole value system is stuck in the 1920s along with the apartment building. It’s creepy. And she flat out refuses to listen to people who actually have experience with the manipulating so and so, which causes more drama. She only chills when her bestie does some light cyber stalking and says the bitch is crazy. That is so weird to me. Luckily, everyone else in this book is relatively sane.

As far as the writing goes, it flowed nicely and made for a quick read. There were some things that made me raise an eyebrow, but I have a feeling they’re pretty standard for the genre. Like, every time Logan shows up, Meg’s ovaries tingle. I don’t know what that means. I understand it’s code for him making her horny, but my ovaries have never been the bits that tingle. It’s an hilarious phrase to run across, though.

Ultimately, The Christmas Dress was exactly what I wanted it to be. Nothing more, nothing less. It was fun and corny and predictable. I won’t be looking for another one like it for a while.

Overall, I gave it 4 out of five stars. Like I said, it was exactly what I wanted, but it didn’t offer anything new either. If Hallmark holiday movies are your thing, it’s definitely worth a read.

I haven't finished this one yet but wanted to give a mid-read pub day review because it absolutely wonderful! Without sacrificing quality writing (as can sometimes be the case with holiday novels), Cole has created such a warm, tender story with tangible characters and grounded setting. I can't wait to finish this one, and I already know it will be an annual holiday re-read for me.

This book included so many things that I enjoy. The author has written a book with a strong female who takes on the restoration of a historical building, a retirement community, and fashion design. This is a feel good romance with some tension but not a lot of steam.