Like reading a Hallmark Christmas movie but way more sexual tension!

I loved Eight Days of Christmas. It's a second chance romance between Leo and Izzy who dated in high school and college before bitterly going their separate ways. When they're forced to spend the eight days before Christmas together due to their siblings' wedding, they can't deny their chemistry and have to work through their past troubles, their present feelings, and their unknown future.

This book was so fun to read and I couldn't put it down. The chemistry and history between Leo and Izzy made for a lot of great tension and banter. I was worried I wouldn't like Izzy since in the beginning, her behavior left a little to be desired. Over the course of the book, I just wanted to be there with her so she had someone in her corner. I felt like everyone ganging up on her was a little much and I wish they would have maybe trusted her to have a reason behind her actions. When they found out the reason, there were not enough apologies going around for my liking - I wanted to strangle her mom and brother. I also wish Leo was a little more confident in his feelings towards the end of the book. He was so strong in his disdain for her at the start but when she really needed him to fight and show up for her, he backed away.

Overall, I loved both of their characters so much - fingers crossed we see their future play out in the rest of the series! I also hope we get some clarity on the Norah/Landon front! Definitely recommend for a fun, holiday read.

Super cute Christmas romcom, this book is about second chances and has the right notes of Christmas and love.
Izzy's family has a Christmas tradition called "the eight days of Christmas" in wich everyday they do different activities like cookie decoration and build a snowman.
But the real reason for Izzy to come back to her childhood home is the wedding of her sister.
After many years away from her hometown, now that she's back, she has a lot explaining to do, specially to her ex boyfriend Leo...
I really felt like I was playing a hallmark movie in my head (only a little more spicy). I loved the chemistry between Izzy and Leo. I enjoyed so much this book.

Holiday traditions? Swoon-worthy second-chance love? Small-town romance? Yes, yes, and yes!

This sweet book will have you reminiscing about first loves, and wanting to call your family.

Isabella Whitley is back in her hometown of Pineridge, Colorado for her sister’s wedding. Of course, they've planned the wedding for Christmas, so Isabella has no choice but to come back home (after a decade away) and attend her family's eight days of Christmas traditions. And what's worse is that she's much thrown together with her ex...all week. Could things get any worse?!

Leo Hoffman never quite got over Isabella, but after making it very clear he wasn't worth the effort, he's determined to keep his distance. It's going to be tricky since his dad lives next door to Isabella's family, and oh, did I mention his brother is marrying Isabella's sister?!

The two of them are at each other's throats, but all that fire seems to be an indication that there are other feelings lurking below the surface. But what will Isabella decide? Will she go back to New York and her boyfriend there (yep, there's a bit of a love triangle sich) or will she make Pineridge her home once again, and let Leo back into her heart?

I really enjoyed watching Isabella and Leo together and watching their angsty hot and cold behavior amidst all the festive snowman-building, blind gingerbread house decorating, ice-skating, and all the other lovely family traditions that make up their eight days of Christmas.

Sweet and light, this was a great holiday read.

Eight Days of Christmas centers around Isabella who is returning, for the first time in years, to her hometown in Colorado for her little sister’s wedding after a big break up. Due to inclement weather her plane gets grounded and she runs into her high school ex, who she also has not seen in years. I’m sure you can imagine what happens next…

I truly enjoyed reading about Isabella and Leo’s history together and discovering the true reason Isabella hasn’t returned home in 10 years. This was a cute second chance, enemies to lovers, holiday read♥️🎄

Isabela Whitley has stayed away from home for far too long, especially since her family is big and tight-knit, a bit invasive, and a ton of fun. They've created a tradition called the Eight Days of Christmas where each day they have a specific Christmas task to accomplish. It will make your heart grow three sizes, seriously...adorable.

But when Isabela returns home after a decade because her sister is getting married, she finds that the neighbor and her ex, Leo Hoffman has basically been adopted into her family and now she gets to spend the holiday with him in awkward, annoyance. Let the antics ensue!

There's additional conflict from a recent kinda-sorta ex-boyfriend, but the whole tone is light and fun.

Pick it up if you love Christmas romance novels that actually involve Christmas, HEAs, second chance romance, small town romance, and snowy winter scenes.

I was extreamly excited to start off this winter with my first ever holiday romance. I had extremely high expectations because the synopsis peaked my interest. It can be hard to turn down a second chance romance with a chaotic love triangle. Unfortunately for me, something felt off with this book and I still can't pinpoint exactly what that was. Although I did enjoy the overall plot of the story I do think that this isn't something that I will be picking back up.

While reading this book, I didn't enjoy the banter or back and forth between Isabella and Leo. I think that it came off as more annoying than anything else. Don't get me wrong, I love a fictitious relationship that is so toxic that you hate someone but also want to jump their bones at the same time but this one missed the mark for me. I can tell that the author was striving for something along those lines but it wasn't quite there. The author also stated multiple times that there was a lot of sexual tension between Isabella and Leo but I could feel it in my soul (if you know the feeling..... you get it and if you don't know the feeling you're missing out and need to need more romance). I also didn't like Isabelle the MC at all...... This made it really hard to root for her throughout the book because she is likely someone I would avoid at all costs in real life.

I received this book on netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a pretty cute romance. I generally don’t love the second chance trope, but I didn’t mind how it was done in this story. There were a few things I didn’t love; Isabella’s family treats her pretty badly for a lot of her visit. I understand why they would want her to know her not visiting hurt them, but that seems like a good way to keep her away in the future. I didn’t love how so many of their family traditions were competitions or that Leo seemed to say he liked Isabella more when she acted overly competitive. It’s just a little weird. Obviously, Norah and Landon’s relationship was suspect, although it’s not exactly unrealistic for them to end up getting married, even with unresolved issues. It was a little odd that Landon suddenly seemed like a real jerk right before the wedding (excluding the part where Isabella catches him checking out another woman).
The oddest thing, I think, was right after Isabella tells Leo why she never came back, then he drives to his cabin to think. His dad drives there to talk to him and tells him that Isabella is “telling the truth”. How did he have any idea that she’d told him when he wasn’t around? It doesn’t make sense.
Overall, this was a nice light read for the holidays.
Thank you to NetGalley and City Owl Press for providing me access to this eARC for my honest opinion!

Eight Days Of Christmas – Starla DeKruyf
@NetGalley @StarlaWrites
This was a nice little rom-com romp.

Isabella hasn’t been home to Colorado in 10 years, but this year her sister is getting married. At Christmas no less!

Leo is returning home from a photoshoot that he had done as a favour to friends.

They both inexplicably find themselves stranded at an airport due to inclement weather; but there’s history there… so much history.

I love this story it was a lovely feel good tale, depicting strong family ties and true love at Christmas.

4 stars
#christmasromance #christmas #romance #homecoming #family #truelove

I hated this book. The writing was terrible, I didn't understand the timeline in the beginning when they're renting the car and driving, the constant description of everyone as sneering was grating... It was also extremely formulaic - they'd fight, he'd say something mean, she'd suddenly crumple in on herself, he'd feel bad and admire how hot she is. It was just gross and problematic. I kept reading waiting for the REASON she hadn't been back with her family for 10 years expecting it to be something huge, and... WOW. Just... wow. Really? Ugh, I would like my time back. I honestly do not understand how this is being rated so highly.

First of all I would like to the cover is great and next I would like to say thank you to the author, the publisher and NetGalleyShelf for allowing me to have access to a copy of this book. I have read a lot of Christmas books especially Christmas Romance comedies as they are very very popular this time of year and I do usually read them a lot. I think this book was exactly what I needed for the build up to Christmas because it was light-hearted it was fun and overall very entertaining enjoyed the main characters I thought the relationship as well thought out and overall I am a fan of this author going forward I will look more into her booked in the future

This was such a cute Christmas romance!! I loved the family aspect. Everyday they did something different to celebrate Christmas! I felt like I was right there with the Whitley family. The romance part was so cute and steamy! I loved Leo and Isabel’s childhood relationship turned into a romantic relationship!

I enjoyed this Christmas themed second chance romance. It’s filled with the usual mishaps, witty banter, family and falling in love again all wrapped up with a cute Christmas bow.

I am new to this author but definitely on the lookout for more of her books. Pick it up if you are looking for a fun and festive read.

I want to thank NetGalley, Starla DeKruyf and City Owl Press for the e-ARC of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are honest, my own and left voluntarily.

Isabella hasn’t been home in 10 years but when her little sister is getting married on Christmas Day, she can’t resist. When her plane is rerouted and she ends up stick in Omaha she runs into Leo Hoffman, the boy that has had her heart for her entire life, and they now have to drive to Pineridge for the wedding - Leo’s little brother is the groom. As they spend more and more time together the old sparks relight but there’s a reason Izzy never came home and can she keep the secret or will the truth help Izzy and Leo move on together?

Very sweet second chance love and enough spice to keep it interesting. Heartwarming holiday love and weddings! Perfect for the season!

Dear lord the sexual tension! 10 years ago, Isabella left Pineridge, CO and her boyfriend, Leo, and never came back. Now, she *has* to go back for her sister's Christmas wedding and she's hoping to get in and out. Except things are never that easy and her family's 8 Days of Christmas traditions are throwing her and Leo together at every turn. Leo can't help but want answers. He also wants Isabella and she definitely wants him. It's like Hallmark for adults, so basically the dream. My only slight critique is that by about halfway through, everyone's anger with Isabella felt a little repetitive. But otherwise it was a fun way to get into the season!

Romance isn’t my usual genre. But Eight Days of Christmas may have just converted me! The second-chance love story was spot-on, and the tension between Leo and Izzy built at just the right pace, spiking and fading and spiking again, keeping me reading and rooting for them. Izzy’s character arc from big city girl who dreads going home for the holidays to someone who cherishes her small town family and traditions was perfection. I could see it all playing out in front of my eyes. If this doesn’t get made into a Hallmark movie, then someone isn’t doing their job! All in all, this book was the perfect start to my Christmas reading season. Thanks to NetGalley for the copy in exchange for an honest review.

Eight Days of Christmas is a festive seasonal romance! It really hits all if the right notes with holiday fun like decorating cookies and gingerbread houses along with the romance. This is a second chance romance that has some elements of forced proximity due to sharing a car and a big family wedding. I loved that the romance between Leo and Isabella wasn't instant... there was attraction but they handled the relationship like adults. I would definitely recommend!!

This was a fun, fast read with a little bit of everything in it. For lovers of Christmas books you will definitely enjoy it. I did find Isabella and Leo a bit annoying at times but aren't we all?

BOOK REVIEW | Eight Days of Christmas by Starla DeKruyf

SYNOPSIS | Ready or not, Isabella Whitley is returning to her snowy hometown of Pineridge, Colorado for her sister’s Christmas wedding. She wants in and out unscathed. Unlikely. A decade ago, she headed to New York and hasn’t looked back. Now she must explain her disappearing act to not only her family, but the high-school sweetheart she left behind as well.
Enter Leo Hoffman. He’s frosty after striving—and failing—to forget Isabella, the only woman capable of jingling his bells. Since his brother is marrying her sister, Leo is forced to celebrate Eight Days of Christmas with Isabella and her family—a tradition where they perform a different holiday activity each day leading up to December 25th.

Soon, their close proximity brings back memories—and the inability to keep their hands off one another. There’s only one problem. Isabella’s ex unexpectedly enters the equation, and she faces a difficult choice. Listen to her heart or her head? Isabella will need to decide, once and for all, where she belongs.

Perfect for fans of IN A HOLIDAZE and SWEET HOME ALABAMA! This second-chance, enemies-to-lovers romance will have you swooning and reminiscing of first loves.

MY THOUGHTS | Eight Days of Christmas is very well written with dual view points, which helped to understand both Isabella and Leo. I did not care for Isabella at times, and did not understand some of Leo’s choices, but I am glad they finally realize what they wanted. The ending came a bit quick with a few unanswered questions, which will hopefully be answered in the next book of the series. I loved all of the Christmas activities, perfect nostalgia for leading up to the holiday season! Thank you to NetGalley and City Owl Press for the eARC.

RATING | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

*E-Book provided by NetGalley in exchange for my honest review*

This book was just plain fun and sugary sweet.

Eight Days of Christmas is not the kind of book you read for literary genius, it’s the kind of book you read during the holidays to get those festive warm fuzzies of love and Christmas joy. At its core it is a Hallmark Christmas movie in book form with the main character (Izzy) returning to her small hometown in Colorado from her NYC life after a 10 year absence. It’s the return happening coming off a tumultuous time with her boyfriend (Leo) and by happenstance running into her high school/college boyfriend (and childhood neighbor) at the airport and being forced to drive home with him because of a snowstorm. It’s a Christmas obsessed family with an eight days of Christmas tradition and the younger siblings of both main characters getting married on Christmas. It’s the ups it’s the down and it’s the cliche but so sweetly written reunion and reconciliation scene at the end.

While some of the book may be predictable, I will say that I did not foresee Izzy’s reason for not returning home and leaving Leo until it was revealed as you learn about their histories. The characters are well written, you care about them and get invested. Small town life is depicted accurately and so nothing about the family’s Christmas traditions seem out of place.

This book also referenced some of my favorite things; National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, A Christmas Story, and an ending fit for an 80’s romcom like Say Anything.

If you are looking for an easy, sweet, festive holiday romance this season… look no further.

With a second chance romance that had an enemy to lovers feel, Eight Day of Christmas was a quick read! It had vibes of Christina Lauren's In a Holidaze and the story flowed so easily. But while I loved so many of the characters, the heroine and I couldn’t work. At all.

Being back in Pineridge with Leo again was worse than she’d anticipated it would be. Just because she had abandoned him, didn’t mean she’d lost her feelings.
Deep down, she knew she’d always love Leo.


Isabella Whitley, Izzy, moved to New York to go to college and hadn't returned home to her family for 10 years. She was headed back for her baby sister’s Christmas Day wedding, yet she knew it wouldn’t be easy. Her sister was getting married to her ex-high school sweetheart’s brother. And to top it off, her boyfriend in NY just broke up with her and now she was couch surfing with friends. I started out this book hoping that Izzy could find her happily ever after!

God, she was still so stunning it hurt. He wished he could reach over and touch her. Wished the past had unfolded differently than it had when it came to her. Wished he wasn’t so damn bitter.
But he was, and all the wishing in the world wouldn’t make that bitterness go away.


Leo Hoffman was my favorite! He was wounded from Izzy leaving him years ago. And he never got an answer as to why she didn’t return back home after college, like was planned. With a failed past marriage, a loving family and a career he was passionate about, Leo felt like an open book. So as we got to hear parts of the story in his voice, I fell hard for him. Leo was swoon worthy while being jaded. And he not only had a kind heart, but was incredibly sexy too. I loved how thoughtful he was. Leo was a book boyfriend you could easily fall for!

If memories would be all he’d have from the week they’d shared, he didn’t want to forget a single detail.


While there was so much chemistry between Leo and Izzy, there was pain too. As someone who adores banter in stories, their banter hurt and made my heart sad. It was laced with an undercurrent of heartache and felt attacking at times. It was sad and didn’t leave me smiling or begging for more. It didn’t help that Izzy could be so bitter and rude. Her emotions could flip so easily and there were quite a few moments in the book I just wanted to shake some sense into her or ask her where her kindness was!

She mumbled to herself as she stomped up the stairs, “Eight Days of Christmas, my ass. It’s only day three and I’m ready to jump on the next plane out of here.”


On a positive, I loved all of the Christmas activities and references! Her family celebrated the eight days till Christmas with different activates each day. From Christmas tree shopping, to building snow men, gingerbread house decorating, and more, it made my Christmas heart so happy! And while this is random, I LOVED that Izzy's ex was Todd and their cat was Margo. I laughed out loud at that Christmas movie reference! But while doing family activities, Izzy’s parents or siblings would make comments about her disappearing act. With her bad attitude I felt no sympathy towards her. How did she expect everyone to treat her after she was gone for 10 years?!

“Ten years is a long time. I don’t want a lifetime to pass knowing that I didn’t at least try for the one thing I want most in this world.”


Eight Days of Christmas had an ending that yes left us happy in the moment but I needed an epilogue or something more. The last few books I finished had HFNs, but this one left way too much up in the air. I closed that last page not smiling. Especially since there was also no closure about Izzy’s sister and the issues surrounding her. Maybe there will be a future book about her, but with Leo and Izzy I felt like there were too many things unanswered about their future. Plus there were a few unexplained interactions like when Leo's dad shows up and knows information that hasn't been given to him. Sigh. So if you pick this one up, here’s hoping you find lots more joy in the pages and love it more than me!