I have previously read The Twelve Dates of Christmas by the same author and was prepared to absolutely devour this British romance.

I love that the main character Elinor "Nory" Noel owns a secondhand bookstore named Serendipitous Seconds (how absolutely perfect is that name). What I didn't love is how attached Nory is to her private school (Braddon-Hartmead) past. Nory attended Braddon-Hartmead on a scholarship and her core group of friends from that time (no one else shares her working-class background) is a very privileged bunch. When Nory and her friends are all brought back together for a wedding, their history makes the story overly complex and heavy. While navigating her group of friends (the "haves"), Nory runs into a "have not" from her childhood, the gardener's son at the castle where they are staying, Isaac. Sparks fly while complications abound.

I realized while reading the last few pages of the book that I didn't feel satisfied with the conclusion, because there was so much going on in the story that it was hard to truly connect to any of the characters, including Nory. The story is more of a romance that takes place around Christmas time than a Christmas romance, not a problem, but did want to note it, as there are very few holiday feels. I would have loved to see more of Nory's family traditions around the holiday, beyond her father creating a new "London style" cocktail each year.

There is some sizzle to the romance, the bookstore setting was adorable, and a few parts of the book are enjoyable, it's just overall not my cup of cinnamon tea. I do highly recommend The Twelve Dates of Christmas if you haven't yet had the privilege.

I am so sad that this book didn't work for me. I really enjoyed Bayliss's previous two holiday books and wanted to sink right into this one. However, at 30% I felt like nothing had happened except a gathering of kind of unlikeable people. I sat it down and had a hard time coming back to it at all. Thanks for letting me try. I hope the next book works out better for me!

I have to admit that at first the summary of this book (a group of friends from a posh boarding school gather for a week at a castle leading up to their friends' wedding). But oh my gosh, the book is SO MUCH MORE! I love that we meet main character Nory at a point in her life where she's already done a lot of self-reflection and has carved her own path, owning a secondhand bookstore in London, rather than pleasing others' expectations. I also loved that we got to be a part of other aspects of her self-discovery, like trying to find her place between bustling London city life, the quaint small-town where she was raised, her fancy boarding school friends, and more. Despite the title and cover, Christmas doesn't actually play a huge role in the book and it's more of a cozy, heartwarming read that will get you excited for the season. I couldn't wait to see how things turned out and at the same time I never wanted it to end!

I didn't realize how much I wanted/needed a holiday/Christmas themed book in September, but I did and I'm glad I picked this one up. Granted, I will say that I wish there was more holiday/Christmas themes throughout the storyline and I didn't enjoy the language a lot. I did enjoy the setting in London and her running a bookstore!

A feel good romance to get you in the mood for the season! What booklover doesn't love a second-hand bookshop as a setting and Jenny Bayliss does Christmassy romances better than most.

This is no fault of the author but I generally have a tough time with the insta-love trope -- I only mention this so that my star rating is able to be taken with a grain of salt. I didn't feel like I got enough, or perhaps the right things, from their past which made it hard for me to buy into their relationship fully. I did enjoy the friend group though!

This book was admittedly a little long for my tastes when it comes to a light read. The sweet spot for my attention span is typically around 300 pages or so for a fluffier book like a romance, and I definitely think this one could've been pared down a little.

Meet me Under the Mistletoe (𝐞𝐀𝐑𝐂) — 3.5⭐️

𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2022

𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰: I really enjoyed the author’s Twelve Dates of Christmas, so when I saw this one, I knew I had to read it too! While there was a heartbreaking side-story, this book made my heart happy, and I would describe it as a winter feel-good story. There were some Christmas related parts, but it could be enjoyed all winter. I liked how different the characters were. Also, the romance was sweet, and there were some laugh-out-loud moments too!

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐝 —
🌍 Based in Europe
💗 Friends to Lovers
🎄Christmas Related
🔐 Closed Door Romance
🥰 Feel-Good Story

𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐢𝐟 —
💒 You enjoy preparing for weddings
🍷 You’d need a drink to get through an awkward dinner
👦 You could fall for your brother’s best friend
📚 You’d like to own a used bookstore
🏰 You’re favorite place is to be is a castle’s garden

𝐓𝐖: suicide, racism, mental illness, political disputes, alcoholism, infidelity

Thank you, NetGalley, G. P. Putnam’s Sons, and Penguin House Putnam, for providing me an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to Jenny Bayliss, PENGUIN GROUP Putnam, G.P. Putnam's Sons, and NetGalley for the chance to read this adorable rom-com as an ARC in exchange for my honest opinions.

I LOVED The Twelve Dates of Christmas, and this comes in as a close second! I appreciate that this was more than just your typical romance, and had a lot of friendship dynamics and didn't stay away from some difficult topics. If you are looking for a lighthearted, steamy holiday read, this might not be the option for you. It takes place a couple of weeks before Christmas, so doesn't actual deal with the holidays, but how the name came about is one of my favorite things about this book! 🥰

Nory, a mid-30's secondhand bookshop owner from London, is visiting a castle near her hometown with her school friends for a week leading up to to the wedding, when she runs into a former crush. She hasn't had the best of luck with romance, but falls fairly quickly over adorable Isaac. Over the week leading up to the wedding, they get to spend quite a bit of time together. Mistakes are made, and trust is broken, but can that trust be repaired in the end?

Tropes: second chance, brother's friend

Trigger Warning: a friend's suicide, depression, infidelity, alcoholism, racism

There were a couple elements I found lacking, but overall a fun and swoon-y read! A solid 4 stars! This comes out September 27th so be sure to order a copy before the holidays!

Thank you @netgalley @penguinrandomhouse @putnambooks @jennibayliss for the eARC and chance to voluntarily read and review before pub day—what a joy and honor!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (0-5)
Steam: 🔥🔥 (0-5) Slow burn & fade to black (but really tender and full of lovely tension).

What I’m Starry-Eyed Over:
🤩 A holiday season romance with mistletoe in the title—I’m such a sucker!
🤩 Friend group reunion!
🤩 The setting is at a castle with secret gardens in an English country village two hours from London. It made for such a beautiful escape from reality for the characters in the story as well as the reader.
🤩 But also in London & with a Mary Poppins reference.
🤩 Pre-wedding and wedding vibes.
🤩 All the feels (lust, love, longing, & laughs). Even with some serious occasions and discussions, there were some other truly laugh out loud moments.
🤩 MC careers: Isaac is the full-time gardener for the castle. Elinor (Nory) is a bookshop owner in London.
🤩 The MCs have a shared love of the sky, the earth/horticulture, and art.
🤩 I’m such a sucker for any moment like assisted target practice.
🤩 Double forbidden romance—brother’s best friend plus no fraternizing between guests & workers policy.
🤩 Representation for the benefits of therapy and marriage counseling.
🤩 Theme of true friendship where friends tell you the hard stuff with hopes of you becoming the best version of yourself.
🤩 Themes of social prejudice, class discrimination, elitism, and racism.

What I’m Wishing/Dizzy About:
💫 The 3rd quarter drama felt like it didn’t quite fit the character of the female MC.
💫 I really like a little steam after the drama.

Trigger Warning:
🔬 Close friend committed suicide a couple years prior—the emotions are talked about a lot.

What a fun Christmas read! Though I live in a hot climate, this really got me in the mood for cold and cozy winter nights and transported me into the holiday spirit! I really loved Elinor/Nory's character and the dynamic and bonds between her childhood friends. This was just as fun and charming of a read as Bayliss's other books, and I look forward to reading whatever comes next!

Meet Me Under the Mistletoe follows Nory, who owns a second-hand bookstore in London and reunites with her boarding school friends for a holiday wedding at a castle. All these atmospheric elements, combined with the adorable Christmas-y cover, give off such cozy ,cheery vibes. However, readers be warned, this book packs a serious emotional punch. The saying "do not judge a book by its cover" could not be more true in the case of this book.

Meet Me Under the Mistletoe was well-written with likable characters, but I think I would have enjoyed it more had it not been marketed as a Christmas book. It feels a bit like the author came up with a contemporary/women's fiction story and then it was later made to fit into the mold of a Christmas-themed romance book. I would not have even thought to check trigger warnings based on the cover, but there are several heavy ones, including suicide, alcoholism, adultery, and racism. While I appreciated the strong female friendships, I did not feel much Christmas cheer while reading it, and I had a hard time finishing it. Perhaps I just felt a bit misled by the marketing, which put me off when the book took a darker turn.

As a reader looking for a light, heartwarming Christmas romance, this was a bit of a disappointment. The holidays, in particular, can be a very difficult time for those struggling with mental health or the death of a loved one by suicide, so I do feel that trigger warnings for this book should be more prominent. I think there is an audience who will enjoy a Christmas-themed book that is more complex, but I'm afraid this book may upset readers that typically enjoy a light, holiday romance.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Putnam Books for this ARC!

This book is very cute! I tried to think of a more eloquent word to describe it, but honestly, cute fits perfectly.

I loved the different settings in this book. Nory's secondhand bookshop sounds like a warm hug and somewhere I'd love to visit in real life. And you can never go wrong with a castle in the snowy English countryside!

I liked Nory and Issac, but I also liked the side characters in the book. There's a lot of them so it does take some time to sort out who's who, but they're all pretty well developed and made for an interesting group dynamic. My favorites were Nory's coworker Andrew and her best friend Ameerah. They were both amazing and supportive friends to Nory, but both had their own fun parts in the book. I loved hearing about Andrew's mom and his husband Seb's mom battling to be their daughter's the favorite grandma. And I loved Ameerah's growing relationship with Dev.

I've been reading a lot of YA lately, so it was nice to read about characters more in my age group (mid-30s) and the things we deal with at this age. While there are lots of jokes about drinking/hangovers not being the same in your 30s vs. 20s, there's also some more serious issues brought up, like growing apart from old school friends, navigating relationships with family, and the death (suicide) of a friend.

While there is romance and Nory/Issac make a very cute couple, a lot of the book is focused on the group of friends and their dynamic together. Also, the book is set in late November - Christmas Eve, but it's not overly Christmas-y. So, if you're looking for a steamy holiday romance, this probably isn't for you. If you're looking for a light-hearted, sweet story of friendship and finding love, I would recommend this one.

Unfortunately, I really didn't care for this book. For a Christmas setting it was sorely lacking in Christmas and it was also kind of crass. The language and content shot down any cozy vibes this could have had. There were too many characters to keep track of, and for a supposed romance novel, there was more focus on Nory and all her childhood friends than on Nory and Isaac, and as a result the romance had no depth and was very insta-love. She mentioned how Isaac was "worth everything" but she barely knows the guy. It didn't feel authentic at all. Nothing about this felt authentic really. The author tried way too hard to insert every little thing into this and it just didn't work. Also, it drove me crazy the author kept going back and forth between Nory and Elinor. I don't think this is one I can recommend. Thank you to Putnam and NetGalley for the DRC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 ⭐️
Ultimately, Meet Me Under the Mistletoe is a book about a friend group and how relationships change yet also stay the same from youth until your thirties. Elinor “Nory” is given the opportunity to go to a friend’s castle estate wedding in the same location that she went to a posh private school some ten plus years earlier. A reunion of sorts, we meet all of her friends, some single, others married, and even one whom is not with the group any longer. It’s an easy friend group to fall into, but at times I found myself having to check back to remind myself of which friend did what, making it slightly tricky to keep up with. Nory has to face one of her mistakes, a friend she slept with but did not know was married at the time which makes the plot a bit interesting, but she ultimately has to decide what type of love story she wants to write for herself. Isaac, head gardner at the estate, and friend to Nory’s brother, has known Nory since she was in school and the interactions between them are lovely (even when covered head to toe in manure). Isaac is exactly what a reader would hope for in a romantic foil; sweet, attentive, humorous, and a hard worker. His moments in the book were my favorite. But I wanted to strangle Nory in her poor decision making in the “third act breakup”—I think I audibly groaned. Fortunately Jenny Bayliss turns Nory’s mistake around and saves us with an HEA, but I would not have blamed Isaac for being very upset with Nory. All loose ends are tied up neatly and I appreciated the way each friend got their own mini-story. If you’re looking for a sweet, easy, countryside British Christmas read, this book will deliver. Thank you to NetGalley and G. P. Putnam’s Sons, Penguin Group for this early eARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

54% - DNF (right now)

The premise of this book is so cute, and I loved Jenny Bayliss's The Twelve Dates of Christmas, so I was really looking forward to cozying up with this new holiday romance. But it just moved so slow. I am looking forward to finishing this book at some point, and remain hopeful that it will be as cute as I'm anticipating, but right now it's just moving too slow to hold my interest.

Nory is torn between her working-class, small town family and the privileged classmates from the private boarding school she attended on the hill. Spending a week in the castle that shares her old school grounds leading up to her friend’s wedding doesn’t make things easier.

You can’t control who you love and Nory falls for her brother’s mate and resident hunky gardener, Isaac. Nory runs a secondhand bookstore in London and Isaac is deeply rooted (get it) in their quaint hometown. Can they make it work?

Yes. It should have been a lot easier too. Let’s put miscommunication tropes aside. There was way too much going on in this one. Cut back about half the characters and secondary storylines and you got yourself a winner.

CW/TW: suicide, depression, mental health, infidelity, fraud, alcoholism

Thank you NetGalley and Putnam for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

I adored this book!!! It really put me in the mood for the holiday season as well!

Things I loved:

•The main character is a bookstore owner in London. (This hooked me straight away!)
•The bulk of the story takes place during a wedding week at a castle during Christmas! Absolutely, approve! It was magical!
•A group of old school friends reconnecting and finding their way back to each other after the tragic loss of one of the group. (This was one of the parts I enjoyed the most. How they had regrets and they made the effort to right those regrets with each other.)
•Isaac and Nory’s mutual love of books. (I’m really a sucker for a love story that contains readers, writers, and book store owners.)
•Guy’s growth throughout the story. So happy with how that ended.
•The humor…the spray tan scene alone had me laughing out loud.

Absolutely giving this one 5 🌟.

Snowball croquet, secondhand bookstores, mulled wine, tree lightings in the square. If Elin Hilderbrand reigns over summer, then Jenny Bayliss is the queen of winter.

I was pulled in from the moment we meet Elinor Noel in her secondhand bookshop, Serendipitous Seconds, Nory, as she is known affectionately throughout the book, has been putting off RSVP’ing to her childhood best friends wedding because of an unfortunate tryst with Guy, another friend in their circle, years ago. This hookup (did I mention that said friend was married — unbeknownst to Nory!) happened after the funeral of another member of their friend group. Eesh!

After prodding from her best friend Ameerah, Nory reluctantly agrees to spend the wedding and the week leading up to it holed up with her friend group at the castle on the grounds of their posh private school. After Guy hits on Nory on the first night (with his wife in the next room!) she escapes to the castle gardens and has a run-in with Isaac, a nemisis from her childhood, and head gardener at the castle. What follows is a most beautiful, heartwarming — and heart tugging! — story.

4.5 rounded up to 5 — there was one piece of the ending that was frustrating for me, and thats why it’s not a perfect 5.

Trigger warning: suicide grieving

When Nory, a bookstore owner, is reunited for a week-long wedding event at a castle with her oldest friends she is just hoping to make it through the week. Her friends, classmates from a posh private school she attended on scholarship, all came from well-off families. Nory grew up in a working-class family and was forever feeling torn between her two worlds trying to fit in somewhere. When she runs into the head gardener, Issac, and starts spending time with him, she begins to realize that she might have feelings for her old enemy from her school days.

At first glance, this book may seem like a fun Christmas romance but it was much more than that. While it does have romance, it also deals with some very heavy topics (like the aftermath of the loss of a friend). It wasn't the light romcom type read I was expecting but I enjoyed following the group of friends and all of the life lessons they learn along the way.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the ARC!

Jenny Bayliss is an author I come to when I am looking for a cozy, wintery, sweet, British countryside romance. She is great at depicting that specific atmosphere and it is a place I crave as soon as it starts to get cooler. I also generally enjoy her romantic relationships and like the characters both individually and as a couple. Outside of the romantic relationship, she always has a strong sense of friendship between her group of characters, and those seem to be just as important to her as the romance. We see a lot of friend love.

Now looking at Meet Me Under the Mistletoe specifically, this wasn’t my favorite of her novels, but I did still enjoy it. The premise is Nory is the owner of a second hand book store in London who specializes in antique books and she is headed back to her private school/hometown (she was a scholarship kid with the rich elite) for her two friend’s wedding. Prior to the wedding their friend group is doing a week at a castle and soon after arriving she runs into Isacc, the son of the gardener when they were in school. Now he’s the head gardener and Nory must figure out how to navigate her growing feelings.

So to start right off the bat, I loved the location of this novel and the idea of it being the setting where a group of old school mates come together. It is a troupe I love in books. Big trigger warning, there is a lot of talk about one of their friends committing suicide before the book starts, and is a part of all of their relationships that is tightly entwined. I think it’s handled well, but could be tough for some readers. Anyways, I liked all the characters and how Bayliss showed all their shades of grays. The dynamic of their friend group was some of my favorite parts.

We have our main relationship between Nory and Isaac. They knew one another as children and had a sort of rivalry with her being at a private school and him at public/his dad working on the grounds. Isaac is also one of Nory’s brothers friends, which adds another complication to their relationship. Outside of their main relationship, the secondary characters also are having romantic relationships that I found myself invested in. So essentially what I continue to say is I like how Bayliss does characters.

What I didn’t like as much is I think there were a few too many topics trying to be tackled. Class, race, suicide, adultery, toxic masculinity, mental health - all of which are very important, but it was maybe just one or two too many. I think trying to tackle all of these topics made the book a bit too long. I wished it had been 50-70 pages shorter because 450 is a bit long for a romance. I also was a bit meh about the 3rd act conflict. It stemmed from miscommunication and was a bit clunky for me. I also was missing a bit of the humor that I loved in her other novels. It’s likely because she tackled some heavier topics, but I wish there had been a bit more humor.

Even with these criticisms I had a really good time with this novel. If you’ve enjoyed her other novels I think you’ll like this one too. If you like novels with childhood friends coming back together I think you’ll also like this. And if you want a bit of drama mixed into a cozy read you’ll also probably like this. I’m sad I won’t have another new novel for a year, so I’ll just have to reread some of them.

Thank you to Netgalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons for the advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A lovely holiday rom-com. The characters were believable and the circumstances were actually original. The writing was lovely. This book is a warm cup of tea on a cold holiday evening.