➥ 1 Star *:･ﾟ✧

"I'm fine. Honestly, I'm so used to being alone now I don't know if I'll even like it when I find someone I do want to be with. I'm not sure I know how to bend like that anymore."
"I don't want to hear about your sex life." (❓❓❓)

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Netgalley, please, I sincerely promise that I don't hate every book out there. It's only coincidentally my 2 approved netgalley arcs. I feel like all my requests from now on will be rejected, damn. Anyway, let's briefly digest the featured quote above. Imagine having a male best friend (rare but still a possibility I suppose) and you're pouring your heart out about how you're feeling, hoping he'll empathise or help, and he turns it into some bad joke. I felt like this whole book severely lacked execution. It's clear that this author was going for a very similar dynamic as People We Meet on Vacation but cheaper. I was also particularly looking to enjoy the Christmas aspect because I love Christmas but the bad quality took away from every aspect.

➥ Molly (h), the typical short, goofy, childish, sunshine girl. Truly insufferable. She's not even that extraordinarily bad, but I'm just so tired of this character archetype that I see it and it's an automatic star deduction on both my rating and, more importantly, my enjoyment. I find it incredible that it's so impossible to relate to characters that are women because it should be easy, but reading about these types of characters is so exhausting and genuinely convinces you that her prefrontal cortex hasn't developed since she popped out the womb, sorry.

"What's that?" I ask, confused.
Andrew's eyes drop to mine. "It's mistletoe, you idiot."
"That's mistletoe?" No way. "It looks like spinach. Like a sprig of spinach."
"How do you not know what-"
"I know what it is, I just haven't seen it before. It's not like I spend December looking up the whole time, is it?"
"You're five foot nothing, you spend most of your life looking up."
"I am five foot three, thank you very much. And I can see the world just fine from here-"


➥ Andrew (H) is actually worse than Molly. He's not funny, but he thinks he is. He's shallow, immature and disrespectful. With love interests that are supposed to be 'best friends', they have to have this very respectful, kind, down to earth air, you know? Andrew was not. Andrew was Andrew when he should have been an Alex. He's just bland and disappointing. How are Molly and him even friends? He doesn't even engage well in conversation with her ever - no emotional maturity or even acknowledgment. For reference to his character, the quote featured at the top does it best, I'd say.


Just to get some basics out the way. This was written in 1st person, like most contemporary romance books are, but it's annoying and would just generally be so much better in 3rd person or more formal/concise 1st person.

More on the writing, we get to read texts between the characters and they are so disturbingly millennial. I have many millennial friends that I know and love on here but I simply cannot suffer through another "#glamour" being randomly written into a text.

There's the dual timeline, another aspect similar to PWMOV, but it was confusing because it's not just one moment in the past and one in the present, it's like all these different Christmases they spent together and bleh.

'He gives me a fond look. “You’re such a bitch.”'


The "fondly" doesn't soften any blows, if a man feels entitled enough to playfully call you a bitch...I mean me personally...I'd be gone. Alex would never.

"What?" he asks now, and I realise I'm smiling at the memory.
"You're a good friend, you know that?"
He eyes me suspiciously. "You need a kidney or something?"


This quote in itself doesn't seem so bad but when you put it in the context of how terribly it was executed and how embarrassing and gross it would be for a man like the love interest to say that... Again, it's not horrendous but their "friendship" has no substance.

The fmc also has another "bff" that she get's walked over by but I guess that's part of the hallmark aesthetic we're going for here. Still irksome.

'He looks different up close. Older. Granted, I'm older too, but some days I still think I look like a teenager. So does every bouncer and barman in Chicago apparently.'


Girl. I just dfc.

Anyway, then the kissed under the mistletoe because blah blah and then both of them can't stop thinking about it but idc. I don't hate the concept, it could have been done well, but it wasn't. The kiss wasn't that well written, I felt nothing. I was so horribly bored , I had to force myself to pick up this book. I also vividly remember him asking her if she's on her period because she was being "weird", smh.

If you feel like my tastes and yours align, I'd skip this one, but if you like authors like Sarah Hogle, you just might enjoy this, give it a try. I'm sad it didn't work for me, hopefully it'll work for someone else. I feel like my review was a bit harshly expressed, so I just want to mention that I know many people have enjoyed this author's past books, so it's certainly still valuable to be writing these stories that we know many enjoy, irrespective of my opinion.

Thankyou Netgalley for giving me the advanced reader's copy of this book in exchange for a review!

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This was such a fun read! I loved how the chapters alternated between present day + the past so you could really understand how the romance between Andrew and Molly unfolded. Having their relationship develop over the course of these yearly flights made for an entertaining and unique take on an otherwise predictable holiday love story.

10 stars!!!
My review really only needs to be this:
JUST READ THIS BOOK!!!!
But I’ll give you a little insight as to why.
The characters are perfect. Their constant bantering made me laugh out loud throughout the entire book. The book was the perfect amount of Christmas, where I was in the festive spirit throughout, but not to the point that I felt like Santa Claus himself was missing. The storyline was amazing. I loved the premise. And finally, I did NOT want this book to end but I also did because I needed to know what happened. And the ending was perfect. This book was just perfection. Please JUST READ THIS BOOK!!!

I think I'll be swooning for a while after finishing this. What a fun, sweet and utterly romantic read. I adored reading how Molly and Andrew's relationship developed over the years. You're rooting for the two of them from the start and they're such likable characters. I think Andrew might be my favourite male character from the books I've read this year (still swooning). If you're a fan of friends to lovers and anything set around Christmas, then this is the book for you to pick up this festive season.

Molly and Andrew have spent the last decade meeting up once a year for their annual flight from Chicago to Ireland for the holidays. In spite of their opposite personalities, their friendship continues to grow each time they meet. When a storm threatens their most recent trip, Molly pledges to Andrew that she will help get him home in time for Christmas. This sets off a series of flights and fun adventures bringing the pair closer than ever before.

Holiday Romance is sweet, opposites-attract romance. This friends to lovers has just the right amount of silly and swoony banter. The MCs have great chemistry all through the book even when they’re “just friends”.

The pacing of the story is good. There is some back and forth in the timeline chronicling each of the previous flights. Transitions could have been a little smoother but it really helps to show the development of the MCs' friendship. I adore both of the families. Andrew’s family was so welcoming and Molly’s sister was just delightful. All in all, Holiday Romance is a fun, cozy Christmas read.

This is the first book thatI have read from author Catherine Walsh. I look forward to reading more of her work in the future.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture!

Holiday Romance manages to capture all excitement of a dramatic transatlantic dash home for Christmas, whilst delving deeper into the blossoming relationship between the two main characters, Molly and Andrew. Right from the first page, I was drawn in. I really enjoyed reading this book from the perspective that the characters were based in America but wanted to be with family back home in Ireland every year, Molly and Andrew were easy to relate to and it was very easy to get swept along with their romance and I finished it quickly.

Molly Kinsella and Andrew Fitzpatrick are both from Ireland and living in Chicago! They end up accidentally sitting next to each other on a flight home for Christmas and continue to meet at the airport every year to travel home together. On their 10th anniversary of being holiday travel buddies, there is a big storm that cancels their flight. Cue the holiday travel chaos!

It was so fun to follow along on the travel chaos and see their friendship slowly turn into a holiday, home for Christmas, romance. This is a heartwarming friends to lovers rom-com and I couldn’t put it down! Molly was so real and Andrew was very relatable with his love for the holidays! I hope they turn this book into a holiday movie! This book left me smiling and ready to decorate for Christmas!

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Holiday Romance releases on October 4th, 2022. I definitely recommend adding this fun cozy Christmas romance to your TBR!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Eeekkk{ All the feels!! Holiday fun at its finest! Laughter, tears, steam, family drama, this has it all.
This is the story of Molly and Andrew who meet at the airport every year to fly home for Christmas. This year, however, there’s a huge storm and their flight gets canceled. Instead of giving up and just staying in Chicago, Molly decides to do whatever it takes to get them to their families, even if it means traveling for days all across the globe.
The chapters go back and forth between the current time and each year leading up to now, building on their relationship and their lives in between their once a year meets. The banter between these two is so witty and the sparks are flying even when they aren’t even realizing it yet. I liked that there weren’t too many over the top mushy moments but there was enough sweetness that left me all warm inside. There was lots of back and forth of she likes him and he likes her until they finally like each other at the same time which really helps to bring the story along. The supporting characters are lots of fun, especially Molly’s twin sister Zoe.
Get your hands on this one as soon as it’s out on October 4!
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for my review.

This is a friends to lovers trope, one that I usually like but this one was a super slow burn for my style. This was a book I enjoyed but I times it felt like it was dragging with the many timelines that felt like nothing was really happening. I found myself several times skipping paragraphs to get to the dialogues and see if something interesting was happening. Not bad, but not for me.

OMG. This book was everything!

For fans of...

*Friends to lovers;
*Only one bed;
*Reverse grump/sunshine (She's the grump);
*Cinnamon roll heroes in ugly Christmas sweaters;
*Big, fun families;
*Then an now flashbacks; and
*Pining,

This book is for you!

Short Synopsis: Andrew and Molly live in Chicago but are both from Ireland and sit next to each other ten years ago on a flight home for Christmas. The next year the just so happen to be on the same flight again. Their constant running into each other at the airport turns into a beautiful friendship and planned flights together, emails, etc. Then on their tenth flight chaos ensues and a storm threatens to keep them from making it home for Christmas. As the hijinks ensue to get home, they end up realizing, their friendship may just be a little bit more.

I cannot say enough wonderful things about this story or its characters. I was up finishing it at 2:30am because I could not put it down. Andrew, the hero is SWOONWORTHY. There is a point in Chapter 27 (IYKYK) where I wanted to jump through the pages and climb him like a cat on a Christmas tree.

And y'all, the banter in this book is phenomenal. I was laughing and smiling every time these two got into their back and forth. Molly is a smart, strong character which I love. She's also an overworked lawyer evaluating all of her life's choices (that sounds familiar). This book beautifully weaves in the flashbacks of the previous flights so that you get a full picture of how Andrew and Molly came to be where they are in the "present day".

Both Molly and Andrew had the best families and I loved the way the author brought these big fun families to life.

Do yourself a favor and grab this book on October 4! It will make you smile, laugh, cry and swoon but the journey is one you don't want to miss!

Thank you to Bookouture and Netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

This is such a cute & fun read! I think its perfect for the holiday season. I absolutely loved the Andrew & Molly's friendship and getting to see glimpses of it through the year along with them discovering that there was something more between them. The timeline felt perfectly done being spread out over 10 years. I felt the connection between the two characters and read the story in one day. It was funny, adorable, and overall just an enjoyable read. I enjoyed the touches about their life; being sober, changing careers, and both of their families. So happy I chose to read this. Thank you so much for providing me an ARC through net galley!

I enjoy books that show how a relationship progresses over time and this book does it well. What begins as two young adults heading back to their homes in Ireland for Christmas end with a whirlwind adventure as the two make the journey home despite plenty of obstacles.

The book is told in alternating then and now time frames. Molly comes from a family where Christmas isn’t any special but she makes the effort each year to spend time with family. Andrew’s family, on the other hand, celebrates the season in a big way. Molly realizes the importance of getting Andrew home for Christmas Day and goes all out to get him there.

What is normally a single transatlantic flight turns into a wild adventure involving many modes of transportation over several continents and multiple days. It is on this journey that the two realize how their relationship has evolved. But would they risk this friendship in the hopes of something much more?

There are some very romantic moments and plenty of humour as the reader is invited to watch this relationship flourish. I loved how the families knew of their friendship and welcomed them like they’d known them a long time despite never having met them. Both of the protagonists are highly likeable and I couldn’t help but cheer this relationship on. Those of you who love older romantic comedies like Sleepless in Seattle will particularly enjoy this story.

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys romance, particularly with a holiday setting. 4.5 stars.

I received an early copy of this book but the thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own.

Another rom com without the rom or the com. There was really no romance or anything cute here, no comedy. Just whining from Molly throughout the years of taking flights with her college friends ex boyfriend. Yes you read that right. Nothing about this story even made sense. It didn’t work for me

In Holiday Romance, we are introduced to Molly, who is going home to Ireland for a not-so-celebratory-Christmas week. She ends up sitting next to her college roommates soon to be ex-boyfriend Andrew, who is also going home to Ireland. They agree to make it a tradition to travel back home to Ireland on Christmas Eve each year.

Over the course of 10 years and 10 flights, their friendship turns into something more, even though they are complete opposites regarding how they celebrate, or don't celebrate, Christmas. This current holiday, however, they are stuck by a snowstorm. Molly is determined to get Andrew home to his fabulous family traditional celebration by any means possible. And it is this Christmas they come to terms with what their relationship really means.

This is the perfect romantic comedy the world needs right now! It will make you swoon, possibly even cry at times. It was definitely hard to put down. This is the perfect read for this Christmas season to set your heart skipping and humming that wonderful holiday tune.

Thank you to Bookoutoure and NetGalley for the digital ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.

Holiday Romance by Catherine Walsh will rank as one of my favorite holiday romcoms. Actually, it's going to be pretty high on my list of favorite romcoms, period! A once a year Christmas trip to Ireland becomes a fabulous friendship/romance. Just enough drama, a little bit of steam, a great happily every after! 4.5 stars.

despite not yet being in the christmas spirit at all, i really enjoyed this! it’s a perfect light and fluffy holiday read, without too much unnecessary angst or pages filled with smut. it felt like a very mature romance, in the sense that it was really just two adults figuring out if they should give this relationship a chance, without making stupid mistakes or miscommunicating on every page for the drama. the pace is slightly slower and there is no insane sexual swoony chemistry, instead a really pure friendship and some fun banter. due to the travel plotline, it didn’t feel overly christmassy & i especially loved all of the family members that we got to meet in the second half!

OMG Catherine Walsh OUTDID HERSELF. This book was literal Christmas joy 🥹💚 I couldn’t put it down!

When main characters, Molly and Andrew found themselves on the same flight back to Ireland 10 years ago, it almost seemed like fate. They continued traveling together over the years as friends. After a nasty storm delayed their latest flight, they were sent all over creation and Molly made it her mission to get Andrew home in time for the holidays (like COME ON WITH THE CUTENESS! 🥹💕) They took planes, ferries, trains and cabs and as fate would have it, they made it home in time to see their families 🥹 along the way (after an adorable mistletoe kiss!!) they also realized they had caught serious feelings for each other over the years. 🫶🏼❤️💋

This is the perfect, cute Christmas read to get you in the holiday spirit. 🎄 If you are a fan of September 9 or People We Meet on Vacation, you will LOVE this novel! Very similar writing style where the characters only see each other once a year. Personally, I love that because it makes their time together so much more meaningful. 💕

Huge thank you to @netgalley and @bookouture for gifting me this ARC 💝 Be on the lookout for this release October 4th!

Nothing romantic has ever happened between Molly and Andrew. They are just two friends who sit next to each other once a year on the last flight home before Christmas travelling from Chicago back to Dublin. Except this year, when a sudden snowstorm derails all of their usual travel plans causing chaos and unexpected feels.

I loved this book. I'm not usually one to read holiday books before December, but this one was so cute! I adored both Molly and Andrew (especially Andrew). I found the book to be full of moments of humor sprinkled with sleep-deprived breakdowns (Molly) and surprise mistletoe kisses that cause confusing feelings (also Molly) during the 72 hour period of their travels in order to get home for the holidays.

For me, I usually don't enjoy the friends to lovers trope as much as I did in this book. I found the friendship between Molly and Andrew to be so genuine and watching it grow throughout the book just had me hooked. This was a 4.5 star read for me! I enjoyed it so much. Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture!

This book was SO adorable! I had laughs, sad moments, and moments rooting for them to do it. I love a good friends to lovers book!

I really enjoyed how the book went from the present to the past. The past points came in at the right time and tied into the now. I enjoyed learning about both of their families. Hannah was my favorite character. She reminded me of my younger sister and I just loved her so much even though the book wasn't surrounded around her.

Although the beautiful gift Andrew gave to Molly should have been a sign of something that was a possibility - one of them moving back. I think the story could have done without that conversation with Christian. It really just put an extra few pages and Andrew saying how much he loved Molly. But, I am also not sure they would've both ended up thinking what they did without it so I am torn.

Overall, this is a perfect holiday read!

Molly and Andrew are friends that both love i Chicago that fly home to Ireland together every year for Christmas. Once they get there, they go their separate ways to their family homes. On their tenth trip, they get grounded in Chicago and have to figure out another route to get home. Their adventure leads them to feelings they didn’t know they had. This book was so funny! I loved every second of their adventure and the positive way Molly made sure that Andrew would be home for Christmas. She tried her best to keep a positive attitude for him even though she didn’t care for Christmas nearly as much as him. What a way to kick off holiday reading this year!