This was a cute and firmly grounded holiday romcom! I really loved both Molly and Andrew, and they naturally worked so well together to make a believable romance. Their families were fun, as was seeing Molly grow into someone who could aim for happiness. This romcom is full of hope. Highly recommend!

Holiday Romance is a charming Christmas rom com that I absolutely adored! Molly and Andrew are friends that travel home to Ireland for Christmas every year on the same flight, and we meet them on their 10th flight home. We get small flashbacks for each of their previous flights and get to see how their friendship has developed over time. On their tenth year, their flight is canceled and Molly decides she has to help Andrew get home for Christmas no matter how far out of the way they have to travel.

If you like a good friends to lovers romance, you will love this book! The characters are written realistically and their friendship and bond is well established. Their families are great supporting characters that I loved reading about. This was such a feel good book that I will need to buy and have a copy of so that I can read it every winter! I loved the author’s writing style, with great banter and Christmas descriptions that made me ready for the holidays to begin.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this fantastic ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for providing me with a free copy of the novel in return for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is a sweet romance to curl up with on a winter’s night. The plot is charming and the protagonists don’t feel overly Christmassy/saccharine which is sometimes the case with books set at Christmas.

I liked that Molly was faced with decisions about her career and whether this made her happy. I think this was done in a realistic fashion including her fear of what-ifs of leaving and not knowing her next steps in life without the career she is familiar with.

Andrew is also a great ‘hero’ - he’s not just the ‘sunshine’ or ‘grumpy’ hero - his moods change and are impacted by events like anyones would be (again not always the case in romances where people are sometimes defined by one trait/emotion).

The flashbacks gave an important insight into the relationship the characters have developed over years. However, I would have enjoyed at least on chapter (or an epilogue) from Andrew’s perspective.

The travel time could have been delved into more (rather than the plans) just to see more interaction between Molly and Andrew.

I really enjoyed the introduction of Oliver as a brief supporting character, but hoped that the parallel between his friendship with Lara and the relationship between Andrew and Molly could have been explored more.

Overall, a great festive read - easy reading and sweet!

I absolutely loved this book. I could not put it down and read it in one day. It was the perfect Christmas book that I’ve been looking for. I loved the tradition of Molly and Andrew flying from Chicago back to Ireland for the last 10 years for Christmas, I thought that it was super cute premise.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

"Google career options for tired girls who still want to afford their nice apartment."
...Well, that's alarmingly relatable.

"Holiday Romance" comes out in early October. It's the 1st of September as I'm writing this, which is to say, not a time of year that I typically reach for a Christmas romance, but I liked "The Rebound" and "One Night Only" so much that I requested this ARC as soon as it popped up.

This book had sort of a "People We Meet on Vacation" vibe, in that the two MCs have been traveling together for years. The difference is that Molly and Andrew specifically meet up every year to fly home from Chicago to Dublin for Christmas, and have done so for the past decade. When we meet, Molly is facing the sad fact that she's unhappy with her life-consuming career, and oh yeah, a gigantic storm means they basically have to fly around the world for 3 straight days to make it home.

Molly and Andrew had great banter and, while I'm not going to go down with this ship, I thought they were very cute and was cheering for them to get together the whole time. This was pretty low angst and pretty low spice, both of which I'd expect from a Christmas romance. There was a bit of manufactured conflict about 90% of the way in, which we definitely could've done without, but it (obviously) got resolved pretty quickly.

One of the things I really like about Walsh's writing is how well she depicts sister relationships. I've seen this dynamic in 2 of her 3 books (plus the 3rd had a friendship that was close to sisterhood) and I understand why because she freaking nails it. I have two sisters myself, and the way the characters love each other but don't always get along - plus the constantly talking shit - is really accurate. I honestly think Walsh nails this dynamic better than a lot of authors I've read, even outside the romance genre.

All in all, a solid read for anyone looking for a little holiday magic or just some solid banter.

Holiday Romance is such a cute Christmas romance! It was a sweet book that shared the history of two friends who travel back home to Ireland on the same flight for the past 10 years. Between flashbacks and current travel the reader really what a sense of the history between these two opposites and watch their relationship grow into romance.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC and for letting me get to read it so early. I am no ready for Hallmark Christmas movies and need to get started on my shopping!

This was a really christmasy novel. I enjoyed the story and how it unfolded. I liked the ideea of flight-to-home-for -Christmas and how the author interchanged past with present.
On the end of the book I felt the book dragged a little and I couldn’t wait for Molly and Andrew to get the “real discussion”, to get back.
On certain replies, Andrew called Molly “you, idiot”, in a loving/familiar way if you can say, but I wish that wasn’t part of his discours.
Now, I can’t wait for Christmas and will place this book on top of my christmas booklist.

Thank you for an advanced copy.
This is my first book by Catherine Walsh and I can gladly say I am a fan. 'Holiday Romance' is cozy, laugh-out-loud funny, sweet Christmassy love story about a decade of friendship and the gradual way of falling in love.
The main characters were phenomenal and so real with Molly being extremely relatable, down to earth and very likable and Andrew, a sarcastic af, hilarious, adorable and sexy. The book is not very spicy but the tension (even after their first two kisses) was palpable, I couldn't stop reading and rooting for them.
Undoubtedly, the side characters deserve a mention too. Both families were so special, showing different sides of holiday spirit, with obvious understanding that Christmas is about coming together and dedicating these few sacred days every year to show just how much they miss each other and care for one another. (Lowkey hoping there's a universe where Christian and Zoe fall madly in love and spend their lives together)

Loved the flashbacks to previous yearly flights and unique way that the author did not put some meaningless argument or a miscommunication before their reunion in the present chapters.

I'm usually a fan of dual POV book but there was nothing I didn't like about this book and I read it in one sitting. Definitely goes in my top 3 holiday romances and my TBR to read again during the Christmas holiday.

Andrew and Molly filled me up with joy. This novel has taken a special place in my heart. From the characters to the story to the writing, it has succedeed in making me cry.
I will now proceed to re-read because I may have read it too fast for my liking and I need to process it again, because I need to feel happiness again.

I was given a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. This book was everything for a Christmas lover. I am well aware that it is August but I'm Canadian so it will basically be winter in like a month anyway. I loved the characters, I loved the plot, I loved everything about it. I have always said that the best romance books focus on more than romance and this one does a great job of incorporating elements like work, family and personal growth. I think I spent about 60% of it grinning and the other 40% laughing. I loved that the third act twist avoided the same pitfall that most romance novels pull. It kept the story organic and fun. This book is perfect for Christmas lovers and I would specifically recommend it for fans of Beth O'Leary's the Flatshare.

I absolutely loved this Christmas love story. Leaping back and forth through the years kept it interesting and I read it in one sitting. It was wonderful to see the dynamics of families who only get to see each other each Christmas due to living so far apart as well as the relationships between siblings. I will definitely check out more from this author now. Thank you netgalley.

A wonderful cosy Christmas read 🎄grab a blanket a hot chocolate and snuggle down with this!
It has got me in the festive mood in Aug!!

I love a holiday themed romance and this did not disappoint. Will definitely be buying a copy to reread closer to the holidays.

Catherine Walsh does an amazing job of developing the MCs throughout the novel and the location development as she describes their time in Chicago, Buenos Aires, Pairs, London, and finally their time in Ireland places the reader in the story. I can relate as my last international trip was nothing but delays!

I think the flashback chapters are well incorporated and add to the character development and show how Molly and Andrew’s relationship has grown over their ten years of Christmas flights. Overall a great read I’m adding to my holiday list.

Thank you to Netgalley, Bookouture and Catherine Walsh for the opportunity to read and review.

I absolutely loved this book. Sweet, hilarious, romantic. Covers all the bases for me! Such a fun holiday reed. Thank you netgalley!

I loved this - it is one of the best romance books that I have read in a long time.

Molly and Andrew were great main characters - they had great banter, lots of laugh out loud moments but also lots of affection and warmth towards each other which felt refreshing.

I was instantly drawn into this book and couldn’t put it down - the writing flowed perfectly and never felt disjointed even when looking back in time.

Overall an amazing heartwarming book.

I think it’s safe to say very few people find going to the airport and actually flying to be a truly relaxing experience. There is always something that is stressful. (I personally fly with my dog 99% of the time so I’m always stressed about that entire process!) However, Catherine Walsh made the entire process of airport delays and 7 hour flights the makings of a great friendship and eventual love!

Andrew and Molly met because he had been dating Molly’s college “friend” and bonded over the fact that they both grew up in Ireland. Then they end up sitting next to each other on a flight back to Ireland for the holidays and proceed to do that for 10 years, making an interesting holiday tradition. They would spend about 10 hours together every year creating the foundation of their relationship. I always enjoy when two people are so clearly in love and shocked when their other relationships never work out but it takes them time to figure it out. (I strongly believe everyone needs a Gabriela in their life!)

This book was a very sweet and romantic story that I devoured in one day! I look forward to reading more Catherine Walsh books in the future!

🥰Scene: Christmas night

I was able to review Holiday Romance by Catherine Walsh and Bookouture for providing me with an advanced ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Molly and Andrew have spent ten flights together over the span of ten years to get home for Christmas in Ireland each year becoming friends over the years. On the tenth flight everything there is a storm and Molly does everything possible to get Andrew home for Christmas. I absolutely adored this adorable holiday themed romance.
This is my first Catherine Walsh book and I’m so excited to go back and read other books. Definitely add the Holiday Romance to your to be read (TBR). This is an anytime feel good read.

Oh I will definitely be rereading this one when it’s closer to the holidays. It was super cute, light, and an easy read!

I received an advanced copy of this book.

It's no secret to the people in my life that I looooove a Christmas romance. This one was no exception. It's a friends-to-lovers trope, which I'm always a fan of, done well. The characters were smart and self-sufficient and conversation was fast-paced and witty. It was such a cozy read with all the (early for me) holiday cheer. I'll definitely reread this in December!

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. This is a great holiday romance. Relatable characters with real flaws and believable personalities. The banter between them was great! This book had me laughing out loud, and or course it was totally adorable too.

I loved that both MCs bodies were described in believable/achievable ways. No perfect six-pack etc. I will definitely keep this on my go-to list for good holiday reads.

I did notice more typos then average (I notice them in lots of books) and I'm not sure if that's just the case with the e-copy, or the print copy will have as many.