Member Reviews

The CUTEST rom com, thank you so much to NetGalley for the ARC of this holiday delight! Definitely in regards Christmas spirit now :)

Was this review helpful?

Absolutely loved!!! I am a huge friends to lovers fan! It feels like a holiday version of Emily Henry's "People We Meet on Vacation". Which is one of my favorite books. I loved Andrew and Molly and their relationship over time. I was invested from beginning to end. The charm and humor was top notch!

Was this review helpful?

This was an adorable holiday rom-com—I loved it!!

The story jumps between past timelines and current day, starting with 10 year’s prior, when Molly ends up sitting next to her best friend’s boyfriend, Andrew, on a flight from Chicago to Dublin. Both Molly and Andrew are Irish and flying home for the holidays, and every year thereafter, we get to see them reconnect on their journey home for the holidays.

The banter was A+ and I really loved Andrew as a character. Reading about the Irish countryside during Christmas is also really dreamy. It’s low level spice, there’s one or two scenes where there’s some open door romance, but very moderate.

Holiday romance novels can be really hit or miss for me, as it’s super easy to encroach into the cheesy territory, but Catherine Walsh did a perfect job of making it feel festive and cozy, without leaning too much into the cheese.

I highly recommend anyone reads this ahead of the holidays - It was the perfect book to get me into the Christmas spirit. Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Was this review helpful?

This was so, so cute.

Molly and Andrew had known each other for over 10 years. They both live in Chicago and, for the holidays, they share a flight to their home country, Ireland.

And for their tenth flight, disaster strikes as a storm won't allow them to board their plane anymore. But Molly is determined to get Andrew home for the holidays, no matter the cost. However, she wasn't expecting what was going to happen.

I have to admit, I liked both Andrew and Molly. They were likable characters and a very great team unit.

It was more romance than comedy, but it had me smiling wide and aww-ing at several points. It was a great friends-to-lovers book, with just the right amount of everything. It's also a closed-door kind of romance, but the chemistry and fire are there.

The flashbacks were a bit too short to my liking. I thought the road to romance will take more than it actually did and that we'd spend more time reading about their past flights. I was wrong. But it's not really a bad thing.

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

Was this review helpful?

I discovered Cat Walsh through Netgalley and she's since become one of my favorite romance writers! Holiday Romance did not disappoint one bit. I loved the friends to lovers story, told over 10 years. The airport setting was perfect, I felt the adrenaline of racing around the world trying to get home, and the sweetness of family time at Christmas. I loved both these characters, and their siblings. Walsh does a great job at making everyone relatable and easy to root for. Great book! The perfect holiday read :)

Was this review helpful?

The plot was a little chaotic for my taste but I adored the characters in the story! Their charm & wit made me smile and laugh - not to mention root for them the entire time!

Was this review helpful?

thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this arc in exchange for an honest review
.
This was so fun, I loved the different timelines and perspectives and getting to see how much the characters grew and changed. The banter was EVERYTHING, there were some parts that had me laughing out loud. I loved how serious topics were discussed and how well handled they were.
.
overall this was such a cute read and I loved it so so much.

Was this review helpful?

I love a good Christmas romance, and this book is absolute perfection in meeting that description! I adored this one. It was cute, heartwarming, super sweet, and while a little predictable, it felt realistic. As in, this storyline could totally happen! It definitely falls into the "friends to lovers" trope, but in the best way possible. There is very little of the book spent without true feelings being stated, and thus getting to the point of annoyance, as some of these books tend to do. On top of all this goodness, it takes place over ten Christmas seasons both in Chicago and Ireland...both of which feel so cozy and festive. If you are looking for a holiday romance to start near Christmas, I'd highly recommend this one. LOVED it!

Was this review helpful?

This book was extremely aptly-named! In the vein of Emily Henry’s Beach Read, the title claims primacy in a crowded field of offerings. The story delivers. The main characters in this friends-to-lovers tale are believable, likable and fun. I had a bit of vicarious anxiety when the travel challenges started, but Andrew and Molly triumphed. The settings are beautiful, it’s not too trope-y and the side characters are all fun. This will be one that comes to the top of my mind in the future when someone asks me to recommend a Christmas book!

Was this review helpful?

Such a cute read, loved it, perfect for settling in for the day with.

Thank you NetGalley for my complimentary copy in return for my honest review.

Was this review helpful?

I really enjoyed this Christmas Tom com, I thought it was exciting but whimsical. I love a holiday romance. I found the plot engaging but not stressful. Perfect Christmas Rom com.

Was this review helpful?

This book was absolute unadulterated festive season perfection. Everything I ever want in a romance let alone one set at Christmas. I loved the characters, their story, the interwoven flashbacks of the journey to the best part- where they realise they love each other! Catherine Walsh immediately moves to the top of my list of authors to read more of. Holiday romance is an instant classic.

Was this review helpful?

Perfectly titled - loved this little holiday romance. It was the perfect thing to read during the holiday season and wasn’t filled with contrivances and misconceptions like some other romcoms.

Was this review helpful?

This one is super cute! It's a friends to lovers romance (which I usually do not enjoy so major props there) and it reads quickly.

I will say it slowed down a bit towards the end for me but I was still very invested.

If you like Sophie Kinsella or Emily Henry, you've got to give this one a try!! I’ll definitely be reading more from this author.

Was this review helpful?

Molly and Andrew have been friends (and nothing more) for 10 years. Every year they spend 7 hours on a flight from Chicago to Dublin to see their families for Christmas, but this year a snowstorm means their flight is cancelled. Molly isn’t too fussed about Christmas but it’s a huge deal in Andrew’s family. So rather than do the sensible thing and spend Christmas together in Chicago, Molly vows to get Andrew home to his family with only a few days to go..

This reminded me of This Time Next Year by Sophie Cousens, because we are following Molly and Andrew’s present day adventure to get home, whilst looking back occasionally at their previous ten years’ worth of flights together. It is the perfect friends-to-lovers romcom to cosy up with this Christmas, and make you feel like you’re spending Christmas in rural Ireland with the characters.

I loved Molly and Andrew as friends, and their developing relationship was just so sweet! I’ve always been a sucker for friends-to-lovers romance books, maybe because that’s how my relationship started 🥰

The romance wasn’t cheesy in any way, and wasn’t over the top. There were one or two mildly steamy scenes but nothing above PG13 level 😄 I loved that each of our love interests had their own stuff going on, including sibling rivalry, becoming an aunt, issues with alcoholism and job stresses! I think this book could’ve easily carried itself even if you removed the romance altogether, as it was so filled with action and Christmas spirit and I loved it!

This book will make you truly believe in the power of love, both platonic and romantic, and leave you feeling all warm and fuzzy inside because it’s so damn cute 🥰

Was this review helpful?

Holiday Romance was a super fun and super festive read. I can’t tell you how happy it makes me to finally see a festive romance where the man cares more about Christmas. It is always the other way round and this was very refreshing.

I’m a massive fan of the friends to lovers trope so I really enjoyed Holiday Romance. It was done very well here and I liked how it was built over ten years. The flashback scenes were some of my favourite parts of the book and seeing how they went from hardly knowing each other and Molly dropping the huge bomb that Andrew’s girlfriend is cheating on him, to celebrating the ten-year anniversary of their tradition was quite the ride. I love how much depth their relationship had and the developments came from a place of rich history and care.

Speaking of their relationship/friendship, the chemistry between Molly and Andrew was undeniable. I don’t know how it took her so long to realise how she actually feels about him.

The trip to get Andrew home was pure chaos but I enjoyed every minute of it, especially the ones spent in Paris.

I absolutely loved Molly’s twin sister. She was by far the funniest character in the entire book. It’s a shame she wasn’t in it for very long. The times you did spend with her though were some of the best bits of Holiday Romance.

My biggest issue with Holiday Romance was the conflict near the end. It really didn’t need it as let’s be honest the entire book was one huge conflict. The stress of Molly and Andrew trying to get home in time for Christmas was enough, a lover’s tiff was not needed. Molly blew it way out of proportion considering they weren’t even officially together. It felt forced and a bit too ‘oh we’re nearing the end, something bad needs to happen so the main characters can have a big romantic reunion’.

All in all, I did really enjoy Holiday Romance. The settings were fun, especially London at Christmas and there were some really great characters. If you are looking for a quick festive read then I’d definitely recommend Holiday Romance.

Was this review helpful?

Planes, Trains, & Automobiles, but make it a “holiday romance!” If this sounds like your cup of tea, jump aboard Catherine Walsh’s new Christmas-themed novel aptly titled, Holiday Romance. In this absolutely charming holiday book, Molly and Andrew, friends by way of sharing the same flight home for Christmas for the past ten years, are determined to make it home to Ireland for the holidays no matter what after a blizzard grounds their flight. Even it means taking planes, trains, automobiles, and even a ferry to get there!

For ten years, Molly and Andrew have boarded to same Christmas flight from Chicago to Ireland, passing the seven hour trip together learning more about each other and catching up on their lives. What was never discussed were feelings they deny they have for each other, but these are bound to come out after this year’s flight is grounded due to a freak snow storm. What better way to start a relationship than dashing through the snow … and across the ocean to try to make it home in time for Christmas? The only question is, will Molly and Andrew admit that there’s a thing between them or will they stay strictly friends?

Planes, Trains, & Automobiles is one of my favorite holiday movies, so I was excited to read a book in a similar vein this Christmas season. Having never heard of Catherine Walsh, I can’t believe I actually hesitated before picking up this book because it has been my favorite Christmas novel I have read so far this year! Most everything about this novel works, from the witty, realistic dialogue and interesting characters; to the relatable stress of juggling the holidays, vacation, and a career; to the numerous settings this book takes us. I loved it all!

Holiday Romance jumps back and forth in time, telling the story of this year’s Christmas, while also traveling back to Molly and Andrew’s previous flights together, showing how their relationship and feelings for each other grew over time. Walsh keeps this novel fast-paced, building on the anticipation of making it home for the holidays, all the while never letting the storyline grow stale or boring. Her characters are funny, clever, and memorable, and this book was just a delight to read.

However, there were a couple of things that didn’t work for me. All throughout the book, it is said that Christmas is a big deal for Andrew’s family and it is hinted at that they have a super festive holiday affair. No spoilers, but I was disappointed that Christmas with the Fitzpatrick’s was actually quite ordinary and understated. Also, the abrupt conflict and resolution at the end of the book felt a bit trope-ish. I am tired of romance authors throwing in a conflict and writing the characters to behave completely irrationally, not listening to each other at all and making assumptions about the other’s motives.

In all, Holiday Romance is a well-written, fun little read that I highly recommend!

Was this review helpful?

First off I want to thank @netgalley & @bookouture for my free ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was a cute Holiday read, perfect to get you in the mood for the season. I enjoyed the story as a whole, but somethings were missing for me.

I really enjoyed the characters and the banter throughout the book. Unfortunately as the story progressed I felt detached from the characters, I didn't care if they ended up together or not in the end. I did not fully feel the romance between them, it didn't feel real to me, it felt forced. The concept was a good one, but it lacked in execution.

Although this was not my favorite holiday romance, it was still a good entertaining read.

If you want a cute holiday romance you should definitely check this one out.

Was this review helpful?

Oh how I loved this book!!

The characters…outstanding
The dialogue…friggen funny as hell
The storyline…creative and adorable
The setting…give me London and Ireland any day of the week
The trope…friends to lovers…swoon.

Any time I find myself wanting to jump into a book to hang out with the characters, the author has done a fabulous job. It happens every once in a while and when it does, I just can’t get enough of them.

I haven’t looked into it yet but I’m so hoping Molly’s twin, Zoe, gets a book one day. Even though she’s sworn to be single forever, I would still just love a novel that centers around her life as a single mom, because she is so damn hilarious. Wouldn’t mind a book about Andrew’s brother either 😁 I’m basically invested in both sides of the family and want to see them repeatedly over the years. Catherine, can you send me their addresses so I can visit? It would be much appreciated.

Thank you so much to @netgalley and @bookouture for the arc in exchange for my honest review 💜

Was this review helpful?

The cutest Holiday Romcom! I absolutely adored this book. I loved the story line. I thought it was a fun take on the real life struggles people have while traveling home. Also, I liked the dual time line. It really helped develop the story and the relationship between the two main characters. Speaking of characters, this book is full of colorful ones and I enjoyed every single one. The two main characters are well developed and fun to read about. I loved how their friendship developed and turned into a romance. You could literally feel the love between them, even in the beginning. And the supporting characters are all great too. Lastly, I loved how you travel all over the world in this one and end in Ireland.
There’s nothing I didn’t love about this book! A holiday romcom I would recommend to all!

Was this review helpful?