A fun surprise!

I didn’t expect much from this, as I generally am of the opinion that RomComs have been generally bad for a long time and are for the most part only getting worse.

This, however, was surprisingly charming, clever, and sweet without backsliding into the kind of schlocky romance or trauma porn that has become so common to the genre. For one thing, it’s actually funny. And while the Groundhog Day concept isn’t a terribly original one, it’s cleverly done here and doesn’t fall into the tropey and repetitive loop that so many novels using this concept struggle to get past.

I loved that the protagonist here has a life and relationships beyond a single romantic interest, and I loved that the romance that is there is measured and sweet rather than overwrought and needlessly over dramatized.

This is my first time reading a Lindsey Kelk book, but it won’t be my last. What a refreshing change from what populates most of this subgenre.

This is a fun, entertaining and humorous festive read that will appeal to many, although I will admit it took me a little time to become immersed in the feel good, escapist story. I will keep my eyes out for more books from this author because her voice is both humorous and insightful.

I love a good Christmas romance and this one was great. I really hate groundhog day but Lindsey made it bearable and not so chaotic reading the same thing everyday.

This was the perfect cute holiday read! I don't know about you, but my December is always filled with Christmas romance novels. Repeating Christmas day sounds like a great time, especially when you get to spend time with the boy now man next door. Gwen and Dev were a breath of fresh air. This was such a warm, funny, and entertaining story.

for fans of Sarah Hogle!
so funny and heartwarming, has such great nostalgic Christmas vibes! The Groundhog Day trope is so much fun and makes for so many fun moments. truly the perfect Christmas read!

Newly single lawyer Gwen is hoping that a family Christmas will fix her life. Because everyone else has their life sorted: even Dev, her boy-next-door crush, is now a tall, dark and handsome stranger. Then Gwen wakes up to discover its Christmas day all over again. As she figures out how to escape her own particular Christmas hell, Dev is the one bright spot. He might be all grown-up but he’s just as kind and funny as she remembers. But how do you fall in love with someone who can’t remember you from one day to the next?

This was a cute spin on the Groundhog Day Trope. It was funny! I enjoyed the audiobook.

This was a perfect holiday read; the writing made me giggle out loud several times, the conversations feel real instead of scripted, and the second-chance trope is one of my favorites.

Super cute and very enjoyable! It was the perfect holiday Rom-Com to snuggle with. It's like the movie Groundhog's Day, but on Christmas Day and with a ridiculously quirky cast of characters. Such a fun read!

The Christmas Wish by Lindsey Kelk was a cute Christmas romance and a quick read. Gwen is stuck in a repeating-Christmas-day loop and needs to figure out a way out - perhaps with the help of her cute childhood crush?!

I usually enjoy books and movies that have repeating days, but they can also be frustrating because it often feels like the main character isn’t learning the “lessons” fast enough and the story starts to drag a little. I felt that way a little bit with this book and I went back-and-forth on my feelings about the main character (I was definitely mentally shaking her a few times!), but overall I enjoyed the story.

One of my favorite parts of this book was Gwen’s family. I feel like Kelk always writes family relationships really well, with just enough extra drama to keep things interesting but not confusing.

You won’t find much seriousness in this book, but you will get a great holiday read, filled with funny characters, some light life lessons, and, of course, romance!

What was your first book of the new year? I’ve read two books and they were both 5 stars! I can’t wait to share my reviews with you next week!

This was fun Christmas take on Groundhog's Day. Sometimes I felt the story did drag jus ta bit overall I liked it and thought it was cute. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

What a fun and festive book! Definitely had strong hallmark vibe and a lot of the scenarios and borderline-slapstick humor would translate so well to the screen. The characters had depth and real-life issues, not just fabricated drama to add to the plot. The story did drag a bit after several Christmases in a row, which is nearly inevitable in a Groundhog Day plot, but overall, I really enjoyed it and look forward to exploring more of Kelk’s books.

4⭐
Genre ~ holiday fiction
Setting ~ England
Publication date ~ November 15, 2022
Est page Count ~ 337 (20 chapters)
Audio length ~ 10 hours 31 minutes
Narrator ~ Kristin Atherton
POV ~ single 1st
Featuring ~ groundhog day plot, slow burn, childhood crush to losing touch to hello stranger to lovers, no steamage

Heavy on the com, not so much on the rom.

Gwen is spending Christmas with her parents, cousin, who's like a brother, Manny and sister Cerys and her husband, Oliver, and children, Arthur & Artemis. This is something she does every year, but this year she is jobless and single after her cheating tool of a boyfriend gave her the boot.

It's heavy on family shenanigans for sure. First of all Gwen and Manny's relationship was perfect, I enjoyed their bond so much. Oliver was a right twit and Cerys wasn't much better for most of the book, but you slowly warm up to her. Nan, or Myfanwy (what is with that name), was a hoot and just how I'd expect a lady of her age to act with her say it like it is mentality.

There were quite a few Christmas's that Gwen experienced over and over again, luckily we didn't have to live through each one with her and just got highlights on some. My favorite one focused on her dad and watching old home videos. Every few years the hub and I will watch our wedding video and I'll get all emotional since we've since lost so many in the past 18 or so years.

You know who the love interest will be early on, but it's VERY slow burn on the romance, which was fine I suppose. I could've went for a tinsy bit more relationship development. They're in their 30's in case you were wondering.

Overall, it was British witty, which I really enjoyed, and I had a fun time reading it. The epilogue was perfect. It had great Christmas vibes and even though I didn't fit it in before Christmas I'm glad I was able to read it while my tree was still up and before the year was over.

Narration notes:
I did not listen to this one, but am just giving the info above for reference.

*Thanks to the author, Sophia @ Harper Collins for the paperback and NetGalley for the ARC. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*

Groundhog's Day, but make it Christmasy.

I really enjoyed this one. It was funny and sweet, but also covered some heavier topics and reinforced the age-old idea that things aren't always what they seem.

Some of the chapters ran a bit long, but overall, I really enjoyed this story!

At the beginning I didn't like the premise of this book and the time loop, but as it went on I started to enjoy it a bit more.

I didn't love it and I didn't hate it. Cute Holiday book, doesn't have a lot of romance.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Thank you Netgalley for a chance to read and review (a year late) this Christmas Rom-Com by Lindsey Kelk!

I have loved Lindsey Kelk and her stories, ever since I picked up ‘I Heart New York’ so many years ago. Her books are always so fun, with a lot of banter and characters who are just trying to keep it together one day at a time.

This was a great Christmas read. It was fluffy, funny, and at times romantic. It did the time loop trope very well, and I actually didn’t start to hate it. Kelk clearly knew how much of it would be enough without pushing it and she delivered.

Gwen was a great character. She really made so much progress by the end and even the tone of her POV was different and happier. Nan was also fantastic and a hilarious side character. I also liked how this didn’t end on with a “perfect happily ever after” ending. I think that made the book more relatable and made the most sense for the story itself.

If you need a good palate cleanser and are in the mood for some Christmas, I highly recommend this one!

3.5⭐, 1🌶️

Groundhog's Day meets Christmas in this time-loop novel that gives us family hijinx and a dash of romance (this I would not consider an overly romantic book). I wasn't a fan of the basic premise of a time loop storyline but I still generally enjoyed the book. I wish there was more romance to this story, because it felt like were more focused on Gwen's relationship with her family, but still a cute Christmas themed book to get me in the Holly Jolly spirit!

Tropes:
💙Time Loop (like Groundhog's Day)
💙Childhood Friends

Thank you NetGalley and Harper 360 for an eARC of this book, in exchange for my honest review!

I am one of those people who forget to read holiday novels at the appropriate time. I got it right this time. I adore Christmas novels and this one is so lighthearted and heartwarming, that I was just giggling and swooning all over the place.

What a super cute holiday romance! I love Kelk’s book and she delivers yet again with a lighthearted Groundhog’s Day love story. Perfect cozy holiday read!

i feel like this book follows the formula every lifetime christmas movie takes. very cliche but i found it cute at times. i did really like dev and gwen and the humor that was sprinkled through out.

I may still have my Halloween decorations up, but this feel good book brought me a little much needed Christmas joy.