Member Reviews
Such a cute Christmas romance! Kate lives in a small village in England and is talked into signing up for Twelve Dates of Christmas by her best friend. She is very involved in the village she grew up in and it’s very much a small town romance. There is drama, laughs, sweetness, family, and community- all the things I love. However I will say there is no spice, all closed door and one brief, mild dirty talk instance. But lots of fluffy, light moments which brought me joy!
Star rating:4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Like Groundhog‘s Day but it’s Christmas every day! But you just lost your job and got dumped by your long term boyfriend. You have a strained relationship with your sister and you can’t figure out how to make Christmas Day stop. A cute holiday romance and a story about rekindling relationships + seeing relationships in a new light❤️
I am such a sucker for the “groundhog-day”trope. I don’t know why but I really love when the main character has to repeat the day over and over until they learn a special lesson. This book was a big hit for me. I was highly entertained the entire time and it was very thought out to where you didn’t get confused with all the do-overs. Gwen and Manny seriously made this book. They both were so funny and their banter had me laughing so hard. I love Dev, but I feel like I didn’t really get to know him since this book was focused on Gwen trying to learn why she was stuck in a time loop. I didn’t feel a connection with him, personally, and that’s the reason for 4 stars. I wish we had more time with Dev to get emotionally attached to him, but other than that, I really loved this and think it’s a great holiday book!
Super cute! A good book to binge on a plane ride. I could have used a bit more romance, but I overall enjoyed!
This was a fun holiday read with Groundhog vibes. Gwen has recently broken up with her long term boyfriend and also been put on suspension at work. Life isn’t turning out how she expected at all. Visiting her family for Christmas isn’t enjoyable for her and only reminds her how much she is failing at life. She goes to bed on Christmas night ready for the day to be over only to wake up having to relive it all again…and again! This is a story about finding ones self and figuring out who you are and what makes you happy.
It took me a bit to get into but once I did I couldn’t put it down. I couldn’t wait to see how her next Christmas Day was going to turn out and what trouble she’d find. There isn’t much romance but I loved what little there was. Very enjoyable read!
This book is absolutely adorable! There's a scene in this book that still makes me laugh! Grab a hot chocolate and curl up with this one!
Cute Christmas story. I wasn’t expecting the magical element, but it added another layer of whimsy to the story. I enjoyed seeing the characters’ growth and progression over the book plus the emphasis on family and forgiveness.
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for an arc in exchange for my honest review.
A heartwarming Christmas take on Groundhog Day. Fun, engaging storyline with relatable characters who remind the reader what the most worthwhile wish is after all.
Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Collinss, and author, Lindsey Kelk for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review. Love. Love. Love. I have found a new favorite author to watch- Ms. Kelk!
The characters were very unique and interesting people that you root for. I was obsessed with the whole family, zany neighbors, and cozy small-town setting. In this holiday fiction (definitely more women's fiction than romance in my opinion), big-shot London lawyer, Gwen Baker goes home to spend Christmas with her family. Gwen has a strained relationship with Dad, who is vicariously living through Gwen's successful career, and her older Sister. Due to multiple family fights and issues on Christmas day, Gwen gets stuck in a time loop, a la Groundhog Day. She goes on a crazy quest to discover how to get out of this disastrous time loop, all while rekindling her childhood crush on her neighbor, Dev. I am the biggest Dev and Nan stan! All of these characters' lines were so quotable and funny. I try to avoid any lawyer characters but, I will admit, the author did a great job of representing the big law field and the magic circle.
Some of my favorite quotes:
"My mum said he's a dentist?" Dev said with a smile. " But she has been known to be wrong before. Once. Before I was born. So the legends say."
"All you want as a mother is for your kids to have an easier go of it than you did...I know you all make fun of me for always thinking the worst but when you grow up without much, it's hard to imagine the best."
Gran talking about her deceased husband- "He always said if he went first. I couldn't remarry unless they were richer, cleverer or better-looking than him and I always said that would never happen because that man didn't exist. They broke the mold when they made your granddad."
"The sex was ridiculous, It was so good it made me want to make new friends just so I had more people to talk to about it over brunch."
Very fun adaptation of the movie Groundhog;'s Day set on Christmas. I read this very quickly. It is a fun Christmas story.
This is one of the best Christmas books I’ve read. It had me rolling laughing at the different characters and the story. It was a quick and easy read. And wasn’t over the top obnoxious Christmasy.
Thanks to HarperCollins for the copy of this ARC!
In a Groundhog Day-like scenario, Gwen keeps experiencing Christmas day over... and over... and over... and over. She's just lost her boyfriend and her job, and needs to figure out what she really wants out of life. I loved the sweet (and some sour) family and small town that she spend Christmas with, and watching Gwen readjust her thinking during her Groundhog Day experience. My only drawback was the sudden onset of the romance - it felt a little undeveloped and then like it just suddenly popped in with a bit of the book left. This is a typical British romance, and a good holiday read!
Beginning was a little slow for me and I don’t *love* the Groundhog Day trope. I stuck it out and the last 30% of the book was so cute and I loved how it all came together.
Thank you NetGalley for eARC in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed reading this cute holiday romance. Favorite character was definitely Manny!! He is the best! Groundhogs day style novel. Stuck in a Christmas day time loop. I loved learning about each character and their personal issues at hand. The author's writing really brings you into the family dynamic and each character is so important in this story. Very cute!! A true reminder that you never know what someone else is going through. Gwen (main character) had to overcome her personal struggles with her sister and ex boyfriend in order to move on and focus on being there for the people who love her most. It helps to have your teenage crush in the mix too!
Funny, heartbreaking, swooning ... all the feels in this one!
4 stars!
"The Christmas Wish" has an unexpected premise, one that I greatly enjoyed. I was unfamiliar with Lindsey Kelk's works, but I now want to read her entire back catalog. She is a hilarious author! I found myself laughing out loud (scaring my husband!) more times than I care to admit.
I could not put this book down. This is a funny, cozy, lighthearted, sweet, insightful, romantic story that's part "Groundhog Day," part "It's a Wonderful Life," with a dash of "Fleabag"-style humor (thrown in for good measure). It's full of Christmas cheer and merriment, plus, a little bit of magic. It is extremely well written. All of the characters, including the secondary ones, have wonderful backstories. They are all fully fleshed out, and they each get enough time in the book to shine on their own. I absolutely adored the multiple scenes featuring FMC Gwen and MMC Dev as they rediscover their lost friendship and both realize they've been in love with each other since they were kids. Swoon! This story also has a terrific message, not just for Christmastime, but one that resonates year-round. I just loved this delightful book. I can't wait to buy the book!
Thank you to NetGalley, Lindsey Kelk, Harper 360, and HarperCollins for providing me with an ARC copy of this book! All opinions are my own, and I was not compensated for my review.
Gwen Baker’s life is currently a hot mess. She’s had her heart broken and trampled on by her cheating ex. Then as if that isn’t enough to throw her life in a tailspin she’s also been suspended from her job at a very prestigious law firm for attacking a client with a stapler. Her only hope is that going home for Christmas will help get her out of this rut. Unfortunately for her she ends up in a Groundhog’s Day type of Christmas forced to relive the day until she can break the spell.
I absolutely adore The Christmas Wish. It’s a cute fun dramedy that is perfect for the holiday season. With an amazing cast of characters, laugh out loud situations, and tons of Christmas cheer there’s no way you won’t love this one. This was such a fun read that I can’t recommend it enough. If you read only one holiday book this season make sure it’s this one!
Thanks to Netgalley and Harper Collins for the ARC to read and review. 🤍
I was not sure how the author was going to pull this Groundhog Day story off, but it was a delight. I never got tired of the story, as I worried I might. Loved the characters, especially Gwen and Manny but the supporting characters were also critical to the story working. Excellent tale, highly recommended for public libraries
As a fan of Lindsey Kelk I was looking forward to this book and it did not disappoint. It was very much like groundhog day, however, it was the same day with a different outcome of each day. At first, I was unsure, but it really just worked and was a great Christmas read and was so creative.
The Christmas Wish has quickly shot to the top of my must read Christmas rom-com list! This book is filled with Christmas cheer, super heartwarming, and laugh-out-loud funny!
Groundhog Day but make it Christmas? I'm in! Gwen is heading back home for Christmas but her life is not ideal these days. Her longtime boyfriend just left her for his receptionist, her job is uncertain, and her family relationships are strained. When she gets a chance for lots of Christmas do-overs can she make it all better? And will she ever get out of the endless loop of Christmas day?
This is my favorite Lindsey Kelk I've ever read. Her comedic voice in the book is so strong. I really did laugh out loud multiple times. The writing is also very charming. I was concerned that the Groundhog element would get redundant, but I feel like she made each new day feel fresh and interesting. Gwen and her family were a joy to read about, and I wanted good things for all of them. While there is a romantic element, the romance story line isn't the focus of the book. It was a sweet addition to a story about a 30ish woman discovering what life should really be about.
If you are in the mood for a Christmas rom-com, look no further. This book will give you all the Christmas feelings. It is perfect for Sophie Kinsella fans. It has that same engaging, slightly madcap, very British vibe. Highly recommend!
Thanks to NetGalley and Harper360 for the advance ebook in exchange for my honest review.
I wasn’t expecting to love this book as much as I did! I usually enjoy books with a unrealistic trope like Groundhog Day. This did seem similar to another Christmas themed Groundhog Day book but I think I enjoyed this one even more. I was expecting a very light fluffy Hallmark Christmas type book, but it had a lot more depth and heart. I thoroughly enjoyed Gwen. But I loved getting to know the whole family. I smiled and laughed out loud. I really enjoyed that it was more than just a rom-com. It was about family and finding yourself.
I received this book as an ARC through NetGalley. Thank you NetGalley!