Member Reviews
A super fun holiday read! The setting of New York during Christmas is such a vibe, lovable characters, a sweet story of compassion, vulnerability, and what friendship can be.
4 stars = Great!
I loved the story here and the main characters have chemistry that crackles on the page. The book is laugh-out-loud funny, and I completely adored the characters. The reality show/"we're getting the band back together" premise really worked for me! I would rate this as super spicy in the continuum of romance novels - so if that's not your style, you might approach this with caution. But if the premise works for you and you like funny novels with fantastic characters, give this a try. (Language, sex)
If you like Tessa Bailey, you`re going to love this book. It's a funny romance that happens to take place during Christmas. Beat and Melody had so much chemistry, and I enjoyed their story. I enjoyed the reality show aspect of the book. My only complaint is that Beat and Melody needed to communicate more. I love this book itsand perfect for the Christmas season.
thank you Netgalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for my egalley.
I was happy to finally read a Tessa Bailey holiday book, during the holiday season no less. I would say though that this is more Die Hard/ Home Alone level of Christmas story, where the events could take place at any time of year, they just happen to take place during Christmas. I digress. I found it odd that these two characters, Beat and Melody, call each other their best friend so quickly. They've known each other maybe a total of one day (if you were to add up all the time they have actually spent together/ communicated to each other), and I get knowing someone on an incredibly deep level, especially someone that has gone through similar situations as you have so they can relate, but going the step further to call them your best friend sounded and felt out of place to me. It also discounted their past friendships, which poor Melody was never even mentioned as having.
All that to say you can't deny these characters chemistry with each other. And though I typically hate the 3rd act breakup when it's because of miscommunication, this time I can forgive it. Beat was simply trying to make sure Melody doesn't get hurt and swept up into his unfortunate situation too, which he knew was a very likely possibility. So yeah, I actually didn't mind it this time at all. Go Tessa Bailey, you rock.
Hated the names though. They were excusable because they were rock stars and rock stars are notorious for naming their kids horrible name (I'm looking at you Kanye and Michael Jackson). But ugh Beat was a bad bad name choice.
I am not sure what I want to say about this one. First and foremost, it is a Christmas book, but besides the super cute cover and the fact that it takes place two weeks before Christmas….it isn’t very Christmas-y. That is disappointing for me, those that don’t really care to read seasonal books would probably be happy about that. Next, I would like to say how cringe these characters names are. I can handle Melody, and it would go along with the Christmas theme if this was a Christmas-y book, but Beat???? Seriously? Just no. Now, I liked the characters, and I found the two moms very interesting!!! I wish we would have gotten a little more of them even. They were hilarious. The characters were an instalove that didn’t quite work for me. Basically they met 14 years ago and have been pining for each other after a few exchanged words? No. And another thing that bothered me, Beat whines about his “privileges'” the entire novel. All the self loathing was really annoying. Oh poor Beat, who got everything he wanted growing up and feels bad about it so now he has issues as an adult. Please. It was a theme throughout the entire book and it just really got on my last nerve.
I did enjoy the reality show aspect of the plot, the characters were great minus that major flaw in Beat, and the storyline was interesting enough that I wanted to keep reading to see what happens. I liked the producer of the show, and there was a little side love story in it. Tessa Bailey knows how to spice up a book, and we get some of that here as well. Overall, this was just ok. Not her best, and certainly not the Christmas story I wanted it to be.
Bottom Line: If you enjoy Tessa Bailey, I would read this…but don’t expect to get all the warm Christmas feels from this one. It is basically just one of her usual reads that happens in December before Christmas.
**I received a copy of Wreck the Halls from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are of my own.**
SPOILERS. I loved this so much. Perfect Christmas vibes. I thought that Melody and Beat were absolutely adorable together. Remind me of a hallmark movie meets Daisy Jones and the Six. Beat was so protective of Melody at all times and I was swooning! I read through this in one sitting and wished that it wasn’t over! Perfect read to put me in the Christmas spirit. My only complaint was the lack of communication they had at times. I feel like 100% of their fights should have just be a simple convo. Such as with Beats dad blackmailing him. For the connect they had it was clear Melody would have helped him in any way. 4.75 /5 stars but rounding up to a 5. Loved it!
REDCAPS Score: 7.9/10
Star Rating: 4/5
Spice Rating: 4/5
Personally I do not read Tessa Bailey books for the spice so her books are often hit and miss for me but Wreck the Halls was such a hit that I could not put it down. Melody and Beat were hysterical and I love that they had this kind of "fated mates" type of vibe even though they had never really spent time together other than one chance meeting as teenagers. They just naturally fell into a rhythm with each other. Melody's constant awkwardness and quirky one liners had me giggling like mad. Beat's kink was a little weird but it made sense considering his strong sense of self denial and lack of worthiness so seeing them work through those feelings was nice if a little 'oh you're the perfect girl for me let's fix all our problems immediately" type of way which it's a short time frame romance so that was to be expected. Because the focus is on getting the band back together - there isn't a lot of Christmas imagery but plenty of wintriness so it would be a good one to read even if you're not into Christmas centered reads.
The book was cute, but a little cheesy and cringy in some parts. Also didn't really give me big *holiday vibes* other than it being set in winter and the ending taking place on Christmas Eve.
I loved Melody's character. She has a lot of insecurities, but she also seems so comfortable being herself. I love the self-deprecating humor. Beat was a lot cringy to me - but I appreciate that he wasn't a self-absorbed f* boy like most children of celebrities would be.
Steel Birds, a rock duo, broke up in the 90s and no one knows what caused the breakup and caused singers Trina Gallard and Octavia Dawkins to despise one another so much. In the present day, their children meet and are asked to reunite the band for a Christmas Eve concert in Madison Square Garden. The task seems impossible.
Trina has moved somewhere off the grid to live in a commune and only sees her daughter Melody once a year. Melody enjoys the quiet life of anonymity. Octavia lives in New York and is part of the high society. Her son, Beat, is just as famous as his mother.
Melody and Beat agree to a live-streamed reality show to try to unite their mothers... but they get more than they bargained for as they start spending more and more time together.
This was a cute Christmasy rom-com with an interesting plot.
This was my favorite Tessa Bailey book, and I've read most of them. The Christmas atmosphere was perfect, the plot was adorable, I loved all of the characters. Extremely well done.
Wreck the Halls is perfect holiday read.. a little bit daisy jones and the Six a sprinkle of 50 shades of grey . Melody and Beats moms were in a band 30 years ago and they’re ion a mission for a reunion. Sweet fun read.
I read the arc of this book from NetGalley.
This was the second "Christmas book" I've read and I really loved it. The first was Window Shopping by Tessa Bailey. SHE DOESN'T MISS!
Some people would probably hate how insta-love the two main characters are, but not me. I LOVED how obsessed they both were from the beginning.
Melody & Beat.. enough said. I really wish Tessa would turn this into a little holiday series so I could maybe, possibly see them again.
Steel Birds was a hit band that broke up 30 years ago. The two leads had an epic fight that destroyed their relationship. They were both pregnant at the time and their children have come together now to reunite the band, solve their personal problems, and maybe find a spark they never expected, all before Christmas Eve in just a few weeks
This is such a fun, steamy holiday book. The characters are so vibrant and fun. I expected more holiday-themed content, but I don't think the book needed it. Beat and Melody's instinctive care for and need to protect each other warmed my heart. A fun book for the holidays, but really a good read any time of year!
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Harper Voyager for the ARC of this book.
I absolutely loved this Christmas romance from Tessa Bailey. The story felt fresh and different and the two main characters were equally so loveable.
Melody and Beat (the most fabulous names for prodigy of rock stars) are everything that I need in a holiday themed, soul mate, instalove kind of rom com! The offspring of one of the greatest rock duos ever, they get each other in a way that nobody else ever could. They constantly deal with not knowing if people want to be around them for who each of their mothers are or for themselves.
When the two of them get together to try to reunite their mothers after 30 years for a concert, their chemistry is ultra intense in the very best way. Melody feels like she has never measured up to the world's standards in both looks and in her lifestyle, all while Beat punishes himself for having such a great life and for being the media's darling. Their instalove relationship might not make for the most realistic romance story, but it makes for an immensely swoony and entertaining one.
This book gives more of the kind of stuff that I love from Tessa Bailey; wonderful characters, flirty and witty conversations that smack of the dry wit that I love, and that amazing and dirty sexy talk. Wreck the Halls is the wonderful winter goodness that I want in my spicy rom com, and made me happy the whole time I was reading it!
Thanks so much to Avon publishing for providing me with an ARC of this book.
OBSESSED I tell you!!! Obsessed!!!! Instantly my new Tessa Bailey fav bc Beat is possessive and obsessive aka my fav male lead.
Tessa Bailey has a way of pulling me from the most slumpy of slumps. I adored this! The story idea is weird and a little out there but seeing Beat and Melody find eachother and grow together is amazing!
Tessa is the expert in delivering heroes that are just GONE for their heroines, and it's always incredibly heartwarming and life-affirming read. I laughed out loud numerous times, I couldn't get enough of Beat and Melody's banter. I also loved the subplot of the producer and the camera man. I want their book!!!
There is a lot of mystery behind the split of Steel Birds, but there’s no question that Octavia and Trina do not get along. Enter their kids - Melody and Beat, who get offered a whole lot of money to get them to reunite. Beat and Melody are opposite in a lot of ways - he’s charming and confident, she’s shy and awkward. Differences aside, the two have always felt a connection to one another. When the cameras start rolling it becomes difficult to avoid the chemistry they have.
I loved this book! Beat and Melody’s chemistry was jumping off the pages. Thank you Netgalley and Avon for the egalley in exchange for my honest review.
New favorite “Christmas” book? I think so! This was so good and the perfect read. I loved every character and couldn’t root for everyone to get their deserved ending. The chemistry between Beat and Melody was out of control as was the love between their Moms (even when they refused to show it!) Are there names a little too on the nose? Obviously. Did his sexual kink really confuse me? Sure. But again, I don’t need much from a Christmas story (and frankly, this doesn’t really have a massive Christmas feel other than being set around the holidays) but this delivered either way.