This was a fun ready with a sack plot full of hijinks, rock and roll, drama, steaminess and love. I am not usually a fan of insta love, I prefer a slow burn, but I did not mind it in this story as both characters were very likeable and the connection they felt made sense. There was a lot of mutual obsession and yearning going on and both lead characters were so far gone for each other it was hard not to root for them. Melody was genuinely funny and a relatable nerd and Beat was an adorable protective dummy struggling with a big secret. I thought they had good chemistry and their interactions were charming and cute. The plot to reunite their moms band was as wacky as expected but still a fun ride. Overall quite an enjoyable read 3.5 ⭐️.

(3.5 stars) one of the better holiday romances I've read! this book does a great job of taking place during the holiday festivities but not being too heavy handed or cliche with the Christmas stuff. I really enjoyed the childhood crush and celebrity tropes used, and felt that the reality show/livestream plot line was unique. this book had the usual humor and quirkiness of a Tessa Bailey book that we all know and love.

while I had such a fun time with this book, I know it won't be for everyone. it is one of those feel-good, suspend disbelief, don't take yourself too seriously type books that are perfect for a holiday romance vibe. if readers go in knowing to set those expectations I think they will love it, but if they don't they will really dislike it.

Oh my god… the ultimate romance! 🥰🥰 Swoon.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sometimes I really hate the beginning of romantic novels. That might sound funny, but I love the endings of this type of story so much that it kind of ticks me off I have to go through so much to get there.

That’s not a bad thing, however, especially when you are delivered a book like this one.

As I said, in the beginning, I thought this was going to be a romcom because of the cover, but the story is an incredible tribute to finding that person you find that soulmate level connection with.

I’m almost at a loss for words on how to describe this book. The author has done an extremely difficult job in creating these characters that are just so connected, that they could breathe for each other. The tactile soul, piercing tenderness, and depth of emotion that Bailey was able to wrangle with her words are quite intense in many parts of the story.

Bailey has a wicked way of weaving her words that guide us into submission because it’s just so damn beautiful. The entire theme and plot of the story are brilliant, and honestly, I can’t even compare this to another story that I’ve read. Not to mention it’s steaming hot as well because of the main characters’ intense connections.

For the reader who craves true romance with that soul-crushing intensity that includes the highs and the lows, this book delivers all of that and more. Tessa Bailey has created a romantic masterpiece. This is a book you will reread many times. I guarantee it.

Wreck the Halls was another enjoyable hit from Tessa Bailey!

Melody and Beat have never really known each other, but they've known each other - as the children of feuding former rock stars, they've felt a connection since the one time they met at age 16. When Beat (come on, Tessa, could you have found a different name for him?!) needs money, he agrees to a reality show that will attempt to reunite the band - but Melody must agree. Feeling drawn to Beat like she did fourteen years earlier, Melody agrees and the two start their live streams and the country falls in love with them on their quest to reunite their mothers.

I liked this story a lot (minus Beat's name. Again, why Beat?), but I did expect more holiday-ness - it's just set in New York City around Christmas time. I also felt the ending was rushed and would have liked more!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC.

Thank you to Tessa Bailey and NetGalley for the ARC. I enjoyed this one and look forward to reading it again during the holidays. This was giving Hallmark vibes. I loved the banter and the childhood love interest plot was perfect.

5 stars. I LOVED this one from Tessa Bailey!!!! I feel like there are 2 types of holiday romance reads: 1) Books that are kind of like a Hallmark movie, where the Christmas spirit in and of itself feels like it's its own character and the town/ people/ family/ someone has to band together to perform a Christmas miracle and save something (aka the town/ people/ family/ someone etc). 2) Books that are your typical romance that just so happen to takes part during the Christmas time period. Maybe it sporadically makes reference to the holiday itself, but other than that, there's no major feeling of Christmas cheer or spirit in the story. I call this the Die Hard effect- because there is the age old question of whether Die Hard is actually a Christmas movie. Wreck the Halls most decidedly falls in the latter category. Yes, some of the characters did have to band together to defeat some sort of evil, and yes, that did happen on Christmas Eve, but like I said, the holiday itself wasn't really the main focus of this one. And with respect to my personal preferences, that's what I prefer.

As I said above, I LOVED this one from Tessa, in large part, because I LOVED both Beat and Melody. But Melody... she stole the show. I fell in love with her character, which is something that happens often when I'm reading a Tessa book. She knows how to pen a FMC that I can get behind. I think the reason why Melody was so lovable was because she felt like a normal person. She was so relatable and I could totally see myself in her. Yes, sometimes she was a little bit quirky, but all in all, she was just a down to earth girl who was totally just herself (no pretension, no airs, no pandering to the masses), and I loved that. She and Beat had INSANE chemistry, which means that their banter was sensational. I was constantly laughing at their back and forth exchange and the one liners that developed. They were totally in synch. I also thought this one was, in general, very funny without being cheesy. All in all, I had a TON of fun reading this one.

Thank you so much to Avon, Netgalley and Tessa for sending me an advanced copy of this one!

The perfect holiday romance that’s giving me Daisy and the six vibes! Love the banter and childhood love plot. Perfect holiday rom com to curl up with this season!

Wow. Just wow. I want a man to look at me, think of me, treat me the way Beat does Melody. Gold standard of fictional men! The connection between them vibrates with every page and their banter was top notch!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for providing an unbiased review.

3.75

After the last Tessa Bailey book I read went a little far with the uneven power dynamic joined with somewhat violent sex, I had thought of skipping her new books.

Somehow, however, a cute romcom from somebody I know as a good storyteller, a Christmas one to boot, is a cat nip and, well, here I am. However, reading Tessa Bailey without expecting a lot of thoroughly described sex is like a guy really reading Playboy for the articles and getting annoyed that there are all these pictures in the way.

With that, excepting that this isn’t Chaucer, it’s a kind of a unique story, as much as a romcom can be these days, with interesting characters. First and foremost, I appreciate that they didn’t make Melody somebody who is always stammering or tripping over her words, or saying all these great things only in her head. She may be awkward, though, of course, that ridiculously beautiful awkward that only exist in romance books, but Tessa Bailey gave her dry wit, roll-with-the-punches, perfect romance banter to which I aspire.

Other than the intensity of their relationship, even before it’s romantic, being so over the top so early and so long, it’s a very interesting story of exactly how little privacy you can have when somebody’s filming you and you have a mic strapped to you all day. It’s also fun that their mothers are so over-the-top in their own ways and it’s interesting to see how that journey goes.

Of course, it’s preposterous that Beat would really want to do that without getting any real money if he doesn’t succeed and there’s never a signed contract before they’re already filming, which is absurd. All in all, I enjoyed it more than I thought, and it got me into the spirit a bit on this hot August day.

It is only August but this book made me feel like it should be the holidays already! This story is about lonely individuals who have heart warming moments to lighten up their holiday season. It is friends to lovers with a touch of rockstar romance. The characters were written so well that they are super loveable. The banter between the characters are hilarious. This was definitely a fast read in the best way. This was definitely an improvement from Tessa Bailey in comparison to Vacation Killer. This is also different from her other books because these characters are also single parents and it shows how these relationships also affect their children. Strongly recommend, huge heart-warmer to get you ready for the holiday season.

I've read nearly every Tessa Bailey book there is, clearly I am a fan! But this one was a little different, I loved the retro Daisy Jone's vibe mixed with a holiday romcom. It reminded me a little of the Parent Trap, as the main characters are trying to reunite their mothers for a rock band duo reunion, but then sparks seem to fly because as they spent more and more time together you could really feel their emotions develop for one another- and Tesaa Bailey is queen of swoonworthy moments and she did not disappoint in this one either.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for my free advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Tessa Bailey is one of my auto-buy authors for a reason. Wreck the Halls is holiday rom-com GOLD. I laughed out loud from start to finish, whenever I wasn't a swoony mess on the floor.

Beat and Melody are the children of rockstar mothers--mothers who had a falling out and haven't spoken to each other in decades. They agree to a live-streaming style reality show in an attempt to get their moms back together for a Christmas Eve Steel Birds reunion concert. They both know it's gonna take a miracle. Turns out, even though the public's obsession with the rock duo is what got them this reality show gig, it's NOTHING compared to their obsession with Beat and Melody. They're the real story the public can't get enough of.

I. Couldn't. Put. This. Book. Down.

I started and finished it in a single day. Despite it being absolutely freaking hilarious, Tessa created a beautiful love story about acceptance and trust, forgiveness and love--both romantic love and the enduring love of friendship. Full five stars. No question. I will not accept any other opinion. Thank you and Merry Christmas.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!!
OMG!!!! I am OBSESSED!! Tessa never misses with her books and this one was no exception! Beat and Melody sucked me in in the first few chapters and the rest is history. My heart broke for both of them equally at their own troubles/past struggles they had to grow through but oh was it so beautiful in the end. I wanted to give both of them the biggest hug, especially Beat! His heart literally beat for Melody (lol get it?) and I live for a good boy obsessed/soulmate trope. Five stars!

This was a really cute contemporary rom com from Tessa Bailey. Our main characters are Melody and Beat, the children of the two legendary frontwomen of the band Steel Birds, which broke up halfway through a tour in 1993. It's been 30 years and Octavia and Trina haven't spoken since the breakup, Melody and Beat have only met once, and there's a sudden resurgence of interest in Steel Birds, with their last hit song even back on the charts. Beat, who is being blackmailed and who needs a ton of money quickly, agrees to do a reality show with the goal of getting the Steel Birds back together for a reunion show, but only if Melody agrees to be a part of it. Melody has had a crush on Beat since the first time they met, when they were both 16, but Beat has some issues to work through before he feels like he can fully give in to the pull he's also felt towards her since then. The format of this reality show is very odd, with 12-14 hours a day of livestreaming on social media, uncut and unedited, and it somehow becomes a national phenomenon. At least part of that is due to Melody and Beat's rapport and sharp banter. I liked both of these characters, though Bailey's super overprotective alpha male protagonists are not always my thing. The formula just really worked here, and Trina and Octavia are also pretty iconic side characters. This is set in December but didn't feel super Christmas-y. I'll have to read it again in December and see what I think then.

I felt like getting in the Christmas spirit in August, and Wreck the Halls was the perfect way to do that. Tessa Bailey’s newest standalone holiday romance is fun and flirty, but also explores the complexities of so many different relationships: parent and child, best friends, and couples. I appreciated that the book wasn’t overly Christmasy, but it definitely includes fun holiday elements—like brawling Santas, for instance. Overall, a fun, cute read! 4/5 stars

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I was excited when NetGalley approved me for this, my first Christmas read of the season. The cover was as cute as the title, and the story started out just as fun! However, before long, it started to drag. Then it picked up again, then it dragged some more. Finally, I decided to switch to another Christmas story that would hold my interest better.

Wreck the Halls
Tessa Bailey
4⭐️

I went into this one totally blind because… um duh it’s Tessa Bailey and I will read anything and everything she writes.

Looking at the adorable cover I was expecting full on holiday rom-com so part of me wanted to hold off and read closer to the holidays vs in August. Not to worry my friends. Wreck the Halls, IMO is more of a lighthearted romance that takes place during Christmastime, and can absolutely be enjoyed ANY time of the year.

Melody and Beat, adult children of two former rock stars are offered a boat load of money to team up and convince their rock and roll diva mothers to reunite for a high stakes Christmas Eve concert in Rockefeller Center. One small issue… they haven’t spoken since the bands epic breakup 30 years ago.

With its unique plot, lovable characters and hilarious banter, this sweet & spicy slow burn romance had me smiling and thoroughly entertained throughout.

What I enjoyed;
❄️ Friends To Lovers
❄️ Feel-Good Romance
❄️ Second Chance
❄️ Witty Banter
❄️ Family Drama
❄️ NYC Setting

Wreck the Halls publishes 10/3! This one is sure to hit the spot for romance readers and fans of the fabulous Tessa Bailey! Definitley going to need a copy of this cute cover living on my shelf.

Thank you to Avon and and NetGalley for the digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Review Posted on August 22, 2023 to Goodreads and Storygraph

3⭐️

This book was short and sweet! This book follows Beat and Melody who are the kids of two famous rockstars who’s band broke apart. Having both been in the spotlight, they find comfort in each other. After desperately needing some money, Beat asks Melody to film a reality show with him that will try and get their mothers band back together. Feelings are tense, lives are being shown, and the pressure is in the bringing the band back together in time for Christmas. This book was filled with twists and turns, dramatic moments, sweet moments and much more. I loved the nickname Peach because of the reasoning behind it. I feel like this book did lack a some holiday energy as there were some points where I completely forgot that it was set during the holiday time. There were a few parts where I had to reread some sections to understand what was happening which was a little frustrating. Overall I’d say this is a pretty okay book!

Favorite Quote:
“You’ll never leave my system, Mel. You’re one-half of it.”

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review. I thought this was an interesting premise and I really loved the setting and the history of the parents' careers and off-stage drama. I also really enjoyed that Tessa Bailey incorporated the aspect of tabloids and paparazzi when it comes to fame and how women, specifically young women, are treated much differently than men by the public. The idea of the two main characters only meeting once when they were young, but still feeling that strong connection as adults was something I also really enjoyed. I think I would have liked it more if their immediate connection didn't move so quickly into lust and romantic love, but if it grew into that. I also wished we could have learned more about the parents.

I got so excited for a Tessa Bailey Christmas book! So I think it is important to start with with the statement that this is not a Christmas book - this is a book that takes place during Christmastime. It was super cute and I enjoyed it. The only reason I can't give it five stars is that it was just a liiiiiiiiiiiittle too cheesy for me. (ex: the MCs are Beat and Melody, and yes there are comments like "there is no beat without Melody" about it). But that is a personal litmus that it went a bit too far on, so if you're into heavy cheese, you're going to love it.