This is in line with Tessa Bailey's previous work, with fun characters and spicy scenes. The particular challenge of the male main character was a little different and I'm not sure was handled super accurately, but for a fun vacation read it's fine.

I love an excellent Tessa Bailey holiday story! This one filled all my expectations and more, she is an insta-read author.

Melody and Beat have felt some type of bond since meeting once at 16. Being the offspring of rockstar mothers is a narrow pool of people. But it's 14 years later, the band is broken up, Melody and Beat haven't seen or spoken to one another since that day but fate is in motion because a reality TV company wants to bring the band back together for a Christmas Eve performance and the best way the producer thinks it can be done is by having Melody and Beat convince their mothers to do it...live...in front of millions of people watching.

I thought the plot was a little off the walls crazy pants but I threw plausibility out the window and went with it. Melody was easy to identify with at first being an introvert myself but then she just became so damn cute and charming with her jokes and obliviousness, I could never do that lol. Beat was an immediate simp for her and the insta-love between them was not for me. Otherwise, I liked that he was kind and caring even as a 16 year old boy and how he demanded change in the paparazzi. I do like a little more build up between the love interests but they were cute and when Beat reveals his secrets it got pretty hot. I did not really care for the reason of their second break up (Yes they have two because Tessa loves to torture us haha) and thought something else could've happened like Melody accidentally revealing his secret about his mom while filming or something like that.

But overall this was a quick and easy ready. I read it one sitting and while it wasn't my favorite Tessa Bailey book ever I will continue to pick her titles up because she can definitely write and it's always easy and fun to read her stuff. Thank you so much to Avon and Harper Voyager for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Wreck the Halls
by Tessa Bailey
Pub Date: 03 Oct 2023
Avon and Harper Voyager, Avon
General Fiction (Adult) | Humor & Satire/ Romance
Spice: 🌶🌶🌶
Rating 4.5/5

Wreck the Halls is a romantic novel by Tessa Bailey that will make you swoon. Featuring cute banter, this rom-com is sure to make you smile. For those seeking a delightful holiday read, Wreck the Halls is a heartwarming book that won't disappoint.

Melody and Beat, adult children of two former rock stars, try to convince their estranged mothers to play a high stakes Christmas Eve concert with each other. Melody and Beat first met as teenagers fourteen years ago. Now that they are adults, their feelings for one another develop as they work together to plan and live stream the event. Because their mothers haven't spoken in 30 years, it will be difficult to bring the women together on the same stage. Furthermore, if Beat and Melody become lovers, will the two families unite? Using creative thinking, Beat and Melody must resolve their mother's hatred for each other. Can they pull it off?

Thank you NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager for the opportunity to review Wreck the Halls. It was a pleasure to read. With Tessa Bailey's books, you're sure to be captivated.

No one quite does romance novels like Tessa Bailey, plus what could be better than two (opposite) children of former rockstars scheming to reunite their feuding, diva mothers in time for the holidays? It truly is like a holiday version of The Parent Trap, which makes it so gosh darn fun! Told in dual points of view, Wreck the Halls is fun and cute with such snappy language. I mean, I'd expect nothing less from Tessa Bailey but I truly did not want to put this book down.

One thing: Maybe don't read this book in public if you don't have a good poker face. It does get spicy, but again, would expect nothing less from Bailey.

This was such a lovely novel. I absolutely love the spicy Christmas RomCom subgenre. Ms. Bailey is the best the best author of Historical Romances.

WOW! This book, I have no words. It was so good—from the start, I was hooked, and it just got better and better. The friendship, love, trust, and relationship between Beat and Melody were so beautiful to read. Their love for one another jumped off the page. This was an incredible story. Tessa Bailey has done it again.

NetGalley Review — my rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
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@tessabaileyisanauthor posted about her new novel, “Wreck the Halls” this week & I took it as a sign that I had to move it to the top of my TBR — and omfgggg I’m so glad I did.
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Melody and Beat are the children of the most iconic female rock duo the world has ever seen, yet they haven’t met but one time. Why? Because their mothers got in a fight and the band split & so did Trina and Octavia’s friendship…for 30 years. Until Beat & Melody are approached by a TV network that wants them to reunite the women on live stream. The problem? They still can’t stand each other. But Beat & Melody? They can’t seem to stay away from each other.
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I was sucked into this book from the first page and was so sad when it was over. Tessa Bailey has a way of making you feel like you know her characters. I love the way she writes the conversations her characters have. It’s so witty and heartfelt. You find yourself rooting for the people you’ll never meet and wishing they weren’t fictional.
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You’ve got to read this one! Out everywhere October 3, 2023!
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#netgalley #tessabailey #wreckthehalls #harpercollins

Tessa Bailey does it again! Spicy, sweet, and full of seasonal cheer. She's a romance legend for a reason!

"Wreck The Halls" by Tessa Bailey is a delightful holiday rom-com that brings together the adult children of two former rock stars in a heartwarming and hilarious tale. Melody Gallard, despite being the daughter of music royalty, leads a low-key life, restoring old books and avoiding the spotlight. That is until a lucrative offer from a producer to reunite her mother's band on live TV tempts her to shake things up and reconnect with a certain someone. Enter Beat Dawkins, the charismatic lead singer's son, whose magnetic charm and camera-friendly persona are a stark contrast to Melody's reserved nature.

Their paths had crossed as teenagers, sparking an instant connection that only intensifies as they team up to convince their mothers to perform one last Christmas Eve concert. Battling rock star shenanigans, a 24-hour film crew, brawling Santas, and fervent fans, Melody finds herself stepping out of her comfort zone with Beat by her side, offering unwavering support. Together, they embark on a madcap mission filled with laughter, adventure, and a growing understanding of each other.

As Christmas Eve approaches, the tension builds as a decades-old scandal threatens to derail not only the Steel Birds reunion but also the relationships with their mothers and the newfound connection between Melody and Beat. Tessa Bailey masterfully weaves together a tale of romance, family dynamics, and the transformative power of the holiday season.

With witty dialogue, sizzling chemistry, and endearing characters, "Wreck The Halls" is a joyous read that will leave you laughing, swooning, and believing in the magic of Christmas. Bailey's skillful storytelling captures the essence of love and second chances, making this holiday rom-com a must-read for anyone seeking a heartwarming and entertaining escape during the festive season.

Thank you to netgalley and the author/publisher for an arc of this book in exchange for a voluntary review.

Firstly- Beat and Melody! What cracking names. I loved this introvert/extrovert holiday based romance of two somewhat lonely people who were always destined for one another. Thrown into a world of attention by their famous mothers, and brought back together to reunite them. This was a pleasant, funny read and full of Bailey’s usual brilliance. Bravo Bailey! Can’t wait to add this to my physical book shelf!

I received this ARC from Avon/Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. And thank you.

I'm <i> only </i> removing one star because of the seasonal nature of this book making it feel like I'll only be able to read this once a year. That being said, I will now probably read this book every Christmas.

It was the dirtiest Hallmark movie I've ever read. This book was a <i> cliche </i> from beginning to end, but in a supremely enjoyable way. It's like Tessa said, holiday romance, take 2, but with all the tropes...hold my beer. And then she did it. And it wasn't in an irritating way at all. <spoiler> Childhood sweethearts? Check. Friends to lovers? Check. Forced proximity? Check. One bed? Check. Makeover montage? Check. Pining? Check. Hurt her and die? Check. Hurt HIM and die? Check. ALL THE CHECKS. </spoiler>

I have never read the kink explored in this book before, and while it's not my jam, I felt like it was handled exceptionally well. Kudos, Tessa.

I really liked the relationship dynamics between the MCs themselves, between the mothers, and between the MCs and the mothers. And I've always felt pity for celebrities getting hounded and their kids who didn't ask for fame getting hounded. And this novel took all my feelings of pity and sympathy and plugged them in to a plot. I expected to be a lot more irritated with the show producer because she started off bombarding and stalker-like tracking down poor Melody. And I expected to dislike the fan base following the action a whole lot more. But Tessa managed to make them both charming while also depicting the realities of loss of privacy and lack of safety associated with such a public life.

But this is the first book I've read in awhile (read: Since Emily Wilde) where I have made <b> *poor choices* </b> staying up to finish this. But I <i> needed </i> to know what was happening. The pacing was handled really well. And while this is 100% a Christmas novel. It didn't smack you in the face with HOLIDAYS everywhere. I was just a pleasant background ambiance the whole time.

This book has dethroned My Killer Vacation as my favorite Tessa Bailey. She’s my favorite author so reading a book of hers is always a big deal to me, and I always say “there’s no way she can make me love her books more”, but then it happens. It’s crazy.

After Window Shopping in 2021, I was hoping for more Christmas books by Tessa so this already started being extra special. The prologue captured my attention with Melody and Beat’s first meet at 16. It was already packed with chemistry. Tessa’s heroes are usually utterly obsessed with the heroines and I think this is the MOST obsessed a hero of hers has ever been. Melody was Beat’s world. Their relationship was so beautiful and emotional. Soulmates is the only word that comes close to describe their bond. Growing up as the children of rockstars, they could understand and trust each other in a way they couldn’t do with other people because they never knew if their intentions were fully genuine, so reuniting made them found not only each, but a safe space to be themselves. My absolute favorite couple so far.

The plot of this book was so original and fun to read. Trying to reunite Octavia and Trina (the aforementioned rockstars) on live television, Beat and Melody become a sensation online. The reunion was short but seeing Trina and Octavia putting their differences aside for their children made me so emotional. I need more scenes of them and I hope they rekindled their relationship for good after all.

Rating: 5/5
Steam level: Open door, 4-5 scenes, high level of detail

ARC provided by Avon and NetGalley. Opinions are my own!

This was such a fun read! I've loved everything Tessa Bailey has written, and this one was no exception. As a rom-com, there was the requisite amount of predictability, but the plot felt fresh and like something I hadn't read before. I really enjoyed the way music was woven into the story and thought it was an excellent examination of the weight of our parent's expectations. Though Beat and Melody were children of famous musicians, it was easy to relate to their struggles in finding their own place in the world.

Though this is set at Christmas, I don't think it's exclusively a holiday book. I enjoyed reading it in the summer and might give it a second go closer to the holidays to see if the festive mood strikes me more. I'd definitely recommend to friends looking for a fun, romantic book!

I am a huge Tessa Bailey fan and this book did not disappoint! I loved Melody and Beat. They were such a cute couple. The story was well paced, the characters well thought out and the storyline was so fun. Such a great holiday romance!

OMG - This was such an amazing book! The two main characters, Melody and Beat, are children of 2 super famous musicians that were bandmates when they were younger. The band broke up, (no one knows why other than the bandmembers and no one has shared that story) and the children only met once when they were teenagers. Now they are adults, and they join forces in reuniting their mothers. Along the way, they fall in love. The banter and chemistry between Melody and Beat are absolutely insane! It is a bit instalove but such a wonderful story. No spoilers here but you will not regret reading this book!

A big “Thank You” to NetGalley, Tessa Bailey and Avon for allowing me to read such a wonderful story in return for an independent, honest review.

I loved this book! I'll be purchasing and reading again when it comes out.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced digital review copy.

This is my first Tess Bailey. Gasp. I know. I have seen her books and they come up in my recommendation list, but I'm trying to avoid adding too many new authors so I don't spread my reading too thing. So many books to read. So little time. But I'm glad that I was able to get this ARC because that is the way I'm allowing myself to experience new authors .... Bailey writes well and has some enjoyable back and for with the characters and their supporting cast for sure.

Even though the two characters kind of experience insta love when they are both teens, it felt more like soulmates finding each other than the craziness of insta love that is often depicted in these books. Is that any more real? Not sure. But I felt like it fit the characters and their stories, almost like they were destined from birth to bring their mothers back together.

I will say that I do not like any books where someone is being blackmailed and keeping it from everyone, because you know it won't work out well. And really, can Beat be surprised that the blackmailer keeps coming back for more? It's just a trope I could live without. I mean, yes, it works for the story and the show would not have happened if it weren't for the need for blackmail cash - which is more honourable than I just want more money - but ugh for me. I probably would have skipped it in the bookstore if I had seen that to be honest. Glad I didn't as it would have turned me off Bailey before I had even read any of the actual books.

Beat and Melody were genuinely likeable characters, even when they were doing stupid things, and I felt like they were pretty mature in their view of the world around them. I was rooting for them to get things resolved in the right way from pretty much page 1 when they first meet in that studio interview. There were no real surprises in this book, and I was totally ok with that, because it worked.

So, well written. Fun story. Good characters. Fans of Bailey won't be disappointed. And I'm turning into a fan myself.

Christmas in August! Woo! This is my first Tessa Bailey novel and just, wow. It was so freaking cute. It gave me all of the feels of a Hallmark movie but with none is the problematic miscommunication crap. This story of friendship, healing and love is just everything. I WILL be reading this with a cup of hot cocoa during the winter time.

Christmas is early and so is this scorching of a novel between two individuals whom share a deeper connection than many others...

Tessa has been talking about this novel for such a long time, and when the time came where I was finally laying in bed and started reading it, my anticipation took me to another level. I was beyond giddy and excited. And in all reality, she did not disappoint once again. I will always say that when it comes down to Tessa's books. She always leaves me in such a comfort mood. No matter what she is writing. This book was for sure a bit different to her other most recent novels that she has written, and I devoured it. Beat and Melody bring such a power couple in this novel. At first I was hesitant but giving it a shot was worth it. Melody and Beat made me mad, cry, laugh and all the emotions in between. And all the side characters truly make this story even more appealing, and beyond hilarious.