Okay, I hope some television producer is waiting in the wings to turn this one into a holiday movie! Tessa Bailey knocked it out of the park. It had all the elements I love in my romances. Prepare yourself for spicy, sultry heat, sweet romance, and strife-ridden drama. It was the perfect recipe for a splendid book. I adored Melody, Beat, and the entire cast of characters. Melody and Beat are irresistible with their undeniable adorableness. Their vulnerability only adds to their charm and makes them even more endearing. It's impossible not to adore them! Trina and Octavia and all their drama made for such an excellent backstory. I couldn't help but burst out laughing at the witty banter exchanged between the two. I loved how Tessa weaved her magic and caught every personality on the page. It made for a delightfully entertaining read. I highly recommend checking out this holiday romance. This story has lovable characters and a sweet friends-to-lovers plot loaded with epic rockstars and family drama. Trust me. It's the kind of book that'll leave you feeling happy and content.

I’m a Tessa Bailey fan so I figured I would read this as a Christmas in July thing. It doesn’t have as much to do with Christmas as I originally thought. Beat and Melody (yeah those are actually their names) are the offspring of two women who were in a famous band. The band broke up under very volatile circumstances but now Beat is being offered a bunch of money to get them to reunite. He needs this money because he is being blackmailed. There are also hints about his weird sexual behaviors. When the secret is revealed…it doesn’t seem like much of a big deal.

Beat met Melody once before this when they were teenagers and he basically has loved her ever since. The issues that keep them apart (his reluctance to…open up and his need to protect her by not being truthful) seemed really manufactured. It was cute but not my favorite Bailey.

From the lovely cover to the bubbly atmosphere, Tessa Bailey provides readers with yet another delightful romcom to devour. Bailey wrote such a delicious spice packaged story with compelling characters. Melody and Beat, kids of ex-band mates with fated names, have the most firey holiday in the city romance and it does not disappoint.

When I first started this novel, I thought I would have to DNF because the spice level is beyond what I’m usually willing to read. (This was my first book by this author, so now I know what to expect.) After seeing others’ reviews, I decided that I really wanted to see how Trina and Octavia develop into these characters that are so loved by other readers, so I pulled myself together and picked it back up.

I like Melody more than Beat, and their romance is interesting with all the tropes that pop up, but I desperately wanted to point them to the nearest couples’ therapist. I had a hard time just escaping into this story because their relationship lit up all my “need to fix” buttons in my brain.

As for Trina and Octavia, I wish this friendship had been developed more, maybe with flashback scenes or something! I still didn’t really feel that I knew enough about them by the end to be satisfied with the story ending.

The Christmas setting…definitely not integral enough to make this a warm and cozy Christmas read. This could’ve been set in any month with snow and the story wouldn’t have really changed.

Wreck the Halls
By Tessa Bailey
3 stars

Melody and Beat, offspring of famed musical duo the Steel Birds, met once as teenagers in 2009 doing interviews about their moms' acclaimed music and notorious public breakup. Despite Melody feeling horribly awkward vs. Beat’s seemingly easy awesomeness, they clicked. But, then never saw each other again, until….

Beat, now 30, is being blackmailed by his birth father. In an effort to protect his parents’ marriage he’s been paying increasingly ridiculous demands for money. Money he doesn’t have. When he’s offered a million dollars by a producer who wants to get Steel Birds back together for a Christmas Eve reunion concert, he thinks it’s crazy. Even crazier that they want to film a reality show of him and Melody trying to make it happen. Melody does not like drawing attention to herself. The paparazzi was awful to her as a teenager and her confidence has never really recovered. But, when she realizes Beat really needs this money (although doesn’t know why), she agrees.

As they spend time together trying to convince their stubborn moms to give each other a second chance, sparks fly. But, between Beat’s belief he doesn’t deserve anything good and Melody’s lack of confidence they’ve got their own challenges to overcome.

Although there were enjoyable elements, this is not as strong as other Tessa Bailey books I’ve read.

Who better to reunite a band that had an epic fallout than their own children? And when better to do it than Christmas Eve? Applause (a Hallmark-esque) Network wants to bring former rockstars Trina & Octavia back together, and allow me to tell you, I read it as Applesauce Network every single time.🙃 Wreck The Halls serves all the drama, plus a spicy romance, all wrapped up in holiday cheer!

❕This was so chaotic & kinky, y’all I cannot cope.❕

Also TB - can we get like a Thanksgiving novella or something for the producer & the cameraman?? Danielle & Joseph were just as compelling as Beat & Melody😂

🗓️Wreck the Halls by Tessa Bailey is out Oct. 3!

This had Daisy Jones vibes. It was more of a Christmas adjacent novel. I love me a Tessa Bailey. The plot was unique and interesting. Parts during the middle dragged on for me a bit. Melody was such a lovable (and relatable character!)

Thank you NetGalley for eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Tessa Bailey did it again! The witty heroine will always be my favorite and make me want to be her! The bomb sex scenes help too

Yet another Tessa Bailey book I could not put down. I enjoy how the author captures the different characters in her books. Going from a romance book based in a small fishing village to NY AND a reality show is a big change. The characters are well written, always with the male love interest being immediately overprotective and a bit creepy. The female love interest cherishing the immediate obsession from the guy. But that's what I love about these books. How loony can these guys get!? Chefs kiss for a fun read.

My thanks to NetGalley for making an eARC of this book available to me.

The main plotline was fun and engaging. The main characters were likeable enough (her more than him). Liked that she was emotionally stronger than I'd anticipated. The sexual kinks didn't really do it for me personally, but were kind of interesting. Your suspension of disbelief needs to be strong for this one in several places, but that's kind of par for the course. The holiday spirit is not particularly strong in this book, despite its title and the calendar timing of the plot. Still, I like the outcome well enough to be able to recommend the book to others.

I couldn't put down Wreck the Halls!!!! Tessa Bailey delivers us the perfect star crossed love, rock and roll, holiday romance that we didn't know we needed!!! I loved everything about this. Two children of rock legends meet as teens and feel an instant connection. Fast forward to when they are adults and they are approached about a reality show trying to reunite their mother's for a Steel Birds reunion of Christmas Eve. The rest is so good. I loved the instant connection between Beat and Melody. There is a push and pull, the restraints of being on camera and secrets!
For my Tessa Bailey fans the romance here has a slower build but it is STEAMY! You are going to love it. Also, a quick, fast paced read!

Thank you to Netgalley for the advanced read. All options are my own. #WrecktheHalls #NetGalley

Mixed feelings on this book. .

I was hooked from the beginning with the story of the band and their grown children trying to get them back together all while being filmed live. It reminded me a little of the movie Ed TV... I used to watch it over on my VHS back in the day. LOL! The romance between the two - Melody and Beat - was a little ehhh for me. I loved the attraction and the build at first but then Beat went a little weird and came on too strong for my taste. He was a little creepy and obsessive sometimes. I realize some people like that in their romance books... not me. I knocked it down a star for that.

I loved how quirky Melody was and loved that she came into herself. Her comments had me laughing and she is definitely someone I would be friends with!

Not my favorite Tessa Bailey read but still enjoyed it minus Beat's creepy parts.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

I found this one to be Bailey’s most enjoyable one yet. Now granted, I know everyone has their favorite tropes and vibes, and this may not be everyone’s, but it absolutely was mine. Apparently I’m into fixer daddy vibes, total simping, soulmate level connection, where he could be who he was but she didn’t lose any agency or feminism.

I was hoping for no third act breakup and I did find this one a bit contrived, as I had hoped that the other, darker obstacle would be all that separated them, and frankly I do think it would have been enough for that necessary “will they? Won’t they?” at the climactic point of the book. But I think the meh-level third act breakup was the only downside.

One of my favorite aspects of this book was the cast of secondary characters. 3 dimensional, interesting, added to the story, had great banter, made the book. Even the addition of live streaming and social media following was well done. I think this one could easily be a Christmas-time cozy reread.

Tessa Bailey does spicy holiday reads like no other!

This book will be a perfect holiday read, if you don't take it too seriously. Readers will devour it in one sitting (I sure did) as holiday lights twinkle, fires burn and hot cocoa is enjoyed. This book is meant to be fun from page one and Bailey hits all the high points.

Ridiculous premise that leads to even more ridiculous love/lust at first sight? Check.

Two archetype characters that exist purely to be spicy? Check.

Cast of tropey side characters who all act like lunatics? Check.

Completely improbable resolution where everyone acts out of character, but you don't care? Check.

Spice that will make your toes curl? Check.

Now I will say that my enjoyment of this book relies on 100% suspension of disbelief. The plot is ludicrous and if anyone in real life acted like any of these characters, it would be intolerable. (Oh look a possessive control-freak (with a tragic past and dark secret) is proprietary over a woman whose only characters trait is having a crush on him...so unique!) However, in this case the story is exactly what is on the tin and for a quick winter romp, it is silly perfection.

Oh what fun it was to read Tessa Bailey’s holiday romance Wreck the Halls. Melody and Beat, children of two former rockstars, are the offered the chance of a lifetime when a producer offers them a life-changing sum for them to do a reality show to reunite their moms—but between 24-hour film crews, adoring fans, they’re both thrown from their comfort zone and are forced to come to terms with their feelings for each other. I adored Melody and Beat. This read is spicy and their connection is so vulnerable. I didn’t necessarily love the insta-love feel of them, but at the same time, I love the immediate understanding they had of each other, and while there were a lot of little misunderstandings I wish they had communicated better with, I think their resolution skills showed them a lot of growth and passion. Beat loves Melody so fully and Melody is such a light. There’s so much heart and whimsy and growth in this. And I loved the mothers and the journey to reunite them. In the start of the book, Tessa Bailey has a note about wanting to do those women justice and she really did. I actually would’ve loved an epilogue with this one and see more of those amazingly strong and very unique women. This was just such a fun and very spicy holiday read that had me smiling all the way through.

Yet again, Tessa Bailey completely delivers. Her voice and insight into rom coms that both make you laugh and make you swoon is untouchable. Perfect amount of steaminess and romantic sparks and it kept me turning the page for hours in one sitting. While I read this holiday book completely out of season, I know readers will enjoy cozying up under their Christmas trees with a cup of coffee and this book. The relationship between the two moms was also a really great side story. You rooted for their friendship and for their reunion.

I actually ate this book RIGHT UP.

Let me start by saying this book is LITERALLY ME (minus the romance and cavity inducing strangers to friends to strangers to friends (?) to lovers plot). The way I smiled at every flirtatious moment, blushed at every heart-swelling compliment, and laughed at every joke (I’m not even kidding,, my condolences to the ppl at the gym that saw me cheesing at my kindle screen) is actually amazing.

Friends to lovers has never been at the top of my favorites tropes list,, but oh my lord how I adored this book. Beat and Melody (ngl I love their names 😭) have stolen my heart and I will compare every relationship I see with theirs from this day forward. I was really able to grasp the connection the two had beyond Tessa just saying that they had one.

As for the plot,, I am a SUCKER for reality tv and loved this! Trying to bring a band together after 30 years but the members hate each other so you have to work with the only person you’ve ever felt true attraction to ??? Literally sign me up I will give away all my rights right now istg.

I love the side characters and the different relationships between them. Octavia is literally my favorite person ever and me if I was ever cool and rich (her humor and comebacks ate — literally my favorite thing I’m pretty sure 80% of my annotations are from her💀). Definitely going to be a buy and reread in the future.

Tessa Bailey's latest holiday romcom is zany in all the best ways. Perfect for fans of Daisy Jones and the Six, the Parent Trap, and all of Tessa's books.

Beat and Melody. Melody and Beat. Both are the child of a member of the famous rock duo, Steel Birds, but they've only met once. That magical interaction has stuck with Beat and Melody for the past 10+ years as they navigate life in the sort-of spotlight. When a producer calls and asks them to reunite Steel Birds, Beat isn't in a place to turn them down (despite knowing the task is impossible) and Melody can't say no to Beat. This holiday season, tag along as these two travel all over trying to set up their moms again for one last epic show!

Beat and Melody have amazing chemistry, hilarious banter, and get up to fun hi-jinx. This book is atypical but perfect for the holiday season! It should be on everyone's winter tbr. Thanks to Avon and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for allowing me to get this eARC in exchange for an honest review!!

This story really intrigued me and although I wasn’t sure how I would like it, I wanted to try it. The story line was great. I don’t love the insta love trope. Melody is really likeable and I love how Beat holds the “touch her and you die” type of personality. I liked them coming to learn more about themselves and their families along the way. But that was unfortunately really all I liked.

Another classic Tessa Bailey romcom. I’ve never been to New York City for the holidays, but this book definitely made me want to go. I love the rock ‘n’ roll theme and the overlay of the reality TV show. It’s a fun, cozy book that will hit you in the feels I’ll definitely be recommending this one for good holiday reads with a hefty amount of steam. Must read.