I enjoyed this book very much. It wasn’t quite what I expected at first, but once I started reading the book and realized what the story was about, I didn’t want to quit reading. I loved how Noel and Jonah fell in love all over again, even not knowing that they knew each other from before. Elliott and Moxie made the book extra special. I love animals featured in books. Jonah and Noel were meant to be together no matter where and when they started their lives, and it was so great to see that the second time around, they both got their priorities right. Each other and family came first in their second time, which was really special. It was a great Christmas novel with families who were at odds coming together in the end for the final town project. The old snow globe proved to be magic after all, with a little help from Pad.

Jonah and Noel Blake are married and their careers have taken over their lives. While walking their giant dog Elliott they meet a mysterious old man who invites them to make a wish on a snow globe. When they awake the next day they find they are more successful in their careers but aren't married and they don’t have memory of the other. Through holiday wish magic they both end up going to their small home town near Cheyenne, WY. And while they still don’t remember each other the whole town knows them and how they grew up. And their fathers are both vying for mayor.

This is wholesome, second chance romance (even though they are together). I really enjoyed the set up and Jonah and Noel getting reacquainted. Also Elliot should almost get main character billing. But the story really slows down for me in dealing with the whole town issue and mayor race. Neither major proposals are all or nothing or mutually exclusive, so I wasn’t drawn into that part of the story. Usually in this type of book there is a lesson learned and you go back to your lives and make changes. I don’t want to spoil anything but there wasn’t a true choice moment, therefore I didn’t love the ending. It doesn’t mean I didn’t like where they end in the epilogue. I just didn’t care for the way it happens. (And this comment only makes sense if you read the story. Lol.) (3.5 Stars)

An intriguing, very different, and very heartfelt read. I loved the way the book was written and the very innovative approach. I was caught up in the story but still had to pay attention to figure out what was going on. The author captured true life feelings and the slumps that come along with marriage, as well as the beauty. Truly a true life story with human, relateable, and lovely characters. Not only that, but it gave me that warm Christmas vibe and holiday hope. A much different read than my normal, but one I'd read again in a heartbeat.

A Heartwarming Holiday Tale That Warms the Soul

Courtney Cole's A Wish for Christmas weaves a captivating story of rediscovering love through the magic of Christmas. At first, I had a bit of trouble getting into the book, but once I was immersed, I couldn't put it down, devouring it in just a day.

The storyline is simply fabulous, offering the perfect blend of holiday cheer and dramatic twists. As Noel and Jonah make a wish on an enchanted snow globe, they find themselves waking up in separate lives, the kind of scenario that sparks curiosity and emotions.

What makes this story even more charming is the backdrop of a town where Christmas is at the center of a feud between families. It's a unique and heartwarming touch, with the hero and heroine caught in the middle, having forgotten their love since they wished they'd never met.

The tale navigates the complexities of family, tradition, and lost love with grace and warmth. As Noel and Jonah's paths continue to cross, there's a spark of something special that reignites hope.

This book is a delightful journey of love rekindled during the most magical time of the year. It's a reminder that some love is meant to be, and the Christmas magic in this story is bound to leave you with a heart full of warmth.

Thank you, NetGalley and Avon Books, for providing me with a complimentary digital copy of this book for review.

This book checks off every box for what I look for in a Holiday read. It offers an enjoyable and charming small-town setting filled with witty banter, and a quirky group of characters, not to mention the delightful presence of a cuddly, slobbering dog. The characters are relatable and endearing, each facing their internal struggles. While the love story begins with instant attraction, it evolves and deepens throughout the story while avoiding a slow-burn approach. Ultimately, the heart of the book lies in its exploration of what truly matters in life, as both characters come to realize. This book fits the bill if you're seeking a light-hearted yet meaningful Holiday read.

Careful what you wish for because it might come true. Noel and Jonah have been married since college, and are slowly drifting apart. A chance encounter with a stranger just might change the course of their lives. As they each end up going home to their hometown and they discover many things.
The town is struggling, Noel's parents and Jonah's Dad are running against each other for mayor. It is a wish for Christmas, but will they each be able to compromise and come up with a solution that is right for the town, and right for them. Noel and Jonah's dog, Elliott, adds a lot to the story. You just never know what he is going to do.
I received an ARC from Avon through NetGalley.

I've been slowly reading this book a few chapters at a time. I'm beginning to see a pattern in that I don't particularly enjoy magical/mystic/what if/switching lives/ etc type of books, especially holiday books. It was not for me but I'm sure plenty of people might enjoy this book. Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book before it releases.

If they don't make this book into a Hallmark movie, I will be thoroughly disappointed! This was such a feel-good story about second chances but in a weird way. I don't want to spoil anything. lol The ending was what I expected but at the same time not what I expected, and I know I'm being way too vague but if you love Hallmark movies like I do, you will definitely love this story.

A Wish for Christmas centers on Noel and Jonah. Their marriage is showing some cracks until they wish upon an old snow globe. The next morning, the story line takes such a dramatic turn that one is left to wonder if you’re still reading the same book. Noel and Jonah are living separate lives, their individual dreams, and don’t know each other – until a series of coincidences bring them together. The plot twist can be confusing, but the reader will eventually figure it out and enjoy the ride.

This begins, briefly, the story of a married couple, and their dog Elliott on a snowy day. They have drifted apart over the years, and Elliott seems to be the only thing that keeps them together. When Elliott escapes his leash one day, they find him a few blocks away making friends with a man who owns a shop filled with old odds and ends. The owner of the shop shows them an old snowglobe, and asks them to make a wish on it.

The next morning when they wake up, she will head off to her job, and he will head off to his. They each enjoy their jobs, and their lives are exactly what they’d wished for.

Noel has a job in the publishing industry, which she loves, and a new author who is sending her the chapters he’s been writing, a little bit at a time. She loves what he’s sent, so far, and he is anxious to spend more time on his book, he really needs to focus on his writing but his dog keeps disrupting him (like my dog just did to me - walked across my hands as I was typing) and he tells her that he could get this done sooner if she would just watch over him for a while. Her parents are expecting her to visit, but now she has to bring him along. She has never traveled with a dog before, so she is surprised when they tell her that she can’t bring this dog onto the flight - and she is trying to figure out what to do when a man offers her a flight on his private plane, since she’s going where he is going.

Interwoven in this story are the stories with others who live in this town, and a crotchety old mayor who hates Christmas, and has refused to allow the town to have any Christmas decorations, or celebrations. Noel’s mother, on the other hand, wants to bring the magic of Christmas back to their town.


Pub Date: 14 Nov 2023


Many thanks for the ARC provided by Avon and Harper Voyager, Avon

The first chapter is about Nora and Jack who are in their late 30's and they seem to be struggling as a couple even though they've been married since college and in love since high school. Out on a walk with their dog, the dog escapes and they find him with an older gentleman named Padraig. During their short visit with Padraig, he senses their unhappiness. He gives them a snow globe and tells them to make a wish. The rest of the book is about Noel and Jonah. In Noel and Jonah, we recognize Nora and Jack. Also, Padraig is involved in the rest of the story as an author who is writing a book he wants Noel to edit as she works for a publishing house. Noel has the same job as Nora and Jonah is in finance like Jack. However, Nora and Jonah don't know each other. They do live in the same apartment complex and end up traveling together to the town they are both from. I found it odd that they don't remember each other at all from their youth. Also, the number of years used for Jonah's childhood loss didn't add up for me. I liked that we got to see what may have been the issues behind Nora and Jack's present through reading about Noel and Jack. This was an ok read for me.

This was a wonderful Christmas story. 4.5 STARS! If you love the classics - It's a Wonderful Life and A Christmas Story, then this book is for you! It is a fun spin of these stories put together with a flair of originality in the book. The story centers around Jonah and Noel Blake, some fun furry friends, Elliot (dog) and Moxie (kitten) and fun side characters that really help build into the love story. Jonah and Noel are married in the beginning and you soon discover there's an emptiness in their marriage....but with a chance meeting with, what I would call an enchanting elderly man named Pad (who I absolutely love!!), the story takes an interesting turn.

The book's description is just that - Jonah & Noel each "makes a wish on an enchanted snow globe that they had never met, but when they wake up the next day in separate lives, the magic of Christmas helps them to realize that some love is just meant to be." The build of their love story back together was charming and delightful. The author captures the story and details well that I couldn't put the book down so that I can find out how they find their renewed happily ever after. I loved Jonah and Noel as a couple and their chemistry together. I would've loved an epilogue or a little better conclusion of their relationship being back together (not going to give too many details as I don't want to spoil for others) but I truly enjoyed this magical, holiday story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the advanced reader copy!

After the initial pages, I found myself not connecting with the story or characters, so I decided to pass on this book. Did not finish

Noel and Jonah are a NY power couple. She is an editor at a large publishing firm, gunning for a top promotion and Jonah is a Wall Street wonder working 24/7. One snowy day Noel and Jonah are walking their huge dog, Elliott, a 200 pound Mastiff, through New York City. Or rather he is walking them! The slobbering but lovable dog slips off his leash the first chance he gets. They chase Elliott into a charming shop where the Santa-like owner is happily feeding him dog treats and offers the couple a reprieve from the cold. With no children of their own and too busy with work Noel and Jonah are the least festive people you could possibly meet. Fully in the Christmas spirit, this kind old man gifts them a beautiful snow globe which will grant them a holiday wish. The next day the couple wakes up in separate beds. They are not married. They are in the charming small town where they both grew up. And then they meet for the first time. Although Noel and Jonah sense familiarity, this feels new. Their eyes sparkle, a simple touch sends electricity through their bones. Maybe this is a chance to start over. To remember why they ever fell in love in the first place. Christmas magic at its best. This delightful holiday romance is filled with love, family and the funniest dog ever!

Nora and Jack happen upon an antique store thanks to their dog Elliot slipping off his leash. Thanks to this chance encounter, the unhappy couple meets the older shopkeeper and is given the chance to make a wish that they never met each other.

Fast forward to the next day, we meet Noel and Jonah. Their story seems familiar but they have no recollection of each other. Just a 200-lb dog named Elliot that keeps them linked.

This book is SO good. A little bit of magic, Christmas romance, and Elliot! I also liked that this book dealt with the very real and heavy issues of grief and dementia along with the Christmas spirit of a small town.

Loved this one so much that I have already purchased one of Courtney Cole’s older Christmas books!

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

While I love Christmas books this book seemed to be like many other stories that I have read. Don't get me wrong, it was a a book that was well written, but it seemed very familiar. I did like the characters and loved the dog (huge dog lover here!) and felt like they were very relatable. Overall I would say it was good, but not something that I think is very original. Sorry,

I’m pretty sure that almost every adult has wished, at some point, that they could go back and make different decisions and have a completely different life. A Wish for Christmas provides the characters with the opportunity to have a different life. I enjoyed the sweet story, especially the character of Elliott and his buddy Moxie, but I do wish the concept of the wish and snow globe had been better explained or described. Lovely Christmas story, clean enough for a school library — it’s a winner for me!

Love Love Love this heartwarming story. Jonah and Noel are busy climbing the corporate ladder in New York City. All they do is work to maintain their high power jobs. But it is Christmas and both end up going home to small town America where they both grew up. Their fathers are fighting to be the mayor going into the new year. Elliott is a great addition to the story. As an oversize dog he is full of mischief and adds comic relief to the story. Can Pad and a snow globe really change the story? A great holiday story. So glad I had a chance to read this one.

A Wish for Christmas-- DId I read it in August? Yes! Here's what I loved---it was not your typical Hallmark movie. A married couple unknowingly encounters a magical snow globe. One of them evidently makes a wish that they had never met, and ta da the next morning they have not and are living separate lives. Spoiler Alert--they do find their way back to each other--but not exactly how it was before...

I found Courtney Cole's 'A Wish for Christmas' to be an enchanting and heartwarming story. Of course it is a whimsical 'what-if' kind of story, but I was willing to enter in and enjoy the magic. The characters become more and more likeable as we come to understand their back stories. I highly recommend this for a delightful Christmas read.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.