Lisa Hepner's The Christmas Checklist is a heartwarming holiday romance that captures the magic and chaos of the season. The story follows a determined protagonist who embarks on a mission to complete her ambitious Christmas checklist, only to find unexpected love and joy along the way.

Hepner’s writing is light and engaging, filled with festive charm and relatable moments. The characters are endearing and well-developed, each bringing their own quirks and aspirations to the narrative. As the protagonist navigates holiday preparations, the interplay of humor and heartfelt emotions creates a delightful reading experience.

The pacing is brisk, making it a perfect read for cozy winter evenings. Themes of love, community, and the true spirit of Christmas shine through, reminding readers of the importance of connection during the holiday season.

Overall, The Christmas Checklist is a delightful and uplifting read that will resonate with fans of festive romances. It’s a charming reminder that sometimes the best gifts come from the heart, not from a list.

Such a heartfelt and amazing story. It's about grief but more so about surviving and living life to your fullest. The romance was so sweet and I love Christmas and it's my favorite time of year but I am aware that for some it can be the hardest time of year. This book made me feel like jelly inside and I think it's truly inspirational.

Fantastic novel, enjoyed every minute of it! Absolutely nothing not to like about it. Such a cute story and great characters. Highly recommend this!

A sweet Christmas read that I really enjoyed. But like most Christmas reads it pretty much best to be read into December.

🎄Release Day ARC Review: The Christmas Checklist by @lisahepner 🎄

This was the sweetest read! It’s perfect for this time of year and sure to bring a smile to your face. It is my hope that this wholesome, quick read will inspire you in the same way The Christmas Checklist inspired many individuals throughout the course of the book.

What are some things you can expect to find in The Christmas Checklist? 👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻

❄️ dual POV
❄️ slow burn
❄️ he falls first!
❄️ mental health rep
❄️ cute brother relationship / lovable side character
❄️ grief rep
❄️ writer MMC
❄️ medical field FMC
❄️ non-dramatic love triangle

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Cleanliness: 🍓🍓🍓🍓

Touchy Topics: grief, parental loss, chosen estrangement from family, sibling raising sibling, mention of alcohol, etc.

If you’re looking for a novel that is full of joy, healing, forgiveness, and the Christmas spirit all wrapped up into one, I sincerely encourage you to give this book a try. 🫶🏻🎄❄️❤️

The Christmas Checklist is available TODAY! Just in time for the holiday season. Grab yourself a copy! 💕

#bookreview #advancedreaderscopy #arcreview #arcreviewer #bookstagram #authorsofinstagram #writersofbookstagram #authorsofbookstagram #release #releaseday #pubday #publication #newbook

🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄

Rating Scale:

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️: PERFECT. Probably cried
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️: Wonderful, but not top 10
⭐️⭐️⭐️: Good! Most books fit here
⭐️⭐️: Not really my cup of tea
⭐️: Basically DNF

Content Cleanliness Scale:

🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓: Squeaky clean!
🍓🍓🍓🍓: Appropriate for most readers
🍓🍓🍓: Heavy topics, likely 18+
🍓🍓: Intense scenes about heavy topics
🍓: Tread lightly

After the recent loss of Emily’s mother, everyday life feels unbearable, and the thought of celebrating Christmas seems inconceivable. Emily would give anything to feel her mother’s love again and cannot imagine what her life looks like without her. When Emily finds a Christmas Checklist left from her mother for her to complete, she is left confused and overwhelmed, especially by the final task - Find Love. Will Emily be able to complete her mother’s list in time for Christmas? Will she be able to find love whilst navigating through grief and loss?

Although this book took me awhile to finish, it was a wonderful and heartwarming read. This book encompasses “Hallmark romance” in the best way possible and is a perfect feel good novel for Christmastime. Hepner does a great job exploring the mind and heart of someone who has lost a loved one and is still trying to navigate through life. I appreciated the overall message behind the novel and it left me with a smile on my face by the end. Overall, a perfect holiday romance read!

The Christmas Checklist
Lisa Hepner
2023
5 Stars


Thank you NetGalley and Publisher Kindle for my copy of The Christmas Checklist by Lisa Hepner. I have not received any rewards or compensation for this review and therefore all views and opinions are of my own, the reviewer.

In summary: Emily’s mother left her an envelope to be opened after her mother had passed away. In it is a list of twelve items, a checklist her mother wanted her to complete as a way to process her death.

This is the first book I have read by Lisa Hepner.
I LOVED this book! I found the writing to be excellent, the story progression well executed and the best happily ever after. It truly lived up to its hype being heart warming and uplifting. The author took Emily and Noah through their journey effortlessly. I loved how Emily met Noah with the first item on the checklist, the donation of coats during the charity drive. The next item on the checklist is to get to know a stranger. Emily decides that she will go outside her comfort zone and get to know Noah. We find out that Noah is a writer and looking for something to write about so he can get a better position with his office. Noah decides to write about the Christmas checklist and submits it without asking Emily. Emily at first feels betrayed but realises that the story doesn’t mean she should discount her feelings for Noah as they grow throughout the course of the story.
Well worth reading over the festive season.

I adore a good holiday romance title. The Christmas Checklist is definitely in that category. It just hit me a little too close to home with the main character having just lost her mother.

I told my sisters about this title and both said they couldn't have read anything that mentions a parent dying this year.. Meanwhile, I enjoyed how the author took her struggles after her mother's death and turned it into this story.

Navigating the holidays without someone close to you is challenging. Thank you Lisa Hepner for doing this and sharing those twelve inspirational activities--as a way to help others get through that first Christmas and move through holiday grief. Moving forward while honoring and remembering your loved one is difficult. Getting out of your comfort zone and doing things that also help others is so important.

After reading the novel, I was able to stream the made-for 'TV' movie. There were a few differences, but overall a great theatrical production of the story.

Such a great book! There are many ways of grieving, and a couple of them are shown here, but what Emily's mom showed her with her checklist is magical. Personally, my grandpa died not so long ago and I stil am a mess. I don't really show it that much, but it's summer in South America and I have this horrible cold since he passed. So, yes, my grieving is making me sick. Something I think happened to Emily too. I will try to make through this Christmas checklist and hope to God it helps me as much as it helped Emily and Noah. Because even if Noah's mom died a long time ago, he was still grieving. I love your way of writing, keep doing it like that. Hope to read from you soon!

OH MY GOODNESS!!!!!! I don't even know where to start with this book. The Christmas Checklist written by Lisa Hepner was so beautiful, gut wrenching, raw, pure, and extremely heart breaking. I never expected to sit here and sob reading a Christmas book, but boy were the snot bubbles bubbling. THE FIRST FREAKING PAGE HAD ME IN TEARS ALONE. The Christmas season can be so hard for so many people, reasons we may never know, sometimes a hug can change a person's life, so hold those you love dearly close to your heart, and give those who are struggling a big hug. I absolutely loved this book so much, it made me feel so many emotions I can't even explain. It made me ugly sob, it made me laugh, it made me smile, it broke my heart. The Christmas Checklist is an amazing story for anyone who is struggling with depression or the loss of a loved one, especially during the holiday season. I absolutely adore the message this book portrayed even though it made me cry, I loved the characters, they were just the cutest peas in a pod. I can't recommend this book enough, please do yourself a favor and pick up a copy immediately, just keep the tissues close by.

THANK YOU TO NETGALLEY AND VICTORY EDITING NETGALLEY CO-OP FOR AN ARC OF THIS BOOK IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW!!!!!!

The Christmas Checklist is an inspirational Christmas romance about loss and love. A grieving daughter. A ted envelope the reads "Open December 1st". Inside the envelope is a checklist of twelve activities our main character must complete before Christmas. Emily Richmond doesn't think she can even preform one of them because she just lost her mom. Emily left home for college, but when her mom got sick, Emily came home to take care of her mama. Emily literally watched her mom fade right in front of her face, it just broke my heart. Back home, Emily left behind her "boyfriend", Emily doesn't really know what he is anymore, they are just kind of a thing, but they don't love each other, they hardly communicate, and this man couldn't care less that Emily just lost her mom? To the dumpster he goes, I hope the rats eat you. Emily's mom was her best friend, her world, but most importantly, Emily's everything. Without her mom, Emily can barely leave the house. Emily takes a baby step by doing the first item on the checklist, "donate jackets/clothes to a shelter". I know this isn't an easy task at all, but Emily, girl, I'm so proud of you, I wish I could have just reached into my kindle and give you the biggest hug.

At the coat drive, Emily bumps into the charming freelance writer, Noah Cole. Emily and Noah bumped into each other at the little corner market, but Emily basically ran away after watching a little girl disrespect her mom. Noah knows how hard the Christmas season can be because he and his brother lost their mom, and watched their father slowly sink into his depression. Noah is looking for an inspirational Christmas story in order to secure a full time position at the local paper. Ugh, my heart just hurts too much, I wanted to reach into my kindle and hug this people dearly and hold them close to my heart. After the coat drive, Noah learns of Emily's checklist and offers to help her complete the items. Emily is hesitant to accept Noah's offer, but "get to know a stranger" is also on the checklist. As these two peas in a pod start to check items off of the list, Emily starts to trust Noah and they both start to develop feelings for each other. Noah thinks he has found the perfect holiday story and romantic feelings of his own for Emily, but he's afraid to give his heart to someone who might be leaving town as soon as the checklist is completed. Please do yourself a favor and read this book to find out what happens to our two little love birds, Emily Richmond and Noah Cole.

The Christmas Checklist is such a great Christmas read! Emily’s mother recently passed away, and she left Emily a checklist of activities to complete before Christmas. If you enjoy Christmas feel good books, this one fits the bill perfectly! Thank you, NetGalley, for the copy of this book.

Emily grieving her moms passing and has a christmas checklist from her late mother to go through and complete, Noah trying to write the next banger of a story about the Christmas spirit that he isnt feeling very much. Their path intertwine at the local shelter where Noah interviews people on why they feel like its important to give back , and Emily is completing her first task from the list which is donating her mothers clothes and coats. They trike up a conversation and Noah offers to help Emily through her checklist, unlike her long distance boyfriend who is distancing himself ever since Em moved in to be the end of life care giver to her mom.
while the book itself is very straightforward, I enjoyed the concept and the slow-burn. its a good 3 star its a Melissa Foster type 3 star where i enjoyed my time with it.

This book had a lot of potential. I'm facing the first Christmas without my Dad, and whilst I hoped this would be a comfort or therapeutic, it fell flat. The writing was simple and lazy, with every plot point being predictable and very easily done. It felt extremely generic and not what I wanted in my grief. Thank you to netgalley for the arc.

A hallmark movie all wrapped up in a cosy Christmas book! Themes of love, loss & navigating Christmas without your mum. Such a sweet & heartfelt book , with a message we all need at one point or another .. life doesn’t end with loss.

This was a sweet, uplifting and inspirational Christmas story. It's a story of loss and found love with loveable characters. This was an entertaining and touching romance. I really enjoyed the style of writing. This book pull your heartstrings and leave you with a smile..

The Christmas Checklist deals with the grief after losing not only your mom but also your best friend, and how it affects everything else you do in life.

The main character is convinced she won't ever be able to celebrate christmas without her mom, until she realises her mom will never leave her side, her soul will live on in the spirit of christmas and all things giving.

She meets Noah and together they decided to complete the checklist left by her mom, and within these activities they start to fall in love with one another.

Emily starts with the book with no hope but ends the book happier than ever it seems.

Overall, the book was quick and easy to read the take on grief showed it in a positive light. It was alright to read but wasn't something that gripped me with want to read.

If you love a Hallmark Christmas movie, then Lisa Hepner’s, The Christmas Checklist is for you. Hepner, a Christmas movie screenwriter, taps into her own personal experience to craft this novel. Emily had moved home temporarily to care for her dying mother and is mourning her loss while dreading the approach of Christmas at the novel’s beginning. She finds a checklist that her mom has created of 12 items that she should complete before the holiday’s arrival. She is not at all thrilled at the prospect but out of love and grief, she feels she must try. Cue the meet cute with local journalist Noah. He becomes quite involved in her quest and the ripples her actions are making in their community and would love to write about it for the local paper. Let the Christmas season work its magic.
I do love Hallmark movies, and I really enjoyed this book. (Which has, in fact, been made into a movie for this holiday season - see Amazon Prime. I’ll be streaming it soon!) I could relate to Emily’s grief having lost my mom very close to the Christmas holiday. The author’s own experience with this is clear, and the book is sincere and lovely. While Christmas movies can be somewhat…predictable, Hepner does an excellent job of providing some twists and turns, maintaining my interest while capturing so many of the traditional Christmas experiences that the reader wants in a novel like this.
The Christmas Checklist is very inspirational to anyone experiencing a change from grief to job changes. The list includes donating jackets and clothes, decorating, sending handwritten cards, getting to know your neighbors, and much more. (A complete list is available at thechristmaschecklist.com) The completion of any of these items clearly will create a ripple effect. I love how Emily grew and changed and found hope and in doing so created hope for others. I love the illustration of a mother’s wisdom. I think we all wish to leave our kids with a hope that outlasts us. If you need a bit of hope this season - Check out The Christmas Checklist by Lisa Hepner - and maybe fulfill some items on the list yourself.

Having put her life in Seattle on hold to move home to Colorado to care for her mother until she passed Emily is now alone. Facing her first Christmas without her mom is daunting and she might just skip it. But a letter from her mom giving her 12 tasks to complete before Christmas is making that a bit difficult.

If you want a quick, light Christmas read this is definitely the book. It has also been adapted into a TV movie if you are looking for some new holiday watches.

Thank you to @netgalley and @victoryeditingngc for letting me read this book in exchange for a review.
#christmasmood #christmasmovies #christmasvibes #read #readmorebooks #reading #bookreview #readmore #booksbooksbooks #bookblogger #bookworm #reading

A lovely festive read. Dealing with some hard issues, this book is sensitively written and a joy to read. Highly recommended.

What a heartwarming uplifting story. I really loved the message conveyed in this book, and the romance and characters were cute as well. This is a wonderful story for anyone struggling with loss or depression especially during the holiday season. I highly recommend this book to all romance readers.