I enjoyed reading The Christmas Checklist. Make sure you have a box of tissues with you. Emily has to deal with the loss of her mother at Christmas time. She has to go through all her belongings while hurting with all the memories and emotions with everything she sees. She finds a checklist that her mother had left her. The 12 things that she had to do before Christmas. Not wanting to be around people, she is not sure how she can accomplish this. Emily finds the strength to start with the easy things and bumps into Noah, who works for the local paper and is looking for a good Christmassy story to help him win a permanent position on the paper. Together they end up helping each other find a way past their own hurt and pain of loss.

Thank you NetGalley, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op and Lisa Hepner for the ARC.

This is a story of love and loss, and begins shortly before Christmas. Emily’s mother has recently passed, and Emily is struggling with facing this loss, the guilt she feels as she returns to their home and is struggling to come to terms with this loss. She hasn’t been home for some time since she lives in another state, and wishes she’d been able to be there for her. It’s been a while since has been back here, and looking around, she still can’t quite believe her mother is gone.

When she finds an envelope that her mother left for her, and opens it eventually, she finds a list of activities her mother left for her to tackle, twelve things that her mother must have decided would help her get through this Christmas, and perhaps, maybe even enjoy the holiday since she knows these activities will not only remind her of her mother and the love they shared, but also get her out of the house and spending time with people. So she begins to tackle this list by donating clothes to the local charity, which is where she meets Noah.

While Emily has someone back home that she’s been in a relationship with, albeit for far too long, she feels guilty for even being smitten by Noah, but their connection feels different, in a good way - but she still has pangs of guilt over her feelings for Noah that are growing beyond friendship after she shares her mother’s Christmas list with him, and he offers to help her fulfill that list. In the days leading up to Christmas, he helps her tackle the list, and slowly their friendship begins to evolve into more.

This was a sweet Christmas story, and as it continues it shares how their relationship evolves as they spend more time with each other tackling the list, and getting to know each other. As Christmas approaches, Emily is still torn about her life, and if she wants to return to her job, or stay in the home she grew up in. While she has feelings for Noah, and she’s pretty sure he does too, she needs to be sure she’s making the right decision for herself, and she does. She gets a dog (and, yes, Noah, too).


Pub Date: 02 Nov 2022

Many thanks for the ARC provided by Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op

This was a great story about the loss of loved ones especially made hard by the firsts. In this case it was Emily celebrating her first Christmas without her mom. The checklist was a wonderful gift her mom to help distract her from her grief. The love story for me was sweet but the characters seemed much younger in their words and thought processes for being in their mid thirties. Corny was all I was thinking while reading about Noah. Emily had the same thoughts herself. The checklist was the best part of this book but the love story fell flat. Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review

Overall good short read following Emily and her struggle after the recent loss of her Mum, who’s left a checklist of things to do before the end of December. In this challenge she meets journalist Noah who’s looking for inspiration on a winning story this Christmas.

Overall good read.

Great book, very cute and festive. I loved the Christmas list and the notion of doing
Something for others. Emily was in a grief addled funk. She couldn’t see a way out of it either. Seething at the lack of care, compassion and care comfort she needed from her boyfriend she develops mild agoraphobia and hides out at her old home seeking the closeness from her Mums belongings. She is left a list by her mum and on day one meets Noah at a cost drop off. They bond and life begins.
Thank you NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

In a world shrouded in the silence of her mother's recent passing, we meet Emily, who grapples with grief's heavy mantle, keeping her isolated and despondent. Yet, on the cusp of December, a crimson envelope arrives, bearing a gift from her mother—a Christmas List of twelve heartwarming activities meant to rekindle the holiday spirit.

Reluctantly, Emily begins the list, starting with a humble act of charity. There, she crosses paths with Noah, a local paper writer seeking a captivating Christmas story. Their instant connection sparks a magical journey through the list, and an enchanting love story unfolds.

This tale radiates hope and rekindles spirits, capturing the magic of the season. The author's gesture of sharing the Christmas List at the book's end invites readers to embark on their own transformative holiday adventure, ensuring the magic continues.

Immerse yourself in this heartwarming story, an invitation to embrace the enchantment of Christmas and cherish the moments that unite us. Embark on your own Christmas List journey, and let the season's magic fill your heart.

Wow, this was such an amazing story. The grief Emily was going through after losing her mom was very well written but I loved the hopeful, Hallmarkish spin that was put on it. And the romance--swoon! So sweet.
This story revolves around Emily, who has recently lost her mother, and is going through some rough weeks after. She can barely get out of bed, only goes out if she is in need of food, and avoids all social activity, but when December 1st rolls around and she opens the red envelop her mother left her, things start changing in her life....for the better of course! Her mother left her a Christmas List of 12 activities to do to get her in the spirit of Christmas and out of the depression that she was stuck in. At first, Emily doesn't want to do any of it, but decides she could at least start with donating clothes to charity and it's there that she meets Noah, who works for the local paper and is looking for a good Christmasy story to help him win a permanent position on the paper.
They connect instantly and Emily decides to let Noah help her with her Christmas List and they spend the next few weeks working their way through the list as they fall in love with each other.
This is such a cute story and I love the hopeful nature of this book, we definitely need more of this in the world! The author provides a copy of the Christmas List at the back of the book and encourages readers to take on this challenge for the holidays. I know I will be!

BLURB:
A grieving daughter. A red envelope that reads “Open December 1st.” Inside is a checklist of twelve activities she must complete before Christmas. Emily Richmond doesn’t think she can even perform one of them because she just lost her mom—her best friend, her world—and she can barely leave the house. She takes a baby step by doing the first item on the checklist “ donate jackets/clothes to a shelter. ” At the coat drive, she literally bumps into charming freelance writer, Noah Cole. He’s looking for an inspirational Christmas story in order to secure a full-time position at the local paper. Noah offers to help Emily complete the items on the checklist. She’s hesitant, but “ get to know a stranger ” is on the list and she’s dealing with uncertainty in her current long-distance relationship. As the two start to check items off the list, Emily starts to trust Noah and even develops feelings for him. Noah has found a great holiday story—and romantic feelings of his own but he’s afraid to give his heart to someone who might be leaving town. When Noah’s article about the checklist is inadvertently published without Emily’s approval, she feels betrayed, but she also sees how her mother’s love-filled list is inspiring others around the country. Having worked through the checklist together, as Christmas Day approaches, will they be able to complete the last item on the find love ?

REVIEW:
I was surprised by this story, to be honest. The characters were likeable enough to keep me engaged, but I wanted more. I was looking for more emotion, a richer plot with a deeper connection.

This lightweight, simple to read book can easily be finished in an hour.

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book in return for my honest opinions.