I feel like a complete outlier in the fact that I just truly did not enjoy much about this book. I found the writing to be less than stellar, very elementary. The story was quite a bit like a Hallmark movie, which was fine, but if you take out the wine and cheese references alone, you'd lose half the pages. It wasn't for me, but that doesn't mean that you won't like it. The setting was beautiful and I appreciated the development of the Christmas Inn and the improvements that were made. That's where my appreciation stops. It was just not for me.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions within this review are my own.

"The Christmas Inn" is a sweet story of coming home and second chances at Christmas.

Riley Sanders loses her job right before Christmas and has to do some soul searching about what her future holds. She's been seeing her long-term boyfriend, Jack, for many years now, but it's not really going anywhere. Between his crazy job schedule and her recent job loss, she decides to head home to the Cape for the holidays to get some much-needed rest and relaxation, and to regroup to figure out what to do next with her life.

It turns out, the timing couldn't be more perfect for her mother, who recently fell and broke her leg. An extra set of hands to help out at the Inn is just what she needs.

While there, Riley is reminded how special home is, even if is was a place she once thought she'd never want to return to. Running into her high school boyfriend reminds her of what it's like to feel appreciated, which is more than she can say about Jack! And as an ideal job opportunity slips through her fingers, she is reminded what community is all about.

Riley had expected to find rest and relaxation in Chatham, but what she found was people she loved, a passion for her profession, and a purpose for her life.

Thank you to Pamela Kelley, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for an advance review copy.

What a great Christmas read! This is light and fluffy like a perfect desert. I settled right in and got cozy reading this novel.

The characters are perfect for a Christmas tale. A few second chance romances and some new adventures make this a great holiday read!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this gem!

Riley's life was perfect, until she got laid off right before Christmastime. Needing a change of pace and knowing that her mom needs help at the inn after breaking her leg, she heads home to Cape Cod. Once there, she quickly runs into her high school boyfriend, who's staying at the inn with his son while there's construction going on at his home. Also staying at the inn is Franny, in town to visit her sister who's dying of skin cancer. After Ella passes, Franny gets sent on a journey around town to remind her of the good times they had together.

With nine-year-old Luke at the inn, Riley and her mom Beth are determined to give him a wonderful stay, putting up a tree and getting into the Christmas spirit. Riley and Aiden, Luke's dad, are put together multiple times, growing closer as the days go by. When Riley's boyfriend Jack comes to visit but quickly leaves to go back to New York, Riley starts wondering if she's really happy with the life they have together.

All in all, this is a wonderful holiday romance filled with second chances, family, and found family. A quick read that will definitely get you in the Christmas mood, especially if you enjoy Hallmark movies. The only thing I didn't like was that Luke seemed to be written much younger than he was supposed to be, but it didn't detract from the story.

Riley goes back to her hometown to help at the families Bed and Breakfast, because her mother has broken her leg. She is used to living in New York, so to come back to her small hometown is quite a change, especially after losing her job. While she is searching for a new job, she just might discover that being home is where she really wants to be.

This is a wonderful feel good Christmas story. It has a great plot and wonderful characters.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this novel. I was not able to get into the story and did finish it.

This was a sweet reading break from the real world. I enjoyed the innocence of the characters and found myself immersed in their stories. Perfect Christmas escape read, and I’m glad for the chance to have read and reviewed it.,

This book was lovely and the perfect holiday read. The only thing I wish we would have had was a longer epilogue. This is my first book from this author and it won't be my last.

This was a sweet Christmas read, set in the picturesque town of Chatham on Cape Cod. The story will definitely leave you craving cheese and wine! I’m giving it 3.5 stars, rounded up. It’s a perfect choice if you’re in the mood for a light, festive read.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Griffin for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book is like a Christmas Hallmark Movie Hug and I loved every second of it. It should absolutely come with a warning label for the below though.

1. Do not read this book hunger. The author does a fantastic job describing the food; especially wine and cheese. In fact, that brings me to number 2.
2. Don't even think about reading this book without a glass of your favorite wine or beverage of choice, cheese and crackers available
3. Be prepared to binge this book and feel warm and fuzzy while doing it. Bonus points if you do it while sitting next to your Christmas tree

Pamela Kelley is giving Debbie Macomber Christmas book vibes and I am here for it!

It’s a cozy, novel about second chances and found families.

It takes place in Cape Cod around the Christmas season and send us around the family that owns the inn.

Is a feel good read and I really enjoyed this. It is a great read for the winter weather.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. The Christmas Inn by Pamela M. Kelley is a feel good Christmas novel about a young woman who comes home after losing her job to help her mom out for the holidays. The story had a perfect Hallmark movie vibe and the ending, though a bit cheesy and predictable, was perfect. It’s a good reminder about what should be most important in our lives. It’s a perfect read for cozying up by the fire on a cold, snowy night during the holiday season.

The latest from author Pamela M. Kelley, The Christmas Inn, is a contemporary chick-lit/romance which joins her other novels set in the Cape Cod region. It’s a pleasant read with some interesting characters accompanied by multiple references to restaurant meals, Hallmark movies as well as rinsing dishes and loading them into the dishwasher. One of the highlights was the wine and cheese pairings offered at the inn - which would have made for a great addendum.

Although the story was entertaining, the plot ambled along what became familiar patterns without any highs or lows or surprises. Overall, pleasant but bland.

Grab a cup of hot cocoa before cozying up with The Christmas Inn by Pamela Kelley. When Riley loses her job, she heads home to spend a few weeks in Cape Cod, helping her mother with the inn. Found family, second chances and more await you in this festive tale.

I love stories set in small coastal towns with big Victorian inns and Lelley delivered the perfect feel-good story from Christmas carols to a dying sister’s wishes. The story begins when we meet Riley Sanders, a content creator living in the big city who gets laid off weeks before the holidays. It seems AI will do her department’s work. A call from her sister Amy, advising her that their mother has broken her leg, prompts Riley to back her car and head to the inn with her cat in tow.

When Riley arrives, she soon meets the guests at the inn. First, there is Franny, a widow whose sister just died and left her with four unopened letters, one to be opened and fulfilled each week. Next, there is Aidan, her high school sweetheart, now a widower, who is staying at the inn with his nine-year-old son, Luke. The tale that unfolds was wonderful with two, no make that three romances, found family, new beginnings and more.

I loved everything about this tale, from the pups to the chocolate turn down service. I wanted to pack my bags and spend a week at the inn during the holidays. Franny’s story was touching, and I loved the older woman and her experiences. Her sister was rather clever and allowed us all to see enjoy the cape. The second chance romance between Riley and Aiden was a slow-burn as Riley carved out what she wanted her future to look like. Riley and Amy’s mom is a tough cookie, and I delighted in seeing a romance bloom for her.

If you are looking to escape the hustle and bustle and enjoy a heart-warming story surrounding a lovely inn and town, look no further than The Christmas Inn. With all the attention to detail regarding Cape Cod, it’s no surprise that the author calls the town home.

DNF

This one is all about found family. I loved the cozy Cape Cod setting. It started feeling repetitive (especially the food descriptions) to me at about 30%, and I found myself skimming and eventually not finishing.

🗣 Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's for the opportunity to read and review this book via gifted eARC! All opinions are honest and my own.

DNF at 15% (I know, I know 🫣)

I'll start by saying this is a very easy quick read. The inn at Christmas time is definitely giving the right vibes but I just couldn't handle the heaviness and tragedy in the beginning of this book. That's just not what I'm looking for in a Christmas story. I want happiness and fluff and joy.

Spoiler alert if you don't want to know about ALLLLL the tragic events that happen in the first 15%

-Unexpected loss of job right before Christmas.
-injury to main character
-cancer diagnosis and death
-single father who tragically lost his wife

In the first 15%!!!!

I'm also not a fan of the numerous points of view and that they just switch mid chapter.

Unfortunately this one isn't for me but if you like a heavier read it might be for you!

I thoroughly enjoyed this delightful Christmas story! It is just the thing for curling up on the couch with a cozy blanket and a cup of hot chocolate! It is a fun romantic Christmas story with sweet characters. There is no terrible conflict and no terrible people, thank goodness. The only villain is AI, which is the reason Riley loses her job at a publishing company in New York. When she finds that her mother, who funs a small inn in their home town, has broken her leg, Riley has nothing keeping her from going home temporarily to help her mom. She finds it very satisfying being there for her mom and coming up with ideas to increase the occupancy of the inn. She has no problem leaving her boyfriend Jack behind, because he is a corporate lawyer on his way up who works insane hours and rarely has time for her. Of course, an old boyfriend turns up, so I will let you read it to find out which boyfriend is the ultimate favorite. I really love finding a few new reads to get in the Christmas spirit, and this was a good find!

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC of this book in exchange for a fair review.

Very sweet and light Christmas novel about second-chance romance, starting over, and found family. It has a fun Cape Cod setting and likeable, relatable characters.

A book that reads as a hallmark movie is my most favorite kind of Christmas book to read! The book is as exactly as you would imagine it to be and I loved it!!

The Christmas Inn by Pamela M. Kelley: A heartwarming holiday read that earns 4 Stars for its engaging characters and festive setting.

Five Reasons to Read The Christmas Inn:
1. With its heartwarming story and charming characters, The Christmas Inn is a Hallmark movie waiting to be made.
2. The novel is overwritten, sometimes making reading tedious with too many unnecessary details.
3. The setting is perfect! New England just has those built-in Christmas vibes.
4. The characters are lovely and well-developed. Many of the prominent characters are struggling through grief - grief over losing a loved one, grief over losing a marriage, and grief over losing a job - which gives the story a bit of poignancy and depth.
5. The story instills an abundance of Christmas spirit and a second-chance romance that just had to happen.

What I Liked:
One unique aspect I particularly enjoyed was the use of AI in the storyline. At the beginning of the book, Riley, the main character, loses her job because the company will rely more on AI. This is such a new topic that I inwardly applauded its use.

Why Not Five Stars:
I didn’t give it five stars because of the overwriting. Though the last quarter wasn’t plagued as much by it, the first three quarters would have read much easier with fewer unnecessary details.