The Christmas Countdown by Holly Cassidy is a delightful cup of Christmas chair!

It is a sweet Christmas romance Tucked inside of a month long “treats and tasks” advent calendar! What starts off as a clever ploy for an older sister to help her younger sister get over brutal break up after 10 years turns into a month long romp of good Christmas fun, Charming moments, And a sweet romance that will keep you engaged, giggling alongside them and rooting for this quirky punny couple!

I had a lot of fun reading this book In part due to many pieces that truly resonated with my own love story with my husband. He was a chef, I was naïve and silly, Like our main couple we met in December and fell in love under snowflakes.

While I had this NetGalley arc, I had to go out and get a physical copy! Fortunately, I have the opportunity to meet Holly Cassidy in a few days and I’ll be able to have her sign this book that has truly touched my heart!

4.5⭐️ This book is full of punny sayings and feel good holiday moments. Loved the Advent Calendar events and may have to do this myself. It really gets you in the Christmas spirit! From the line "I'd chosen to relocate my life to a freezer" the book had me hooked. Callie maneuvers through a breakup and starts over again with the help and advice you of her sister. This book includes most of the things associated with the holidays. Grab a blanket and warm beverage and snuggle in and enjoy this cozy Christmas book.

Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

What a JOY this book was to read. Callie and Marco were such fun characters. Callie felt very relatable and I found myself rooting for her from start to finish as she worked through here feelings of grief of the relationship she thought was forever, and truly found herself for the first time in her adult life–such great character development all around, especially for a fluffy feel good holiday book. Marco was a gem from the beginning. I loved how they both brought out the best in each other. The focus on honesty, family, friendship and real mutual love were so good. It's a closed door romance, which I have come to find is my favorite when done well, especially for holiday books. And then of course the was the whole real life advent calendar and sister relationship... so good! Highly recommend if you're looking for a fun holiday read.

I very much enjoyed Holly Cassidy’s first holiday romcom- The Christmas Wager, and I was excited to see that she had another one coming out! The Christmas Countdown is festive, full of rich descriptions, and gave me some fun ideas for holiday activities. Callie is nursing a broken heart after her childhood crush and long time boyfriend breaks up with her to be with someone else, so her sister makes her a holiday advent activity calendar to help cheer her up. Some days are treats and some days are tasks!

The romance between Callie and Marco is sweet, though pretty cheesy. Not necessarily in a bad way- just be prepared for a lot of flirting via puns and idioms. It was a bit much for me at times, but they were so adorable together. I was very happy for their Happily Ever After! Overall a great holiday story with themes of overcoming heartbreak and distrust, learning to speak up for oneself, and finding ways to keep family traditions going while making new ones. I recommend this sweet holiday read!

✨✨Review Time✨✨

The Christmas Countdown
By Holly Cassidy

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: Fade to black

Thank you @putnambooks and @netgalley for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

This book is a combination of Last Christmas by Wham meets The Holiday. Everything I could want in a Christmas romance. I laughed at the witty puns, rolled my eyes at the condescending ex and kicked my feet as the main characters fell in love.

In this friend's to lovers romance you meet Callie who is on the mend from a devastating heartbreak with her childhood love. Anita's older sister creates this 24 day of Christmas countdown to help Callie heal as well as bring back her Christmas spirit. The countdown alternates with treats and tasks. The tasks are meant to help Cautious Callie break out of her comfort zone and finally get her spark back. At the end of this will Callie be open to love and Christmas again?

I gave it five stars because it made me feel all the feelings! It was an easy read though funny had a strong character arc for Callie that I enjoyed!

This book is already out at where you buy your books! Please let me know if you pick it up!

3.5 stars

This was a sweet Christmas romance but it was a little too cheesy for me. I would have preferred less puns and a little more spice.

This would be perfect for anyone who wants a hallmark movie in book form!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this earc in exchange for my honest review

This was a cute Christmas read. I was entertained throughout the book. I did like her previous book better.

Finding out how to love again during the Christmas time. After being dumped Callie isn’t into much these days. Her sister designs a Christmas advent calendar filled with sweets and challenges. WHO to help her? The cute baker?

This book was cute. I sympathized with Callie’s situation and wanted her to succeed.

Thank you Penguin Group Putnam and NetGalley for the ARC.

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 3.5/5

📖arc book review!

the christmas countdown by holly cassidy

📘g e n r e: holiday romance

❤️c h a r a c t e r s: callie meyer & marco lancaster

✨o c c u p a t i o n s: accountant & chef

🏡 s e t t i n g: fallbrook, new york

💞t r o p e s:
•holiday romance
•friends to lovers

💬 t h o u g h t s: Overall, it was an enjoyable read. I loved all the funny puns! And Callie and Marco's nicknames for each other: Swiss Miss and Eggnog Man! Very festive and got me in the spirit.

I think I have found a new holiday tradition. The Christmas countdown was a fast paced, hilarious, heartwarming romance that will have you cheering for this sweet couple to make it from the beginning. Callie has an ex that everyone will hate, but you won't even think about him once her sexy baker comes on the scene. If you're looking for a fun holiday rom-com, look no further.

Very cute, but ultimately not for me. The idea and concept are super cute but unfortunately, I could not get into it.

Decent Christmas themed romance. Very little romance though. Lots of pondering over an ex at first, but thankfully not much. The advent calendar was cute but awkward at times. The mix up didn’t need to happen to strengthen the relationship.

This was a cute story with a fun premise! Overall I enjoyed it, but a few things bothered me. Definitely an instalove situation, and a bit of a miscommunication, which I hate in romcoms. There also wasn’t a real central conflict, so it felt more like just observing the main character Callie’s life. I did love seeing how much she grew as a person and the confidence she found by the end of the book. Not a groundbreaking story, but it’s not meant to be. If you want a light little holiday romcom, definitely give this one a shot!

The Christmas Countdown is a charming holiday romance and I felt all warm and cozy while reading it! This is the perfect holiday read!

3.5 stars. This was such a cute premise! I love how Callie’s sister is trying to help her with the advent treats and tasks. So festive. Like a hallmark movie with the festive themes and meet cutes.

While I struggled with a few elements, I loooved the MMC Marco. And the end of this story brought great resolution to multiple relationships.

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for a chance to review an advance copy.

Christmas contemporary romcom without spice and loads of feel good. Add to that a coming of age story that will leave you feeling accomplished.

# The Christmas Countdown
# 11/7/2024 ~ 11/11/2024
# 4.0 / 5.0

I absolutely love this idea of an advent calendar given from one sister to another to jump start the holiday season and get Callie back in the spirit. After a difficult breakup (high school sweetheart/mothers are best friends), Callie wanted nothing to do with the holiday. Anita, the ever-meddling sister, put out wrapped gifts with a countdown to Christmas. Each day Callie will open a treat or a task that she must complete. Callie begrudging agrees and when she bumps into a handsome baker Anita knows just what she needs to do.

It's a cute read and definitely gets you in the holiday spirit. Felt like it kind of dragged along and lacked some spice, but this PG Hallmark style book is worth the read!

A meet cute closed door romance. Callie struggling to find her holiday spirit after a breakup from her childhood friend/high school sweetheart is sent on an advent adventure by her sister. I enjoyed this book while there want any depth to the book I really enjoyed the hallmark movie vibes.

This was a very cute and wholesome Christmas romance! The idea for this book was so heartwarming as well as truly creative. Seeing Callie stand up for herself and get out of her slump was something I think a lot of people can relate to! I did feel like some parts of this book were a little too background info and not super important to the main plot which made those parts drag a bit, but otherwise this was an adorable, feel-good book for the holidays!

RATING: 4.5/5

The concept for this holiday novel was so fun & festive, I may just have to use it in my household! I LOVE a good holiday read. Everyone with The Buzz has been saying amazing things about this book, & now I know why! It gave me all the comfort, holiday feels. I can’t wait to decorate for Christmas now! Callie & Anita have the sweetest bond ever as sisters. It made me envious of their relationship! Marco was so charming, & a baker, which provided the perfect MMC for this sweet, closed door romance. I enjoyed experiencing Callie’s growth throughout the book as well! She had a wonderful support system who kept me entertained, too.