This was a cute holiday romance. I wasn't blown away by it and I didn't hate it. It was just okay. I think it's cute of the sister to create an advent calendar to sheer her sister up. It's something my sister would do for me. Like overall it was cute, just didn't stick out for me a lot.

I got an e-arc of this book on NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was the holiday romance of my dreams! What fireplace could you possibly need when you have got this cozy, warm, and sweet romance?

This is so festive and fun that it will certainly get you in the holiday spirit!
A sister creates an advent calendar for her sister that is full of treats and activities to get her out there and find herself. Such a cozy Christmas romance that I could totally see as a hallmark movie. I definitely recommend this for your holiday TBR!

thank you netgalley for the e-arc. i loved the christmas wager and couldnt wait to start her second book. it was just as good! i don't find the the framing of a sister relationship isn't explored as much as romantic relationships and there really should be more available. i really love the author's way with words and the way she creates the story around her characters with meaning.

This was a sweet holiday romance. Both main characters had been burned in previous relationships. Callie, especially had a hard time trusting again. Callie's sister, Anita, had the great idea to send Callie on different outings to bring her back out of her shell through an advent calendar. It was fun to see what adventure would be next. I could see this becoming a Hallmark movie. Definitely, a nice holiday read.

Loved this Christmas story. Callie is not feeling Christmas this year and has decided not to go home for a family Christmas this year as her boyfriend of 10 years just dumped her and her family and his family are friends and neighbors and this year he will be taking his fiancee. Anita, Callie's sister has decided to do an Advent Challenge to bring Callie out of her shell with tasks to do together. Anita then gets called by her job to go to Florida until a few days before Christmas so she plans everything and finds someone to do tasks with Callie, Marco, the chef that they went to a cooking bake for the fire department. Follow Callie and journey to see how things turn out.. Will she come out of her Grinch role. A VERY GOOD Christmas Read,

Thank you to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam for the ARC of The Christmas Countdown by Holly Cassidy.

A cute holiday read, with some a blooming relationship between two people try get past issues from their previous relationships. Callie doesn’t think she’ll be ready to date any time in the future and Marco has some trust issues from his previous girlfriend. Things we all can relate. And going into the holidays nonetheless. Callie’s sister, Anita, tries to help cheer her up with an Advent calendar, but then has to bail. But conveniently wraps Marco up in it. Bet we can all see where this is going. Granted it was fairly predictable and nothing over the top, it really was a good heartwarming holiday romance.

I absolutely loved this book!!

The pacing and storyline was great. I loved the use of the countdown as a way to move the story forward.

I LOVED the MC. I loved her so much. She was beautifully complex and multi layered. I loved that this was both a story of healing and falling in love.

HIGHLY recommend adding this to your holiday romance reading list this year!

The Christmas Countdown
By Holly Cassidy

G.P. Putnam's Sons - October 2024

Contemporary Romance


Callie Meyer had grown up with and fell in love with her next door neighbor Oliver. She had moved away with him, and they had started careers in the same company. All had seemed perfect until he dumped her. Luckily her sister, Anita, lived in the same city and she went to live with her.

Unfortunately, Anita loved Callie and wanted to help her get into the Christmas holiday. So she came up with an Advent Calendar that alternated between gifts and activities. Callie reluctantly agreed, but with conditions. Soon she stopped dreading the activities to looking forward to them. Especially after she met baker Marco Lancaster. He's witty, fun, and eager to join in the festive tasks.

With Marco, the Advent Calendar changed from being something Callie tolerated to something she never wanted to end.

The Christmas Countdown is the perfect romance read for the holidays. I have enjoyed all types of advent calendars, still do some in fact. This was a brilliant idea, having both gifts and the gift of activities for the sisters to do together. I really enjoyed Callie and Marco's antics as well as watching Callie blossom as Marco help her heal during the holiday season.




Kathy Andrico - KathysReviewCorner.com

This book was everything we need!!!!!!! Even through the heartache, and all these crazy changes that come with that, I loved how her sister Anita came through for her and created this advent calendar that used to do when they were kids to give her some type of Christmas motivation, since Callie was NOT being festive this year. This calendar gives her something new to do every day and she can dot these tasks with someone, so of course this was the perfect set up for her and Marco. Marco is someone she met while doing her first advent adventure, lol and Anita makes sure that everything falls in line for her is the sweetest thing ever. This romance flowed so sweetly, they were literally perfect for each other, puns and all.

Another charming romance by Holly Cassidy! Callie has just broken up and now lives with her sister. Her mother was the biggest shipper of her and her ex, whose family is also her neighbor, so Callie can't really go home this Christmas. She can barely get into the Christmas spirit. That's when her sister intervenes, giving her something like and Advent calendar that mixes gifts and dares that Callie must fulfill or she'll lose all the gifts. As we readers expect, the dares are great excuses for fun and romance.

This was a cute romance and the main couple had great chemistry. There was a moment that it wasn't so perfect, around climax, but I guess people aren't perfect, even when they're characters. Aside from that, perfect boyfriend!

Also, it takes place in a small town, so you get to live all those heartwarming moments from small towns. It's all perfect for the season, I was getting into Christmas along with Callie. Plus, the sisters. I loved their interactions! And the cat. Best. Character. And not for shortage of good characters.

This is a great romance if you want an early taste of the Holidays.



Honest review based on an ARC provided by Netgalley. Many thanks to the publisher for this opportunity.

The Christmas Countdown is a great holiday book. Callie recently had her heart broken and her sister, Anita gives her an advent calendar to get her in the Christmas spirit.

Thank you Net Galley and G.P. Putnam’s Sons for this arc.

This was a super cute and darling holiday read - got me in the spirit and it's only October!

I thought this was really well written, had a nice flow to it and wasn't too Hallmarky.

This felt like the written version of a Hallmark movie, which I mean in the best and most literal way. I think if I haven't seen this plot on their channel already, I will in the next five years when they adapt this charming and wonderful novel.

I do wish to an extent that I had been able to curl up with this book in late December around the fireplace rather than while the 78 degree sun still beams through my windows, but alas, beggars cannot be choosers, and sometimes a Christmas romance finds you in late Summer.

If you’re searching for the perfect cozy read to get you into the holiday spirit, look no further than The Christmas Countdown. This delightful novel follows Callie, who, after a heart-wrenching breakup, is not in the mood to celebrate the festive season, somewhere we've all been before.

What shines through in this book is the sheer abundance of Christmas charm. From baking cookies to sledding and sipping on Swiss hot chocolate, the story is jam-packed with festive activities and romance that make you wish the Christkindl market was already back in town.

Callie’s world is turned upside down when her childhood sweetheart and boyfriend of ten years moves her to a new state, only to dump her within a month and start dating the local TV reporter. Stuck at the talent acquisition firm where they both work—albeit in different departments—Callie tries to maintain her distance. But when restructuring forces them to share a workspace, and she learns he’s engaged less than six months after their breakup, Callie decides to cancel Christmas. She’s done with festive cheer this year.

Enter Callie’s well-meaning sister, who convinces her to take on a series of advent gifts and tasks designed to pull her out of her funk. Reluctantly, Callie agrees. As December progresses, she begins to find joy in unexpected places—gaining new friends, building a sense of community, and slowly rediscovering herself.

This was such a cute holiday day read. Enjoyed both Callie and Marco, and even their nicknames for one another. I however wish this was a dual pov to get more of a perspective from Marcos point of view.

4.5 stars


I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This book was everything I want from a Christmas RomCom. It was sweet and funny I loved all the characters in this book. Would definitely recommend.

This one gets five stars because it's a great Christmas read. It's light, but still has heart. Hopefully, it'll get you excited about the season as well!

Callie's childhood sweetheart and boyfriend of ten years moves her to a new state. And, he promptly dumps her within a month of the move and begins to date the hot local television reporter.

Callie's stuck it out at the talent acquisition firm that she and her ex work at--they are in different departments and don't really see each other. When restructuring has them sharing a work space at the same time it's announced that he is engaged less than six months after their breakup, Callie goes full grinch mode. No Christmas this year.

When Callie's sister meddles and puts her up to a set of advent gifts/tasks in order to bolster her spirit and get her out of her shell, she begrudgingly acquiesces. As the month of December moves on, Callie sees that she is gaining community, friends and moving on.

This one is heart warming, fun and so cute! Thank you NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Son for an advanced reader copy of The Christmas Countdown.

This was a quick and fun holiday read. It is a cozy love story about learning about oneself, how to let go of things, understanding why things happen and finding new ones.
Thank you to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam- G.P. Putnam's Sons for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The Christmas Countdown by Holly Cassidy is a joyful romcom full of Christmas cheer! I absolutely adore Holly’s Christmas books. They immediately transport me to the holiday season. Truly a Hallmark movie in book form.

The Christmas Countdown is about Callie who recently got out of a ten year relationship. To help cheer her up, her sister Anita plans an advent calendar countdown for the month of December to reignite her love for the season.

When looking for a light book to bring me joy, Holly Cassidy is one of my favorites. I’ve loved her past Christmas book too! I can’t wait to see what she writes next, because I know I will love it!

Thank you to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam’s and Sons for an advanced copy of this book!