*I want to start by thanking the author and publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book. Very cute! Would make a great gift!

I have read several stories by this author and I have loved every one. This one, to no surprise, is no different. I love the way she tells a story and her characters are always a blast.

Callie isn’t feeling the holiday spirit—her long-time boyfriend dumped her for someone new, and Christmas just feels like a reminder of everything that’s gone wrong. So, her plan? Total holiday avoidance. But her sister, Anita, has other ideas and creates a homemade advent calendar filled with festive challenges designed to force Callie back into the Christmas magic. Sounds harmless enough, right? Except one challenge puts her right in the path of a charming baker who’s got enough warmth to melt even the frostiest heart.

This book is Hallmark holiday rom-com energy with a fun grumpy-meets-sunshine twist. Callie’s grinchy vibes slowly give way to twinkly lights, baking dates, and some serious small-town charm, all while her mysterious baker proves that sometimes, unexpected detours lead to the best destinations. There’s plenty of heart, but at times, Callie’s resistance to the holiday joy drags on a bit, and the plot follows some predictable beats. But honestly? That’s part of the charm. It’s cozy, it’s comforting, and it leans all the way in on holiday magic.

I’m giving “The Christmas Countdown” 3.5 out of 5 stars! It’s festive, heartwarming, and perfect for anyone who loves a little holiday romance with their cocoa. If you’re a fan of grinchy heroines slowly rediscovering the magic of the season, charming small-town settings, and just enough romance to keep things swoony, this one definitely deserves a spot on your holiday TBR.

Charming rom-com set during the Christmas season -- perfect to read during the holidays or anytime of year when you an the Christmas feels. Callie is in need of a Christmas intervention so her sister creates an Advent challenge which pushes Callie to complete tasks beyond her comfort zone. Callie plays along and eventually meets a charming and good looking baker who renews her faith in love and rekindles the Christmas spirit. Holly Cassidy writes wonderful holiday themed rom-coms with delightful characters, quick and fun banter , and lovely descriptive writing. Don't miss this book.

I love a good hallmarkesque cheesy romance and this one checked all the boxes! From her meddling sister to watching Callie gradually step out of her shell, this was a light and fun read!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of The Christmas Countdown by Holly Cassidy

Recently single Cassie is having a rough Christmas and not in the spirit to celebrate so her sister decided to an advent style Christmas Countdown to help put her in mood to celebrate. Closed door no spice very cute book to put you in the holiday mood

The Christmas Countdown by Holly Cassidy is a heartwarming and delightful holiday rom-com perfect for fans of feel-good Christmas stories. Callie, heartbroken after being dumped by her childhood sweetheart, is in full "Grinch mode" and determined to avoid Christmas at all costs. To her dismay, her meddling sister Anita stages a holiday intervention, creating an Advent calendar filled with cheerful challenges designed to reignite Callie's belief in love, herself, and the magic of Christmas.

As Callie reluctantly participates in the tasks, she begins to open up to the festive spirit and a charming baker who could be just the person to help her heal. The chemistry between them is undeniable, and as they tackle the Advent calendar together, Callie's strict rules on love and the holidays are tested in the most heartwarming ways.

Cassidy’s writing is filled with warmth, humor, and just the right amount of holiday magic, making this a perfect read for cozy winter nights. The book balances sweet romance with themes of self-discovery and healing, and Callie’s journey from heartache to hope is both relatable and uplifting. With its charming setting and lovable characters, The Christmas Countdown is a feel-good holiday read that will leave you smiling long after the final page.

A feel good holiday novel! I loved The Christmas Wager last year and was super excited to read this one! Hallmark vibes for sure.

This was such an enjoyable Christmas romance! It can be hard to tell a unique story when it comes to holiday romances, however Holly Cassidy managed to pull it off. The advent calendar challenge was so fun and I enjoyed seeing the main character find herself again. At times the plot felt a bit predictable and I would have loved some more flushed out side characters. However, if you're looking for something light-hearted and festive, you can't go wrong with picking this one up!

General thoughts:

If the goal was to hate Grant, goal accomplished. What a dick! Lol. He embodies everything I loathe about corporate America.

Oliver not liking game of thrones but loving slasher movies is absolutely peek man to me.

I love the idea of an activity advent and may now do this myself next year. I found the connection between Callie and Marco very genuine and enticing.

This was a really sweet book. Thank you so much for the opportunity to read it early.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

The Christmas Countdown was my first book by Holly Cassidy, and it won’t be my last. I absolutely love Christmas romance books, and this one hit all the right notes—festive, heartwarming, and filled with charm.

Callie’s journey from heartbroken Grinch to someone rediscovering the joy of the holidays was so fun to read. I loved the advent calendar challenges, especially how they brought her and the charming baker, Taylor, together. Their chemistry was sweet and natural, and I enjoyed watching their relationship develop as they tackled the holiday tasks side by side.

The small-town setting and holiday atmosphere made everything feel cozy and magical. And the ending? So satisfying—it wrapped up the story in the perfect way. If you're looking for a feel-good holiday rom-com, this one is definitely worth a read!

What a fun book! I loved the idea of the advent calendar with a gift related to the next task to complete. It makes me want to do this for my family next Christmas. I loved the sisterly love and how each task was planned with such care and thought to get Callie out of her funk and back out enjoying life. The various scenarios were fun and cute (hello roof scene!) and just the right amount of romantic tension.

Thank you to @netgalley @berkleypub and @putnambooks for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

"The Christmas Countdown" by Holly Cassidy is a heartwarming holiday romance that will leave you feeling cozy and cheerful. Recently heartbroken, Callie is determined to avoid the festive season. However, her determined sister has other plans, creating a series of festive challenges and treats to help Callie embrace the spirit of Christmas. When Callie finds herself struggling, the charming baker Marco steps in, offering his enthusiastic assistance.

As they navigate the countdown together, Callie and Marco find themselves drawn to each other, slowly learning to trust and open their hearts to love again. Cassidy delivers a delightful blend of Hallmark charm and subtle spice, creating a captivating and engaging read.

Highly recommended for fans of authors like Jenny Bayliss, "The Christmas Countdown" is the perfect holiday escape.

4 stars

#books #bookishlife #booklover #readingisfun #iowabookstagrammers #iowabookstagram #netgalley #putnambooks #thechristmascountdown #hollycassidy

A cozy Christmas read! Perfect for that time of year. Holly Cassidy always creates the best little town settings.

3.5 stars.

Single POV, first person, closed door. Hallmark vibes.

A cute, quick romcom. I read this in one sitting. Callie’s sister revives their old holiday advent tradition of doing an activity and getting a treat in an effort to cheer her up after a bad breakup. Callie still works with her ex, and he moved on fast.
They run into Marco, our MMC, during one of these activities and the two have an instant connection. When Callie’s sister gets called away to work, she facilitates the opportunity for Marco to do the advent tasks in her absence. Each have a wholesome holiday theme.

The B Plot of Callie’s work having a shakeup was interesting, as was the wrench thrown in about Marco’s business.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for my advanced digital copy!

This has such a fun premise, Callie’s sister makes an advent style calendar for her with treats and tasks to help get her more excited for the holidays after a breakup. There are so many festive happenings, constant Christmas cheer and it’s coupled with a sweet developing romance that I enjoyed. The narrator was delightful and did a great job!

If you’re looking for a closed door holiday romance then definitely give this one a try. Loved all the advent challenges and following along as Callie discovers who she is and who she wants to be.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC for my honest review!

Overall 3-3.5 star read for me. This was full of fluff and Christmas elements, a very Christmasy book which I did enjoy that aspect. I just felt that parts of this book fell flat for me, I wish there was more meddling (not normally something I want), and at times it felt slow. I was expecting to fly through this book but it took me quite some time, and I read several other books in between.

All in all, a fun holiday read, but not much that fully stood out to me or was very memorable.

(not shared outside of Goodreads due to lower rating)

This was so cute! I was hooked from the beginning and it was hard to put down. I loved the meet cute and how the story progressed. There is character development and a natural progression between pur main characters. This is the second book by this author that I have read and I have loved both so this will be an instant read author for me! The plot layout of advent challenges really made it hard to pause reading because you wanted to find out the next task and how our characters would interact. This is a closed door/fade to black, strangers to friends to lovers holiday romance. I can't wait for next Christmas and another book from this author.

Thank you to GP Putnam’s Sons and PRH Audio for the copies to review.

I rarely read romance, but I will read Holly Cassidy’s Christmas holiday romances, and this is my second one that I have read and loved. I love a good advent calendar and to incorporate one as part of the plot was fantastic and I listened to this in one sitting. Other than possibly including a murder (HA!), this was an amazing and lovely holiday read that I absolutely enjoyed. The audio was wonderful and I recommend reading it this way if you can.