So thankful that @thrillerbookloverthepulse signed up for this one! It’s October, and all I want to do is read spooky books, but I paused that for The Christmas Countdown! This book was so enjoyable, I didn’t mind one bit! I loved the characters and storyline so much! The relationship between sisters, Anita and Callie was so special. I loved that even though Callie isn’t in the Christmas spirit, Anita is determined to make her remember what the season is all about! It was so fun rooting for Callie as she is overcoming heart break, while working alongside her ex. And the advent calendar was such a unique and special idea, I want to create something similar for my kids! It was inspiring to watch Callie grow in her relationship and also professionally. This is a cozy, clean, rom-com that is out now and needs to be on your holiday reading list!

I love Holly Cassidy's books, and The Christmas Countdown was no exception. It's sweet and fluffy, and the perfect way to set the holiday mood (starting Nov 1st!). This one releases it in time to help settle in the cozy vibes that I love during the holidays. Cute characters, cute cliche storyline (which is what I want in a cozy Christmas romance).

Holly Cassidy’s newest release is creative, entertaining and a great read for the holiday season. Advent calendars are common for the holidays and come in many forms and Cassidy adds a twist to the purpose of this calendar here. The tone of the book is light, there are plenty of funny moments and mishaps and eventually, those warm holiday feelings are there. I really enjoyed reading this book and recommend it. It’s a good book for getting into the holiday spirit and laughing at some crazy activities.

Callie recently went through a break up with her boyfriend of 10 years and wasn’t feeling the Christmas spirit. Her sister Anita sets up a Christmas Advent calendar split up between different holiday themed tasks and gifts. As Callie starts to play along she meets Marco – who may just be what Callie needs to get back in the holiday spirit.
I thought this was a cute book. It’s closed door and very Hallmark but sometimes you need those cute palate cleansers. My favorite part was watching Callie rediscover the part of herself that she lost while she was in the 10-year relationship. I think that is something that most of us can relate to and go through at least once.

Thank you to NetGallery and Penguin Random House for the advanced reader copy.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

This book was so fun and full of Christmas cheer! I loved the advent calendar aspect of the story and I enjoyed watching Callie deal with her break up and her self doubt. The romance in this story was super sweet and cheesy in the best way.

This holiday romance should definitely be on your TBR this holiday season!

I enjoyed this witty and engaging book. The plot line kept me engaged and interested. The growth of the main character was realistic and interesting. I would recommend this to my friends.

i loved loved loved the holiday vibes from this one!

this author faked me out i was so scared it was going to be a love triangle but i am SO glad it wasn't (HATE a love triangle bad sorry y'all). i will say, i became increasingly annoyed by the older sister butting in any chance she could - as an older sister, i understand wanting to help out your sibling and bring them out of their funk but pushing them to points where they feel uncomfy is a BIG no no </3 so while i ended up loving them all by the end, right before then i was VERY much an older sister hater.

BUT, this was such a fun holiday read!

thank you so much netgalley and g.p. putnam for the eArc in exchange for an honest review!

Delightfully merry! The Christmas Countdown by Holly Cassidy a/k/a Hannah Mary McKinnon is a light, fun, cheery read focusing on family, food, romance and Christmas traditions as the book counts down to Christmas as well as protagonist Callie’s self-discovery. The addition of Swiss confections was particularly interesting, and I found myself wishing for recipes for several of the treats described. In any event, this quick read is bound to spark Christmas spirit and would be a perfect novel with which to while away a chilly December day.

Many thanks to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam’s Sons for a complimentary ARC. Opinions are my own.

I wanted to love this book- it has a great synopsis and tons of potential. Unfortunately it falls short in so many ways that it’s a struggle to finish.

Oh this was such a cute holiday read and I really enjoyed it. Callie’s sister, Anita, creates a Chrismtmas countdown advent calendar to help Callie get into the Christmas spirit after a breakup. Callie embarks on several great holiday themed activities like sledding or treats like cookies and candy. Callie meets Marco, a baker, during one of the tasks and of course they team up and get into the Christmas spirit together. I loved their story and it was such a fun, festive read and is the perfect holiday rom-com.

I loved this book! It touched my heart and gave me all the holiday feels! It is a story of family and traditions and discovering what you truly want in life. Callie wanted to avoid Christmas after heartbreak and I understood this. Her sister, Anita, is trying to help her move forward in life and creates an Advent calendar for Callie. This Advent calendar is incredible! It alternates between treats and challenges and I think it is a brilliant idea! The challenges take Callie out of her hibernating bubble and help her to discover her joy and the community she lives in. Add in Marco, an attractive baker that shares Callie’s love and puns, and a small town decorated for the holidays and it is everything I love in a holiday book! The Christmas Callie was avoiding may end up being the start of a new life and a new adventure.I highly recommend this book be added to your holiday reading list.

Such an adorable way to start my holiday reading! I loved this cute, closed door romance that was a Hallmark Christmas Movie in book form. I thought Callie was a great character and her growth throughout the book was delightful to see, especially where it concerned Oliver. Marco seemed like the perfect guy to get her back into the dating mindset and I thought the little bit of mystery surrounding Vince and the Dessert Dudes accounts rounded out this cute little book!

Such a fabulously adorable holiday read for the season! This gives all the feel-good vibes of a great Hallmark Christmas movie with loveable flawed characters. Callie is struggling to get over a devastating breakup with the boy next door, who just happens to be a co-worker. So, her sister creates an advent calendar of treats and tasks to get her in the holiday spirit. Meeting Marco at the Christmas tree lot maybe just the treat she needed, and soon Callie is finding her spirit and her voice. I absolutely loved this and it is perfect for the upcoming season. Full of small town vibes, friends to lovers, found family, family & neighbor dramas, and a golden retriever MMC, this is one not to miss! Thank you so much to Holly Cassidy aka Hannah Mary McKinnon, the publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this e-arc!

This was such a cozy, seasonal read! If you are looking for a clean, Christmas novel with Hallmark vibes, this is the one for you! Callie and Marco were just so perfect, ugh I can't wait to reread it during the holidays!

this is a holly jolly good time! I really felt for Callie and her broken heart during the holidays, I love that she was forced into the holiday spirit by her sister, that she’s able to find love and joy and happiness during the most wonderful time of the year! all while finding love again with Marco :)
I loved all the holiday checklist items featured in the story, it really puts one right in the mood for outside the snow is falling and friends calling youwhoo, its lovely weather for a sleigh ride together with youuuu.
thank you for the arc :)

A very sweet and extremely fluffy, almost tooth-rottingly adorable read. I really enjoyed this as a breather after lots of crime/fantasy books and it may be a tad early for Christmas, but it was the perfect timing because now is the time advent calendars begin going on sale. Except, this one is home-made and stuffed to the brim with sisterly love poured in. I enjoyed the characters, thought the plot was neat and the concept interesting (I’m a sucker for all things Advent Calendar), and Callie and Marco’s relationship is positively gooey. It’s not all perfect and characters do have their flaws, and there are certain meddling individuals that didn’t sit right with me at first. Callie’s growth was immense, her self-discovery and understanding as well as learning to stick up for herself, standing her ground against terrible people, was my favorite part.

Great story, interesting character, neato concept and plot and a sweet treat romance with just enough flaws built in to give everyone a flavor of realism. Enjoyable read and perfect to cozy up with considering the growing chilly weather.

The idea is neat, but wow this is cheesy. I am not one for puns and dad jokes, so I found both characters to be obnoxious. If you are a Hallmark movie fan, you'll love this.

Callie usually loves Christmas but after a bad break-up she is not feeling the Christmas spirit this year.

Her sister Anita decides to create a Christmas advent calendar, similar to what they did growing up, in hopes it will change Callie’s spirits.

Will the advent calendar (with the help from a handsome stranger) help boost Callie’s spirit in time for Christmas?

This was another cute, holiday romance. All of the activities will definitely help get you in the Christmas spirit. Plus a little romance and it is a perfect holiday read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Penguin Group Putnam for my advanced copy.

This book is about Callie, who is deep down a Christmas enthusiast, but is determined to make this holiday season go away quick. After a tough year, she’s all about avoiding the celebrations since the breakup of her 10 year long relationship. Her sister, Anita, trying to put her in the mood for Christmas again, decides to make her an Advent Calendar with a lot of treats and tasks so she can get into her holiday spirit and maybe making her change her perspective on things since she's been so down. Callie meets Marco in one of those tasks, and they bond over puns and jokes and their interaction was sweet and silly. Their meet-cute had me grinning from ear to ear—seriously, it’s like a scene straight out of a Christmas Hallmark movie (which to me, is a high praise and a Christmas must)!

The chemistry between Callie and Marco is very sweet. I love their commitment to honesty and them finding in each other the pleasure of being/feeling yourself again. Watching them navigate their past, trust issues and fears amidst all the holiday activities was very heartwarming. The Christmas vibes are very present in this book and Cassidy paints such a cozy picture with descriptions of activities, festive decorations, and all the delicious holiday treats, including some Swiss desserts I am now so compelled into finding. It all adds to find a perfect layer of charm, making it feel like a holiday wonderland where anything can happen.

In a nutshell, The Christmas Countdown is a delightful mix of laughter, romance, and holiday spirit that left me with a huge smile on my face. If you’re looking for a cute and cozy read to get you in the festive mood, this book is an absolute treat!

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher and author for providing me this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you to Putnam Books and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my review!

The Christmas Countdown by Holly Cassidy was my first Christmas novel of the season (which is currently towards the end of October) 2024, and it did not disappoint. We meet Callie, who recently got dumped by her boyfriend, Oliver. Callie moves in with her sister, Anita, post-breakup and dives into a sour mood just in time for the holidays. Anita coyly initiates a personalized Advent Calendar for Callie in hopes it will bring her into the holiday spirit. Along the advent calendar journey, Callie not only meets Marco, a delicious-looking baker, but also seems to meet herself for the first time.

For anyone who has been a long-term relationship, especially one that starts as an adolescent, knows that you can often lose (or never even develop) part of yourself. In Callie's case, she didn't know who she was without Oliver, and vice versa. When she brings Marco along on these Christmas challenges she realizes that she had deprived herself of so many opportunities. I loved watching Callie come alive in tandem with falling in love with Marco. The only part of the story that I didn't necessarily love was the third act "break-up" (really more like a riff) due to Callie uncovering damaging evidence against Marco's business partner/friend, Vince. It felt a bit forced, but albeit necessary for the plot line to have some interest.

Similar to The Christmas Wager, I could easily see The Christmas Countdown being made into the perfect Hallmark Christmas movie. It was the perfect Christmas story to get me in the mood for the season!