I like the premise of this book with the advent calendar, but there was some issues for me going on in this to really enjoy this book. I didn't like the fact that Callie could not seem to get over her ex, whilst getting with Marco pretty quick. I keep thinking she should take time for herself. Overall, it was also pretty cheesy. I get this had Hallmark vibes, but it just wasn't my favorite

Everything I want in a Christmas book. It was like all my favorite things in one book. Hallmark movie on paper. Everything by this author is always so cute and the banter is 10/10

3.75 🌟
The Christmas Countdown was a cute holiday romance that definitely got me feeling festive. It's making me contemplate making my own advent challenge for next year! I

Thank you NetGalley and Putnam Books for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.would recommend this if you prefer closed door/Hallmark-esque holiday books.

3.5 Stars for The Christmas Countdown

I don't expect masterful literature for my holiday books, but this one pleasantly surprised me. I will admit that when I first started it, I did not like it. So many books depict a FMC that goes through a break-up and instantly becomes a disaster. I didn't like that Callie became helpless after her relationship ended, and that she let her ex-boyfriend take away her desire to celebrate Christmas. She needed to be stronger! But as the book went on, she discovered more of who she was, and became a much better character. I liked it way better once I got about halfway through.

I did think that it was highly unlikely that Callie and Anita would both end up in the same small town, coincidentally. Once I got past that, the book was enjoyable. The third act break-up was kind of silly. Callie's urge to tell Marco what she found out about Vince immediately was also not realistic. Most people would stop and think before they acted.

I also loved that Callie and Marco bonded over Switzerland. I read this book while I was on my honeymoon in Switzerland, so it was cool to taste some of the food that they were talking about.

Overall, I liked this book! The advent calendar premise was really creative, and the bond between Callie and Anita was really special. I would definitely recommend this book to someone looking for a good holiday read.

Honestly, this book has helped me escape my bah-humbug attitude and regain the joy of the Christmas spirit. Sometimes, we need a push to get out of our way. I thought the FMC, Callie, was relatable. I adored the bond between Callie and her sister and her connection with her newfound love interest. You'll love this if you want a feel-good Christmas love story that balances fun with self-discovery.

The Christmas Countdown by Holly Cassidy
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Christmas Countdown is the perfect book to get you in the holiday spirit. It follows Callie who recently went through a major breakup and hasn’t really been in the Christmas mood. Anita, Callie’s sister, decides to bring back an old tradition by making her an advent calendar full of treats and tasks for her to complete, and hopefully find love along the way. I absolutely loved watching Callie grow throughout this story. Her and Marco’s relationship is simply perfect. The Christmas Countdown of full of hallmark movie moments that will have you feeling all warm and fuzzy. Thank you NetGalley, Penguin Group, and Holly for the copy of your book🫶🏻

THE CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN was the perfect start to the holiday season! It was perfectly cheesy and a bit unrealistic, but what else would you expect from a Christmas book? It's giving Hallmark in the best way possible! I felt like the advent calendar tasks plan for Callie was so fun! Honestly, how could that not get anyone in the spirit? I have to say our FMC is such a trooper, and I loved the Christmas market meet cute.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Putnam Books for a copy of this book!

This was such a cute holiday read! I could easily see this being a fun and festive Hallmark Christmas movie. It was really sweet and entertaining.

As someone who loves advent calendars, the whole premise of this story was perfect! To get out of the holiday slump after a bad breakup, Callie's sister set up an advent calendar for her featuring little gifts and fun activities. Of course, a handsome man enters who is more than willing to help her complete some of the tasks, and their connection is almost immediate. I love the idea of having activities as part of the calendar to enhance the holiday spirit!

I'm happy I picked this one up this season. Add it to your tbr!

After reading an extremely dark and heavy fanfic, this book was exactly what I needed to snap me out of it and get me back into the holiday mood. I love Xmas themed books that feel festive and include lots of fun, holiday themed activities. The Christmas Countdown fits that to a T.

Callie's long term relationship imploded a few months ago, when her ex dumped her right after they moved together from Virginia to upstate NY. She has a job she loves, but since her ex works there also, she's having a hard time with it also. When her older sister, whom she currently lives with, makes her an advent calendar in hopes of getting her holiday spirit back, she's at first reluctant, but as the month of December unfolds, each day with either a new task or a treat, she starts to reclaim the parts of herself that she lost to the failed relationship. Of course, it helps that she unexpectedly meets Marco, a sweet, cute baker, whom she instantly clicks with and who volunteers to help her with the Advent tasks when her sister has to go out of town for work.

Callie and Marco were great together, they just fit so well and Marco quickly showed Callie that she'd actually been settling in her previous relationship and that she deserved more. I loved that they were both smart, functional adults who were a bit stuck in their lives but just needed a bit of a push to move forward. My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC!

The Christmas Countdown is a great option if you're looking for a cozy, holiday romance to add to your bookshelf. The main character is down on the Christmas season due to post-breakup memories, so her sister decides to make an advent calendar with activities/gifts to get her out of the funk. A love interest comes along during said activities and can these new friends become more? I won't spoil the rest, but overall this a fun, quick read. Some of it is a bit cringe and hokey, which makes the writing feel more novice. The story is pretty straightforward and lines up to be quite predictable. All of this aside, I enjoyed following the characters and the less complex vibe of the plot!

Would recommend for anyone looking for a lighthearted, holiday read.

Callie and Marco are the type of characters that make you believe that everyone has their person 🥹 Their meet-cute was so cute! Callie’s relationship with her sister was one of my favorite elements to the story! This story is great for people going through a breakup to show you that everything truly does happen for a reason and it’s usually because the universe has something better for you 🩷

Thank you so much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc of this one in exchange for an honest review!

Unfortunately, this book was just not for me. I don't think the writing was bad or anything but it was just too cheesy and over the top for me. I know a lot of people like that so I bet others will love this one.

I will be giving this one three stars because I think it is more a problem with me and less the book itself.

Thank you @putnambooks @prhaudio @hollycassidyauthor for my gifted book. The Christmas Countdown is out now!

Callie has recently been dumped by the love of her life and she’s down in the dumps as the holidays approach. To cheer her up, her older sister creates an advent calendar style month of Christmas and winter things to do to get her back in good spirits. As she begins her tasks, she meets Marco, a local bakery who is super sweet and helps her with the challenge.

I liked this one a lot! The challenges were creative and Callie was a smart, hardworking woman who just needed some cheering up. Marco was adorable and treated Callie well. This was a great audiobook option.

This was a sweet quick really. I really loved pretty much everything about this book. It was a fast read that was fun, interesting, and was easy to keep track of. I loved the holiday spirit it sent into my body.


Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for a copy of this book!

This book was very cute! A fluffy Christmas romance about a woman, Callie, who was just dumped by her long term boyfriend and childhood best friend, Oliver. Callie who was a Christmas lover is not in the holiday mood this year so her sister creates a real life advent calendar with gifts and tasks for Callie to complete every day. Right before stating this challenge, Callie has a very adorable meet-cute with a hot baker who happens to be our sunshine mmc.

This book is exactly what you would expect! Full of funny puns and Christmas cheer. I personally felt like the puns were a bit much in the beginning of the book but eventually warmed up to them as the story went on.

Overall, a very cute lighthearted Christmas rom-com to get you in the holiday spirit! Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam for the arc!

Such a cute and fun Christmas rom-com.
What the world needs now is the Christmas Countdown and more life sized Advent Calendars!!
This was an uplifting story by a great author.
Highly recommend!
Thank you NetGalley!!

I’m always so impressed by authors who can write in two completely different genres. Did you know that Holly Cassidy also writes thrillers under the name Hannah Mary McKinnon?

THE CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN was just what I needed to get me into the holiday spirit this week! I loved the Advent calendar challenges that Callie’s sister planned for her, in an attempt to make her fall back in love with Christmas.

Callie has a meet-cute with a handsome baker while picking out a Christmas tree that involves spilling hot cocoa — because of course it does 🥰

It was fun seeing Callie’s sunshine personality come back out with each challenge. I loved how Marco was always game to participate and helped her see that there are good men out there who will allow her to be her authentic self!

This was such a cute Christmas story. I love a book that includes sisters & the added treat and task advent calendar challenge from one sister (Callie & Anita) to another was such a treat & so unique.
I felt like this book was more about finding yourself after the end of a long relationship. Callie learned who she was without Oliver ( her ex) They had been together since high-school and she had to learn who she was without him. Seeing Callie happy with a new job, a new love interest & Christmas spirit was heartwarming & found this book felt like the perfect hallmark Christmas movie . I thank NetGalley, the author & the publisher for my arc copy. My thoughts are my own

This is a cute Christmas romance about a woman, Callie, facing her first Christmas season after her boyfriend and close family friend of 10 years has broken up with her, while still living in the same town and working at the same company as him. She comes from a Christmas-loving family but is dreading the holiday season this year and has decided not to go home for Christmas. In an effort to cheer her up, her older sister/roommate creates an advent calendar challenge for her that includes a mix of holiday-themed treats and tasks to complete. When her sister has to leave town for work leaving Callie to complete the remaining calendar tasks alone, a cute baker she met at the Christmas tree market taps in to help her and holiday shenanigans ensue.

While I found this book to be a cute, quick read that was entertaining, I thought it was over-the-top cheesy with a lot of dialogue that I couldn't imagine real people actually saying to each other. It was also very predictable. However, if you're just looking for an easy Christmas book while you're home for the holidays, this might just fit the bill!

I loved this concept of an Advent calendar of alternating gifts and activities! My family always did an Advent calendar growing up, so it was fun and nostalgic to read about.

I loved Callie's relationship with her sister. Her sister was so sweet to work so hard to cheer Callie up after her recent breakup. Marco was also adorably supportive as they got closer.

Overall a fun, entertaining read perfect for the holiday season.