Recently dumped Callie wants to ignore Christmas this year but her sister won't let her. She arranges a series of Christmas countdown challenges and treats and implores Callie to find someone to help her with them when she can't do it herself. Enter baker Marco who enthusiastically volunteers to help Callie with the challenges. The more time they spend together, the closer Callie and Marco get learning to take a chance on love again together. A cozy, Hallmark Holiday movie style romcom with a bit of closed door spice and lots of charm. Highly recommended for fans of authors like Jenny Bayliss. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

A fun christmas scavenger hunt read! Callie's sister set up an advent adventure to help get her out of a funk. Along the way she meets her new bestie turned something more, Marco, as the two check off all of the holiday related tasks (cookies and caroling and polar plunge and sledding and more!)

This was a fun read, a little tooo insta love for my taste (I normally don't mind but it was hard to see because Marco and Callie were such good friends that the chemistry just wasn't there) and a little too many side plots (his and hers work drama, ex drama, multiple iterations of family dynamics issues) that kind of took away from some of the story. That aside though everything was so festive and this is definitely a great read to get into the holiday season!!


Thank you Netgalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam for the ARC in exchange for my review!

The Christmas Countdown was as cute and holiday cheery as they come!

The advent calendar was a clever twist on your typical holiday romance and I was always on the edge of my seat trying to guess what the next task would be. Callie’s holiday fun made me want to go have some holiday adventures of my own!

Our FMC Callie and MMC Marco were both very likable and that nerdy type of cute. They complimented each other well and I loved that they started more as friends. I wouldn’t call this a slow burn, rather a realistic getting to know you and falling for you as we build a friendship type of love. Definitely satisfying!

The book was easy to read and I felt like the book went pretty quickly. I enjoyed the pacing a lot. This was great writing and I was just able to sit down and enjoy this story.

Definitely hallmark level cute, but I enjoyed it! I would definitely recommend this for a little bit of a unique story and Christmas twist!

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam- G.P. Putnam’s Sons for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

This book was super cute! Callie has had a bit of a rough year. After her boyfriend of 10 years has her move for his job, he breaks up with her. Callie moves in with her sister, Anita and now it’s the holiday time. She really just wants to forget Christmas and hibernate. On top of it all, she works for the same company as her ex, Oliver. Anita is determined to get Callie back into the Christmas spirit. She does this by creating her own Advent calendar, something their mom did for them as kids. Every other day is a treat, and every other day is a task. Callie decides to play along, and Anita rigged it so that Callie would be seeing more of a baker who she ran into one day. As they come to a deal that she would help with accounting for his business, and he would accompany her on tasks. He’s been hurt by someone too. But can these two closed off hearts open up?

This book was so sweet, and I loved the plot. This was nothing like I have ever read before. The idea of the homemade Advent calendar full of tasks and treats is really genius (and honestly, something that I may not implement with my own kids!)

I loved Callie. You can see her growth throughout the book. She went from kind of timid and grumpy to more assertive, sure of her self, and happy. I really loved her sister too. A little overbearing and meddlesome, but clearly she loves her sister and she only means well.

Now, the chemistry between Callie and Marco was fantastic. You felt the instant connection when they started talking about Switzerland. I liked the cute little moments when they were painting – the giggling, the flirting. It felt like I was reading scenes from a movie. Speaking of which, this book would make a really great movie!

I truly enjoy this author, her Christmas romances and her thrillers – I can’t wait to read more by her!

Rom-com readers are going to LOVE this book!

All Callie wants for Christmas is to hibernate. She's still reeling from being dumped by her childhood sweetheart, and under no circumstances will she go home for the holidays considering her ex will be right next door with his new, perfect partner. Callie is officially in grinch mode, but her meddling sister, Anita, won’t let her give up on life, love, and Christmas quite so easily.

Anita stages a Christmas intervention for Callie with a homemade Advent calendar challenge—cheerful tasks to push Callie out of her comfort zone and into the holiday spirit, inspired by a childhood tradition. Callie reluctantly plays along, but when she comes face-to-face with a charming baker who just might be the spoonful of sugar she needs, her strict rules on love and the holidays are tested.

Adorable Christmas story! We've all had those holidays when we just want to hide and someone tries to pull us out of that dark place. This was delightful to read. I especially loved Anita and how she brought Callie to a place where she allowed herself to meet the right person. I love the idea of the Advent calendar for this! Cute holiday read!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced digital reader's copy (ARC) in exchange for an honest review!

Grab your Christmas cookies and put up your tree! The swoon worthy Christmas novel by Holly Cassidy is here! This book is filled with holiday feels! From sledding, cooking making, ugly Christmas sweaters and so much more!

This is such a perfect, easy read for the holiday season. I finished it in one day because it was so cute. There were moments I was laughing, giggling and kicking my feet. It was filled with holiday traditions and the entire time I’m reading it I’m seeing it played out in my head as the perfect Hallmark movie. If you know me, Hallmark movies at Christmas time are my thing! So it was an ideal read for me!

The romance was sweet and the spice was closed door and the characters were all relatable. Watching Callie’s growth throughout the book was phenomenal. At one point seeing her find her voice and stand up for herself, I was really cheering her on!

I would HIGHLY recommend to all my Hallmark Christmas movie loving besties! This is seriously a must read for the holiday season! 🫶🏻

Thank you SO much to the author and @putnambooks for the #gifted E-ARC!

✨ARC Review✨

⭐⭐⭐ for The Christmas Countdown by Holly Cassidy

This was such a cute story, perfect for Christmas! Cassie and Marco were adorable together and their eggcellent puns were so fun!

It was a touch insta-love-y for my personal preference, but still enjoyable. Read if you like cozy small town vibes, Christmas romcoms and adorable cats!

Thank you to Putnam Books and Netgalley for a copy in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.

The Christmas Countdown is a fun read set in a small town in western New York. Part of me was a bit annoyed when I started reading the book. Why? Because Fallbrook, the town the book is set in, is described as being in upstate New York. That automatically makes me think it’s near the Canadian border. But the vibes it gave were that it was closer to New York City. The more I read, the more I realized it’s closer to Buffalo than New York City. As someone from New York, I know that part of the state is considered Western New York. I know it’s a bit nitpicky, but it’s a battle I’ve had many times with people from New York and not New York. The part of New York I’m from is called Northern New York or Upstate New York. But that’s a discussion for another day.

Overall, I enjoyed the story. Callie is someone I could relate to. She’s heartbroken, but she’s always been cautious with what she says and does. She’s just trying to protect her heart. Anita is someone who I wish I could be. She’s daring and willing to seek adventure. But above all, she loves her sister and wants to see her happy and smiling again. Marco is someone trying to survive the holiday season. He’s a baker and super busy with orders. He’s concerned about his business and protecting his heart.

Fallbrook’s setting is perfect for the holiday season. The town is mad for Christmas, and there seem to be daily activities leading up to December 25.

Overall, The Christmas Countdown reads much like a Hallmark holiday movie. And I am okay with that. Those movies are comfy and cozy. And who doesn’t need more comfy and cozy in their lives?

First I would like to thank Netgalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the ARC of this novel.

The was such a Christmasy book with automatically made it a favourite in my opinion to begin with. I loved the friendship/sisterhood between Callie and Anita. They were my favorite part of the story. I loved the Christmas countdown aspect and felt it had all the right Christmas elements.

I also think the banter between Callie and Marco was great. Especially when they first met but I felt like their chemistry didn’t always hold up throughout the whole story.

Overall, I would recommend this to anyone who loves a good Christmas romance.

3.75/5 starts rounded up to 4 for this review.

Holly Cassidy introduced me to rom-coms with her first holiday novel, THE CHRISTMAS WAGER that I loved so much I came back for more! I ldid not move from the couch until the very end. Literally!!

This is a clever, entertaining & charming holiday rom-com dripping with festive holiday traditions & finding happiness. I immensely enjoyed it.

We are introduced to sisterhood, family & other loving (and not so loving) characters. My favorites being Eggnog Man & Swiss Miss. Their goofy cliches are adorable.

I liked that there was no graphic sex. Just hints of it was refreshing.

Looking forward to the next one! Can we have it closer to Christmas next year?

Favorite Line: “Next time, remind me to bring my own polar bear.”

Thank you to NetGalley, G.P. Putnam’s Sons & Holly Cassidy aka Hannah Mary McKinnon for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Overall okay. Cute and very festive. Started out pretty good, but the ending felt rushed and like a chapter or two were missing. Fast and cute read for the holiday season. Will not read again.

I absolutely adore the setup of this book, the advent calendar our main characters sister made her. It's full of little gifts and and tasks for Callie to complete. So fun! This book feels sooo Christmas-y in the absolute best way.

The Christmas Countdown was a fun and light-hearted read centered around Christmas activities and finding love after a breakup.

Callie recently broke up with her first love and has zero interest in getting back into dating, or really leaving the house except for going to work. However, her sister, Anita, has a fun plan for getting Callie more involved in their community and hopefully back into the dating scene. Anita plans a very elaborate Christmas countdown designed to get Callie out of the house. The countdown was originally designed to be activities for the two sisters but Anita has a work emergency and ends up having to travel, leaving Callie to figure out how and with whom she will complete the activities.
The first task of the countdown calls for Anita and Callie to go Christmas tree shopping, where they meet Marco. This chance meeting between Marco and Callie and Anita’s special Christmas countdown come together perfectly to break Callie out of the cozy shell she had planned on keeping herself in until the holidays are over.
As the countdown continues, Callie finds herself enjoying the activities and looking forward to what each new box will hold, and with each new activity, Callie rediscovers herself and begins making friends and a place for herself within the community.
If you are looking for a fun, cozy Christmas romance, this will be the perfect read.

I want to thank Penguin Group Putnam and NetGalley for the opportunity to receive an advanced copy of The Christmas Countdown.

The Christmas Countdown by Holly Cassidy is a an adorably charming holiday rom-com! This one reminds me of Funny People by Emily Henry.

Callie is feeling like the Grinch the Christmas following her break up with decade long boyfriend, Oliver. They grew up next door to one another and their moms are the best of friends. Callie wants nothing to do with her family’s holiday bash this year… however, her sister Anita steps up an adorable advent calendar full of adventures to get her back into the holiday spirit.

While Callie and Anita are out shopping for Christmas trees they bump into local dessert baker, Marco. Callie and Marco hit it off with their love of puns and European desserts… Anita coordinates a session with his company, Dessert Dudes, for a holiday baking event... and from then on we get to have a lot of fun while Marco helps Callie with the rest of the advent calendar adventures.

I was hoping for a lil more spice with this one and was bummed out when the scenes faded to black, but overall this was really adorable and I’d highly recommend picking it up this holiday season. You could probably finish it in one cozy afternoon cuddled up with your favorite beverage and animal companion.

Thank you to Penguin Group Putnam and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. I would love to read more from Holly Cassidy in the future!

Thank you to Putnam for the ARC!

Title: The Christmas Countdown
Author: Holly Cassidy
Pub Date: October 22, 2024

Grab a blanket and some coffee/hot chocolate, because you're going to want to sit down and stay awhile with this cute and cozy Christmas read!

After reading and loving THE CHRISTMAS WAGER last Christmas, I was SO excited for her new one, and it definitely didn't disappoint!

The story ultimately revolves around Callie who finds herself lost after being dumped by her longtime boyfriend while also trying to keep up with her sister Anita's idea to try to cheer her up around the holidays. Her sister's idea? An advent calendar full of challenges and rewards for each challenge! Some are quick and easy and some require immense effort!

While going through with these challenges, mostly to appease her sister, Callie happens to stumble across a cute baker who DESPERATELY needs her accounting help to get to the bottom of why his cookie business isn't as profitable as it should be! I would say the rest is history, but things aren't always as they seem.

I loved the sister and parent drama in this one! I find stories centered around sisters to be so fun, especially at Christmastime! I thought the romance was believable and I was never bored! Overall, I'd definitely recommend to get you in the holiday spirit!

Spice level: fade to black

The Christmas countdown
By Holly Cassidy

Rating : ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 (3 out of 5)

Publishing date : 10/22/24

Ya know what.....if I give my "review" it's not fair to thia book. This is the 12th ARC in a row that I have finished. And honestly, I miss reading the books from MY shelf....but I had to read and review lots of arcs for September and October.  Because of this, I just really wanted to get through this one. I didn't give it my full attention like I should have. Therefore, a full "review" isn't fair. So here is the good reads blurb.

I will say, I really liked the romance connection !

Do you think this sounds like a title you would enjoy?

GOODREADS SUMMARY:
All Callie wants for Christmas is to hibernate. She's still reeling from being dumped by her childhood sweetheart, and under no circumstances will she go home for the holidays considering her ex will be right next door with his new, perfect partner. Callie is officially in grinch mode, but her meddling sister, Anita, won’t let her give up on life, love, and Christmas quite so easily.

Anita stages a Christmas intervention for Callie with a homemade Advent calendar challenge—cheerful tasks to push Callie out of her comfort zone and into the holiday spirit, inspired by a childhood tradition. Callie reluctantly plays along, but when she comes face-to-face with a charming baker who just might be the spoonful of sugar she needs, her strict rules on love and the holidays are tested.

As they strike a deal to do the activities together, could the twenty four little doors on Callie’s Advent calendar not only open up one, but two closed-off hearts?

Always-thank you @netgalley and @putnambooks !

I genuinely love a good holiday romance, this one had all the pieces to make it one of my favorites so far. I think everyone can relate to the main character, Callie, as she navigates the holidays through the awkward post-breakup stage.

In an effort to cheer Callie up, her sister orchestrates an advent calendar over the course of December filled with activities that will have you laughing and crying right along with her up until the end.

This book has holiday spirit, a great sibling relationship, a little bit of drama mixed in all unfolding in a cute, small town. Whenever you’re ready for a holiday read, I genuinely recommend snagging this one.

Unfortunately I found this book pretty boring and uncomfortable. The FMC and MMC “banter” was so cheesy and awkward. And the stuff in between just wasn’t entertaining.

I thought the idea of the book was cute. And it def had Christmas spirit but that’s about it.

This is the Christmas heartwarming tale with this charming holiday rom-com. Holly Cassidy delivers another charming tale filled with laughter, love, and a whole lot of holiday cheer. Callie's grumpy demeanor is balanced perfectly by the charming baker, creating a delightful dynamic that will keep you smiling from beginning to end

While the story is predictable at times, it's still a delightful read that will leave you feeling cozy and festive. Fans of holiday romances will appreciate the familiar tropes and heartwarming ending

I thought this was such a cute story!!! I usually don’t care for holiday novels because they can be super cheesy but this one was different for me. I loved the characters & the storyline. I have loved advent calendars since I was a kid so this really made me nostalgic. I thought this was cute & definitely would recommend this to readers.