3.5 stars

a cute sapphic holiday romance by one of my auto-buy romance authors! i'll be the first to admit that second chance romance is one of my least favorite tropes, but i still enjoyed this. it has plenty of the holiday cheesiness you know and love in this genre, but an almost entirely queer cast of characters. the side characters, along with the small-town christmas setting, really made this book for me, although i also enjoyed the journey of brighton and charlotte finding their way back to each other. and, of course, i loved that both main characters were professional musicians! overall, i'd definitely recommend this one if you're looking for a cute, quick holiday read to make the yuletide extra gay!

i received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. this does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Loved. I am never disappointed by Ashley Herring Blake. This second chance romance was no different. I loved the snowy Christmas setting to get me in the mood for the holiday. Thank you for the chance to read early.

Ashley Herring Blake delivers another endearing sapphic romance filled with found family and second chances in Make the Season Bright. Charlotte and Brighton have an deep history and undeniable connection, so much so that I wish the book was longer in order to delve deeper into their journey of healing because when the person you love most in the world is the one to hurt you, it cuts even deeper, I feel as though the end was a little rushed. But all in all another beautiful love story form an auto-buy author.

✨ Review ✨ Make the Season Bright by Ashley Herring Blake

Thanks to Berkley and #netgalley for the gifted advanced copy/ies of this book!

I was a fan of Ashley Herring Blake already, but this book really cemented it for me. Charlotte and Brighton grew up best friends, fell in love, and made it to their wedding day in their early days, before Brighton fled, and they went on to pave their own ways in the world. Both, however, go home with their bff for Christmas and end up in the same home for the weeks leading up to the holiday. There, Charlotte pretends like she's never met Brighton before, and they both grapple with their feelings.

Things I loved about this:
1. Most of the main characters are big into music, and this passion comes throughout the book in really lovely ways - Charlotte's string quartet and Brighton's moody Nashville vibes also complemented nicely in both of them finding their way.
2. The book is full of a great cast of queer characters, who identify all across the spectrum
3. The mom in the book enrolls them all in Two Turtledoves, a sort of local queer holiday matchmaking series of events. The quirkiness of these events (cookie decorating speed dating lol) and the general vibe felt so cozy and pleasant.
4. Second chance isn't usually my jam but I liked how it was executed here with the characters maturing in their time apart and seeing each other better for who they were.
5. The little details made this special, from what they were drinking or playing, the tiffany lamp at Charlotte's mom's house, the snow and the sand, etc. etc.

This is a perfect read for your holiday season -- the real deal!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: f/f holiday romance
Setting: Colorado
Pub Date: October 1, 2024

I wanted to wait a bit for this one because while I got this arc a few months ago it didn’t feel right starting a cozy Christmas book in the summer 😅 I’m glad to have read it now in November because it was definitely a case of right book right time. I loved these characters and they have phenomenal chemistry. Ashely has become an auto buy author for me and this was no exception I really loved the unique story line here. I can’t wait for the next book release by Ashley I know it’s going to be another hit!

This is a sapphic second chance romance where two exes who haven't talked since they almost got married end up in different parts of the country without plans for the holidays so they agree to go home with their respective best friends - only to find out on arrival that those best friends are sisters. After typing that all out, I can promise you that the premise is top tier. I didn't get very strong holiday vibes from this despite it taking place over Christmas, but it does have strong found family and "right person, wrong time" themes. The side characters are amazing, I really hope we see more stories set in this world.

Thanks to Berkley and Netgalley for my copy to review.

This was such the quintessentially cute holiday set second chance romance. I love this author and while this is not my favorite book by her it still was great. This will definitely be a popular Christmas read for many library visitors.

A beautiful and heartwarming second chance romance that’ll most definitely bring tears to your eyes!
Charlotte and Brighton are inseparable childhood friends to lovers until Bright leaves Lola at the altar. Five years later, Charlotte has difficulty trusting and forming meaningful relationships while Brighton is struggling to find her path in life.
They have not seen each other since their wedding day until they unknowingly end up at the same Christmas gathering. During a week of holiday fun they are forced to deal with their past, unresolved hurt, and old memories and feelings resurface.
As always, Ashley’s characters are real, messy, and raw. They deal with real relationship and life struggles. That combined with the Hallmark movie-esque setting makes for the perfect holiday romance! It was so beautiful to see their journey to finding themselves and their way back to each other again.

In my mind, Ashley Herring Blake can do no wrong. Another incredible sapphic love story and set during the holidays? LOVE. This really was so beautiful and I loved Charlotte and Brighton from the start. I was rooting for them, crying for them, and just loving them the whole way through. Ashley's ability to make you feel like you KNOW these characters and you're friends with them is elite. I will never NOT ready a book by AHB and already can't wait for the next one. Thank you for the ARC!

This holiday rom com was so cute! I loved the vibe and the atmosphere! This author writes such cute yet juicy characters! A definitely read this Christmas book!!!

I am the biggest fan of Ashley’s books!!! And the cover and everything !! I can’t handle it! I just love this book and can’t wait to share my love to friends. I love the characters and the growth, and the second chance romance is a fav. I loved the side characters also! Which really makes a book honestly. I will say I could’ve used less miscommunication though, felt like didn’t get fully resolved. The only one cabin trope is always a win in Christmas time :)

I’ve been a fan of Ashley Herring Blake’s work since I first read Ivy Aberdeen's Letter to the World. Although I was initially skeptical about her transition to writing adult fiction, I was quickly won over by the charm of Delilah Green and the Brigh Falls Trilogy. (Writing those words, I find myself eager to revisit Bright Falls.) I was also excited to dive into Make the Season Bright, especially given my love for queer holiday romances.

Charlotte is a character driven by her career ambitions, fueled by past traumas, especially those tied to the month of December. Her emotional wounds stem from being left at the altar by her childhood sweetheart and presumed true love. Charlotte’s early experiences with love were marred by her mother’s emotional neglect, but her friendship with the Fairbrook family, particularly through her bond with Brighton Fairbrook, helped her start to heal. Unfortunately, the scars reopened when Brighton left her on their wedding day in front of family and friends.

Brighton, on the other hand, chased her own music dreams in Tennessee but was soon cast aside by her band in favor of a more upbeat singer. Now struggling as a bartender and living with a Christian roommate determined to convert her, Brighton's life is far from easy.

When Charlotte and Brighton unexpectedly spend Christmas together during a town's matchmaking festival, they confront their past pain, attempt to rebuild their fractured friendship, and grapple with the simmering feelings that may finally come to a head.

Make the Season Bright is a poignant blend of heartbreak, sweetness, and steaminess. Ashley Herring Blake once again proves her skill as a nuanced and heartfelt writer. This novel reaffirms that there’s joy to be found beyond Bright Falls. The digital ARC even included an excerpt from Blake’s upcoming Dream On, Ramona Riley, which teases a connection to a beloved character from the trilogy. I’m eagerly anticipating the cover reveal on August 14 and hoping for a cameo or three—or six!

3.5 stars.

"Make the Season Bright" by Ashley Herring Blake is a solid book! A sapphic second-chance Christmastime reconnection featuring music and secondary character shenanigans? What's not to love?! I am typically not a fan of second-chance romances, but this one felt very well-earned. These characters are not only compelling, but they have terrific character arcs that make you truly believe in and get invested in their growth and changes. The banter is really good, and there is quite a bit of angst between the main characters, Brighton and Charlotte. It might be predictable, but the journey to get to the ultimate destination is fun, festive, and spicy. I do think the story is a bit too drawn out and long. I wasn't necessarily wowed by it to make it an "every Christmas* read, but I did enjoy it nonetheless.

Thank you to NetGalley, Ashley Herring Blake, and Berkley Publishing Group for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.

It's only been a couple days since I finished this but I genuinely forgot all about it immediately after being done. I think it's time for me to admit that I only like Ashley Herring Blake's middle grade books and not her adult ones.

Ok. I did end up enjoying this at certain parts of the book but there was still something missing, not too sure. The early scenes were great but I think the second chance trope here didn't hit the spot. The book rushes through their backstory to tell you how they ended up where they are today. The lack of communication was also getting a bit frustrating between the two. And then the lack of connection between them towards the end, it all just felt rushed. It just didn't wow me.
Brighton was okay but I just couldn't connect with Charlotte.
It made it hard to get into the story and want to root for them at the end. Not something I would necessairly recommend but also maybe other people may end up liking it more than I did.
Thank you Netgalley for the eARC

Didn’t vibe with this one, unfortunately. Charlotte and Brighton both kind of annoyed me: Charlotte is so self-centered she doesn’t even know the name of her best friend’s sister, and Brighton is alternately a sad sack or a bitch. The secondary characters were all absolutely delightful, though; can we get a book about Sloane and Wes’s second-chance romance or Manish and Dorian’s m/m one instead, please? Also, the logistical issues keeping them apart all worked themselves out in the last chapter so unrealistically even for a romance novel that it was hard to suspend my disbelief.

I was so thrilled to receive an ARC of this book! After reading Delilah Green Doesn’t Care over the summer, I fell in love with Blake’s writing style.

Blake has a gift for portraying characters with complex pasts and guarded hearts, making their emotional journeys feel genuine and satisfying. The relationship between Charlotte and Brighton is messy, heartfelt, and so worth the ride. Through Christmas events and snowy Colorado landscapes, their slow, reluctant reconnection is filled with tension, warmth, and nostalgia. The cozy, festive vibe had me craving hot chocolate and the smell of Christmas trees—Blake brings the holiday spirit alive in a way that’s tender and magical.

With a beautifully diverse, all-queer cast, Blake creates a romance that’s as inclusive as it is heartwarming. Each character brings their own story, making this book feel as layered and warm as a Christmas sweater. If you’re looking for a romance that wraps around you like a blanket on a winter night, this one’s a true holiday treat!

It would have to take something pretty major for me to still want to root for a second chance romance where one person ghosted the other with no warning on their wedding day. This book does not achieve that at all. I have never been so against a couple being together in a romance novel before. The descriptions in the steamy scenes also did not do it for me (her 'center??'), but it's definitely hard to enjoy a romantic scene between two people you really don't want to see together.

What happens when you are forced to spend Christmas with your ex who left you at the alar? You fall in love again of course!

To be honest, we struggled with our feelings on this book. It's a second change romance, which is our least favorite, and we really didn't like either of the main characters that much, Charlotte was just so closed off and unfeeling. It made it really difficult to connect with her. Brighton was better, but we couldn't get past the leaving at the altar bit.
There was much steamy spice, which we always appreciate, but this just was not our favorite Ashley novel.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the arc!

okay really struggled with this one which is so sad because i ADORE ashley herring blake books!!! i just found the MCs unlikeable, the miscommunication trope of it all was not for me. loved the side characters and setting!