This book was such a fun read and had such a diverse cast. If you’re looking for a holiday book with found family, this is the book for you!! This book sheds light on how the holidays can be difficult with those who don’t have families to celebrate with, but how a community can come together to become their own family in the spirit of the holidays! Thank you to NetGalley for an arc in exchange for a review.

**3-Star Review of *Kiss Me at Christmas* by Jenny Bayliss**

*Kiss Me at Christmas* by Jenny Bayliss is a sweet, festive romance set against the cozy backdrop of a Christmas village, making it a perfect holiday read. The story follows Holly, a woman who returns to her small hometown for the holidays and finds herself reconnecting with a former flame, sparks flying once again. The holiday charm, complete with mistletoe, decorations, and cozy settings, certainly sets a seasonal mood, and Bayliss captures the magic of Christmas well.

The characters are likable enough, with Holly’s journey of rediscovering herself and finding love again offering some heartwarming moments. The romance is sweet but a bit predictable, and while it’s easy to root for the characters, the story doesn’t venture too far beyond the typical holiday romance tropes. Some secondary characters add flavor, but they aren’t developed enough to make a significant impact.

While *Kiss Me at Christmas* is enjoyable and offers a lighthearted escape, it’s a bit too formulaic for it to stand out in the crowded field of holiday romances. It’s the kind of book you can pick up for a few cozy hours of reading, but it doesn’t leave a lasting impression or offer much beyond the seasonal sweetness. If you’re looking for something heartwarming and easy to read during the holidays, this one fits the bill—just don’t expect any major surprises.

I have a great appreciation for this author as her FMC are not a youngins’…finally a romance about a single mother where her children are grown and she’s struggling with not being wanted or needed! Harriet was very relatable to me and I was immediately hooked in the story. But…unfortunately I found my mind wandering about mid-book. The plot was a bit bland with Harriet needing to direct her local holiday play only to find out her co-director is her one-night stand. The tension and angst seemed to be missing as the story took a turn away from romance and into an uplifting found family drama.

3.5 stars rounded up

Cheers to another hug of a holiday read!

I loved the school/social work theme and setting of this book, and the motley crew of community groups that assisted the Famous Five in putting on A Christmas Carol, as well as Evaline Winters, were heartwarming and provided comedic relief.

While this was a heartwarming read, it also broached some heavier themes, including drug abuse, child neglect, navigating being an empty-nester, and the foster care system. Another big theme is realizing that you are worthy of all the good things.

"Being alone does not make a person less worthy of good things. ... I refuse to curtail life's little enjoyments because I am without a companion. I am worth the effort, and you should feel the same way about yourself, young woman. Don't live your life as though you are only a shadow without other people to validate you. Validate yourself!"

The pacing of this story was a bit slow, and I didn't feel the romance right away between Harriet and James, but both characters really grew on me! And while this is classified as a holiday read, it was more holiday-adjacent, but I still really enjoyed it!

Overall, this was a sweet read that lifted my spirits and gave me some renewed hope in humanity, which I definitely need right now. If you too are in need of these things, pick this one up! Narrator Caroline Fantozzi is also wonderful and I love her gentle voice.

This was a real treat - a midlife romance sprinkled with holidays and all the cozy feels, and the environments of theater. The book really makes Harriet and James glow and centers around a production of The Christmas Carol - who doesn't love that? IF you need something that will get you in the holiday romance spirit, this is it!

This author is becoming wishy washy to me. Sometimes I love her stuff, other times (like this time) I am disappointed. This wasn't bad, it just wasn't great.

4 Stars
Great little Christmas Romance.
Thank you to Penguin Group and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

Thank you Netgalley and Penguin for an early copy of this title in exchange for a honest review.

While I am such a sucker for holiday/seasonal reads, this one did not lean in as much as I would have loved. Harrriet our FMC was not extremely likeable to me which made it difficult to get into to begin with. I did not get behind all of her choices or thought processes, which can happen in books, but she did not grow to a point of liking even as the book progressed. While being a romance, this book had many other layers within the plot. The next largest being the play she is putting on, and the students involved. There is an ensemble-feel to this title, which I think can be very enjoyable to many. I struggled a bit to keep up with remembering all of the many characters, as the book seemed to not have enough time to develop them all thoroughly. My favorite aspect of the book had to be the literary parallels and I did enjoy the male main character a lot. I wish the book leaned more into the Christmas Carol inspiration, and had a bit less political undertones, as it only seemed to take me out of the holiday spirit of the story

It's ✨Christmas time!✨
Who doesn't love Christmas? Well, Harriet Smith is not really feeling all that merry and bright this time of year, like most people should. Her daughter chooses to spend the holidays in Manhattan, which leaves Harriet feeling down and she resorts to a one-night stand. (WOO! we LOVE these😂)
This is definitely a found family narrative centered around the community production of A Christmas Carol, after Harriet takes the blame whenever some students break into the town's Winter Theatre. James & Harriet also have their little mid-life love story going on, while obviously helping with the production. Things heat up with the two, which I also LOVED!
I enjoyed the affection and care that people had for each other! It wasn't really cheesy, IMO. It felt pretty real to me. I am not huge into the found family trope, but felt like it worked well for this book. 🎄

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher, and author for a copy of this eARC in exchange for my honest review/opinions of this book!

* I want to start by thanking the author and publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book. I gave these as a gift at Christmas!

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishing Company for this Advanced Readers Copy of Kiss Me at Christmas by Jenny Bayliss!

This holiday romance was a little lacking on the romance but full of a heartwarming story. This book follows Harriet a woman who is spending Christmas alone after her daughter decides not to come home. Feeling lonely Harriet has a one night stand but flees the next morning. When she is tracking down some missing students the cops get called and she takes the blame so her students won’t get in trouble. To avoid charges she is given an agreement by no one other her one night stand to clean up the theater and organize a musical. This was categorized as a romance but the romance felt like an afterthought and I never really loved their relationship. The story about Harriet and her students weee way more entertaining and stole the show. I would like to thank NetGalley and the publishers for a chance to read this book for an honest review.

Pacing for Christmas books is a difficult thing, but this one was a bit slow in some parts. Overall a cute story but there were moments when I wished it was just a bit faster paced. The romance was cute and it definitely had moments where I was swooning.

Kiss Me at Christmas was not my least favorite of Bayliss’ holiday romance books, but definitely not my favorite. I found the characters to be a bit dull, which I felt was disappointing considering this could’ve been a win for older couples (if you consider 40s old) in the romance space, which is usually commonly 20-30 year olds. I thought the story could use more pizazz for a holiday one, more magic and excitement. Overall, just an okay read, but I still love Bayliss as a holiday romance writer.

As a former theater kid, this sweet holiday romance—featuring “A Christmas Carol,” kooky thespians, the performing arts, and more—stole my heart and ran with it!

While there is a romance at play (haha), the story mainly focuses on the found family relationships between a group of school kids and various community members who find a safe space at the theater. Jenny Bayliss always creates such charming, fully realized characters, and I fell in love with the diverse and eclectic cast! There’s also an emphasis on how important and magical the performing arts are, especially among kids, which came across as authentic and heartfelt.

The romance itself was sweet, though, there were some moments of conflict that felt blown out of proportion. They were minor and got resolved quickly, so they didn’t take away from my experience. Overall, I’m happy with where the MCs ended up, even if the road to happily ever after had a few unrealistic bumps.

If you’ve ever been involved in community theater, whether on stage, backstage, or in the audience, you’ll love this book.

I loved that this book focused on characters who weren’t in their early 20s! As a millennial closing approaching 40, I can’t tell you what a breath of fresh air it was. I know she was curmudgeon-y at first, but Evaline really grew on me and I really loved that Billy eventually came around, too. This was a really sweet story and I’m thankful to have been given the opportunity to read an early copy of it!

Shows the side of motherhood that you don't often get to see in romance books - what you do when your child is grown up and decides not to come home for the holidays. I loved this story. Harriet was one that really took in her students and fought for them. She struggled to find happiness and love after years and years of putting her daughter, and her students, first. It somewhat reminded me of the children's book The best/worst Christmas pageant ever... misunderstood kids who need someone to take a chance on them...

In Kiss Me at Christmas, Jenny Bayliss introduces us to Harriet Smith, a single mom and school counselor in the quaint English town of Little Beck Foss. With her daughter spending the holidays in New York, Harriet faces an unexpectedly quiet Christmas. A chance encounter leads to a wine-fueled one-night stand, but the real surprise comes when she discovers her mystery man is James, the lawyer representing the elderly owner of the town's dilapidated Winter Theater. When some of her students are caught trespassing in the theater, Harriet takes the fall and is tasked with organizing a final Christmas performance to save the venue. Cue the festive chaos!

The novel offers a heartwarming tale of community and second chances, with Harriet rallying a motley crew to breathe life back into the theater. The ensemble cast brings charm to the story, and the festive setting adds a cozy backdrop. However, the romance between Harriet and James feels somewhat underdeveloped, and the pacing can be uneven at times. While the plot treads familiar ground, it delivers a satisfying holiday read.

I'm giving Kiss Me at Christmas a merry 3 out of 5 stars. It's a pleasant holiday story that, despite its predictability, offers warmth and cheer. If you're in the mood for a lighthearted Christmas tale with a focus on community spirit and personal growth, this one is worth a read.

Bayliss does a great job of capturing the magic of Christmas without it feeling overly cheesy. There's a nice balance of lighthearted romance and deeper emotional themes like personal healing, finding yourself, and learning to trust again. The setting, full of cozy vibes, and the quirky characters add to the charm, making it the perfect read for anyone looking for a festive, feel-good book.

That said, if you’re looking for a story with major twists or a super dramatic plot, this one might feel a bit predictable. It’s more about the journey of self-discovery and the small, heartwarming moments along the way.

Overall, if you're in the mood for a cozy Christmas read that leans into romantic escapism, Kiss Me at Christmas is a solid choice!

Kiss Me at Christmas was fabulous! I love a community coming together story and this one provided that in spades! There was also a fair bit of older woman flourishing which I love to see!