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!

Overall an enjoyable read. Not really a Christmas romance, outside of being set around Christmas time. I did love that the main character was a divorced mom with a grown daughter… not something you see as much in this genre and it was refreshing.

Love the older main character, loved that the romance was not easy but not overly dramatic and that there was a lot of other contrast in the story. Cute Christmas read!

Meh. I just could not care about these characters or get invested in the story. The whole thing felt very meh to me.

This was so much more than a holiday romance, which is what I expected it to be. Instead, I was delighted by a heartwarming storyline centered on troubled teens finding themselves and becoming part of a community thanks to a slapdash community production of A Christmas Carol.
There are many characters of diverse backgrounds, abilities, and situations.
I take off one star because the romantic conflicts didn't hit right for me, and those took me out of the story because it seemed jarring, out of character, and inappropriate. They also didn't last that long, so with a few page turns, the story was back on an even keel again.
Despite the title, the story isn't particularly Christmassy. This could easily be read at any time of year, even by people who don't want to read about Christmas year round.
This is my first read by this author and I was very impressed. Will definitely look for more of her work.

I love all of Jenny Bayliss" Christmas novels. She can do no wrong and this was no different. This was the perfect adaptation of a women down on her luck who happens to always look out for other people. it was absolutely everything I wanted in a cosy, Christmas rom-com. I couldn't have loved it more. I didn't want it to end. I can't wait for jenny's next Christmas novel next year!

In "Kiss Me at Christmas" by Jenny Bayliss, Harriet finds herself alone during the holidays with her daughter away. After an uncharacteristic one-night stand at a local pub, her life takes an unexpected turn when her work with at-risk students leads to her arrest. The Winter Theatre's owner offers to drop charges if she can stage a Christmas performance – a daunting task given the theater's years of abandonment. The situation becomes more complicated when she discovers her one-night stand is the theatre owner's lawyer.

The novel shines through Harriet's delightful personality, the found family that forms at the theatre, and the contrast between her self-perception and how others see her. Bayliss continues her refreshing trend of featuring slightly older protagonists navigating life's unexpected turns.

I received an advance copy from NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam.

Thank you to Netgalley for this ARC. Sorry I waited until I could get it on audio for my review.

I finished this book in one day. It was the perfect story for a quiet day at home. I enjoyed Harriet’s growth through the book from ‘just a busy mom’ to a woman who finds herself at the cusp of the next stage of her life as an empty nester in a serious relationship, and former micromanager.

I LOVED this book. Jenny Bayliss does such a great job weaving an intriguing story that readers will fall in love with like I did!! I would highly recommend this read to anyone who loves holiday romance books!!

I really do love Jenny Bayliss -- she is such a good writer and all of her books just give me that cozy, Christmas-y feeling. Kiss Me at Christmas is no different, but it isn't my favorite in Bayliss' body of work.

Harriett, a lonely mom whose daughter is spending her first Christmas away has an accidental a one-night stand after spilling her guts to a stranger at a pub. After covering for some problem-prone students, Harriett finds herself working to restore a theater for a Christmas play with the man she never thought she'd see again.

I loved Harriett, even though she made me angry at times, and especially loved Bayliss' portrayal of her relationship to her students, to Christmas, and yes, to James, the one- night stand that wasn't.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers -- 4 easy stars.

I just didn’t care for the fmc at all. She’s a middle age divorcee and sad it’s Christmas. This book was just lacking so much and I wasn’t a fan.

I tried, but I just really couldn't get into this book. The reviews I read were strong, so maybe it just was a case of the wrong book at the wrong time. I'll try this book again next Christmas.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the Advanced Reader Copy.

I will happily read any Jenny Bayliss book published. This one was cozy and perfect for the season. The main character, Harriet, finds herself alone at Christmas time. She ends up getting involved in a community theater and it is delightful. I love that Jenny’s main characters typically are older.

Really enjoyed this holiday story. I went back and forth with being annoyed with and really liking both of the main characters. I loved the community aspect to the story and how the theater brought the couple and so many others together. I found it to be a real and heartwarming story

Kiss Me At Christmas is a beautifully written novel that captures the importance of community and family with an added romance. The setting of a run-down theatre and the premise of putting on a holiday show were perfect for this time of year without being overly Christmas-y. It took me some time to get into the story. But I needed to know what happened next once the theatre production got underway. James, Harriet, Evaline, and the five kids were such fun to read about. Bayliss did a wonderful job with this novel.