Harriet is usually a Christmas fiend-decorations, celebrations and more! When she finds herself without her daughter for the year, she turns into a rightful Scrooge. When a turn of events has her directing A Christmas Carol for the season, will she turn into Scrooge for good? Or can the ghosts of Christmas around her sway her to a different direction?

Jenny Bayliss is a must buy holiday author for me, and this is another hit from her! I love the subtleties of the winter and Christmas spirit in her books-just enough without being too cliche or cloying. The characters in this book are so well developed-I loved each and every one, even those in the ensemble. Highly suggest you pick up this holiday season-maybe even more than one of Jenny’s books if you haven’t partaken yet!

I especially connected with Harriet, a stubborn main character who is trying to balance too much. If I keep describing her, I might accidentally start describing myself! Incredibly relatable, and a joy to watch her journey unfold on the page. Turn on some of your favorite holiday tunes and get reading on this one!

Like with all Jenny Bayliss books, this read left me feeling happy inside. Yes, we get the cozy vibes and the Christmas setting, but she has a knack for creating heartwarming environments. In this world, Harriet acquires her found family within her community as she comes to the rescue for some students and has to direct a Christmas play as a result. Things go awry here and there, but the community steps up and comes together beautifully for this project. There is also some romance in here for those seeking that element, but the real story is that of the community.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam/G.P. Putnam's Sons for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

here do I even start?

First and foremost, thanks Netgalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons for this ARC.

This was the first book I've read from Jenny Bayliss and really liked her writing. I liked that even though it's a sweet christmas romance, it still touches on things that are relatable to humans, which makes the book and romance realistic. I honestly wished I read this during christmas and not in the Texas heat.

I would recommend to anyone who wants a found family, holiday romance, and just having people having your back and the different ages and friendships was so sweet. 4.5!!

I adore Jenny Bayliss' writing so I was excited to be able to get this ARC. This book gives you the cozy, warm vibes of the holiday season and I liked that the characters were a bit older than in most romance novels these days. The single parent trope was written beautifully.

Jenny Bayliss is releasing her newest Christmas book on 9/24 called Kiss Me At Christmas. It is the tale of Harriett and her fabulous five group of students who come from difficult backgrounds. When Harriett takes the fall for her students breaking into an abandoned theater, the theaters owner Evelyn demands Harriett clean up the mess. In addition, Evelyn will renovate the dilapidated theater if Harriett snd her students put on a one night only show before the building goes up for sale to the highest bidder. Harriett and her students choose A Christmas Carol. Word starts to spread that Harriett invisions the theater becoming a community center for groups to have a safe space to meet. Before she knows it, 4-5 clubs have taken up residence in the theater and are helping the students put in the play. This book put me into the Christmas spirit. The concept of “let’s put on a play” is so reminiscent of the old Hollywood Mickey Rooney and Judy garland films. Plus, the characters were the most ragtag group of people ever thrown together in a book, but Bayliss does a fabulous job highlighting each characters role and purpose-even the secondary characters. This book resonated with me on a personal level. I was a part of my college drama program and each year we would put on A Christmas Carol. There’s no better feeling than helping build the set, arrange costumes, and run lines with fellow thespians. It’s such a special community of people and brought back many happy memories. Thanks you NetGalley and Putnam books!

Cute and classic. I enjoy Jenny's books. I think the part I liked most was the way the main character discovers herself as an older person. She seems to be relatable, and I thought Jenny did well with her development. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. Four stars.

Jenny Bayliss is one of my favorite authors. Her settings are cozy and the food descriptions make my stomach growl. I like to savor her scene setting so much that sometimes I don't want to finish the book. My favorite of her books is Twelve Dates, and Kiss Me at Christmas starts off steamy with a scene that lovers of that book and The Holiday will enjoy. After that, the plot is closer to A Season for Second Chances or Meet Me Under the Mistletoe and slows down a bit.

Theater lovers might enjoy the behind the scenes of the production or the theater restoration, but it's not quite as comforting as the cafe or castle settings of Bayliss' other books. People who are charmed by expletive substitutes in The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes or the mixed up sayings in Sarah Adams' The Rule Book might enjoy Harriet's outbursts, but they weren't my favorite. Overall, this story is about bringing people together and giving to your community while keeping boundaries that save you from bitterness and burnout, and that's an important message around the holidays. This is a heartwarming novel that I will recommend to readers at Christmastime.

My first Jenny Bayliss book and I was not disappointed. I love that Harriet is around my age so I can somewhat relate-

This was so cute! It definitely wasn't just a simple romance; there was more to the story. I loved that the two main characters were my age (mid-to-late forties) instead of in their twenties like it seems most main characters are nowadays. I love Jenny Bayliss: I've read all of her books but one. I was super excited to get approved for this book and was not disappointed! The ensemble cast was great. I liked reading about her five students. I kind of wish there was more to the romance aspect of the book though. There didn't seem to be a whole lot of chemistry between the two, but maybe that's just because there wasn't a whole lot of focus on it. Either way, I thoroughly enjoyed the book. Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam for a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Putnam and NetGalley for my ARC!

I’ve really enjoyed Jenny Bayliss’s books in the past and have listened to all on audiobook, and this was my first to actually ready. This one was festive, heartwarming and sweet — starring a mother whose daughter is spending Christmas abroad and has to learn what it means to live for herself (without sacrificing her giving heart). The ragtag theater group is cute and this will put you in the Christmas season for sure!

I had a bit of trouble getting into this one and didn’t find it wildly compelling, but it’s cute and merry.

If Jenny Bayliss writes it, I’m going to read it. She is the queen of holiday romances and I just had to get my hands on this one! This one really is a true hallmark romance! It contains the single parent trope and one night stand while directing a Christmas play. Jenny Bayliss never disappoints!

This is an adorable book based around Christmas time. The FMC Harriet is having a difficult time coming to terms with being an empty nester. She has a one night stand with a hot guy she meets at a bar who ends up being being her lawyer after she is accused of breaking and entering. This book has a lot more than just romance when it comes to Harriet helping the "Famous five" which are students who are consistently skipping school.

KISS ME AT CHRISTMAS ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5. What a cozy read! In true Jenny Bayliss form, you will laugh, cry, and cherish her latest holiday read. Harriet is not excited to spend to her first Christmas alone, now that her daughter has decided to spend it abroad. Her holiday cheer is gone. When she takes the fall for troubled teens she mentors, she must lead to restore an old theater, and put on a holiday show. This is a book about community, found family, finding your strength and help with your weaknesses. It’s a cozy holiday read, with a cast of characters that you can visualize. I really enjoyed it! If you are a fan of Bayliss other holiday novels, you will appreciate all of her charm in this one. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

Thank you NetGalley & Putnam Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This review can also be found on Goodreads.

As I settled in to read this book during the first summer heatwave, I expected a cozy Christmas romance with holiday cheer. And while that was 100% true, I was left happily crying over the community that Harriet and The Famous Five created on accident.

Harriet is a bit of a wreck. Her daughter has left home for the first time and gave her the devastating news that she'd be staying with her foreign exchange family in the US for Christmas. In a bout of sulking, Harriet hooks up with a hot bar patron, thinking she'd never see him again after their one night stand. Little did she know, just hours later, he would be the lawyer sitting across from her at the police station where she was being questioned for breaking and entering.

It was all a misunderstanding, of course. Harriet had only tracked down her "Famous Five" students that notoriously skipped school. As the lead of the pastoral care team, it was her duty to ensure they'd be at school, so she was only doing her job when she followed them into the a abandoned theater they hung out at. To avoid charges, Harriet agrees to clean up the dilapidated place with the students.

Thus begins the magic. The students must put on a play by Christmas, a demand in the contract from the crotchety owner of the theater. And just as Harriet begins to think they can't pull it off, the community saves her. Help starts pouring in from all places, friendships start blooming, and the theater that was once falling apart was now being renovated and filled with love and laughter.

There is a wonderful love story between Harriet and the mysterious lawyer tucked into the pages of this book. But I think the true joy and message is all about the community that Harriet happens to foster. The power of people having your back, developing friendships across all age groups, and doing things for the good is so endearing and well written in this book. I loved becoming a part of their community as I read, and I was sad to leave them after a beautiful ending. I will most definitely be revisiting this book in the winter for another cozy read!

This is more than a romance. There are lots of storylines intertwined and depth to the plot. It is also a cute cozy Christmas story. An enjoyable quick read with memorable characters.

"Kiss Me at Christmas" by Jenny Bayliss is a delightful holiday tale that blends the enchantment of Christmas with the humor and warmth reminiscent of Nora Ephron's storytelling. As the holidays near, Harriet Smith finds herself in a less than celebratory mood. Her daughter's decision to spend Christmas in New York instead of their usual festivities leaves Harriet feeling down. She's reluctantly drawn into directing the final Christmas production at the town's historic Winter Theater, which she approaches with a heavy heart. I loved the enchanting small-town setting that radiated a cozy and festive atmosphere throughout the book. This story beautifully captures the spirit of community, the power of forgiveness, and the joy discovered in the most unexpected places.

The Twelve Dates of Christmas is still one of my favorite Christmas reads.
I didn't enjoy Kiss me at Christmas as much as I did the other, but as soon as I seen she had another Christmas novel, I requested ASAP! Thank you Netgalley for my ARC copy. This was a cute, cozy, book with a cute romance line up @ Christmas.

Kiss Me at Christmas by Jenny Bayliss is a heartwarming holiday story that combines the charm of Christmas with the wit and warmth of Nora Ephron’s storytelling. Harriet Smith finds herself in a less than festive mood as the holidays approach. With her daughter choosing New York over their usual celebrations, Harriet’s spirits are at an all time low when she finds herself reluctantly pulled into directing a final Christmas performance at the town's old Winter Theater. I adored the charming small town setting, which exuded a warm and festive ambiance throughout the story. This book really captures the essence of community, forgiveness, and finding joy in unexpected places.

A Christmas romance with a lot of heart! Starting the book, I expected the romance to be the primary storyline; however, this is truly an ensemble book with all the storylines intersecting around efforts to put on a production of a Christmas Carol. This is a very cute, cozy Christmas read!