This book was heartwarming! While I don't think there were many truly difficult obstacles to overcome, it was nice to see all of the characters see some sort of growth. I wouldn't mind a spinoff with Maisy and Billy finding their way to each other at University.

Thanks Putnam Books via NetGalley!

Every year I can count of Jenny Bayliss for charming holiday tale, and this year we have Kiss Me at Christmas.

This tale began with Harriet feeling a bit down about her daughter spending the holidays with her host family. A little wine therapy and an out of character one-night stand later, Harriet found herself saving her students by confessing to trespassing in the Winter Theatre. Her penance? She must work with her one-night stand to put on a holiday show as the last production hosted in the theatre.

There was so much packed into this tale, but the heart of soul of this story, for me, was the community aspect. Harriet worked in pastoral care at a local school. She was always trying to improve life for her students, and really stuck her neck out for the Famous Five. They were the first group recruited for the theatre project, but many other groups trickled in when they were displaced from the community center. It was a lovely group of diverse individuals with varied interests and of all ages. This resulted in some beautiful cross-generational friendships were born as they worked towards their common goal of putting on the holiday show, as well as a big wonderful found family. This was all very fun and feel good, and I had a wonderful time cheering them on as they tried to make their deadline.

I really appreciated Harriet's personal journey, as well. It had just been her and her daughter for many years, and now, her child was getting ready for university. This holiday apart was a primer for when she really left the nest, and Harriet was feeling a bit untethered. I recall when my only child left home and could relate to all Harriet's inner turmoil. But it was being thrust into this situation with the theatre that had her thinking hard about her life and career, as well as her wants and needs. It was great to see someone in their 40s embarking on that second stage of their life.

With a touch of romance and a ton of heart, this story left me feeling the way I expect a holiday book to - warm and fuzzy and happy.

A wonderfully madcap Christmas tale that will have you laughing out loud and keep you entertained til the last word!

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

I have read all five of Jenny Bayliss novels and this was another good Christmas one. This book was so sweet and I loved the found family troupe. There were so many characters and they each had their own stories and it all came together in such a wonderful way.

As well, the Christmas vibes in this novel were perfect. It was the right balance between story and really making me want to curl up and read in front of the Christmas tree. The main characters were so cute together and I loved their stories. This book felt like it could be a hallmark Christmas movie.

I do think this book was a little long though. It’s pretty slow and about 80% of the way in I was wondering how we still had so much story left to tell.

Overall I really enjoyed it and it was a solid 4/5 stars.

"Kiss Me at Christmas" is a fun holiday romance, based in England. Harriet is a single mom, and her daughter, Maisy is away on a study abroad semester for the Fall. When Maisy calls and asks if she can stay with her host family during the Christmas holidays, Harriet reluctantly agrees. Harriet finds herself in an unusual situation, when she is found "trespassing" in an abandoned theatre with five troubled students from the school where she works. Harriet "volunteers" to help clean the theatre so that the owner does not press charges against her (or the truant students.) The theatre owner's attorney, James, is asked to "supervise" the cleaning effort. James happens to be a "one-night stand" that Harriet had recently!
Will Harriet and James find a way to come to a happy compromise with the theatre owner, who has required that one last performance be held in the theatre? Who will perform in this performance?

I truly enjoyed watching Harriet bring the local community together to rally around this theatre! This is a fun holiday romance to follow, with lots of interesting characters! Special thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for the Advanced Reader Copy of this book. "Kiss Me at Christmas" will be published on September 24, 2024.

4 ⭐️

I received this ARC copy of Kiss me at Christmas from Netgalley and Penguin Random house. Thank you!

This is a cute, non/low 🌶️, Christmas book about a single mother whose only child is leaving the nest and she’s finding herself. Finding herself worthy of cooking for one, decorating her home, etc. While also supporting her daughter, working, finding love and making new experiences in life. I quite enjoyed this book. While predictable at times, what holiday book isn’t?

I very much enjoyed the children in this book. Being American I’ve never heard the term “pastoral care” in a schooling system but I loved how much Harriet loved her job and honestly, how good she was at it. She made a difference for each child and showed them that someone was there for them and that’s what all kids want/need. Well done.

James and her relationship is the reason I took off one star. I did not particularly love their dynamic at all times, especially the arguments. I liked him but some parts of their dynamic, I just didn’t like.

Lastly, the aspect of Ms. Winter. and her comparison to Scrooge. Bravo. She was well written.

I’d recommend it!!

My first Christmas novel of 2024!! 'Tis the season!!!!! So it begins!!!! AAHHHHHH!!

Harriet Smith is on the pastoral care team at a private school in the UK. She finds herself almost constantly looking after the same 5 kids who attend the school from the local town. One day, she realizes that four of these students are absent and she sees the fifth one stalking off-campus on his own. She puts on her super spy hat and tails him all the way to the decrepit Winter Theatre. Here, the "famous five" as they're known to the school's staff are congregating to blow off steam and ditch class.

However, soon after, the students and Harriet are caught by the police for trespassing and the story snowballs (*ba dum ching*) from there! Harriet meets her one-night stand from her drunken adventures the night before at the police station--turns out, he's the lawyer for the owner of the Winter Theatre, Evaline Winter. So, things are.... interesting when they come face-to-face again. Evaline decides that to remedy her crimes, Harriet has to clean up her theatre and put on a Christmas play to make the building look good to potential buyers of the property.

This novel is FIRMLY in the found family trope and I am so here for it!! I really appreciated the affection and care that people had for each other; it all felt so organic and real. This novel was so sweet. I really did love it. There were some things that felt like they were resolved a little too quickly or where some of the adult's actions came off as immature that made me roll my eyes, but overall, this is def going to be on my list of recs this Christmas season!

Kiss Me at Christmas was the perfect start to my holiday reading. (ARC from NetGalley)

Across the pond, Harriet is a single, 40-something mom, upset that her daughter is away during the holiday season when she has a one night stand with a man named James.

She returns to her daily life as a teacher, when she finds herself covering for a group of misfit teens who sneak into an old theater. She's tasked by the elderly owner with putting on one final Christmas show to avoid prosecution. The catch? James is her lawyer.

An unlikely group come together and Harriet gets a second chance at romance with some surprises along the way.

Why didn't anyone write a holiday romance set at a Christmas play anytime sooner?! It's everything a holiday novel should be: festive, charming, quirky, heartwarming, and even slightly spicy.

This was a cozy read that had all the feels. It was really refreshing to see two middle aged adults fall in love! I enjoyed the story and will be anticipating this authors next books with excitement

Thank you to NetGalley and for PENGUIN GROUP Putnam providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Kiss Me at Christmas by Jenny Bayliss is a heartwarming holiday romance with a touch of humor and community spirit. Harriet Smith is having a rough Christmas after her daughter decides to spend the holidays away. In a bid to lift her spirits, Harriet finds herself in a one-night stand with James, only to discover that he’s now involved in her community service after she takes the fall for some students who broke into a local theater.

Forced to direct the theater’s final Christmas show, Harriet must work alongside James, her unexpected one-night stand. As they collaborate, Harriet not only finds herself rekindling her Christmas cheer but also rediscovering her own passions and connecting with a vibrant community of misfits and dreamers.

While some found the romance secondary to the community-focused plot, many readers enjoyed the ensemble cast and the book’s warm, feel-good vibes. The story’s emphasis on personal growth and found family, along with its cozy small-town setting, made it a delightful read for the holiday season. Despite some mixed feelings about the romance and pacing, Kiss Me at Christmas offers a charming, festive escape.

3.5 🌟

You guys know I'm a sucker for a found family so the community aspect of this book sucked me in.

I loved the concept of this book but there were a few things that didn't work for me (I'm looking at you, third act breakup). I did love seeing a cast of misfits come together and bring new life back to the theater. Overall, a mostly enjoyable holiday read.

Thanks, Netgalley for the ARC of this book!

Jenny Bayliss is the queen of Christmas in my book, and reading this one just solidified that thinking! I adore reading her Christmas books each year. This story, just like the rest, really gave me such a cozy feeling and put me in the Christmas spirit super early.

Harriet finds herself in a predicament while trying to help her students which results in her being forced to clean up an old theater and put on a final show right before Christmas. The owner of the theater, Evaline, is a hardcore business woman and won't pass up on an opportunity to make her more money. Unluckily enough, Evaline's solicitor drawing up the contracts is none other than Harriet's mysterious one night stand, James! What she thought would be one night of fun to brighten her spirits after learning her daughter wouldn't be home for Christmas, turns into so much more.

I loved Harriet and James' story! They had an adorable meeting at the start of the holidays and following to their HEA was so much fun. Harriet was so caring and passionate about everything in life and I loved her positive outlook on everything. She and James were the perfect fit with their positive vibes and honesty with each other. The relationship she had with her students was so heartwarming and I really enjoyed how Jenny Bayliss brought awareness to the fact that just because some kids have different upbringings that make things difficult doesn't mean they are less worthy. The descriptions in this book of their quaint Christmas town had me feeling like I was right there with them all enjoying the holidays and I couldn't get enough. This story was full of many laughs, some tear jerker moments, and so many heartwarming moments. It is the perfect read to get you in the holiday spirit!

Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

Kiss Me at Christmas by Jenny Bayliss

Rating: 4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to G.P Putnam’s Sons, Penguin Random House, Netgalley, and Jenny Bayliss for access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This was a heartwarming read that will leave you feeling so full of joy and warmth! When we first meet Harriet, we see how she is struggling to find her Christmas spirit given that her daughter wasn’t spending Christmas at home. As we follow along with Harriet’s journey, we can see how she grows and embraces her past and present while looking forward to what the future holds.

I especially liked the found family element and meeting all the townspeople. While this book does focus somewhat on the romance between Harriet and James, the focal point is placed on how everyone can find a place to fit in and how there is nothing that one cannot accomplish when they find those who’ll stand by them every step of the way.

Overall, this was a good read with entertaining, realistic characters who are trying to find themselves packaged in a small-town atmosphere with a Christmas vibe.

This took me a minute to get into the book, but I started to love the story and how Harriet was such a good influence on the kids from the school she works at - especially taking the time to make sure they feel like they can go on to do whatever they want to in life. Seeing them come together and really be there for each other was so heartwarming! This was a cute little Christmas book and I kind of enjoyed that the holiday was not the main focus. Overall, this felt very cozy to read and was a nice palette cleanser book for me!

Thank You to NetGalley, Jenny Bayliss, and Penguin Group Putnam for allowing me to read this ARC in return for an honest review.

Overall vibe: Christmassy, and a little inspiring to see a ragtag group come together and make a difference.

Pros: The found family themes were delightful, and it felt like a lovely Christmas story. I was more bought into the community in the story than anything else.

Cons: The book was a bit on the dry side and it took a lot to keep me invested. I wasn’t terribly bought into the romance, and certain lines like “Think of me like festive methadone” really made me question what I was reading.

Rating: 2.5 stars - I made it through but wouldn’t recommend it. It’s a shame, I’ve enjoyed previous Jenny Bayliss novels.

ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to the publisher for the ARC of this book! I was excited to read something with a little Christmas cheer and I love an older FMC, but besides that, this one was just unfortunately not for me. I had a lot of trouble rooting for the main characters and I just was not engaged on the storyline at all. It may be a good choice for someone else, but for me I just could not get into it. Thanks for the opportunity to read an early copy.

This was a charming book, and perfect for a “Christmas in July” selection. While the events of the book do take place at Christmas, the holiday is kind of back burner. The only real nod to the holiday is the fact that the MC is in the dumps, spending the holidays alone while her daughter is away. (So a good warm up for holiday reading, not being covered in tinsel and cheer while it’s 90 degrees outside!)

Harriet is roped into putting on a play in a theater undergoing renovations, in a sort of community service agreement after her students are caught breaking and entering. (Okay, the play is A Christmas Carol so there is another holiday element!) The theater becomes a meeting ground for the community, drawing together the town in participation. Romance develops between Harriet and her former one night stand- the lawyer in charge of overseeing this community service.

I almost enjoyed meeting the townspeople and their interactions more than Harriet’s story, the characters are well rounded and easily pictured. I thought the whole story was warm and entertaining and I frankly wanted to go join a theater group by the time it ended.

Thanks so much to Jenny Bayliss, Penguin Group Putnam and NetGalley for the advance copy!

Kiss Me at Christmas by Jenny Bayliss
Thank you, NetGalley, and publishers for this ARC
PUB DAY: September 24th, 2024
3 stars

It was great to read a book by Jenny Bayliss and while it was a great read it just wasn’t my cup of tea. The storyline of this book was unique and I couldn’t get into the storyline but it was worth the read! Even though I couldn’t get into the story of the characters Jenny Bayliss has a great way of creating characters that are unique and intriguing! I felt this book was lacking a few things which is why I rated it 3 stars! While it was lacking in a few areas for me it very well could be a hit for everyone else that reads it!

#ChristmasReads #ChristmasRomanceNovels #TeachersWhoRead #NursesWhoRead #AutisticBookworm

Kiss Me at Christmas is a compelling read that offers a well-crafted blend of cozy elements. The author masterfully weaves a narrative that is both engaging and thought-provoking, with characters that feel real and relatable.

The plot is paced well, keeping you hooked from beginning to end, with just the right number of plot advances

The themes explored in Kiss Me at Christmas are relevant and thoughtfully presented.

Overall, Kiss Me at Christmas is a highly enjoyable read that I would recommend to fans of Jenny and anyone looking for a well-written, engaging story. It’s a solid four-star book that delivers on its promises and leaves you eager for more from this author.

wanted to really love this book, but instead, I just enjoyed it. It's still a good story with some entertaining characters, but I just couldn't relate to or bond with any of them.

I recommend this to anyone who loves Hallmark Movies and Christmas Romances. I already know I will be buying it for my cousin this year.

Thank You to NetGalley, Jenny Bayliss, and the Publisher for allowing me to read this ARC in return for an Honest Review.