I received an ARC of this book and was excited to read it, as I’ve loved the author’s previous works. While holiday rom-coms aren’t usually my favorite, this one pleasantly surprised me and I enjoyed it more than I expected.

Callie lives with her sister, Anita, and is still recovering from her breakup with Oliver, her first love. Oliver had convinced her to move with him for new jobs at the same company, but just a month after the move, they broke up, leaving Callie heartbroken and struggling to move on. This year, she’s decided to skip going home for Christmas—the last thing she wants is to spend the holiday with her family, especially since Oliver’s mom is her mother’s best friend, and they’ve always celebrated Christmas together. To make matters worse, Oliver has already moved on and is dating someone stunning with a perfect career.

To lift Callie’s spirits, Anita has set up a special advent calendar for her. Every day, Callie opens a gift box that either contains a treat or a task she must complete—adding a fun and festive twist to her otherwise gloomy holiday season.

I really enjoyed this book! It was a sweet rom-com with a fresh and unique storyline that I hadn’t seen before. It was a quick, enjoyable read, and would make a great Christmas gift or even a fun addition to someone’s own advent calendar in December. I especially loved the connection to Swiss recipes throughout the story, although I wish the author had included one in the back of the book! If you’re looking for a charming holiday read, I highly recommend this one. It’s not steamy, but the plot is so well-developed and heartwarming that it wasn’t necessary.

Put up the tree and grab the hot cocoa. The newest Christmas romance from Holly Cassidy is here and it feels like a warm gingerbread and cinnamon-scented hug!

While I don't read a ton of contemporary romances, festive rom-coms are a favorite sub-genre of mine, and Cassidy has once again given us an explosion of Christmas on the page. When heartbroken Callie decides to skip Christmas and avoid her newly-engaged-ex-boyfriend, her meddling sister Anita refuses to let her stay in Grinch mode. Callie reluctantly agrees to participate in Anita's custom Advent calendar for December, only to discover along the way that she's not just opening presents but her heart too.

I loved this book. While it took me a little bit to get into it, I blame that on the fact that I'm a seasonal reader and find it difficult to read Christmas-set books in the summer. However, once I got into the story, I couldn't put it down. From sledding to ugly sweaters, cookie baking and ornaments, this book was drenched in all the cozy, Christmas feels and holiday traditions.

The romance was sweet without too much steam (closed door) and the characters were all relatable and rootable. I loved the character growth Callie showed throughout the story, and appreciated the loving (if overly nosy) family dynamics and friendship throughout.

A delightful holiday romance perfect for December reads by the tree! Thanks to the author and publisher for this gifted advance e-read!

Callie has a meddling sister, but honestly, in the very best way! Her sister, Anita, has seen Callie struggle through her recent breakup so she plans a whole advent calendar filled with activities and treats to break Callie out of her rut. Enter a cute baker who happily meets up with Callie for her outings and you’ve got a holiday romance!
I thought this one was sweet and light. Some personal growth in the lives of both main characters adds a small element of depth to the story.
Overall, a 3.5 stars.

I guess it's that time to start reading the Christmas novels. I received this book early in the summer though just finished it in September. I wasn't ready to get into the Christmas spirit just yet but this book definitely got me. I loved all the characters and loved the advent calendar idea. It made me want to do one myself. It was the perfect holiday romcom without being too sappy or over the top.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

☃️ S W O O N S A T U R D A Y review ☃️ featuring “The Christmas Countdown” by Holly Cassidy aka Hannah Mary McKinnon!

BOOK REVIEW: 🖤🖤🖤🖤/5

Callie wants nothing to do with the holidays this year after being dumped by her childhood boyfriend of ten years. Callie refuses to go home for the holidays since her ex boyfriend’s parents live next door to hers and she has no interest in seeing him with his NEW girlfriend.

Callie’s sister Anita has a plan to (hopefully) make her spirits bright by putting together an advent calendar for her to count down to Christmas. Each day is either a thoughtful TREAT or a nostalgic TASK to get Callie out of the house and out of Grinch mode 🌟!

The only wrench in Anita’s plan is that she suddenly has to go away for work and cannot do the challenges with Callie as planned. So sub in an adorable baker named Marco who is also repairing a broken heart and the holidays may not be so bad after all for Callie!

This book is totally charming, swoon worthy, witty and magical and the idea of an advent calendar challenge is brilliant! I was just as invested in each daily treat/task as Callie was and I loved following along in all the fun holiday activities and entertainment 🎄!

Read this if you love:
❄️ small town romance
❄️ Hallmark movie vibes
❄️ holiday baking
❄️ cheesy puns
❄️ meet cutes
❄️ friends to lovers

Thank you kindly to @hannahmarymckinnon @vikingbooks @penguinrandomca @netgalley for my advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest review! This book releases on October 22, 2024 and is a must read for your holiday TBR!

Is it even a Christmas romcom if your not yelling at the characters for making choices you know are going to come up later and make things harder?
I had such a good time reading #thechristmascountdown
Callie just wants to hide from Christmas this year. After moving to a new town with her high school sweetheart earlier in the year he dumped her almost as soon as they moved. And they work at the same company. But her sister has other ideas. Determined to help Callie find her joy and spark again she sets up an advent calendar full of treats and tasks to get Callie in the holiday spirit. And the cute baker she keeps running into might be the best treat of all.
If holiday romcoms are something you look forward to every year definitely check out The Christmas Countdown, releasing October 22, 2024.
Thank you to @netgalley G.P Putnam’s Sons and @hollycassidyauthor for letting me have an advanced copy for review.
#bookstagram #booksbooksbooks #bookworm #booklover #books #booklove #christmas #christmasbooks #holidayromance #romcom

Book Review
The Christmas Countdown by Holly Cassidy aka Hannah Mary McKinnon

What its Got
✅ unique Advent calendar
✅ Swiss choclate and baking
✅ Ode to Oakville- so many places I know and love were mentioned - made me smile whenever I came across one
✅ Burlington rep- our own Indie Bookstore and owners - a community pillar The Different Drummer bookstore
✅ Holiday traditions- sledding , baking, food and toy drives, homemade ornaments, ugly Christmas sweaters, holiday movies and music, skating
✅ Bookish rep- book chrismtas tree, bookstores, bookclubs,
✅ Pop culture references - game
of thrones, home alone
✅ Armchair travel- I seriously need to go to Switzerland
✅ Closed door romance- sweet, new love vibes - its cautious and tentative
✅ Eggcellent puns

Characters
Anita- overbearing older sister and roomate who uses the family advent traditions as a means to get her little sister out of her rut
Oliver- ex, coworker, family neighbour, highschool sweetheart
Grant- asshat new boss
FMC- Callie- accountant, she has become stuck in her routines and the safety of staying home after a bad breakup
MMC- Marco ( you say Polo) - baker, punny, Mr Nice Guy and a Dessert Dude ( yummy)
Joe- fireman and volleyball player
Hazel -BFF and coworker
Vince- the other BFF

Thoughts
This book felt like a warm hug. It felt soo relatable- the setting, the people, the holiday traditions. Reading this book sent me down memory lane- remembering all the holiday traditions from my childhood. It also had me smiling and smirking to myself, the
Puns and sisterly banter are spot on.
Definitely Hallmark movie vibes- you could even film it locally—- just sayin!

Overall
Treat your shelf to this book this holiday season

Thanks to the author and the publisher for
My digital ARC in return for an honest review. Opinions expressed are my own.

Full of Advent activities—carolling, sledding, hot chocolate, eggnog, and even ugly Christmas sweaters—this holiday read will you have you decking your halls and jingling your bells.

I don’t really read a lot of contemporary romance much less Christmas ones but I loved this sweet Christmas Romance - my favourite part was the advent calendar ! I want someone to create one for me !! Callie and Marco made a sweet couple and I really loved Callie and her sister Anita’s relationship .

4.5 ⭐️

With the spirit of the grinch and a meddling sister, Callie is trying to hide out this holiday season after her boyfriend of 10 yrs breaks up with her. The cherry on top is the fact that he also happens to be the son of her mother’s best friend and works in her office.

Cue Grinch vibes because Callie is sitting this Christmas out.

Until Anita (previously described meddling sister) creates an advent calendar gift idea that will force her into doing… well… anything to get into the Christmas spirit.

Enter the baker, who is full of puns and witty comebacks that will make you smile as you read this Hallmark-esque novel.

Total ‘smile-as-you- read’ holiday book cleanser. I especially loved the little Germany tidbits which just reminded me of how much I love that area during the Holidays. My fav season spent in Europe over the years and many a days wandering through the Christmas Markets.

Dieses Buch ist sehr süß 🥰

Such a good read that I enjoyed! I'm so glad that I got the chance to read it early and will definitely be recommending it to multiple people who enjoy these types of novels. I enjoyed the characters and especially enjoyed the writing by this author. I'm excited to see what the author comes out with next as I'll definitely be reading it! Thank you to the publisher for my early copy of this book!

Holly Cassidy is such a masterful weaver of joy and magic. This book was so hopeful and felt like such a warm hug. I loved the characters development and the journey the all took. I really hope this little town comes back in another story ♥️

The Christmas Countdown was a really enjoyable Christmas story. Even though I read it in July, it left me with all the warm and fuzzy, nostalgic feelings that I love to experience while reading a holiday romance. I find a lot of the Christmas romances of late have me gagging at the over-the-top love and goo; this one, however, was perfect and didn't have my stomach churning one bit. The characters were kind and lovely people. The advent calendar was so much fun, and I looked forward to see what the next treat/task would be. And of course any book with a cat named Dazey, delicious baking, and plenty of puns makes me very happy. Maybe there should be recipes included at the end?
I think lots of people will really enjoy this holiday rom-com - Christmas is coming !!

Another great Christmas novel for this acclaimed author!

I welcome any chance to experience the magic of Christmas - even during a July heatwave! I got this in spades, too! I was thankful to be reminded of the role we can all play in encouraging others.

I was swept away by a sweet story about family, love, betrayal and redemption and I can see this one adapting well to the silver screen.

I was gifted this copy by Penguin Random House Canada and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.