I knew that this book was going to be great considering the great work that these two authors have produced in the past. What I didn't know was how real these characters were going to feel. There is love, pain, and hurt in this sapphic romance. I loved the side characters as well. They moved the story forward in a way that was necessary. They also felt like people that you know. It is hard to make side characters have that much depth, but the authors did it so well! I also liked that this holiday romance included more than just Christmas. I would recommend this holiday sapphic YA romance to anyone!

I discovered Rachel and Alyson when I picked up “She Gets The Girl” and I loved their writing style and story. So when I had the chance to get a sapphic holiday book from them, I jumped at the chance. I was not disappointed. This book was festive, sweet, fun and I could not put it down.

Caroline and Arden are childhood best friends and each other’s first crushes but Arden leaves their small town behind and everyone she knows to becomes an actress. After almost losing out on a role she really wants because of her reputation, she arrives back in her small town to fake date Caroline and show the world she is just a small town girl.

Fake dating, friends to lovers and second chance are all themes in this book and it’s done beautifully. Rachel and Alyson have amazing writing chemistry and are able to add depth to the story along with great representation (Jewish, queer, and POC). I think this is a perfect YA read for the holiday season.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for a honest review.

I will read anything these two authors write together!! Their YA books are just so lovely and well rounded and sapphic and I am so here for it. And this book is no exception. It’s full of great holiday vibes (that I enjoyed even while reading this book in the summer!) and fake dating shenanigans. Don’t miss out on this one in the winter!!

🌈Queer rep: main FF couple, lesbian main characters. Secondary MM couple, gay male characters, lesbian character.

this was really cute and such holiday vibes! i loved the writing style and the romance was super cute! this will def be in my library collection

I loved Make My Wish Come True. I was skeptical at first but quickly changed my opinion once the characters began sharing their true emotions. I thought Arden and Caroline made for a great couple, full of weird quirks and a history of love and trust, that was fun to read.

Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for an advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest review. 4 ⭐️ Such a sweet YA queer holiday romance! I will always be a sucker for queer holiday romances and I absolutely love this married author duo. The premise of this one was so fun and the fake dating trope was perfect. The setting was fun, characters lovable, just the right amount of angst for me in a YA because now that I’m old that can drive me away sometimes lol! Would definitely recommend for a sweet holiday read. The queer representation was also so refreshingly “normal:” didn’t have to make a big deal of coming out, they just like girls. So so so refreshing.

i loveee when these two authors write together and i loveeddd their last book too. my only gripe would be that I wish there was an epilogue :( its like these two are allergic to writing one lol. i know its the middle of summer right now but i've been craving a new holiday romance and this one practically delivered. even though the book felt a little short to me, the way arden and caroline were written was amazing. as a reader you get to see how different their lives are from each other in the beginning but when they're together they work SO WELL, and they bring out the best in each other. honestly i really loved this and i plan on rereading it when the holiday season comes. i reallyy hope rachael and alyson keep on writing together

'Make My Wish Come True' did make *my* wish come true by giving me the coziest and silliest holiday sapphic rom-com of the year! 

The story follows two teens, Arden James, a famous actress currently known for her wild streak, and Caroline Beckett, a normal girl getting ready for her college applications. Arden and Caroline used to be inseparable while growing up, but it all changed when Arden got an acting gig, decided to follow her dreams, and never spoke to Caroline again—until now. 

Now, Arden has just scored her dream role. The only catch? She has to prove to the director that she really is a small-town girl who always comes home for Christmas. Arden has to come back to the town and people she left behind, and with the help of Caroline, the two of them embark on twelve holiday dates and pretend to be madly in love. (But are they really pretending?) 

This book was so fun and entertaining, just like the authors' other works have been. I found Arden's character to be really relatable, with her feeling as though it's too late to change. The romance was also really sweet and heartwarming. I'm definitely making all my friends read it during the holidays!

Thank you Netgalley for the e-ARC!

I am very impressed with this book. After not loving this duo's first book together, I didn't really know what to expect - but this is a really fun holiday YA book filled with a lot of love. It sort of has something for everyone. You want fake dating? It's got that. Enemies to lovers? That too! Second chance romance? Yup also that. But it was done well and I very much enjoyed it! Thanks NetGalley for the ARC! :)

A cute, cozy book that feels just like the delicious hot chocolate described in it. The perfect ya holiday romance, with some self discovery, a cast of deeply likable characters, and a whole lot of love.

Make My Wish Come True

Thank you Net Galley, Simon and Schuster, and Rachael Lippincott, and Alyson Derrick for the opportunity to receive an eArc in exchange for an honest review.

If you write it, if you produce it, if you make it, if you bring it to life, we will LOVE it. Sincerely every sapphic loving holiday romance lover.
(spoilers)
This story of Caroline and Arden has it all. Set in that picturesque small holiday town, Caroline has been gradually regaining her sense of self and setting her eyes on Columbia- her dream of a school in the midst of her best friend Arden abruptly exiting her life four years prior to pursue a life in LA. Arden for her part is in LA fully immersed in embracing her life as a successful actress, having cut ties from her hometime and emancipating from her parents (they’re awful). But here we are Arden has an acting opportunity arise that actually feels a little authentic to her, for the first time in forever… except the producer isn’t buying it, isn’t accepting that the washed up subsdance embracing, party loving Arden is the Arden they want cast in the production.. Arden’s manager (also a piece of poop) though has got it figured out. Revert to old Arden.. The one from a small hometown, the one with a best friend she couldn’t stop thinking about even after she had abruptly left years ago, the answer is there all along- Arden is going to have been dating Caroline and she’ll go home clear her image, become the next version of Arden that her career needs.
So we get this perfect, wonderful, magical holiday sapphic romance where Arden returns, and Caroline is flummoxed.
Arden offers Caroline an opportunity she can’t refuse, a feature writing opportunity that reflects their now fully curated romantic relationship that is lasting.. You guessed it.. 12 days- ya feel me? Ok, but don’t worry my fellow agnostic and jewish friends, because there’s a bless the Herschel and the Hannukah Gobblins, we do actually have a nice little hanukkah reference and an exploration of what it feels like to be jewish in a secular loving christmas town- it actually tracks through most (I think?) of the book, which was a pleasant surprise!
Alright back to the beauty of it all- so while we’re in the midst of this fake dating and ex best friend situation, we also have lovely opportunity for Caroline to realize that she actually has love interest in her real everyday life, the captain of the cheer squad is actively pursuing her– the timing is just– awful. As Caroline is beginning to see *oh wow, I might actually have a shot at a relationship that isn’t Arden* Arden comes back into town and is like PSYCH. And tbh, I think this other relationship would be a great *in an alternative universe* exploration because while everything here gets flushed out and I like the ending I would also love to see Caroline experience affection from someone other than Arden.
Alright once again we’re off track-as this seemingly fake dating situation evolves so do their real feelings- OBV- but in a good way- in a we’re cheering for them! But then Caroline goes back to LA with Arden and waboom Arden slips from hometown Arden to airbrushed Arden and Caroline is utterly unenchanted and returns home. It only takes a moment though for Arden to realize she hates her sterile home and faux life and returns back to reunite with Caroline– I’m talking cross country flights for each of them probably within 48 hours? Idk, maybe 72, but it was a lot of jet setting.
All to say, remember that Caroline agreed to fake date because she was writing a feature article for a high profile publication, which climaxed (lol) with the publication ending on the same day their faux dating was to end-12 days- Christmas. So Caroline in what I would applaud as a pivot of radical honesty, ok, idk if that’s the right phrase but it feels like it, writes a fully honest recount of her experience with Arden from childhood through their *faux* dating.. It hits all the right notes and seals the deal.

Holiday romance is my bread it butter and I am over the moon to have had the opportunity to see this magic before YOU get to see this magic, because Holidate was fine, and this is beautiful.

4 geese
3.5 honkin’peppers

LIPPINCOTT AND DERRICK COWRITE ANOTHER BOOK?! SAY LESS.
No but seriously, I knew this was going to be good so I had high expectations going in. Every expectation I had was surpassed. If this book was around when I was in high school I think I would've liked it even more. I love the one of them is famous trope as well as the small town trope so this was like heaven.

Light, enjoyable, relatable. 4.5 stars!

I want to begin by thanking NetGalley for the opportunity to receive an advanced copy of Make My Wish Come True.
Unfortunately, I did not finish this book as I did not feel a connection with the characters and was not drawn into the storyline.

Loved, loved, loved this book! A sweet second-chance YA set during the December holidays? Set in a suburb of Pittsburgh? With a writer MC? This book is exactly my jam.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this arc!

What a good book!!! Such a good story and great writing style. This was my first by this author and will not be my last! Such a cute holiday romcom!

After reading “Make My Wish Come True”, I’ve come to the conclusion that authors Rachael Lippincott and Alyson Derrick never miss! This story is a warm, bubbly, queer YA novel that is perfect for the holiday season. It gives all the best vibes of a Hallmark movie while still keeping readers on their toes wondering what adventure the characters will embark on next. While the relationship of the characters starts off rocky, they both show immense growth throughout the book, eventually realizing how their own actions affect the other.

One of the things that stands out to me most is how relatable the two main characters, Caroline and Arden, are to queer teens, even though their story seems so far fetched. The story centers on Caroline, a high school senior born and raised in a small town known for their Christmas traditions, and Arden, her childhood best friend and first crush who moved away at age 14 and never looked back. Or so Caroline thought. When Arden returns home for Christmas for reasons that don’t satisfy Caroline, she decides to keep her distance from her former best friend so as not to stir up any old feelings. As Arden becomes harder and harder to stay away from, she realizes that maybe she needs to see Arden just as much as Arden needed to see her. The pair come up with a plan to fake date for 12 days before Arden has to return to her life in Hollywood, but with each day that passes they both realize their feelings for each other may not be as far in the past as they originally thought.

The hidden feelings held between these characters at the beginning of the story is something that many teens know all too well and as the story progresses it shows them that happy endings can truly happen to everyone.

“Make My Wish Come True” is a quick read that will have you in the Christmas spirit craving hot chocolate in no time.

I found it challenging to immerse myself in the story of Make My Wish Come True by Rachael Lippincott and Alyson Derrick, as it deviated from my typical reading preferences.

Thank you Netgalley and Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Rachael Lippincott and Alyson Derrick have done it again! "Make My Wish Come True" is a heartfelt, warm, and hopeful holiday YA novel that truly shines. This book is not just a story but an experience filled with laughter, tears, and joy. It beautifully balances the festive spirit with themes of love and tradition. I read this book in the summertime, and I will definitely be reading this book again closer to Christmas to help me get into the Christmas spirit. This book is essentially a queer Hallmark holiday movie (for teens), and I absolutely loved it.

The story revolves around Caroline who is navigating her senior year of high school in a town that is heavily immersed in Christmas traditions as well as Arden, Caroline’s childhood best friend and crush, Arden, who left their small town at 14 to pursue an acting career. Now a successful actress, Arden returns home for the holidays under the pretense of a romantic relationship with Caroline to secure a serious acting role. This premise sets the stage for a second-chance romance that is both sweet and compelling.

The book’s setting in a suburb of Pittsburgh adds a cozy, small-town charm, making the holiday celebrations even more enchanting. The town is full of little traditions that both characters get to experience, like “stealing” a Christmas tree and decorating it together, which really made it feel like a Hallmark movie. The authors' vivid descriptions make you wish you could visit the fictional town of Barnwich and join in the festivities. While some of the descriptions/activities were a bit cliché, I still really enjoyed a lot of the more stereotypical moments as they really allowed Caroline and Arden to bond.

What stands out is the authenticity and relatability of the characters. Caroline and Arden are likable, flawed, and real, making their journey both engaging and heartwarming. The story skillfully avoids the pitfalls of being overly sentimental and focuses on their growth. Normally I dislike the fake dating troupe, but it was really well done in this book, maybe because of the past connection between Caroline and Arden, so I actually enjoyed the troupe throughout the book. I did find myself enjoying Caroline’s character over Arden as Arden started off a bit self-centered, but she did grow as a character throughout.

This book is a delightful addition to the YA holiday romcom genre. It’s not just a story but a celebration of love, tradition, and the magic of second chances. Whether you’re looking for a feel-good read or a heartwarming romance, "Make My Wish Come True" is the perfect choice. It’s a very fast read and it makes you feel warm inside as you enjoy the love story as well as the festive activities within the story.