***Spoilers***
I was invited to read Christmas Is All Around by Martha Waters through NetGalley. I love reading holiday books year round, so I really enjoyed reading this in the middle of summer. I thought this was a very cute and quick read. I thought the miscommunication aspects of the book were believable and would greatly affect a budding relationship given her trust issues. Her inability to form multiple genuine relationships given her childhood fame would absolutely be a relationship roadblock. I'm so glad she didn't give into the reboot. I also liked that she didn't spend the entire book pining for her parents' approval, because it just feels like it is never really going to happen and that is ok. I wish the spicy scenes were more in depth (but that is just me). Overall, I thought this book was great and look forward to more by the author.

Thank you to Martha Waters, Atria Books, and NetGalley for the ARC.

Reading Christmas books in the summer is a special kind of fun. Reading Christmas books that are most definitely just a Hallmark movie is even more fun! This story follows Charlotte, an artist that once starred in a Christmas movie as a child. She hates all things Christmas, as is expected. However, she's spending the holidays with her sister's family in London doing all sorts of Christmas activities. At one of these activities, she meets a charming, handsome English man and the typical Hallmark movie tropes start.

I've never been one for Christmas myself and I definitely don't care for the rom-com movies of the season, especially the super sappy Hallmark ones. But put it in a book and I'm there! Every summer, I want to escape to the snow and silly love stories. And this one doesn't disappoint in that aspect. It's a very average story, even calling itself out on checking all the boxes of a holiday movie, but it's an enjoyable story. It's a quick moving read. There's a bit of spice, maybe 3/5, nothing too crazy, which was fine by me. The snarky wit between the main characters was better than the spice scene overall.

If you're looking for a fast and fun Christmas love story, grab a mug of mulled wine and settle in with this one!

Such a cute winter 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!

I received a free copy of, Christmas Is All Around, by Martha Waters, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Former child actress Charlotte is not a fan of the holidays, this year she decides to spend the holidays in London. People seem to have their own agenda, even at Christmas. I liked Charlotte, she intrigued me.

This book is so cute. Small town Christmas Hallmarky vibe! This is my first read from this author and I’m definitely gonna be adding her to my list!

I’m convinced Martha Waters can do no wrong and I am right! I’ve read several books of hers now and she is the queen of witty banter and smart FMC’s. I loved this one! I loved the characters, I loved the story. I loved the coziness. Loved.

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for approving me to read this advance readers copy in exchange for an honest review. Okay I was little unsure do I want to read a Christmas book in the middle of a heat wave. And the answer was YES. Perfect escape for me right now. Really enjoyed this cozy holiday read in a small town in New England. Such a fun romcom!!! And this one to your TBR and to your Christmas wish list!!!!

Christmas All Around was a fun, fresh read for me. I loved the small town setting that felt like a Hallmark
Movie. The banter between the main characters is witty and funny. This is everything I love in a Christmas book!

Thanks NetGalley, publisher and author for the ARC.

I loved the Regency Vows series and was so excited to read a Christmas romance by Martha Waters! I enjoyed reading a modern romance written by her but I do also kind of wish we'd gotten a historical Christmas romance because I think she would rock that! (So here's my petition for a historical Christmas romance!!)

However, I did enjoy this one! The MCs had great chemistry and banter and I loved the slightly cynical take on a typical Hallmark-esque story. Christmas is All Around is a perfect, quick holiday read that will get you in the Christmas spirit 🎄

And finally, leave it to Martha Waters to write her stories approximately 300 years apart and somehow still make them exist in the same universe. My favorite part was all the Easter eggs from the Regency Vows series!

Thank you Atria Publishing and Net Galley for the e ARC!

This book took me a bit to get into, but once I did it was such a sweet and easy read. Christmas reads will always have a soft spot in my heart.

4 ⭐️ 3 🌶️

Read As An Arc

🎄 Holiday Vibes
🎄 Grinches
🎄 London
🎄 3rd Act Break-Up
🎄 Making Parents Proud
🎄 Small Town
🎄 Flirty


Child actress, Charlotte flies to London for Christmas and meets our MMC Graham. They both are a bit of a grinch, avoiding Christmas activities and traditions that their families do around the holidays.

I love the fact that Charlotte and Graham are exploring London together. They don't have that much angst between them, which is something that I thought was kind of nice for this read. They are cute characters, but I do think there needs just a bit more depth, especially with Charlotte. I want to see and dig deeper more with her.

OK, so this is why it lost a star, besides it being predictable like a Hallmark movie, this could have been a 4.5 ⭐️ for me, but this was the biggest thing – it ended so rushed, and abruptly I was left shook and hanging. Once they make up obviously, you don't know what happens with the relationship whatsoever, and we don't see New Year's Eve. Something that I think should've been mentioned and seen in even another chapter, since there was Vegas lights, pointing this out during the part of the book!

Overall, it's a fun and flirty read that keeps you engaged. It's something, different and fresh, a read I truly enjoyed, and would want a physical copy of! And the spice alone is worth the buy!





* Thank you to NetGalley for the arc!



** this review will be published on Goodreads on oct 17 @ https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/170879374-bee?shelf=read

This is my first exposure to the author, and I loved her wit. The repartee between the lead characters was entertaining and kept me engaged throughout the book. There were also moments of reflection and compassion for the less jovial aspects of life – self-centered, disapproving parents and grief over missed opportunities to spent time with now-deceased father to name a few. All this takes place between London and an aging English country estate in the weeks leading up to Christmas and the New Year. There is a good dose of holiday spirit in a Rom-Com storyline complete with a meet cute involving a reindeer costume. The resolution of some of the conflicts seemed a bit unrealistic, but I appreciated the modification in the protagonist’s attitude toward Christmas without going overboard with a complete transformation.

My thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This review is being posted immediately to my GoodReads account and will be posted on Amazon upon publication.

Former child actress, now in-demand illustrator Charlotte would love to escape all the silliness of the Christmas season, especially because she's known for her role in a famous Christmas movie. Fleeing to London after a social media mess, Charlotte finds herself accepting a commission to illustrate historic Christmas movie scenes around London accompanied by the bespectacled and equally cynical Graham.

Martha Waters applies her sparkling wit and banter to the contemporary world and it was so good I devoured it swiftly. Charlotte and Graham were perfect for each other and I loved the their chemistry. Best of all, Waters has created the perfect Christmas novel for the Christmas cynics like me, poking fun at all the cheesiness and the insistance of the Christmas nutters to make everyone merry and bright. Refreshingly, Charlotte doesn't do a 180 about Christmas, but just learns how to enjoy some aspects of the seasons. I also squealed at the two Easter eggs to her superior Regency Vows series.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the ARC.

This was very cute! I was here for all the Christmas rom-com references, but it did get pretty heavy handed at the end. The MFC had such a huge chip on her shoulder and was sometimes a little TOO mean for me, but that worked for the MMC, ha. Yes to reading if you love a cozy, Christmas rom com. No, if you think “real” people should stop talking about romance tropes in their lives.

"Christmas is All Around" by Martha Waters offers a lighthearted and whimsical take on the holiday romance genre. Set against a festive backdrop, the story follows charmingly flawed characters navigating love and family dynamics during the Christmas season.

Waters excels at injecting humor into her storytelling, with witty dialogue and amusing situations that bring levity to the plot. The protagonist's journey of self-discovery and second chances is relatable, and the romantic tension between the leads adds a delightful touch of sparkle to the narrative.

However, while the novel sparkles with holiday spirit, it occasionally leans too heavily on familiar tropes and predictable plot devices. The romantic developments, while sweet, may feel formulaic to readers familiar with the genre. Some supporting characters lack depth, which limits their impact on the overall story.

The writing style is engaging, capturing the warmth and coziness of Christmas traditions effectively. Waters crafts vivid scenes that immerse the reader in a festive atmosphere, making it a perfect read for those seeking a cozy holiday escape.

In conclusion, "Christmas is All Around" is a fun and heartwarming read that celebrates the magic of Christmas with quirky humor and endearing romance. While it may not break new ground in the genre, it delivers enough festive cheer to entertain readers looking for a light-hearted holiday tale.

This is a delightful holiday romance that will captivate readers who adore charming, witty, and heartwarming stories about finding love, embracing the magic of the season, and discovering that sometimes, a change in perspective is all it takes to rediscover the joy of the holidays.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Christmas Is All Around by Martha Waters is a delightful holiday read that warms the heart. The story is charming and filled with festive cheer, making it perfect for getting into the Christmas spirit. The characters are endearing and well-crafted, and their interactions bring a lot of warmth and humor to the narrative. The romance is sweet and satisfying, though a bit predictable at times. Waters' writing is engaging and evocative, capturing the magic of the holiday season beautifully. Overall, it's a lovely book that makes for an enjoyable and cozy read during the holidays. Highly recommended for those looking to add a bit of festive joy to their reading list!

Such a fun read! I really enjoyed the "hallmark movie" feel with sweet characters and a heartwarming ending. It truly felt like Christmastime in a book, which is just what I was looking for!

Charlottee is a former child actress, who doesn't like christmas. she is asked to do a sequel to a movie she did as a child, about Christmas, will she or won't she?

It was so fun reading this in the summer- felt like Christmas in July!! This is a hallmark movie in a book. So fun!