I really enjoyed this story and I think it should be a success for the right audience. I went into this book expecting a cheesy festive romance and that is exactly what I got. I was hoping for a fun and easy read and I think this book fits that description. I try to read at least one festive book every holiday season, so I will be sure to recommend this one during future Christmas seasons too!

The Christmas Tree Farm was a fun addition to the Dream Harbor series. I appreciated the holiday and seasonal aesthetic and atmosphere -- the setting of the tree farm, a snow storm, talks of hot chocolate and fireplaces, and holiday festivals were all cozy and romantic. This was one of the best and standout elements of the book to me. However, these characters -- Kira and Bennet didn't feel as compelling to me as the leads in the other books in this series. I also found it odd that Kira and Bennett didn't seem to have much of a connection even though he was staying with her and she came back to take over her aunt's business which he didn't reflect on or connect to at all. It was nice to see the other couples in the series again but all of the characters felt under developed. Though we did start to get a sense of why Kira was so stand-off-ish at the beginning, a lot of her motivations didn't make sense and felt more like trying to tie up loose ends than any authentic character development. Overall, I enjoyed this one but I wish there had been more time taken to really develop these characters before diving into this book. I"m looking forward to the next one!

Thank you to Laurie Gilmore and Harper 360 for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

3.5 stars ⭐️

This was such a cute, cozy book to read at Christmas time. It felt like a holiday episode of Gilmore Girls. I found Kira annoying at times but I overall enjoyed her and Bennett’s relationship. I’m excited to read more from Laurie!

Thank you to Laurie Gilmore and Harper 360 for the opportunity to read an ARC copy of this book! This was a delightful 4 read for me, and I’m excited to share my thoughts.

If you’re looking for a charming story to help you get into the Christmas spirit, *The Christmas Tree Farm* delivers the cozy, festive vibes you’d hope for when picking up a holiday-themed book. From twinkling lights to snow-covered evergreens, the setting practically bursts with holiday cheer, making it perfect for seasonal readers who want to fully embrace the magic of winter.

One of the standout aspects of this book is Laurie Gilmore’s knack for writing stories that match the mood of the season. As someone who adores fall and winter books that evoke the essence of their respective times of year, I truly appreciated how she captured the warmth and nostalgia of the holidays. It felt like sipping a hot cup of cocoa while wrapped in a cozy blanket next to a roaring fire.

That said, while I enjoyed the story and found it cute, it didn’t quite grip me in the way some other seasonal reads have. The plot was heartwarming but predictable, and I occasionally wished for a bit more depth in the character development. However, the cozy Christmas vibes were strong enough to carry the story, and it left me with a smile on my face by the end.

I would definitely recommend *The Christmas Tree Farm* to my fellow vibe/mood/seasonal readers. If you’re someone who plans their TBR around the time of year and loves books that feel like stepping into a Hallmark movie, this one is worth picking up.

I DNF'd around the 15% ish mark. There is no way I was going to end up liking this book.

I was willing to overlook Kira's ridiculousness (rich girl dumps her trustfund into a dilapidated farm she’s going to fix up herself to live a homestead life like her favorite influencers) but the instalust/love was where I had to draw the line. Kira and Ben have mostly had hostile interactions but yet her mind is suddenly jumping to marrying the guy? It cam out of no where and they definitely haven't had enough bonding interactions to be thinking that way, especially with her "I don't need anyone" attitude. That thought and her persona don't really match. If she had been the hopeless romantic type then maybe.

I'm choosing not to share this review publicly since I didn't actually finish the book and that feels unfair for the author.

This is another fantastic title by Laurie Gilmore! It is a perfect read for the holiday season. I love the enemies to lovers trope! One of my favorites! Gilmore really knows how to pull you in to the wonderful town of Dream Harbor. She makes you want to live there. I can’t wait for the next book in the series!

A grumpy x sunshine holiday romance that blends festive charm, wit, and a touch of spice!

Kira North, the reluctant owner of a struggling Christmas tree farm, and Bennett Ellis, a vacationer escaping California for a month, collide in the most endearing way. Their chemistry is undeniable from the start, even as Kira’s stubborn independence and Ben’s initial hesitation spark tension—and humor between them. Set in the quaint town of Dream Harbor, this story isn’t just about cozy nights and holiday cheer. Think Stars Hollow meets Hallmark Christmas movie mashup! This book is a must-read for fans of holiday romcoms. While this is my first Laurie Gilmore book, I'll be checking out all her other seasonal reads next!

I just love the Dream Harbor series! They are some of my favorite cozy, smutty, small town romances (and we get two more in 2025!) In book three, we get to know Kira who recently picked up her life in Georgia to buy a Christmas tree farm in Dream Harbor even though she doesn’t really like Christmas. Determined to be independent and prove to herself she can do it, she is initially annoyed when Bennet Ellis, visiting from San Francisco for the holidays, swoops in to try to be her small town fix-it hero. That is until she realizes she may want to keep Ben around for *other* uses. This one is a cute, quick romance. Ben is Jeanie’s brother so it was important to have read the first two books to really get the full story; our side characters play some pretty big roles. I really liked learning about Ben and Kira’s backgrounds and why they are both somewhat resistant to falling for each other. But, they did lack the same amount of chemistry we are used to in the DH series - but I’m also biased bc I adored Hazel and Noah in book two.

Read if you like:
🌶️ Hallmark holiday romance with spice
😒 Grinchy FMC
❤️ He falls first
💪 Strong independent FMC
🥮 Cinnamon roll MMC (we need a cinnamon roll emoji…)

Charming Premise: The story follows Kira North, a city girl who inherits a struggling Christmas tree farm from her estranged grandfather. Determined to save the farm, she heads to the small town of Dream Harbor and clashes with the grumpy but undeniably attractive local, Bennett Ellis.

Grumpy Sunshine Trope: This book perfectly embodies the classic "grumpy sunshine" trope, with the cynical Bennett clashing with the optimistic Kira.

Themes of Family and Community: The novel explores themes of family, community, and finding your place in the world. Kira's journey of self-discovery as she embraces the challenges of running the farm is both heartwarming and inspiring.

I had read Pumpkin Spice Cafe and felt there was no plot, I didn't feel that way with this one and glad I gave it a chance!

This series is so cute I love it, so Gilmore girls vibes. I can’t wait for the other books! I love this small town so much.

Stars Hollow but make it spicy 🌶️

The perfect wintery/Christmas book! I didn’t even mind reading it past Christmas which I can’t say about most Christmas books!! This was my first Laurie Gilmore book and I will 100% be reading the rest of the series.

Read if you love:
Small town romance
Christmas
Strong FMC
Cinnamon roll MMC

Thank you NetGalley for my arc. This was a good cozy holiday read. I’ve read the other books in this series and this one though is probably my least favorite. I didn’t really like the main character, Kira.

Absolutely loved this one, hands down my favorite of the Dream Harbor series. Such a cute background story of two people who didn’t mean to fall in love. Bennett is home for the holidays visiting family. Kira is the new girl in town (who is out of her element moving to the northeast from the south), who just bought the Christmas tree farm. Bennett becomes further acquainted after being tasked by the other locals to scope out the new girl and her property (it’ll make more sense when you read it.) When they agree to have a holiday fling, they didn’t expect to fall in love. Definitely one of my favorite romance reads of 2024.

3.5 ⭐️

The Dream Harbor series continues, and it’s CHRISTMAS TIME! 🎄

Although this was my least favorite of the books, I still enjoyed it. I loved Bennett and his helper attitude. I enjoyed the town as always, and the side characters still hold a special place in my heart.

Grumpy versus sunshine isn’t my usual cup of tea, and that could play a part into my feelings for this. I did eventually really take a liking to Kira, as well, though.

I’m eager for this Spring to come so I can continue the series!

Super cute Christmas romance. Perfect for the cozy holiday season. I highly recommend it for this time of year.

Thanks for the opportunity to read this advanced copy. I lucked out and had just read the first two books in this series. It was a super cute festive read. Hallmark movie in book form. Thoroughly enjoyed.

The Christmas Tree Farm by Laurie Gilmore is the perfect cozy read for the holiday season. The charming small-town setting, a little romance *slightly spicy, and the magic of a Christmas tree farm make it a feel-good story from start to finish. It’s light, heartwarming, and left me with a big smile.

This was a solid Christmas read! I liked Kira’s growth throughout, and Bennett was sweet. It felt cozy and Christmas and nothing too special, but I had a good time reading it!

Thanks to NetGalley and Harper 360 for this ARC!

A grumpy x sunshine holiday treat set in a great small town tree farm. I loved Bennett from the start and Kira had great growth! Of course, the dogs were a highlight! I enjoyed this more than the Pumpkin Spice book, but still missing a little something.

A cute, holiday read. I didn't love this one as much as the first two but alas it was cute. The main character was just a little to grumpy for me but she came around eventually.